The Service for the Lord’s Day
December 22, 2019 10:30 am
“Good News Travels Fast”
WE GATHER TO PRAISE GOD, THE LORD OF LIFE
Prelude “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” arr. J Lee
“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” arr. J Lee
News of the Church
Please complete the attendance form found in the red Welcome book in your pew. Prayer request forms are also available in the Welcome book. Thank you.
*The Greeting and Welcoming of One Another
(There are no strangers in God’s House, just friends we have not yet met.
Greet your neighbor with Christian love and let them know that you’re glad to see them!)
Hymn “Glory” C Maher
Call to Worship
Leader: We gather together as people searching for guidance;
People: seeking the way to the Light of the World.
Leader: Signs of the presence of the Lord surround us;
People: some are obvious, others unclear, but all point to His love for us.
Leader: Even if a bright star doesn’t light the sky, or a chorus of angels doesn’t fill
the night, God finds ways to tell us the Good News of Jesus and desires
us to share it with others.
ALL: Let us worship God!
Lighting of the Advent Candle: The Angels’ Candle Blue Christmas Participants
*Hymn “Go Light the World” C Rice
*Prayer of Confession (Unison)
Dear Lord, we are often bearers of bad news. We share gossip and criticisms; we are more apt to complain about inferior work than to applaud good service. We look beyond a friendly smile expecting to find a frown. We tend to repeat the worst of news instead of sharing the best. Help us to see Your light in the world; to eagerly tell others how Your love shines through us. Help us not to spurn those seeking goodness and instead spur others onto it. Encourage us to go quickly into the world, spreading the Good News that You are here!…(Silent time of prayer)
*Assurance of Pardon
Leader: Even when we keep the Good News to ourselves, and fail to truly believe it, Jesus shares His love, His mercy and His forgiveness.
ALL: Thanks be to God!
*The Gloria Patri – Hymn Tune, 581
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Children’s Message
After the Children’s Message, preschoolers through 1st Graders may continue to Millard Hall for Children’s Church. All other students are asked to remain in worship.
Anthem “A Tiny Child Will Come” D Besig
Chancel Choir
Message “Good News Travels Fast” Dr. Jennifer Blake
Luke 2:8-14 Pew Bible pg. 833
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD
*Hymn #111 “From Heaven Above”
Prayers of the People and The Lord’s Prayer (Unison)
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.
Offering
Offertory “Emmanuel” M W Smith
Adonai Singers
*Doxology (The Hymnal, p. 606)
*Prayer of Dedication
WE GO FORTH TO SERVE
Hymn #143 “Angels, From the Realm of Glory”
Benediction
Postlude “The Angel Gabriel” J W Greene
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*Please stand, in body or in spirit
As you leave today, take the message of Christ’s birth with you.
Share the Good News so quickl
