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Sunday, December 29
10:00 a.m. Worship Service

View mobile-device version of the back (announcements) half of the weekly bulletin

PRELUDE

Variations on “What Star Is This, with Beams So Bright”
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck

Variations on “O Come, All Ye Faithful”
Marcel Dupré

INTROIT
“Under the Stars”
George F. Reynolds
Under the stars one holy night, a little babe was born.
Over his head a star shone bright and glistened ’til the morn.
And wise men came from far away, and shepherds wandered
where he lay upon the lowly bed of hay, under the stars one night.

DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye heavenly host; Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Praise the Lord, all of creation!
All: God is exalted in heaven and earth.
One: Raise up your horns, lift up your voice,
All: for God is exalted in heaven and earth! Hallelujah!

HYMN
“Love Has Come”

Love has come: a light in the darkness! Love shines forth in the Bethlehem skies. See, all heaven has come to proclaim it; hear how their song of joy arises: Love! Love! Born unto you, a Savior! Love! Love! Glory to God on high.

Love is born! Come, share in the wonder. Love is God now asleep in the hay. See the glow in the eyes of his mother; what is the name her heart is saying? Love! Love! Love is the name she whispers. Love! Love! Jesus, Emmanuel.

Love has come and never will leave us! Love is life everlasting and free. Love is Jesus with and among us. Love is the peace our hearts are seeking. Love! Love! Love is the gift of Christmas. Love! Love! Praise to you, God on high!

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Holy God, though we are in awe of the dawn of your light in Jesus Christ, we remain self-centered and cling to the sin of the world. We celebrate the birth of our savior, yet we struggle in our commitment to follow him. We are called to pursue justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you; yet we are content to seek our own comfort and conveniently ignore the cries of those in need. By the light of the Christ child, lead us on a path of goodness and righteousness, as we seek to love all of your bountiful creation.

DECLARATION OF PARDON
One: Friends, believe the good news.
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.

SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
Leader: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
People: And also with you.

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WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANTHEM

“A Child Is Born in Bethlehem”
Samuel Scheidt

A child is born in Bethlehem, alleluia, and joy is in Jerusalem, alleluia. Rejoice, sing high, sing low, alleluia, benedicamus Domino, alleluia. To thee, O Lord, be glory paid, alleluia, thou Son of Mary, mother maid, alleluia. To Holy Trinity give praise, alleluia, with Deo
gratias always, alleluia.

PSALTER
Psalm 148

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!

Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. He established them for ever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.

Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!

Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!

Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and women alike, old and young together!
Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven. He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the Lord!

GLORIA PATRI
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

SECOND LESSON
John 2:41–52

Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travellers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, ‘Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.’ He said to them, ‘Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour.

One: The grass withers, and the flower fades,
All: but the word of our God shall stand forever.

SERMON
Nancy Benson-Nicol

HYMN
“In the Bleak Midwinter”

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan; earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, in the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain; heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign: in the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed the Lord God incarnate, Jesus Christ.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there; cherubim and seraphim thronged the air; but his mother only, in her maiden bliss, worshiped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a wise man, I would do my part; yet what I can I give him: give my heart.

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; out of Israel, God in due time raised up Jesus. His faith and obedience were the response of the perfect child of God. He was the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel, the beginning of the new creation, and the pioneer of the new humanity. He gave history its meaning and direction and called the church to be his servant for the reconciliation of the world.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

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. Amen.

OFFERING

Gifts supporting the ministry and mission of Fourth Church can be made online

OFFERTORY ANTHEM

“En Natus Est Emmanuel”
Michael Praetorius

Behold is born Emmanuel, Christ the Lord, him foretold by Gabriel, Christ the Lord, the Savior of the world. He lieth in a manger bed, Christ the Lord, wondrous little boy he is, Christ the Lord, the Savior of the world. The light appeareth on this day, Christ the Lord,
born of Mary, virgin maid, Christ the Lord, the Savior of the world.

OFFERTORY RESPONSE
In gratitude and humble trust we bring our best today, to serve your cause and share your love with all along life’s way. O God who gave yourself to us in Jesus Christ your Son, help us to give ourselves each day until life’s work is done.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

God Most High, receive the gifts of our lives as an offering of gratitude for your grace. Overshadow us with your Holy Spirit, and let it be with us according to your word, for nothing is impossible with you. Amen.

HYMN
“Go, Tell It on the Mountain”

Refrain: Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!

While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night, behold, throughout the heavens there shone a holy light. (Refrain)

The shepherds feared and trembled when lo! above the earth rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior’s birth. (Refrain)

Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born, and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn. (Refrain)

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE
Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
Keith Chapman

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