Welcome | Rev. Alan Charnock, Director of Community Engagement
Call to Worship | Isaiah 9:6-7
Leader: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
All: And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Song of Praise | O Come All Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him
Born the King of angels
(Chorus)
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
Sing, choirs of angels
Sing in exultation
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above
Glory to God
Glory in the highest
(Chorus)
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory given
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing
(Chorus)
Song of Praise | The First Noel
The First Noel the Angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep
Noel Noel Noel Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night
Noel Noel Noel Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
This star drew nigh to the northwest
O’er Bethlehem it took it’s rest
And there it did both Pause and stay
Right o’er the place where Jesus lay
Noel Noel Noel Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Prayer of Adoration (Concluded by 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 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 and ever. Amen.
Doxology | O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
Prayer of Confession
Eternal God, in whom we live and move and have our being, your face is hidden from us by our sins, and we forget your mercy in the blindness of our hearts.
Cleanse us from all our offenses, and deliver us from proud thoughts and vain desires.
With lowliness and meekness may we draw near to you, confessing our faults, confiding in your grace, and finding in you our refuge and strength; through Jesus Christ your Son.
Amen.
Silent Confession
Words of Encouragement | John 1:4-5
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Lighting of the Love Candle
Prayers of the People
Song of Response | Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
Infant holy, infant lowly
Heaven’s highest love come down
For the poor you left your glory
And you laid aside your crown
Weak and helpless here you slumber
In a stable with your mother
As the shepherds gather ’round
Do they know you’ve left your crown?
Infant holy, infant lowly
You who once held heaven’s power
Now you lie here cold and hungry
In the silent midnight hour
With your parents wrapped in worry
Still exhausted from their journey
You were helpless in that hour
Yet you set aside your power
Infant holy, infant lowly
King of kings and Lord of lords
You have come to us with nothing
As the poorest of the poor
So we come to you in wonder
See you helpless as you slumber
And we lay our gifts before
Christ the Savior weak and poor
Offering
Greetings and Announcements
Scripture Reading | Psalm 130
A song of ascents.
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.
Sermon | Waiting with Hope by Rev. Bijan Mirtolooi
Song of Response | O Little Town of Bethlehem
O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight
For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And peace to men on earth
How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is giv’n
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His Heav’n
No ear may hear His coming
But in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive Him still
The dear Christ enters in
O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin, and enter in
Be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel!
Song of Response | Hark the Herald Angels Sing
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!”
(Chorus)
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
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 with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
(Chorus)
Hail the heav’nly 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.
(Chorus)
Benediction and Dismissal
Minister: Let us go forth to serve the world as those who love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
All: Thanks be to God!
Musicians
Sungwon Kim | Acoustic Guitar
Leo Traversa | Bass
Damon DueWhite | Drums
Lou Garrett | Mandolin
Chris Weldon | Piano & Vocals
Carmen Cancél | Vocals
Jodie Moore | Vocals
Song Credits
O Come All Ye Faithful | Words & Music: John F. Wade, trans. Frederick Oakeley
The First Noel | Pete Kipley and Phil Wickham; CCLI#5921887
O Come, O Come Emmanuel | Words: Latin, 19th century; Music: Thomas Helmore
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly | Music: Polish Folk Melody; Words: Isaac Wardell, Kate Bluett, Paul Zach; CCLI#7186106
O Little Town of Bethlehem | Words: Phillips Brooks; Music: Lewis H. Redner
Hark the Herald Angels Sing | Words: Charles Wesley; Music: Felix Mendelssohn