Liturgy (12/24)

PRELUDE – “God in Flesh and Blood” by LifePoint Music

LIGHTING OF FOURTH ADVENT CANDLE – John 12:46

I have come into the world as light,

so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP – Hebrews 1:1-6

Long ago, at many times and in many ways,

God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,

whom he appointed the heir of all things,

through whom also he created the world.

He is the radiance of the glory of God

and the exact imprint of his nature,

and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

After making purification for sins,

he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

having become as much superior to angels

as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

For to which of the angels did God ever say,

“You are my Son,

today I have begotten you”?

Or again,

“I will be to him a father,

and he shall be to me a son”?

And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”

Song –

“Angels We Have Heard On High” by Edward Shippen Barnes and James Chadwick

“Angels from the Realms of Glory” by Henry Thomas Smart and James Montgomery

CONFESSION OF SIN

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – 1 Timothy 1:15

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance,

that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners!

Song –

“Joy to the World” by George Frideric Handel and Isaac Watts

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – The Nicene Creed

EVERYONE:

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,

begotten of the Father before all worlds;

God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God;

begotten, not made,

being of one substance with the Father,

by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men and our salvation,

came down from heaven,

and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary,

and was made man;

and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;

He suffered and was buried;

and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures;

and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father;

and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead;

whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life;

who proceeds from the Father and the Son;

who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified;

who spoke by the prophets.

And we believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins;

and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

PRAYER

CHILDREN’S BLESSING & DISMISSAL

(Kids Corner is available for kids ages 0-6)

Song –

“It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” by Edmund Hamilton Sears and Richard Storrs Willis

SCRIPTURE READING – Isaiah 9:1-7

SERMON – “Jesus’ Government”

THE LORD’S TABLE

Songs –

“Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery” by Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, and Michael Bleecker

OFFERING

Song –

“Good Christian Men Rejoice” by John Mason Neale

And/or “Go Tell It On the Mountain” by John W. Work, Jr.

BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHILDREN’S PLAY

POSTLUDE – “Hallelujah Chorus” by George Frideric Handel

Liturgy (12/17)

PRELUDE – “Exult in the Savior’s Birth” by Matt Boswell

LIGHTING OF THIRD ADVENT CANDLE – John 12:46

I have come into the world as light,

so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP – Revelation 22:13, 20

I am the Alpha and the Omega,

the first and the last,

the beginning and the end.

Surely I am coming soon.

EVERYONE:

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

Song –

“O Come O Come Emmanuel” by John Mason Neale and Thomas Helmore

CONFESSION OF SIN

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – Colossians 1:19-22

In [Christ] all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

and through him to reconcile to himself all things,

whether on earth or in heaven,

making peace by the blood of his cross.

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind,

doing evil deeds,

he has now reconciled in his body of flesh

by his death,

in order to present you holy and blameless

and above reproach before him.

Song –

“Hark the Herald Angels Sing” by Charles Wesley and Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – The Nicene Creed

EVERYONE:

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,

begotten of the Father before all worlds;

God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God;

begotten, not made,

being of one substance with the Father,

by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men and our salvation,

came down from heaven,

and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary,

and was made man;

and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;

He suffered and was buried;

and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures;

and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father;

and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead;

whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life;

who proceeds from the Father and the Son;

who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified;

who spoke by the prophets.

And we believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins;

and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

PRAYER

CHILDREN’S BLESSING & DISMISSAL – New City Catechism Q44

What is baptism?

Baptism is the washing with water

in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Song –

“O Little Town of Bethlehem” by Lewis Henry Redner and Phillips Brooks

SCRIPTURE READING – Romans 6:15-23

SERMON – “Slaves to Righteousness”

THE LORD’S TABLE

Songs –

“To The Cross I Cling” by Isaac Wimberley, Matt Boswell, Michael Bleecker

“Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery” by Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, and Michael Bleecker

OFFERING

Song –

“Oh For A Thousand Tongues to Sing” by Carl Gotthelf Glaser, Charles Wesley

BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

POSTLUDE – “Silent Night” by Lauren Daigle

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Every December we take up a special offering that goes directly to International Missions. It’s called the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

We will be collecting the offering on Sunday, December 24th. Would you pray about directing some of your year-end giving to enable missionaries to be sent to make disciples and multiply churches among unreached peoples and places for the glory of God? More information will be shared this Sunday.

Liturgy (12/10)

PRELUDE – “Angels We Have Heard on High” by Sara Groves

LIGHTING OF SECOND ADVENT CANDLE – John 12:46

I have come into the world as light,

so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP – Psalm 95:6

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;

let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

Song –

“O Come All Ye Faithful” by C. Frederick Oakeley and John Francis Wade

CONFESSION OF SIN – Romans 2:4

God’s kindness is meant

to lead you to repentance.

Song –

“Kindness” by Chris Tomlin

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – John 8:34-36

Truly, truly, I say to you,

everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

The slave does not remain in the house forever;

the son remains forever.

So if the Son sets you free,

you will be free indeed.

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – The Nicene Creed

EVERYONE:

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,

begotten of the Father before all worlds;

God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God;

begotten, not made,

being of one substance with the Father,

by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men and our salvation,

came down from heaven,

and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary,

and was made man;

and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;

He suffered and was buried;

and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures;

and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father;

and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead;

whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life;

who proceeds from the Father and the Son;

who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified;

who spoke by the prophets.

And we believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins;

and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

PRAYER

CHILDREN’S BLESSING & DISMISSAL – New City Catechism Q43

What are the sacraments or ordinances?

Baptism

and the Lord’s Supper.

Song –

“The Wonderful Cross” by Chris Tomlin, Isaac Watts, J. D. Walt, Jesse Reeves, and Lowell Mason

SCRIPTURE READING – Romans 6:15-23

SERMON – “Slaves to Righteousness”

THE LORD’S TABLE

Songs –

“Take My Life (Holiness)” by Scott Underwood

“I Will Follow” by Chris Tomlin

OFFERING

Song –

“Here I Am to Worship” by Tim Hughes

BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

POSTLUDE – “What Shall We Say, Pt. 1” by Psallos