Let all the earth fear the Lord ; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!

Let all the earth fear the LORD;let all the inhabitants of the world

stand in awe of him!

Psalm 33:8Call to Worship

Once in royal David’s citystood a lowly cattle shed

where a mother laid her babyin a manger for his bed;

Mary was that mother mild,Jesus Christ her little child.

Text: Cecil F. Alexander • Music: Matthew H. Curl

Once In Royal David’s City

He came down to earth from heavenwho is God and Lord of all,

and his shelter was a stable,and his cradle was a stall;

with the poor, and mean, and lowly,lived on earth our Savior holy.

And our eyes at last shall see him,through his own redeeming love;for that child so dear and gentle

is our Lord in heav’n above;and he leads his children on

to the place where he has gone.

Not in that poor lowly stable,with the oxen standing by,

we shall see him, but in heaven,set at God’s right hand on high;

when like stars his children crownedall in white shall be around.

“Once In Royal David’s City” • Text: Cecil F. AlexanderMusic: Matthew H. Curl • Public Domain • CCLI License #11109756

Prayer of Invocation

Blessed is the onewhose transgression is forgiven,

whose sin is covered.Blessed is the man against whom

the LORD counts no iniquity,and in whose spiritthere is no deceit.

Psalm 32:1-4Call to Confession of Sin

For when I kept silent,my bones wasted away

through my groaning all day long.For day and night

your hand was heavy upon me;my strength was dried upas by the heat of summer.

Our Father in heaven, we confess that we have doubted your gracious love. Instead of living like you delight in us, we avoid you in shame and guilt. Instead of receiving your favor as a gift, we try to earn it with our efforts.

Confession of Sin

Instead of accepting your freedom, we prefer our chains. Instead of pursuing your purposes, we cling to our own agendas. Forgive us. Embrace us. Cleanse us. Heal us. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Silent confession)

I acknowledged my sin to you,and I did not cover my iniquity;

I said, “I will confessmy transgressions to the LORD,”

and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Psalm 32:5Assurance of Forgiveness

May the peace of Christ be with you.And also with you.

“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

Malachi 3:10Offering

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise him, all creatures here below;Praise him above, ye heav’nly host;Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen.

Text: Thomas Ken (1674)Music: “Old 100th” / Genevan Psalter / Louis Bourgeois (1551)

The Doxology

Public Domain • CCLI License #11109756

…

The Word of the Lord.Thanks be to God!

Isaiah 61:1-3Old Testament Reading

The Lord be with you.And also with you.

Let us pray…

Prayers of the People

Father Eternal, God Almighty, you have brought forth from the root of Jesse a shoot, Jesus our Savior.

He is your anointed one, the promised Messiah, in him you are well pleased. We come to you in his service, to offer our prayers of intercession for the coming of his kingdom.

Father Eternal, you have anointed Jesus to be both Lord and Christ.

We pray for the Church of Christ that she might be faithful to her Lord, bearing witness to his reign in every land among every people.

Father Eternal, you have anointed Jesus to be our Lord and Shepherd.

We pray for those whom you have appointed to be ministers of your gospel. We especially ask for your protection and help for our pastor.

Father Eternal, you have anointed Jesus to be Lord of all the earth.

We pray that you draw all people to kneel before the Prince of Peace. Please establish justice and peace between nations in your world.

Father Eternal, you have anointed Jesus King of kings and Lord of lords.

We pray for the rulers of our nation that they might be wise, fearing the Lord to whom they must bow in the world to come.

Father Eternal, you have anointed Jesus a counselor and comforter of your people.

We pray for those among us who suffer, for those who are lonely, for those without home or family, for those who are depressed and discouraged, for those who are seeking work, for those who are sick, for those who are grieving.

Praise, honor and glory belong to you, Eternal Father, and to your Son, who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be doneon 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.

God rest ye merry, gentlemen,let nothing you dismay;

remember Christ our Saviorwas born on Christmas Day

to save us all from Satan’s pow’rwhen we were gone astray;

18th Century English Carol

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

O tidings of comfort and joy,comfort and joy!

O tidings of comfort and joy!

From God our heavenly Fathera blessed angel came

and unto certain shepherdsbrought tidings of the same,

how that in Bethlehem was bornthe Son of God by name.



“Fear not, then,” said the angel,“Let nothing you affright;this day is born a Saviorof a pure virgin bright,

to free all those who trust in Himfrom Satan’s pow’r and might.”



The shepherds at those tidingsrejoiced much in mind,

and left their flocks a-feedingin tempest, storm and wind,

and went to Bethlehem straightwaythe Son of God to find.



And when they came to Bethlehemwhere our dear Saviour lay,they found him in a manger,

where oxen feed on hay;his mother Mary kneeling down,

unto the Lord did pray.



Now to the Lord sing praises,all you within this place,

and with true love and brotherhoodeach other now embrace;this holy tide of Christmas

all others doth deface.



“God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” • 18th Century English CarolPublic Domain • CCLI License #11109756

Within a crib my Savior lay,a wooden manger filled with hay,

come down for love on Christmas Day;all glory be to Jesus!

Text: Timothy Dudley-Smith, Matthew H. CurlMusic: Matthew H. Curl

Within A Crib My Savior Lay

Upon a cross my Savior died,to ransom sinners, crucified,

his loving arms still open wide;all glory be to Jesus!

And this is love!And this is grace!He came to earthour souls to save!

All glory be to Jesus!

A victor’s crown my Savior won,his work of love and mercy done,the Father’s high ascended Son;

all glory be to Jesus!

And soon to glory we will rise,because of our Lord’s sacrifice,

new life through him, the crucified;all glory be to Jesus!

And this is love!And this is grace!He came to earthour souls to save!

All glory be to Jesus!

And this is love!And this is grace!

That Christ our Goddid come to save!

All glory be to Jesus!All glory be to Jesus!

“Within A Crib My Savior Lay” • Text: Timothy Dudley-Smith, Matthew H. CurlMusic: Matthew H. Curl • Public Domain • CCLI License #11109756

…

The Gospel of Jesus Christ.Praise be to you, O Christ!

Luke 1:1-4Gospel Reading

1. Do you acknowledge your children’s need of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, and the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit?

Vows for Baptism of Covenant Children

2. Do you claim God’s covenant promises in their behalf, and do you look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation, as you do for your own?

3. Do you now unreservedly dedicate your children to God, and promise, in humble reliance upon divine grace, that you will endeavor to set before them a godly example, that you will pray with and for them,

that you will teach them the doctrines of our holy religion, and that you will strive, by all the means of God’s appointment, to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?

* Do you as a congregation undertake the responsibility of assisting the parents in the Christian nurture of these children]?

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,to which indeed you were called in one body.

And be thankful.

(Greet one another with the words,“The peace of Christ be with you.”)

Colossians 3:15Passing of the Peace

Institution of the Lord’s Table

Therefore let us proclaim the mystery of faith.Christ has died.Christ is risen.

Christ will come again!

Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.Therefore let us keep the feast.

The gifts of God for the people of God.

(The Mystery of Faith)Mysterium Fidei

Silent night! Holy night!All is calm, all is bright,

round yon virgin mother and child.Holy Infant so tender and mild,

sleep in heavenly peace,sleep in heavenly peace.

Text: Franz Gruber • Music: Joseph Mohr

Silent Night

Silent night! Holy night!Shepherds quake at the sight!

Glories stream from heaven afar,heavenly hosts sing, “Alleluia!

Christ, the Savior, is born!Christ, the Savior, is born!”

Silent night! Holy night!Son of God, love’s pure light,

radiant beams from thy holy face,with the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord at thy birth.Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

Silent night! Holy night!Wondrous star, lend thy light;

with the angels let us singalleluia to our King;

Christ, the Savior, is born!Christ, the Savior, is born!

“Silent Night” • Text: Franz GruberMusic: Joseph Mohr • Public Domain • CCLI License #11109756

O come, O come, Emmanuel,and ransom captive Israel

that mourns in lonely exile hereuntil the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuelshall come to thee, O Israel.

12th Century Latin Hymn

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O come thou Wisdom from on high,who ordered all things mightily;

to us the path of knowledge show,and teach us in her ways to go.


O come, thou Day-spring,come and cheer

our spirits by thine advent here;disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

and death’s dark shadows put to flight.


O come, thou Key of David, come,and open wide our heavenly home;

make safe the way that leads on high,and close the path to misery.


O come Desire of nations, bindin one the hearts of all mankind;bid thou our sad divisions cease,and be thyself our King of Peace.


“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” • 12th Century Latin HymnPublic Domain • CCLI License #11109756

Good Christian men, rejoice,with heart and soul and voice!Give ye heed to what we say:

Jesus Christ is born today!Earth and heav’n before him bow,

and he is in the manger now.

Text: John Mason Neale • Music: German Melody

Good Christian Men, Rejoice

Christ is born today!Christ is born today!

Good Christian men rejoice,with heart and soul and voice!Now ye hear of endless bliss:Jesus Christ was born for this!He hath opened heaven’s door,and man is blessed evermore.

Christ was born for this!Christ was born for this!

Good Christian men rejoice,with heart and soul and voice!

Now ye need not fear the grave:Jesus Christ was born to save!Calls you one and calls you all

to gain His everlasting hall.

Christ was born to save!Christ was born to save!

“Good Christian Men, Rejoice” • Text: John Mason NealeMusic: German Melody • Public Domain • CCLI License #11109756

Matthew 13:16-17Benediction

Documents

Let all the earth fear the Lord ; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!