Order of Worship for Sunday, December 23, 2018
Gathering & Preparation – Advent means coming. Jesus the Christ has come and is coming again. We worship the Christ who has come and inaugurated his Kingdom. We worship the Christ King who continually builds his Kingdom during this gospel age. We worship King Jesus who will come again to consummate his Kingdom reign. “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music” (Psalm 98:4).
Advent Candle Lighting
Prelude – O Holy Night
*Call to Worship
*Hymn #200 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
*Prayer of Adoration
*Affirmation of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed (Trinity Hymnal p.845)
Unison Prayer of Confession
Lord, we have not kept watch for you. We have occupied ourselves with our own concerns. We have not waited to find your will for us. We have not noticed the needs of the people around us. We have not acknowledged the love that has been shown to us. Forgive us for our lack of watchfulness. Almighty God, you who shaped out of nothing all that is, forgive us for returning empty-handed. You who called forth light, forgive our preference for the dark! You who sent John to be a voice crying in the wilderness, forgive our unwillingness to say anything at all!
Silent Prayer
Assurance & Comfort of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Worship through Giving
Offertory – E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come (Manz)
*Hymn #731 Doxology
*Prayer of Thanksgiving
Prayer for Our Covenant Children
Children’s Worship [Toddler-Pre-K]
*Hymn #221 Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
Scripture Reading – Revelation 21-22
Sermon – Consummation & Christ
Pastor Dan Ledford
*Hymn #226 As with Gladness, Men of Old
Prayer of Intercession for Christ’s Church & the World
*Hymn #207 Good Christian Men, Rejoice
*Benediction
Postlude
Announcements