December 22, 2024
Join us for worship on Sunday, December 22, 2024. Thank you for coming this morning on behalf of Alleluia Singers, Chamber Singers, Resound, and our instrumentalists. We are delighted to share music that comes from our hearts, and we hope it has made the Advent season meaningful for you. The Scripture is from Luke 2:1-14.
- To watch the service, click the Service tab below. The livestream will begin around 11:05 a.m. A recording of the livestream will be available afterward, and you can watch it anytime.
- To read the Bulletin, click the Bulletin tab below. You may flip back and forth between the Service and Bulletin tabs at anytime without interruption. Below the video screen, you can use the button to access a PDF of the Bulletin, if you prefer.
Sunday December 22, 2024 Worship Service
Livestream at 11:10 a.m.
GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE — “Fantasia on ‘Greensleeves’” — Ralph Vaughan Williams — Chamber Orchestra
SILENT MEDITATION
Jesus of Nazareth was a real man, living and dying at a turbulent moment in real space-time history. His message, and the message about him that the early Christians called good news, was not about how to escape that world. It was about how the one true God was changing it, radically and forever. — N.T. Wright, Simply Good News
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE OF LOVE
Pam Lindsey, Ethan Lindsey, and Julie Buehler
CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE — “Joyous Light of Heavenly Glory” — JOYOUS LIGHT — Marty Haugen
ADVENT CALL TO WORSHIP — from Isaiah 40
Prepare the way of the Lord!
Lift every valley, lift every voice.
Prepare the way of the Lord!
And all flesh shall see the salvation of our God.
PRAISE AND ADORATION
*HYMN #87 — Comfort, Comfort Now My People GENEVAN; — arr. Tom Trenney
CONFESSION AND PARDON
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Great God, as we behold the birth of Jesus again, we are mindful of how we have failed to receive the fullness of that gift. The story points us to your glory, yet we focus on things of little significance. Tell us again that the Savior is born. Tell us again that we are forgiven. Tell us again that our lives can be abundant in faith, hope and love because of what you have given us in Jesus Christ.
SILENT PRAYERS OF CONFESSION AND PETITION
KYRIE ELEISON (#578) — “O Lord, Have Mercy” — ORÉ PORIAJÚ VEREKÓ
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*GLORIA PATRI (#583) — “Glory to God” — GLORIA (Taizé)
PROCLAMATION OF GOD’S WORD AND PRAYER
SCRIPTURE — Luke 1:39-56 — page 831 of the pew Bible — Janet Wallace, Liturgist
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
ANTHEM — “ Hope for Tomorrow” — Dave Gardner
Alleluia Singers; Sarah Frederickson, soloist
SCRIPTURE — Luke 2:1-14 — page 832 of the pew Bible
Janet Wallace, Liturgist
ANTHEM — “Still, Still, Still” — arr. Matthew Culloton — Resound; Joe Mendick soloist
“Light dawns on a weary world” — Mack Wilberg — Chamber Singers
“Angels from the Realms of Glory” — arr. Dan Forrest — Massed Choir
*CHRISTMAS HYMN — Hark! The Herald Angels Sing — MENDELSSOHN — Arr. Sir David Willcocks
1. Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king.
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise; join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king!”
2.Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come, offspring of the virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail the incarnate deity,
Pleased in flesh with us to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanual.
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king!”
3.Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die,
Born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king!”
RECEPTION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY — “Love Came Down at Christmas” — David C. Dickau — Chamber Singers
“Love’s Pure Light” — Elaine Hagenberg — Massed Choir
*CHRISTMAS HYMN — O Come, All Ye Faithful — arr. Sir David Willcocks
1.O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant;
O come ye; O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come, and behold him, born the King of angels!
Refrain: O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord!
2.Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation.
Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above;
Glory to God in the highest:
Refrain
3.Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning,
Jesus, to thee be glory giv’n;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:
Refrain
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE — “A King Is Born” — Timothy Sarsany — Resound; Tyler Kalinowski, soloist