The Feast of the Nativity
We welcome in a spirit of silence as
the prelude begins our service.
The poinsettias and gracing our altar
in celebration of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, 2005th
Birthday and in memory
of family and loved ones of our historic and beloved church! Your donations are
given to the Christmas Restoration Fund in lieu of fresh poinsettias this year.
OUR
APPROACH TO GOD
Prelude
Introit "The Nativity Prayer" W. Young
Welcome and
Call to Worship: Isaiah 52:7, 8a, 10
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news!
Who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation!
Who say to Zion, "Your God reigns."
Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy!
The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations;
And all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of God!
*Hymn 145 "O Come All Ye Faithful"
Let us be before our God in silence.
Unison Prayer:
Huub Oosterhuis: YOU WAIT FOR US UNTIL WE ARE OPEN TO YOU. WE WAIT FOR
YOUR WORD TO MAKE US RECEPTIVE. ATTUNE US TO YOUR VOICE, TO YOUR SILENCE,
SPEAK AND BRING YOUR SON TO US --- JESUS, THE WORD OF YOUR PEACE. YOUR
WORD IS NEAR, O LORD OUR GOD, YOUR GRACE IS NEAR. COME TO US THEN, WITH
MILDNESS AND POWER. MAY WE ACCEPT YOUR KINGDOM LIKE CHILDREN TAKING BREAD
FROM THE HANDS OF THEIR FATHER. LET US LIVE IN YOUR PEACE, AT HOME WITH
YOU ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIVES.
Kyrie
(sung)
LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US.
CHRIST, HAVE MERCY ON US.
LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US.
A Word of Assurance
The Summary of God's
Law
(Mark
12:29b-31)
This is the
first commandment:
HEAR O
ISRAEL,
THE LORD OUR GOD,
THE LORD IS ONE!
THEREFORE YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD
WITH ALL YOUR HEART,
WITH ALL YOUR SOUL,
WITH ALL YOUR MIND,
AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.
This is the
second commandment:
YOU SHALL LOVE
YOUR NEIGHBOR AS
YOURSELF.
There
is no greater commandment
than these.
Anthem "The Bells of
Bethlehem" I. Slaney & "Sing Gloria" K. Davis
THE WORD OF
GOD
*Responsive Reading:
Isaiah 9:2-7
*Gloria
Patri (Hymn No. 623)
GLORY BE
TO THE FATHER
AND TO THE SON
AND TO THE HOLY GHOST.
AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING,
IS NOW AND EVER SHALL BE,
WORLD WITHOUT END,
AMEN, AMEN!
The Greeting of Peace
Announcements
*Hymn "O Little Town of Bethlehem"
Scripture Lessons:
Jewish Scriptures:
Micah 5:2-5a
Epistle:
Titus 2:11-14
The Celtic Allelulia!
Gospel:
Luke 2:1-20
Sermon
OUR
RESPONSE TO GOD
Offertory Anthem "Angels We Have Heard on
High"
*The Offering
*Doxology (625) and Prayer
PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM
ALL BLESSINGS FLOW;
PRAISE GOD ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW;
PRAISE GOD ABOVE YE HEAVENLY HOSTS;
PRAISE FATHER (CREATOR), SON (CHRIST) AND HOLY GHOST. AMEN.
Giving Thanks to God
The Prayer of the People & the Lord’s Prayer
*Hymn "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"
*The Benediction
*Choral Response "Ring the Bells" Bollback
Postlude
*Please stand if you are able.
We
wish you a very blessed Christmastide and joy and peace in the new year!
May the Prince of Peace bring peace to our world! Amen! Alleluia!
