SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
Sunday, December 25, 2022 10:00am GATHERING
PRELUDE
WORDSOFWELCOME
*CALLTOWORSHIP
Leader: Theworldwasonceindarkness.
People: Now we have God’s Light, Jesus, to shine on us.
Leader: ThewordsandpromisesofGodarealltrue!
People: God has given us the best gift of all!
Leader: Rejoice!Godiswithus!
People: Praise be to God! AMEN.
*PRAYEROFINVOCATION
*HYMN#273 Good Christian Men, Rejoice
*AFFIRMATIONOFFAITH(Apostles’Creed)
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost, The holy catholic church, The communion of saints, The forgiveness of sins, The resurrection of the body, And the life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYEROFCONFESSION
Gracious God, You have sent Your Son to us to show us the way. Even when we have turned our backs, followed our own paths, You offer us Light. Forgive us when we are so willful and stubborn. Forgive us when we think more about ourselves and our comforts than we think of reaching out to others. Remind us again that Jesus witnessed to us the Light of Love that serves, guides and heals. Thank You for loving us so much that You would give us this most precious gift. And when we again falter and fail, lift us once more and pour Your Light into our lives, that we might fully understand the power and depth of Your love for us. Amen.
ASSURANCEOFPARDON(John3:16-17)
Leader: For Godso loved theworldthat Hegave Hisoneandonly Son, thatwhoever believes in Him shallnotperishbuthaveeternallife.ForGoddidnotsendHisSonintotheworldtocondemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Therefore, let us assure one another of God’s pardon.
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God.
Sing We Now of Christmas
Choir
SingwenowofChristmas,Noelsingwehere! ListentoourpraisestotheBabesodear.
Refrain: SingweNoel,theKingisborn,Noel! SingwenowofChristmas,singweallNoel!
ProphetssangofChristmaslongbeforethedawn. NowtheLightisshining,andwejointheirsong. Refrain
AngelssangHisgloryatthehumblebirth. Hearthesongcrescendo,asitfillstheearth. Refrain
PRAYEROFILLUMINATION
Spirit of God, speak once again through the Words of Scripture that our listening ears may hear Your voice. Help us to place Your Word in our minds, treasure it in our hearts, choose it with our wills, and live it through our bodies. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
SCRIPTURE Isaiah9:1-7NIV
Nevertheless, there willbe nomore gloomfor those who were in distress. Inthepast he humbled the land of Zebulunandtheland ofNaphtali,butinthefuturehewillhonorGalileeofthenations,bytheWayoftheSea, beyondtheJordan—
2 Thepeoplewalkingindarkness haveseenagreatlight; onthoselivinginthelandofdeepdarkness alighthasdawned.
3 Youhaveenlargedthenation andincreasedtheirjoy; theyrejoicebeforeyou aspeoplerejoiceattheharvest, aswarriorsrejoice whendividingtheplunder.
4 ForasinthedayofMidian’sdefeat, youhaveshattered theyokethatburdensthem, thebaracrosstheirshoulders, therodoftheiroppressor.
5 Everywarrior’sbootusedinbattle andeverygarmentrolledinblood willbedestinedforburning, willbefuelforthefire.
Leader: ThisisthewordoftheLord. All: Thanks be to God!
6 Fortousachildisborn, tousasonisgiven, andthegovernmentwillbeonhisshoulders. Andhewillbecalled WonderfulCounselor,MightyGod, EverlastingFather,PrinceofPeace.
7 Ofthegreatnessofhisgovernmentandpeace therewillbenoend.
HewillreignonDavid’sthrone andoverhiskingdom, establishingandupholdingit withjusticeandrighteousness fromthattimeonandforever. ThezealoftheLordAlmighty willaccomplishthis.
