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4th Sunday of Advent
12/22/2024
SINGING OF CHRISTMAS CAROLS
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CENTERING MUSIC Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming Arr. Marty Schaefer
MOMENT OF HOPE
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES OF HOPE, PEACE, JOY, AND LOVE.
Choir: As we watch for the dawn of a brighter day, a candle of love lights the way.
As we look for the signs of the promised birth, of a Savior who brings heaven to earth.
All sing: Lord, we are waiting for peace to reign.
Lord, we are listening for love’s refrain.
For hope, peace and joy and love to unite
in the beauty of wonder of Advent’s holy light.
(the first, second, third and fourth candles are lit)
One: Today the fourth candle, the candle of Love, joins the candles of Hope, Peace, and Joy. Like the combined glow of many candles, let this season remind us of the strength found in unity as we come together to love and uplift one another. Let the warmth of love illuminate the connections that bind us together and foster us in a deep sense of belonging.
Love creates the bond that provide us with deep meaningful relationships.
The greatest of all gifts is love.
Love inspires random acts of kindness and generosity.
The greatest of all gifts is love.
Love causes us to look for the best in others.
The greatest of all gifts is love.
Love allows us to be accepted for who we are, flaws and all
The greatest of all gifts is love.
Gracious Creator, we gather in your presence today, hearts brimming with gratitude for the extraordinary gift of love you have bestowed upon us. May the celebration of love extend beyond our immediate circles, creating ripples of compassion and unity in the world. In recognizing the beauty of love, may we become vessels of your light, shining brightly for all to see. Amen.
All sing: Lord, we are waiting for peace to reign.
Lord, we are listening for love’s refrain.
For hope, peace and joy and love to unite in the beauty of wonder of Advent’s holy light.
BLESSING THE CHILDREN AND SINGING TO GODLY PLAY
Sing: Like a child love would send to reveal and to mend,
Like a child and a friend, Jesus comes.
Like a child we may find claiming heart, soul, and mind,
Like a child strong and kind, Jesus comes.
Today’s Story “Advent #4”
Kathleen Krentz & Cyndi Sneeringer
Leader: And as we continue our worship…
Congregation: May God be with you there.
Children: May God be with you here.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Leader: God in your grace,
People: Hear our prayer
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER
As we pray together the Lord's Prayer, you are invited to say this in whatever version is most comforting and meaningful to you. Here is one possible version (ecumenical version) that you can use:
Our Father, who is in heaven, holy be your name.
Your kingdom come, your 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 Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
SCRIPTURE AND INTERPRETATION Choral Cantata
Night of the Father’s Love Pepper Choplin
Soloists: Karen Winner-Huff and Lyle Swallow
Readers: George Anich, Lori Martinez, Curt Fugii
1. The Coming of the Lord
Lift up your heads, O gates, and make the highway straight,
prepare to celebrate the coming of the Lord.
Your waiting soon will end, God’s glory will descend,
rise up and welcome in the coming of the Lord, the coming of the Lord!
Prepare the way for the coming of the Lord!
The ancient words foretell, God with us, He will dwell,
Christ, our Emmanuel, and all will see the glory of the Lord!
Solo: O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel.
O come, O come, prepare the way! O come, prepare the way!
Prepare the way, O come, prepare the way, way of the Lord.
And then the deaf will hear, the blind will see Him clear,
the mute will find their voice, the lame will leap for joy,
prepare the way of the coming of the Lord! Prepare the way of the Lord!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, our God, will come to us.
Prepare the way for the coming of the Lord.
2. Waiting
Waiting, we are waiting, Lord.
Fill the mind ‘til we find Your light, Your truth.
Waiting, we are waiting, Lord.
Fill the mind ‘til we find Your will, Your way.
Now let us know Your presence, Lord, Emmanuel, God, be with us.
We welcome You with open hearts, Emmanuel, God be with us.
God be with us. Emmanuel.
List’ning, list’ning we are list’ning, Lord.
Draw near, let us hear your Word for us.
Now let us know Your presence, Lord, …..
Patience, give us patience, Lord.
When we pray, give us faith that You hear ev’ry prayer.
As we’re waiting…We are waiting…Waiting.
3. Angels Are Making Their Rounds
Angels are making their rounds, O what a beautiful sound,
angels are making their rounds.
Fear not, Zechariah, for the Lord has heard your prayer.
Elizabeth will bear a son.
Hail, O blessed one, you have found favor with God.
O blessed one, you have found favor with God.
Angels are making their rounds, O my, what a beautiful sound.
Heaven’s glory comes down when angels are making their rounds.
Fear not, Joseph, go and take Mary to be your wife, for she carries a holy Child.
Unto you is born a Savior, glory to God and peace on earth,
for now the Lord is with you.
Fear not, Zechariah, fear not, Joseph, hail, O blessed one,
the Lord is with you, the Lord is with you.
4. Night of the Father’s Love
Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega. He, the source, the ending, He.
Of the things that are, that have been and the future years shall see,
evermore and evermore.
Silent night! Holy night. All is calm all is bright
‘round yon virgin mother and Child, holy Infant, so tender and mild.
Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega.
Of the things that are, that have been, and the future years shall see.
Of the Father’s love begotten, held in this nativity.
Congregation may join:
Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright
‘round yon virgin mother and Child, holy Infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace, evermore and evermore.
5. The Shepherds’ Song
While shepherds watched their flocks by night, all seated on the ground,
the angel of the Lord came near and glory shone around.
He said, “Fear not for I bring good news, it shall be for all people.
For unto you is born this day a Savior, Christ the Lord.
Gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo!
For unto you is born this day, there, in Bethlehem, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord,
and this shall be your sign, a sign, and this shall be the sign to you:
for you shall find the baby, there, all wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo!”
The angel then was surrounded by a great and glorious throng,
and while the shepherds watched by night, the angels raised their song:
Gloria, Gloria in excelsis Deo!
6. Seeking the King
Seeking, seeking the newborn King.
Solo: The road is dark, the dust is dry. We find our path by starlight.
We are seeking, we are seeking.
Though we are tired, the journey’s long, we walk in faith to carry on.
We are seeking, we are seeking.
We are seeking the King. We bring gold to crown Him with royalty,
frankincense to show His divinity.
We bring myrrh, the fragrance used when someone dies,
though we’re not sure the reason why.
Seeking, seeking the newborn King.
Now, we are so tired, we’ve come so far, but now, once again, we see the star.
We see the star, now we rejoice with great joy. We’re rejoicing,
for now we see the star of wonder, star of night, star of royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to Thy perfect light.
Seeking, seeking the newborn King.
Solo: And when we find the newborn King, our greatest gift we then shall bring when we worship the King. We will worship the King. When we worship the King, we will worship, we’ll worship the newborn King.
7. Fall on Your Knees
Come, see the Child, He is here by the fire,
silently come, draw near the manger side.
Look in His face and see the world’s salvation,
and feel the holy peace, fall on your knees.
Open your eyes, now the holy star is rising,
rays of the light will shine to touch your soul.
Open your heart to the glory and the wonder.
Feel the holy peace, fall on your knees.
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born.
O night divine, night divine, O night when Christ was born!
Come now, and fall on your knees as you worship in His presence.
Thanks be to God you have found the holy Child.
Blessed are all who have seen the Lord’s salvation.
Come and lift your voice. Let your heart rejoice
and praise the Prince of peace, fall on your knees.
8. Christ Is Born, Nowell!
Hark! The herald angels sing,
Angels we have heard on high,
“Glory to the newborn King.”
sweetly singing o’er the plains,
Hark! The herald angels sing: “Glory to the newborn King.”
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. Nowell!
Heaven’s angels come to tell, “Christ is born, Nowell!”
Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains,
and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains. Nowell!
Joyous news we come to tell, “Christ is born, Nowell.”
Nowell! Joyous news we come to tell, “Now Christ is born! Now all is well!”
Congregation may join:
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. Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King.”
Nowell! Joyous news we come to tell, “Christ is born, Nowell.” Nowell! Now Christ is born! Sing Nowell!
Please, the choir requests no applause at the end of “Night of the Father’s Love”. You are invited to express your appreciation to the choir in the Narthex or Fellowship Hall following the service.
MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION
*HYMN OF RESPONSE - #133 O Come, All Ye Faithful
MOMENT OF THANKS
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
OFFERTORY – Infant Holy, Infant Lowly Polish carol melody
Arr. Dale Wood
During Advent, we invite you to bring your offering forward and to take this time to also light a candle as a prayer for anything that God has placed in your heart.
*ADVENT DOXOLOGY Tune: INFANT HOLY
Glory be to God, Creator; glory be to Christ the Son;
Glory be to Holy Spirit, glory to the Three-in-One.
Here we offer to you gladly all the gifts that you impart,
As we glory in your Presence, giving from a grateful heart.
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
One: Thank you God for this blessed Christmas Season and for the reminders of all we have to share! Help us to be open to sharing more deeply and truly in all things.
All: Amen
*HYMN OF RESPONSE #136 Go, Tell It on the Mountain
*BENEDICTION
*PASSING THE PEACE
Pastor: The peace of Christ be with you.
People: And with you also.
Pastor: Let us pass the peace of Christ.
People: The peace of Christ be with you. (To one another)
POSTLUDE Angels We Have Heward on High French carol melody
Arr. Dale Wood