Worship Service for December 26, 2021
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Join Us Via Zoom
Or by phone at 929-205-6099 Meeting ID: 815 5071 7150 |
Tim Noel - Pastor
Keith Hubbard - Pianist
Candace Moberly - Liturgist
LIFE OF THE CONGREGATION
CALL TO WORSHIP
Kings of the earth and all peoples, Princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and women alike old and young together!
Let us praise the name of God, whose name alone is exalted!
Praise the Lord.
HYMN (#23) "Angels We Have Heard on High"
Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria in excelsis Deo;
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
CALL TO CONFESSION
Let us confess our sins to God.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Holy God, through we are in awe of the dawn of your light in Jesus Christ, we remain self-centered and cling to the sin of the world. We celebrate the birth of our savior, yet we struggle in our commitment to follow him. We are called to pursue justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you; yet we are content to seek our own comfort and conveniently ignore the cries of those in need. By the light of the Christ child, lead us on a path of goodness and righteousness, as we seek to love all of your bountiful creation. Amen.
SILENT CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
Gracious God, open our hearts to hear and believe your Word. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
18 But Samuel was ministering before the Lord—a boy wearing a linen ephod. 19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. 20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to[a] the Lord.” Then they would go home.
26 And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON: Luke 2:41-52
The Boy Jesus at the Temple41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”[a] 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
HOMILY: Looking for Jesus
SOLO: "Fear Not the Angel Said"
"Fear not!" the angel said, "God's joy is in the air!
Now go to Bethlehem and see a newborn baby there.
A Savior, yet a child! So young, and yet the Lord!"
God's grace astounds, God's love surrounds This sinful, hurting world.
Fear not, you hungry child, you homeless refugee,
You battered woman, burdened down — God came to set you free.
For God's own Son was poor; he cried and suffered, too.
God's grace astounds; God's love abounds for people just like you.
Fear not when questions come: "How can I know God's way?"
"Do my possessions weigh me down?" "Can God change me today?"
For Jesus came to be true bread that satisfies;
And in his birth, God touched the earth. Christ saves, forgives, and guides.
Fear not, you church of Christ, distracted and distressed,
For long ago in troubled times, Christ came, and we were blest.
Our Prince of Peace is born — our light, our life, our song!
In him we see our unity, in him God makes us strong.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: The 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 Spirit, 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 sits 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.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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.
OFFERTORY
HYMN (#49) "Once in Royal David's City"
Once in royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
in a manger for His bed.
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.
BENEDICTION
Let us go from this place, proclaiming that we have seen the glory of God. Believing that there is a light that shines in the darkness Which the darkness shall not overcome. And may The love of the Creator, The joy of the Spirit, And the peace of the Christ-child Be with you this day and forevermore. Amen.
CHORAL RESPONSE
Amen
Keith Hubbard - Pianist
Candace Moberly - Liturgist
LIFE OF THE CONGREGATION
CALL TO WORSHIP
Kings of the earth and all peoples, Princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and women alike old and young together!
Let us praise the name of God, whose name alone is exalted!
Praise the Lord.
HYMN (#23) "Angels We Have Heard on High"
Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria in excelsis Deo;
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
CALL TO CONFESSION
Let us confess our sins to God.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Holy God, through we are in awe of the dawn of your light in Jesus Christ, we remain self-centered and cling to the sin of the world. We celebrate the birth of our savior, yet we struggle in our commitment to follow him. We are called to pursue justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you; yet we are content to seek our own comfort and conveniently ignore the cries of those in need. By the light of the Christ child, lead us on a path of goodness and righteousness, as we seek to love all of your bountiful creation. Amen.
SILENT CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
Gracious God, open our hearts to hear and believe your Word. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
18 But Samuel was ministering before the Lord—a boy wearing a linen ephod. 19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. 20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to[a] the Lord.” Then they would go home.
26 And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON: Luke 2:41-52
The Boy Jesus at the Temple41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”[a] 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
HOMILY: Looking for Jesus
SOLO: "Fear Not the Angel Said"
"Fear not!" the angel said, "God's joy is in the air!
Now go to Bethlehem and see a newborn baby there.
A Savior, yet a child! So young, and yet the Lord!"
God's grace astounds, God's love surrounds This sinful, hurting world.
Fear not, you hungry child, you homeless refugee,
You battered woman, burdened down — God came to set you free.
For God's own Son was poor; he cried and suffered, too.
God's grace astounds; God's love abounds for people just like you.
Fear not when questions come: "How can I know God's way?"
"Do my possessions weigh me down?" "Can God change me today?"
For Jesus came to be true bread that satisfies;
And in his birth, God touched the earth. Christ saves, forgives, and guides.
Fear not, you church of Christ, distracted and distressed,
For long ago in troubled times, Christ came, and we were blest.
Our Prince of Peace is born — our light, our life, our song!
In him we see our unity, in him God makes us strong.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: The 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 Spirit, 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 sits 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.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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.
OFFERTORY
HYMN (#49) "Once in Royal David's City"
Once in royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
in a manger for His bed.
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.
BENEDICTION
Let us go from this place, proclaiming that we have seen the glory of God. Believing that there is a light that shines in the darkness Which the darkness shall not overcome. And may The love of the Creator, The joy of the Spirit, And the peace of the Christ-child Be with you this day and forevermore. Amen.
CHORAL RESPONSE
Amen