Dec 19, 2010

Order of worship

Dec. 19, 2010

Call to Worship

Good Morning and Happy Lord’s day

This is the fourth week of Advent. Just one week till Christmas.  The day we celebrate our Savior’s birth.  We will be lighting our fourth advent candle this morning to represent our anticipation of the celebration of Jesus first coming and to draw our attention to the fact that he is coming again.  And tonight we will have a special Christmas Candlelight Service to celebrate the coming of the light of the world.  So I would like to invite all of you to come back tonight at 6pm and be sure to invite some family and friends to come as well.  And if you are able, bring your favorite Christmas desert and afterwards we will have some desert and hot chocolate and coffee…

Psalm 34:1-3&8

1. I will bless the Lord at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2. My soul makes its boast in the Lord;

Let the humble hear and be glad.

3. Oh, magnify the Lord with me,

And let us exalt his name together!

8. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!

Stand with me and let us join together in praising our Lord in prayer and singing.

Prayer of Praise

Lord, you are great and greatly to be praised.  You have made our hearts glad and we rejoice this morning because you have looked down on our humble estate and done great things for us.  You have poured out your grace on us.  And we want to respond to that grace this morning by worshipping you.  Lord, blot out our iniquities.  Create in us a clean heart and renew a right Spirit within us.  Lord, fill us with your Holy Spirit that our worship might be acceptable in your sight. 

We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Intro to: What Child is this?

The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and said, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.” Luke 2:31-32

Song 1: What Child is This?

Intro to: Away in a manger

While Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to give birth.  And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:4-7)

Song 2: away in a manger

Intro to: angels we have heard on high

Angels we have heard on high, announcing our Savior’s birth and praising God and singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.”  (Luke 2:14)

Song 3: Angels We Have Heard on High

Intro to: o little town of bethlehem

Congregational Reading

Micah 5:2-5

But you, O Bethlehem…, who are too little to be of among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.  Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel.  And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.  And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.  And he shall be their peace…

Song 4: O Little Town of Bethlehem

Prayer of COnfession for Offering

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

18 Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. 19 Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

Heavenly Father, we ask that you would forgive us for our covetousness.  For our idolatry.  For loving the things of this world more than you in our words, thoughts and actions.  Lord we need your help.  You have promised to provide for the needs of your children.  And we give you glory because you have given us much.  Lord, help us to be content with what you have given.  Fill us to overflowing with a love for you and others that motivates us to give generously and joyfully as channels of your grace and mercy.  Lord, occupy our hearts and minds with joy and satisfaction in you in such a way that the things of this world will pale in comparison.  

We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Offering

Intro to: go tell it on the mountain

Like the shepherds, We have heard the good news of great joy and we have believed and we must let that light shine that others may see and glorify our Father in heaven.

Song 5: Go tell it on the Mountain

Intro to: i heard the bells

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end… (Isaiah 9:6-7)

SOng 6: I heard the Bells

Scripture Reading (Luke 1:26-35)

Prayer of Illumination

Sermon

Prayer of intercession

Song of Benediction: Go tell it on the mountain

dismiss

Dec 19, 2010 Christmas Candlelight Service

Order of Worship

December 19, 2010  (Evening Christmas Candlelight Service)

Call to worship

Welcome.  We have been lighting a candle each Sunday for the last four Sunday’s to represent our anticipation of the celebration of the birth of Jesus.  Tonight we will light the fifth candle to signify that Jesus, the light of the world, has come.  He came the first time as a baby, born to Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem.  He was no ordinary baby though; he was Emmanuel (God with us).  And, he came for a specific purpose, to live a perfect life and to die on the cross to shed his blood for the sins of all who would believe.  He rose from the grave the third day and ascended into heaven and he is coming again one glorious day to call his children home.  Let’s join our hearts in prayer this evening and thank God for sending his son and to ask his blessing as we seek to worship him this evening.

Prayer

Creation/Fall/Proto-evangel/prophecy 
By Connie Dever

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was covered with water and was in utter darkness.  And then God said let there be light and there was light. And for six days he created everything in the heavens and on the earth.  What was the world like at dawn on Day Six? The light of moon and stars withdrew in the blazing brilliance of the rising sun. The tall mountains and gently sloping hills rose high above vast grassy plains. Birds swooped across the cloudless, sapphire sky and perched in windswept treetops. Fish teemed in the foamy ocean and wriggled in the clear, sparkling rivers. What was the world like on the dawn of the Day Six? It was beautiful…but, strangely still and quiet. It was waiting for something more. The forests silently waited for creatures to venture into its cool greenness. The valleys waited for someone to come and nibble its juicy grasses. Small seeds lay sleeping under the fields, ready to sprout when there was someone to tend and harvest them. For you see, at dawn on Day Six, the LORD had yet to make any living creatures to live upon the land He had created. But now all of this was about to change. The LORD said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:24-25)

Now all the earth was abuzz with life. Yet the LORD was not through creating on Day Six. Once more the LORD spoke: "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." (Genesis 1:26-27) The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)

Dawn of Day Six had long passed. Now the sun was setting deep in the west. Its warm rays were growing dim and the twinkling stars were beginning to show their faces from under the dark blanket of outer space once more. Animals of every kind nestled down for their first night in their newly made dens. Birds roosted in the trees. And the man and the woman—Adam and Eve--were in their special garden, the Garden of Eden, enjoying perfect fellowship with God and with each other, and soaking in all the reflections of God’s glory displayed in the panorama of His wonderful creation. God looked at all He made and said it was very good. It was completely pleasing to Him. There was nothing that needed to be improved or changed. It was perfectly ready for His plans. “And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day."  And on the seventh day he rested.  

     All was peaceful, until one day Eve was walking near the one tree of the garden on which hung fruit that was forbidden to eat.  Then Satan, the tempter, appeared to Eve in the form of a serpent, and persuaded her to eat the forbidden fruit.  Eve saw that the fruit was good to eat so she took some fruit from the tree and she ate it and then she gave some to Adam and he ate it and the eyes of them both were opened.  In that fatal moment, sin came into the world.  The world that was created very good to reflect the radiant light of God’s glory had now been plunged into darkness and sin.  Before this, Adam and Eve would walk with God and the full radiance of his glory in the panorama of his creation unashamed.  But after they disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit everything changed.  When God came looking for them, his glory brought shame because it exposed the wickedness of their hearts.  So God, being just, pronounced a curse on Satan, all mankind, and the creation because Adam’s disobedience.  But, God who is rich and mercy and great in love promised that one day in the future the seed of the women would bruise the head of Satan to redeem mankind and creation and restore it to it’s original glory.  The promised son was foretold by the prophets of days of old, who said,

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (meaning, God with us).”  “And you, O Bethlehem of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”  “The people who walked in darkness will see a great light; For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Special Music: OCome, ocome, Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

The birth of jesus foretold By Jon Bloom 

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/josephs-painful-decision

One day, In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.

Mary wasn’t herself. Joseph had sensed some urgency in her request that he meet her at “their” tree. She was staring at the ground. She seemed burdened. 

“Mary, is something wrong?”

She looked up at him intensely. “Joseph…  I’m pregnant.”

A blast of shock and disbelief hit him, blowing away all his coherent thoughts for a moment. His legs quavered. He grabbed at the tree to steady himself. It felt solid, rooted.

He stared at her. He was numb. No words came. Everything seemed surreal.

Mary was still looking at him with her intense eyes. He saw no shame in them. No defensiveness, no defiance. Not even tears. They looked…innocent. And they were searching his eyes for an answer.

Mary broke the charged silence. “What I need to tell you next I don’t even know how to say.”

Joseph leaned harder into the tree, bracing himself. He looked down to Mary’s feet. Her feet. They looked just the same as they did when he believed she was pure.

That was what made everything so strange. Mary looked as chaste as she ever did. If she had been the flirtatious type or had some discernable character weakness, this news might have been comprehendible. But Mary was literally the very last person Joseph would have suspected of unfaithfulness. He could not imagine her with another lover. He didn’t want to know who it was.  

“What I’m going to say next will be very difficult to believe. But will you hear me out?” Still looking at Mary’s feet, Joseph’s nod was barely detectable.

“I have not been unfaithful to you.”

 Joseph lifted his eyes to hers. Rape? That might explain her innocence. But why wouldn’t she tell me—

“God has caused me to become pregnant.”

This statement flew around his mind, looking for a place to land. It found none.

“Joseph, I know how it sounds. But I’m telling you the truth.” Then Mary described an angelic visit and the message she had received. She was to bear a son, conceived by the Holy Spirit, who would be called the Son of the Most High who would sit on David’s throne forever. God was the baby’s father. Mary was pregnant with the Messiah.

Mary sounded as sane as ever. Nothing about her was different—except that she was claiming to be pregnant with God’s child. He felt like his brain was exploding. Was she adding blasphemy to adultery? He could not conceive of her being capable of either.

“I…I don’t even know what to say to you, Mary. I can’t even think straight. I need to be alone.”

Joseph spent the late afternoon walking up on the brow of the hill that overlooked Nazareth. Things were clear up there. From this 500-foot perspective he could see the Sea of Galilee to the east, and to the west he could just see the blue Mediterranean on the horizon. But he could not see how Mary’s story could be true. He could not recall anything like it in the Torah. “God, show me what to do,” he pleaded.

The sun was setting as Joseph walked back toward the nearly finished house that was to be their home—the house he had dreamed just that morning would someday know the happy voices of his and Mary’s children. That dream was now dead. His decision was made. Mary’s claims were too incredible, maybe even delusional. He needed to end the betrothal, but he resolved to do it as quietly as possible, shielding Mary from avoidable shame. He still loved her.

That night he fell asleep, exhausted from grief. And while he was sleeping,

The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

Special Music: What Child is This?

The birth of Jesus 

(Reading from Luke 2:1-7)

What Child is this?

Away in a manger

O holy night

o come all ye faithful

ANGELS, SHEPHERDS, AND WISEMEN 

(READING FROM MATT 2:1-12 & LUKE 2:8-20)

SPECIAL MUSIC:  GO TELL IN ON THE MOUNTAIN

Special Music:  God Rest ye merry gentlemen

Joy to the world

Angels we have heard on high

hark the harold angels sing

O little town of bethlehem

Sermonet (FROM LUKE 1 & 2)

Light candles (with Silent Night playing)

Special Music: Silent Night

Dec 12, 2010

Order of worship

Dec 12, 2010

Call to worship

I invite you to hear the word of the Lord this morning

John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

The great wonder of the Christmas season is that Jesus, the second person of the trinity, the Son of God, took on human flesh.  He was all God and all man at the same time.  He lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death, and rose again, and ascended to the right hand of the Father where he is today making intercession for us. 

So today we find ourselves one week closer to the celebration of Christ’s birth and one week closer to his second coming.

What a joy and a privilege we have as the children of God to meet together this morning to worship our Lord, to praise him for who he is, to thank him for what he has done, with hearts full of love, joy, peace and hope and anticipation of his second coming.

Please stand for prayer as we begin our worship service

Prayer of Praise and thanksgiving

O God we praise you because you are the all powerful creator of heaven and earth and you hold all things together with your mighty hand.  Father we thank you for your great plan of redemption.  Jesus, we thank you for becoming a man and living a perfect life and dying on the cross for our sins.  And we are so thankful that you are alive and making intercession for us.  Holy Spirit, we thank you for calling us to repentance and giving us faith.  Lord, you are our rock and our salvation.  The King of Kings, The Lord of Lords, You alone are worthy to be praised.  Lord forgive for of our sins and renew a right spirit within us that our worship this morning might rise up as sweet smelling savor to you.

We pray these things in Jesus name, Amen.

Congregational Reading

Psalm 95:1-7  Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
3 For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.  6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
7 For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.

Intro to: Joy the world!

The Lord has come! Lets sing to the Lord! Lets make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation

Song 1: Joy to the World!

Intro to: Silent night!  Holy Night!

One Holy night, “Mary brought forth her first born Son, and wrapped him swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger.”

Song 2: Silent Night!  Holy Night!

Song 3: hark the Harold Angels Sing

Intro to: I heard the bells on Christmas day

An angel appeared to the shepherds and said “Behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!”  And the heavenly host broke into praise, saying, “Peace on earth, Good will to men!”

SOng 4: I heard the bells on Christmas day

Prayer of Confession before the offering

In I Chronicles 29 King David expresses his gratitude to God for all that he had given.  David said, “Blessed are you, O Lord, God of Israel, our Father forever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and victory and the majesty, for all that is in the earth and the heavens is yours.  Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.  Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all.  In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.  And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name…

Heavenly Father we want to express our gratitude to you as King David did many years ago.   We praise you, for you are the Lord of heaven and earth.  You are great and mighty and powerful and glorious and majestic.  All that is in the earth and the heavens is yours.   Lord, you have blessed us with much.   We are unworthy of your good gifts.  Fill us with a desire to give much.  Lord free us of our love for the things of this world and fill us with a love for you that will cause us to freely and joyfully give.  Lord use us now as channels of your grace and mercy.

We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

offering

Intro to: O Come, O come, Emmanuel

An angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph and said,

“Joseph, Son of David…that which is conceived in Mary is from the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a son, and you will call his name Jesus…  Emmanuel,” God with us.

Song 5: O Come, O come, Emmanuel

Intro to: Amazing Grace

John bore witness about Jesus and cried out,

“From his fullness we have received, grace upon grace”

Song 6: Amazing Grace

Scripture Reading: John 1:1-18

Prayer of illumination

Lord we thank you for the assurance that your Holy Spirit abides with us this morning.  Lord we need him now as we look to your Scriptures.  Please open our minds and our hearts now to understand and apply the Word of God to our lives in a special way.  Lord fill me with your Holy Spirit now in order that I might preach the Word boldly and clearly.  We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sermon: Behold the light!  (Gen 1; John 1; John 9)

prayer of intercession

Heavenly Father, we thank you for your Word.  We thank you for Jesus.  May your Spirit abide with us now.  Lord, expose any sin that might be in our hearts or our lives.  Lord draw us to your throne of grace and forgive us we pray. Prepare our hearts to receive your supper. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord’s Supper Sermonet

Lord’s supper

Song of benediction: Amazing Grace

Welcome into church membership

Prayer

dismiss