December 15 Order of Service and Announcements

MORE PEOPLE MORE LIKE CHRIST

9:00am/10:30am Services

December 15, 2024

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Sunday, December 15, 2024 9:00am & 10:30am

PLEASE SILENCE OR PLACE YOUR CELL PHONE ON VIBRATE.

GATHERING

PRELUDE

WORDS OF WELCOME

ADVENT WREATH CANDLE LIGHTING AND CALL TO WORSHIP

9:00AM Lisa, Steve, Bette, and Renny Mehta 10:30AM Scott Zeleznik and Beth Douglas

Reader 1: Today is the third Sunday in the season of Advent. Advent means “coming,” and in this season we prepare for the coming of Christ. We light the candles on the Advent wreath to remind us of the blessings Christ brings to the world.

Reader 2: Today we light the third candle of the Advent wreath, the candle of JOY. We join with brothers and sisters in Christ in proclaiming, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Congregation: “The Joy of the Lord is our strength.”

LIGHTING OF THE CANDLE OF JOY

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION

Reader 1: Let us pray. Heavenly Father, this third week of Advent, let us remember that the good news of Jesus’ birth brings us great joy this Christmas season. Our joy comes from You. The joy that filled the hearts of the shepherds, the angels, the wise men, the hosts of heaven, and Mary and Joseph is the joy that still has the power to overwhelm our hearts with rejoicing. You offer that same joy to us now as we know You and recognize Jesus as our Savior and Lord. In His name we pray. Amen.

Reader 2: Come let us stand and worship the Lord as we raise our voices in song.

*HYMN Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (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 resurrection of the body, And the life everlasting. Amen.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Like so many others, Lord, there are times when we sing Your praises, but follow from a distance. We welcome You as long as You fit our expectations and answer our every whim. We are quick to point out the shortcomings of others, so as to excuse our own faults. Forgive us, Lord, and help us to become true disciples of Christ. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON (1 John 1:9)

Leader: If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Therefore, let us assure one another of God’s pardon.

All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God.

ANTHEM

Come to the Light David Rasbach Chancel Choir

The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin;