December 29 Order of Service and Annoucements

9:00am/10:30am Services December 29, 2024

MORE PEOPLE MORE LIKE CHRIST

FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS Sunday, December 29, 2024 9:00am & 10:30am PLEASE SILENCE OR PLACE YOUR CELL PHONE ON VIBRATE.

GATHERING PRELUDE WORDS OF WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: People: Leader: People:

How wondrous! A new heaven and a new earth!

The old, bruised and angered, fearful and alienated, will pass away.

In its place God will offer new hope and peace.

God will dwell with His people forevermore.

Leader: People:

Worship the Lord who is doing a new thing.

Praise God who establishes His reign in the heart of His people. Amen.

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION *HYMN

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

*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 forgiveness of sins, The resurrection of the body, And the life everlasting. Amen.

*GLORY BE TO THE FATHER

PRAYER OF CONFESSION We come to You this day, gracious Lord, exhausted from all the activities of the season. It seems we spend so much energy, time, and resources in preparation, and then when it is over, we collapse. We wonder what happened to all the enthusiasm we had as we began the year.

Lord, forgive us for placing our energies in getting and gathering instead of abiding and sharing.

Give us peace and strength to renew our commitment to You. Remind us again to look around at the many ways we can be of service to You by serving others. Help us move forward in compassion in the coming year and not collapse in our witness. Heal us, merciful Lord, for we ask this in Jesus’ name. 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.

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION 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 Leader: This is the word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God!

Isaiah 42:1-9

CARING PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE THE LORD’S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. *HYMN

What Child Is This

Page 1033 Pew Bible

OFFERINGS OF THE PEOPLE OFFERTORY

*DOXOLOGY

OLD HUNDREDTH

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 2:1-12

SERMON

“Light for the Nations”

*HYMN

The First Noel

Page 1374 Pew Bible Rev. Jim Noble

GOING *BENEDICTION & RESPONSE

*POSTLUDE

Now unto Him