The Worship of God December 12, 2010

Third Sunday of Advent

Welcome in the name of the Lord Jesus! If you are a guest with us, please be sure to sign our Registry when it is passed during the service. Children are welcome in our worship. We have a nursery available for children 3 and under. Children 4 to 6 years of age may be dismissed to Godly Play prior to the sermon. Thank you for joining us today and may the Lord richly bless you.

Song of Assembly1 A Light Has Dawned Light

A light has dawned, a King has come, To redeem every heart and soul,

Born unto us, Emmanuel, the Savior of the world. Let us adore and praise His name.

Angels rejoice and shepherds bow

At the sight of the holy Child, Men from afar searching to find the Savior of the world.

Let us adore and praise His name.

Hosanna in the highest, hosanna, let us sing. Hosanna in the highest, we give glory to the King,

Glory to the King.

You are the Christ, the Son of God, And the nations will rally to You.

Let every heart come recognize the Savior of the world. Let us adore and praise His name.

Welcome and Preparation for Worship “Infinite and an infant. Eternal, and yet born of a woman. Almighty, and yet hanging on a woman’s breast. Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother’s arms. King of angels, and yet the reputed son of Joseph. Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter’s despised son. Oh, the wonder of Christmas.” - Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad!” - Psalm 126

God Opens His Gates and Calls His People In Call to Worship2 Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign! Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Prayer of Adoration & Praise

1 All songs used by permission or covered under CCLI license # 391165. 2 We believe that God always initiates with sinners, so we begin worship with his invitation and command to us to gather in His name.

Hymn of Praise How Great our Joy Traditional

While by the sheep we watched at night, Glad tidings brought an angel bright.

How great our joy! Great our joy!

Joy, joy, joy! Joy, joy, joy! Praise we the Lord in heaven on high! Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!

There shall be born, so He did say,

In Bethlehem a Child today.

There shall the Child lie in a stall, This Child who shall redeem us all.

This gift of God we’ll cherish well, That ever joy our hearts shall fill.

We Confess and Pray I believe that this man Jesus: was crucified, was dead, and was buried; that the third day he rose again from the dead; that he ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

I believe that this same Jesus: was promised beforehand in the sacred Scriptures; was born son of Mary, and of the seed of David according to the flesh; was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness.

I believe that this man Jesus: is Christ, Israel’s Messiah, our Lord and God. And I confess that you Lord Jesus — not despising the womb of a virgin, to become human — overcame death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to the faithful.

And I believe that this same man Jesus, the one Lord Christ, is both God and man. I believe that he is seated at the right hand of the Father, that he will come again in glory to judge both the living and the dead, and that his kingdom will have no end.

O Lord with all eagerness now, I look for the resurrection of the dead — for myself, and for all who love you — and I look for everything promised in the world to come, so that what is mortal in me may be swallowed up by Life.

Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. Praise God in the highest! Amen! The First Noel Traditional Carol

The first Noel, the angel did say, Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep, On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star Shining in the east, beyond them far, And to the earth it gave great light,

And so it continued both day and night. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel.

Then let us all with one accord

Sing praises to our heav’nly Lord, That hath made heaven and earth of naught, And with His blood mankind hath bought.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel.

God Forgives His People Their Sins We Confess Our Sins Psalm 32:1-6 Leader: Lord, we come confessing. We know how blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. We know how blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

People: When we kept silent, our bones wasted away through our groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon us.

Leader: Our strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.

People: Therefore, we have acknowledged our sin to you, and we have not covered our iniquity.

Leader: We said, “We will confess our transgressions to the Lord.”

People: And you forgave the iniquity of our sin.

Leader: Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in a rush of great waters, they shall not reach us... Silent and Personalized Confession of Sin... Amen! Assurance of Deliverance Psalm 32:7 You are a hiding place for us; you preserve us from trouble; you surround us with songs of deliverance. Worship with Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs Angels from the Realms of Glory Montgomery

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.

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 man is now residing, yonder shines the infant Light: Come and worship, come and worship,

Worship Christ, the newborn King.

All creation, join in praising God the Father, Spirit, Son; Ever more your voices raising to the eternal Three in One.

Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King.

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

It came upon the midnight clear that glorious song of old. From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold.

Peace on the earth good will to men from heaven’s all gracious King. The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.

What Child is This Traditional

What child is this, Who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,

While shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste, to bring Him laud, the babe, the son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christian, fear; for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spear, shall pierce Him through, The cross be borne for me, for you:

Hail, hail the Word made flesh, the babe, the son of Mary.

Prayers of Thanksgiving & Petition Elder Glenn Fincher Offering Anthem Child of Light Worship Choir

God Speaks to His People Through His Word Sermon3 Pastor Tommy Lee Series: “Come to me… and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28)

LXXII. Decentralization Matthew 19:16-30 Reception of New Members

Dale, Lisa, Austin, John & Benjamin Hambright

God Invites His People to His Table The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper You are welcome to participate in the Lord’s Supper if you are a baptized Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, and a faithful member or adherent of this or some other congregation, recognized as belonging to the fellowship of Christian believers. If this does not describe you, we are glad you are here and commend to you this prayer for your use during the time of the Lord’s Supper:

Lord Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth, and the life. Grant that I might be undaunted by the cost of following you as I consider the reasons for doing so. If what you claim is true, please guide me, teach me, open to me the reality of who you are. Give me an understanding of you that is coherent, convincing, and that leads to the life that you promise. Amen. Infant Holy, Infant Lowly Reed

Infant holy, infant lowly, for His bed a cattle stall; Oxen lowing, little knowing Christ, the babe, is Lord of all.

Swift are winging angels singing, noels ringing, tidings bringing: Christ the babe is Lord of all. Christ the babe is Lord of all.

Flocks were sleeping; shepherds keeping vigil till the morning new

Saw the glory, heard the story, tidings of the gospel true. Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing, greet the morrow: Christ the babe was born for you. Christ the babe was born for you.

3 4, 5, & 6 year-old children may be dismissed before the sermon to Godly Play in room 173.

God Sends His People Out with Great Blessing Benediction4 2 John 1:3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love. O Come All Ye Faithful Wade/Chapman

Glory to God! All glory in the highest! O come, let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him,

O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord! O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

4 Just as God called us into His presence at the beginning, so now He commands His blessing upon us as we depart. We look up and extend our hands in a posture of thanksgiving as we receive this great gift. Our final response to God’s assurance of His peace and presence upon those who are in Christ is a chorus of joyful song.