Welcome
Call to Worship
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 (NKJV)
Hymn # 193 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
1 Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand; ponder nothing earthly-minded, for with blessing in his hand, Christ our God to earth descendeth, our full homage to demand.
2 King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth he stood; Lord of lords, in human vesture, in the body and the blood, he will give to all the faithful his own self for heav'nly food.
3 Rank on rank the host of heaven spreads its vanguard on the way, as the Light of light descendeth from the realms of endless day, that the pow'rs of hell may vanish as the darkness clears away.
4 At his feet the six-winged seraph; cherubim, with sleepless eye, veil their faces to the presence, as with ceaseless voice they cry, "Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, Lord Most High!"
Call To Confession
Our Lord Jesus says, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ And also, ‘Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.’
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us... If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” Let us, therefore, confess ours sins to the Lord, saying together:
1 John 1:8 (NKJV)
Confession of Sins
Almighty and Gracious Father, we confess to you that we have sinned by not loving you with our whole heart and by not loving our neighbor as ourselves. Our faith is weak and we easily give in to doubt. Forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness in thought, word and deed. For we ask this in the name of your Son, who is our sure Redeemer and our Savior. Amen.
Word of Assurance
Brothers and Sisters in Jesus, our Gracious Heavenly Father has forgiven us our sins according to His word that "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."
Colossians 1:13–14
Song of Assurance
Thy cross, not mine, O Christ, has borne the awful load of sins that none in heav'n or earth could bear but God.
To whom, save thee, who canst alone for sin atone, Lord, shall I flee?
(Trinity Hymnal, #524, stanza 3)
Scripture Lessons:
Isaiah 7:10–17 (NKJV mod. JDK):
10 Moreover the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying,
11 “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.”
12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!”
13 Then he said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also?
14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel.
15 Curds and honey he shall eat, that he may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.
16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, The land will be desolated, which is to you a dread because of the two kings.
17 The Lord will bring the king of Assyria upon you and your people and your father’s house—days that have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah.
Isaiah 9:6–7 (NKJV mod. JDK):
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and righteousness from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of armies will perform this.
Matthew 1:22–23 (NKJV):
22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel,” which is interpreted, “God with us.”
Sermon
Hymn # 194 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
1 O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.
Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
2 O come, O come, thou Lord of might, who to thy tribes, on Sinai's height, in ancient times didst give the law in cloud and majesty and awe. [Refrain]
3 O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free thine own from Satan's tyranny; from depths of hell thy people save, and give them vict'ry o'er the grave. [Refrain]
4 O come, thou Dayspring from on high, and cheer us by thy drawing nigh; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadows put to flight. [Refrain]
5 O come, thou Key of David, come and open wide our heav'nly home; make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery. [Refrain]
Prayer of the Church with the Lord’s Prayer
Let us pray together as Jesus taught us:
“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.”
Hymn # 203 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
1 Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King; peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!" Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies; with th'angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Refrain: Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King.
2 Christ, by highest heav'n adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold him come, offspring of the Virgin's womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th'incarnate Deity, pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. [Refrain]
3 Hail, the heav'n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, ris'n with healing in his wings. Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth. [Refrain]
Benediction
