Prelude Love Has Come Trad. French/Thomas Keesecker
Welcome & Announcements
Opening Prayer & Gathering #2095 Star-Child
Hope-for-peace Child, God's stupendous sign,
down-to-earth Child, Star of stars that shine,
This year, this year, let the day arrive
when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive!
Call to Worship
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord from the heavens.
Praise the Lord from the heights.
Let all creation praise the name of the Lord.
For God’s name alone is exalted.
God has raised up strength for the people,
And praise for all loyal servants. Hallelujah!
Opening Hymn #41 O Come, All Ye Faithful
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession
God incarnate, who dwells among us, your life and birth make new worlds possible. Yet so often we fail to follow you into them. Forgive us for the ways we fail to make room for you. Forgive us for monetizing and sanitizing your birth. Forgive us for silencing the prophets
in our midst. Forgive us for following the logics of Empire and the violence of Herod. Forgive us for not receiving or believing your witness. Teach us to live as your beloved children, so that we might recognize and receive your continual arrival in our lives and in our world. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Sung Response Angels We Have Heard on High (Refrain Only)
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Prayers of the People & the Lord's Prayer
Call to Offering
Offertory Joy to the World GF Handel/David M Cherwien
Sung Response #36 In the Bleak Midwinter vs. 4
What can I give Him, Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wiseman, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: Give my heart.
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn #49 Once in Royal David's City
Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
Solo My Lord Has Come Will Todd
Heather Ankerbrand, soprano
Gloria Harris, piano
Shepherds, called by angels,
called by love and angels;
no place for them but a stable,
My Lord has come (3X).
Sages, searching for stars,
searching for love in heaven;
no place but a stable,
My Lord has come (3X).
His love will hold me,
His love will cherish me,
love will cradle me.
Lead me, lead me to see Him,
sages and shepherds and angels;
no place for me but a stable (3X),
My Lord has come (3X).
Scripture Reading: Luke 2:41-52
Sermon The “Discipline” in Discipleship
Apostles’ Creed (Traditional)- Page 14 in Blue Hymnal
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
Closing Hymn #40 Joy to the World
Benediction
Postlude Angels from the Realms of Glory
Henry T Smart/David M Cherwien
