Worship Bulletin
December 15, 2024
Gathering Music
Randall Fleer
Call To Worship
Rev. Michael Ware
Hymn of Praise
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice
Angels from the realms of glory,
wing your flight o'er all the earth;
ye who sang creation's story,
now proclaim Messiah's birth:
Refrain:
Come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn King.
Shepherds in the fields abiding,
watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing,
yonder shines the infant Light: [Refrain]
Sages, leave your contemplations,
brighter visions beam afar;
seek the great Desire of Nations,
ye have seen his natal star: [Refrain]
Saints before the altar bending,
watching long in hope and fear,
suddenly the Lord, descending,
in his temple shall appear. [Refrain]
Though an infant now we view him
he will share his Father's throne,
gather all the nations to him;
every knee shall then bow down. [Refrain]
Prayer of Approach
Rev. Michael Ware
Advent Candle Lighting
Christ Be Our Light
Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light! Shine in your church gathered today
Time with Children
Rev. Kathryn Ray
Scripture Lesson
Zephaniah 3:14-20
1 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; 3 he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.
Anthem
On Jordan's Bank
Chancel Choir
Sermon
Rejoice in God
Rev. Michael Ware
Hymn of Response
It Came upon the Midnight Clear
Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly minded,
for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.
King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
in the body and the blood,
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heavenly food.
Rank on rank the host of heaven
spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of Light descendeth
from the realms of endless day,
that the powers of hell may vanish
as the darkness clears away.
At his feet the six-winged seraph,
cherubim, with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the Presence,
as with ceaseless voice they cry,
"Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia, Lord Most High!
Time of Prayer
Rev. Michael Ware
Receiving of Tithes and Offerings
Click here to give
Offering Music
A Star Will Soon Shine
Chancel Choir
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise God all creatures here below,
Praise God above, ye heavenly host,
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost!
Prayer of Dedication
Pastor Eh Lay Taw
Hymn of Invitation
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Lo! how a rose e'er blooming from tender stem hath sprung,
of Jesse's lineage coming, as saints of old have sung.
It came a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
when half spent was the night.
Isaiah 'twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
with Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind.
To show God's love aright, she bore to us a Savior,
when half spent was the night.
This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere.
True man, yet very God, from sin and death he saves us
and lightens every load.
Randall Fleer
Call To Worship
Rev. Michael Ware
Hymn of Praise
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice
Angels from the realms of glory,
wing your flight o'er all the earth;
ye who sang creation's story,
now proclaim Messiah's birth:
Refrain:
Come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn King.
Shepherds in the fields abiding,
watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing,
yonder shines the infant Light: [Refrain]
Sages, leave your contemplations,
brighter visions beam afar;
seek the great Desire of Nations,
ye have seen his natal star: [Refrain]
Saints before the altar bending,
watching long in hope and fear,
suddenly the Lord, descending,
in his temple shall appear. [Refrain]
Though an infant now we view him
he will share his Father's throne,
gather all the nations to him;
every knee shall then bow down. [Refrain]
Prayer of Approach
Rev. Michael Ware
Advent Candle Lighting
Christ Be Our Light
Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light! Shine in your church gathered today
Time with Children
Rev. Kathryn Ray
Scripture Lesson
Zephaniah 3:14-20
1 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; 3 he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.
Anthem
On Jordan's Bank
Chancel Choir
Sermon
Rejoice in God
Rev. Michael Ware
Hymn of Response
It Came upon the Midnight Clear
Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly minded,
for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.
King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
in the body and the blood,
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heavenly food.
Rank on rank the host of heaven
spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of Light descendeth
from the realms of endless day,
that the powers of hell may vanish
as the darkness clears away.
At his feet the six-winged seraph,
cherubim, with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the Presence,
as with ceaseless voice they cry,
"Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia, Lord Most High!
Time of Prayer
Rev. Michael Ware
Receiving of Tithes and Offerings
Click here to give
Offering Music
A Star Will Soon Shine
Chancel Choir
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise God all creatures here below,
Praise God above, ye heavenly host,
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost!
Prayer of Dedication
Pastor Eh Lay Taw
Hymn of Invitation
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Lo! how a rose e'er blooming from tender stem hath sprung,
of Jesse's lineage coming, as saints of old have sung.
It came a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
when half spent was the night.
Isaiah 'twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
with Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind.
To show God's love aright, she bore to us a Savior,
when half spent was the night.
This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere.
True man, yet very God, from sin and death he saves us
and lightens every load.
Benediction
Rev. Michael Ware
Benediction Response
Three Fold Amen
Postlude
Randall Fleer
Rev. Michael Ware
Benediction Response
Three Fold Amen
Postlude
Randall Fleer
