Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Advent Candle Lighting
Prelude
“Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light” from The Christmas Oratorio by J.S. Bach
The Praise of God’s People
Call to Worship
Isaiah 40:1-4
Reader: Comfort, comfort My people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
People: A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Reader: Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low;
People: The uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.”
Prayer of Invocation
Hymns of Praise
“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” No. 194, (vv. 1, 3, 4)
Affirmation of Faith
from the Nicene Creed
We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of His Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God,
begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father;
by Whom all things were made;
Who for us and for our salvation
came down from heaven,
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary,
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered and was buried;
and the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures,
and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father;
and He shall come again, with glory to judge both the living and the
dead;
Whose kingdom shall have no end.
Confession of Sin
Lord Christ,
We confess our willingness to be loved
but also our reluctance to love.
We confess our readiness to accept Your forgiving love
but also our refusal to forgive.
We confess our eagerness to grasp Your offer of redeeming love
but also our resistance to follow You without question.
In this Advent time, forgive us our failure
to respond as we should.
Come to us anew, and by Your grace, assist us to receive You
with joy, as the shepherds;
with gratitude, as Simeon;
with obedience, as Mary;
with love, as You have loved us.
Even so: come, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Hymn of Assurance
“Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting” No. 188 (vv. 1, 2, 3)
Prayer for Christ's People
Offertory
“E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come” by Paul Manz
Greeting & Dismissal to Children’s Church*
*Please check-in your children PreK-1st grade at the check-in station by the FH level elevator and walk them to the PreK-K dept.
Doxology
The Word for God’s People
Sermon
Genesis 3:15 —“The Promise of Christmas”
“Joy to the World: An Advent Series”
Dr. Gabe Fluhrer
Hymn of Response
“Once in Royal David’s City” No.225 (vv. 1,2,5)
The Sending of God’s People
Benediction
Isaiah 60:1
Pastor: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
People: Thanks be to God! Amen.
Postlude
The flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Dr. John E. Huckaba by Mrs. Ann Huckaba
and their daughters: Sharon, Ginger, and Hollee; grandchildren: Megan, McClain, Hudson, Builder, Kruesi, Beata, Taylor, Eden, and Ella; and great grandchildren: Ava, Lyla, Solomon, Huck, Jane Grey, Liam, Isla, and Evangeline.
Flowers from today’s display will be arranged by the flower committee and delivered by volunteers to our homebound and hospitalized on Monday, November 29th.
