9:55 a.m. December 22, 2019 Watch
Welcome! As you arrive, please feel free to light a prayer candle in the chapel area to the right side of the sanctuary. The children will be with us throughout the service. Nursery care is available throughout the service, and there is also a crying room at the back of the sanctuary should your child become inconsolable.
RINGING OF THE CHIMES Sylvia Berry, Organist
WORDS OF WELCOME Barry Shelley, Moderator
*PROCESSIONAL HYMN ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ No. 150
CALL TO WORSHIPWatch
Leader: It is the fourth Sunday of Advent. For this hour, for this moment we are holding on to the waiting, holding on to the preparation.
ALL: Christmas is coming, and it is coming soon.
Leader: Tonight we will celebrate the birth, but for this hour, for this moment, we create space for love.
ALL: Love comes down at Christmas, love fills our hearts and sometimes breaks our hearts.
Leader: So we gather to worship, with hearts full and broken, and we gather to prepare for the coming of our Lord. Let us begin our worship time on this, the fourth Sunday of Advent.
INTROIT ‘A Gospel Song of Peace’ Sally K. AlbrechtWatch
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE: A Prayer for Love
CHANCEL RINGERS ‘The Little Drummer Boy’ Katerine K. Davis arr. Henry SimeoneWatch
Chancel Ringers: Doug Anderson, Carol Bradford, BIll Cockshaw, Jill Larson,
Leigh-Ann Larson, Leo Larson, Sharon Quesnel, Murray Kidd
PRAYER OF RECONCILIATION (together)
Holy One, on this fourth Sunday of Advent, we remember the Word made flesh, God and humanity joined as one. We celebrate that Jesus revealed you to us more than any other human being before or since. Like Jesus, we are fully human and we seek to be more like him, to be more open to you and to be filled with your Holy Spirit that we might follow in your way. Lord, we are sorry that we have not always acted like your sons and daughters, we have been selfish and strayed from the path, forgive us. Lord, we are sorry that we have not always been beacons of light in a world of darkness, forgive us. Lord, restore us into full relationship as your sons and daughters, may we know and accept your forgiveness, that is so freely offered and help us to be all that . we can be, all that we were created to be. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
KYRIE ‘What Child Is This’ verse 1 No. 162
What Child is this who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthem sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary.
*WORDS OF ASSURANCE (please stand)
*PASSING THE PEACE
Leader: The peace of Christ be with you
People: and also with you
*GLORIA ‘Emmanuel, Emmanuel’ No. 134
Emmanuel, Emmanuel, his name is called Emmanuel.
God with us, revealed in us, his name is called Emmanuel.
THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT Jesus’ Christmas Party Watch
Based on the story “Jesus’ Christmas Party” by Nicholas Allan.
The congregation is invited to join in singing hymns during the pageant
144 O Little Town of Bethlehem vs. 1
158 Her Baby, Newly Breathing vs. 1
151 The First Noel vs. 2
149 Angels From the Realms of Glory vs. 2
172 We Three Kings vs. 1
155 Angels We Have Heard on High vs. 1
PAGEANT SONG ‘Go Tell It On the Mountain’
Soloists: Levi Swisher-Rosa, Jessica Gross, Angeliza Campbell
A READING FROM THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 1:18 -25Watch
HOMILY Rev. Patricia Hayes
ANTHEM ‘O Come to Set Us Free’ VENI EMMANUEL, arr. Mary McDonaldWatch
Come, o come, our Savior Messiah, Hallelujah. Come to set us free.
We await Your holy birth, Jesus, Light of the World; King of Kings and
Lord of lords, come to set us free.
Prince of Peace, He is God, our Redeemer; Come to set us free, hallelujah!
Glory to the Son of God, Light and Life of the World: King of Kings and
Lord of lords, come to set us free.
O come, o come Emmanuel. Come to set us free. Emmanuel!
RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERSWatch
Pastor: Do you promise to participate in the life and mission of this family of God’s people, sharing regularly in the worship of God and enlisting in the work of this local church as it serves this community and the world? (I do) Congregational Affirmation: We welcome you with joy in the common life of this church. We promise you our friendship and prayers as we share the hopes and labors of the church of Jesus Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit may we continue to grow together in God’s knowledge and love and be witnesses of our risen Savior.
MORNING PRAYERS
THE 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 sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. 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 ‘Gospel Magnificat’ Patti DrennanWatch
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my savior. He has seen in me a humble servant. Now generations will call me blessed, for God has done great things for me, and holy is His name. He gave food to the hungry with food to eat and banished all the rich away. The promise of His mercy fills me with joy today!
*DOXOLOGY ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’
What can I offer, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise one, I would do my part;
But what I can, I offer – all my heart.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*HYMN ‘Good Christian Friends, Rejoice’ No. 164
*COMMISSIONING AND BENEDICTIONWatch
(please be seated for the closing music)
CLOSING MUSIC
Participating in today’s service are:
Rev. Patricia Hayes, Senior Minister
Ann-Marie Illsley, Acting Associate Minister
Murray Kidd, Music Director
Sylvia Berry, Organist
David Wilcox, Sign Language
Loren Stott, Sign Language
Joyce Carroll, Hospitality Team Leader
