The Worship of God December 5, 2010

Second 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 You Are God Alone Foote

You are not a god, created by human hands You are not a god, dependant on any mortal man You are not a god, in need of anything we can give

By Your plan, that‟s just the way it is

You are God alone, from before time began You were on Your throne, You are God alone

And right now, in the good times and bad You are on Your throne, You are God alone

You‟re the only God, whose power none can contend

You‟re the only God, whose name and praise will never end You‟re the only God, who‟s worthy of everything we can give

You are God, and that‟s just the way it is

Unchangeable Unshakable Unstoppable

That‟s what You are Welcome and Preparation for Worship “Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in thee. Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art, dear Desire of every nation, joy of ev‟ry longing heart.” - Charles Wesley “A voice cries: „In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.‟” - The Prophet Isaiah

God Opens His Gates and Calls His People In Call to Worship2 Philippians 2:5, 8; Psalm 111:4 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.... that being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.... He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful! 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 Angels We Have Heard on High Traditional

Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o‟er the plains, And the mountains in reply echo back their joyous strains.

Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? Say what may the tidings be, which inspire your heav‟nly song?

Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo. We Confess our Faith Taken from the Heidelberg Catechism Leader: What does the creed means when it says that Jesus was “conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary?” People: That the eternal Son of God, who is and remains true and eternal God, took to himself, through the working of the Holy Spirit, from the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary, a truly human nature so that he might become David's true descendant, like his brothers in every way except for sin.

Leader: How does the holy conception and birth of Christ benefit you? People: He is our mediator, and with his innocence and perfect holiness he removes from God’s sight my sin — mine since I was conceived. O Little Town of Bethlehem Brooks

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie; Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by:

Yet in thy dark street shineth the everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary; and gathered all above,

While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond‟ring love. O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth!

And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth.

How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is giv‟n! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heav‟n.

No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.

O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.

God Forgives His People Their Sins We Confess Our Darkness John 1:1-5, 10-12, 14, 16 Leader: Lord, we come confessing. Knowing ourselves to be sinners, we approach the glorious incarnation of Christ, his coming into the world, with awe. In the beginning was the Word, People: And the Word was with God,

Leader: And the Word was God. People: He was in the beginning with God.

Leader: All things were made through him, People: And without him was not any thing made that was made.

Leader: In him was life, and the life was the light of men. People: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Leader: He was in the world, and the world was made through him, People: Yet we did not know him.

Leader: He came to his own, People: And we did not receive him.

Leader: But to all who did receive him, he gave the right to become children of God, People: To those who believed in his name.

Leader: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, All: And we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Leader: And from his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. All: For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ... Silent and Personalized Confession of Sin... Amen! The Story of Salvation Isaiah 7:14; 53:4-6 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel... Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Worship with Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs O Come All Ye Faithful Wade/Chapman

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;

Come and behold Him born the King of angels; O come, let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him,

O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heav‟n above;

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.

For He alone is worthy, For He alone is worthy,

O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord we bless Thee, born for our salvation: Oh, Jesus forever be Thy name adored.

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing; O come, let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him,

O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Away in a Manger Chapman Away in a manger, no crib for a bed

The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head The stars in the sky look down where He lay

The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay Close by me forever, and love me I pray

Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care And fit us for heaven, to live with Thee there

Prayers of Thanksgiving & Petition Elder Glenn Fincher Offering Anthem Come, Emmanuel 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)

LXXI. Jesus and His Covenant Children Matthew 19:13-15

God Invites His People to His Table A Word About Communion: The Lord‟s Supper is observed every Sunday as the climax of the worship service. We invite to the Lord‟s Table all those who are baptized disciples of Jesus Christ, under the authority of Christ and his body, the Church. The Lord‟s Table is not for Presbyterians alone. Rather, it is for all professing Christians. By participating in the Lord's Supper with us as a visitor, you are acknowledging that you are in covenant with God as an active member of a congregation in which the Gospel is faithfully confessed, taught, and believed. You also acknowledge that you are a sinner, without hope except in the sovereign mercy of God, and that you are trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. If you have any questions about your participation at the Lord‟s Table, please speak to one of the elders or a pastor before or after the service. Surrender Cottrell

No more running, no more hiding. No pretending I‟m OK.

No more struggling, no more fighting. Come and have Your way.

I surrender, I bow down. I surrender, here and now.

I am captured, Yours forever. I surrender, I bow down.

You pursue me, You have found me. I fall helpless at Your feet.

Your possession, I am conquered. Love has set me free.

I come and worship, come and worship Worship Christ, the new born king.

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 from Isaiah 35:1, 6; Ephesians 3:18, 19 May the One who makes the crocus burst into bloom, Who makes the lame leap like a deer And the mute tongue shout for joy Grant you the power, together with all of the saints, To grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the Love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge. 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.