Sunday December 29, 2024 Worship Service
Livestream at 11:10 a.m.

GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME

PRELUDE — While by Our Sheep (Settings 1-4) — Jeffrey Blersch
As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

SILENT MEDITATION                         
All will come again into its strength: the fields undivided, the waters undammed, the trees towering, and the walls built low. And in the valleys, people as strong and as varied as the land. And no churches where God is imprisoned and lamented like a trapped and wounded animal. The houses welcoming all who knock and a sense of boundless offering in all relations, and in you and me.
The Book of Hours, Rainer Maria Rilke

CALL TO WORSHIP — Psalm 148
Let them praise the Name of the Lord!
       For He commanded, and they were created
He established them forever and ever;
       He fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed – Praise the Lord all the Earth!

PRAISE AND ADORATION

*HYMN #113 — Angels We Have Heard on High — GLORIA
(*Please stand, if you are able)

CONFESSION AND PARDON

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious and Loving God, we know that You have a plan for us. We know that Your way for us is better than our own. And yet time and again, we make our own plan and seek our own way. We follow our own agenda and we disregard Yours. Forgive us Lord. As we look to the New Year, give us the vision to see Your plan. Give us the courage to follow Your way. Let us be guided by You. Help us to live as we should. Amen.

SILENT PRAYERS OF CONFESSION AND PETITION

KYRIE ELEISON (#121) — “O Little Town of Bethlehem”  — ST. LOUIS
O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us; abide with us, our Lord
Emmanuel!

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

 *CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE (#583) — Glory to God  GLORIA (Taizé)                                             

WELCOME              

*HYMN #145 — What Child Is This — GREENSLEEVE                                    

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FELLOWSHIP OF PRAYER

JOYS AND CONCERNS

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
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  — The Birthday of a King — William H. Niedlinger

PROCLAMATION OF GOD’S WORD

SCRIPTURE LESSON — Luke 2: 41-52 — page 833 of the pew Bible

SERMON — “The Heart’s Treasure” — Rev. Garry

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH — Section 3.06 of The Scots Confession
That when the fullness of time came God sent his Son, his eternal wisdom, the substance of his own glory, into this world, who took the nature of humanity from the substance of a woman, a virgin, by means of the Holy Ghost. And so was born the “just seed of David,” the “Angel of the great counsel of God,” the very Messiah promised, whom we confess and acknowledge to be Emmanuel, true God and true man, two perfect natures united and joined in one person.

*SANCTUS — Holy, Holy, God Almighty — DIVINUM MYSTERIUM

PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY — Sounds of Christmas (A Medley of Four Carols)  — arr. Margaret Goldston
(Sing We Now of Christmas, Angels We Have Heard on High, Joy to the World, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing)

*DOXOLOGY (#609) — Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow  — LASST UNS ERFREUEN
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. Praise Christ, all creatures high and low.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise God, in Jesus fully known: Creator, Word, and Spirit one.
Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Gracious and Loving God, You have given us the ultimate gift – Your Son. Please accept our tithes and offerings. Let our resources be used for Your glory, and not our own. Let our skills and talents be used for the work of Your kingdom, and not our own. We dedicate them to You in Your holy name. Amen.

*HYMN #136 — Go, Tell It on the Mountain — GO TELL IT

*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

*BENEDICTION RESPONSE                                                                                                     

*POSTLUDE — Carol of the Bells   Paul Fey