Opening Song

Once in royal David’s city
stood a lowly cattle shed,
where a mother laid her baby
in a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ, her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven
who is God and Lord of all;
and his shelter was a stable,
and his cradle was a stall:
with the poor, and meek, and lowly
lived on earth our Savior holy.

Jesus is our childhood’s pattern,
day by day like us he grew;
he was little, weak, and helpless,
tears and smiles like us he knew:
and he feels for all our sadness,
and he shares in all our gladness.

Not in that poor lowly stable
with the oxen standing by
we shall see him, but in heaven,
set at God’s right hand on high;
there his children gather round,
bright like stars, with glory crowned.

Text: Cecil F. Alexander, 1848, P.D.
Tune (IRBY): Henry J. Gauntlett, 1849, P.D. 

Welcome

Call to Worship & Greeting

The people who walked in darkness Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
    have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
    on them has light shone.

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,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
    to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

And the zeal of the Lord of hosts has done this.
Unto us a child is born.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 13:14
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Amen.

Song

Advent Candle Lighting

Song

Old Testament Lesson

A reading from Isaiah the prophet:

52 7 How beautiful upon the mountains
    are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
    who publishes salvation,
    who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
8 The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;
    together they sing for joy;
for eye to eye they see
    the return of the Lord to Zion.
9 Break forth together into singing,
    you waste places of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people;
    he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The Lord has bared his holy arm
    before the eyes of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
    the salvation of our God.
—Isaiah 52:7-10

Prayer of Adoration

Based on Psalm 97

God, you reign over all things.
Let the earth rejoice; mainlands and islands—celebrate!

Thick, dark clouds envelop you; your throne is righteousness and justice.
Fire blazes ahead of you, and consumes all that stands against you.
Your lightnings light up the earth; the earth sees and shakes.
The mountains melt like a wax candle in your presence.

The heavens announce you’ll set everything right.
Everyone will see it—glorious!
For you, God, are the high God of the cosmos,
exalted far above all gods.

You love those who hate evil;
you guard the lives of the faithful;
you snatch them from the grip of the wicked;
you plant light in the souls of your people,
joy in the upright of heart.

So we rejoice in you, O God;
we give thanks to your holy name.
Amen.

New Testament Lesson

A reading from Paul’s letter to Titus.

3 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
—Titus 3:4-7

Song

The Nicene Creed

Children’s Time: Advent Stories

Parents, if you would like, this is a good place to pull up the video linked here. Each week, Beth Cooke will tell an Advent Story in a creative way, and there will also be a link to a coloring page after the video.

Prayer of Illumination

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.

Gracious God,
who in these last days condescends to speak to us by your Son,
speak to us again today
the grace of the Incarnate Word
through the grace of this, your written Word,
that through it we may receive life.
Amen.

Scripture Reading

Luke 2:1-14

2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths 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,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Sermon

Song

Lord, you were rich beyond all splendor,
yet, for love’s sake, became so poor;
leaving your throne in glad surrender,
sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.
Lord, you were rich beyond all splendor,
yet, for love’s sake, became so poor.

You are our God beyond all praising,
yet, for love’s sake, became a man;
stooping so low, but sinners raising
heavenward by your eternal plan.
You are our God beyond all praising,
yet, for love’s sake, became a man.

Lord, you are love beyond all telling;
Savior and King, we worship you.
Emmanuel, within us dwelling,
make us and keep us pure and true.
Lord, you are love beyond all telling;
Savior and King, we worship you.

Text: Frank Houghton (1894-1972), from 2 Corinthians 8:9 © OMF International(UK)
Tune (FRAGRANCE/QUÉLLE EST CETTE ODEUR AGREABLE): Martin Fallas Shaw (1875-1958) from Songs of Praise; arr. reproduced by permission of Oxford University Press, Used by permission, CCLI# 220360

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God’s Parting Words

Hear these beautiful words:

God of God, Light of Light eternal,
lo, he abhors not the virgin’s womb.

He abhors not.

May that God go before you to lead you,
behind you to guard you,
beneath you to support you,
and beside you to befriend you.

Do not be afraid.
May the blessing of God Almighty—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—
come upon you and settle in around you.
Do not be afraid.

Christ’s joy is for you.

Song & Parting Blessing