CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 24:7-10) & PRAYER OF APPROACH Leader: People: Leader: People: Leader: People: Leader: People:

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1 Fourth Sunday of Advent December 18, 2016

2 CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 24:7-10) & PRAYER OF APPROACH Leader: Leader: Leader: Leader: All: Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy Name, through Christ our Lord. Amen Oh Children Come 1 Hear the cry from Bethlehem Oh children come Son of God now born to men Oh children come Bring your troubles, bring your fears, Bring the needs that draw you near, Find the hope of all the years Oh children come! 2 Peace on earth good will to men Oh children come Righteous rule that will not end Oh children come Lay down all your bitterness, Turn from sin s toil and distress, Find His grace and perfect rest Oh children come! Keith Getty and Kristyn Getty 2014 Getty Music Publishing Angels From The Realms Of Glory 1 Angels from the realms of glory Wing your flight o'er all the earth Ye who sang creation's story Now proclaim Messiah's birth Come and worship come and worship Worship Christ the newborn King 2 Saints before the altar bending Watching long in hope and fear Suddenly the Lord descending In His temple shall appear 3 All creation join in praising God the Father, Spirit, Son Evermore your voices raising To the eternal Three in One Public Domain Henry Thomas Smart / James Montgomery For use solely in accordance with the SongSelect Advanced Terms of Agreement. All rights Reserved. 2

3 LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE On this fourth week of Advent, we light the candle of peace to remind us that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Your Name 1 As morning dawns and evening fades You inspire songs of praise That rise from earth to touch Your heart And glorify Your name Your Name is a strong and mighty tower Your Name is a shelter like no other Your Name let the nations sing it louder For nothing has the power to save But Your Name 2 Humbly to the earth You came Born into this world to save God with us Emmanuel Now we adore Your Name God with us Emmanuel God with us Emmanuel God with us Emmanuel Now we adore Your Name Glenn Packiam Paul Baloche 2006 Integrity's Hosanna! Music Vertical Worship Songs Children s Dismissal Children: Children: May the Lord be with you. And also with you. May the Word of the Lord grow in your hearts. Thanks be to God! Go in the peace of the Lord. At this time, children 4k-2nd grade are invited to go to Kids Time and children 3rd-5th grade are invited to go to Big Time. Kids Time is a dynamic worship service and Big Time is an age appropriate discussion time. Both cater to younger children and prepare them to participate in the main worship service. The children will return prior to Communion. 3

4 SCRIPTURE READING Isaiah 7:10-16 (p. 558) Leader: The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Gospel Reading Leader: The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew Glory to You, Lord Christ. Matthew 1:18-25 (p. 783) Leader: The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, Lord Christ. MESSAGE Sermon Series: For All Nations The Advent Test Rev. Patrick Dominguez THE NICENE CREED (said together) We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic* and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. *The phrase holy catholic Church means the Church worldwide. 4

5 PRAYERS OF GOD S PEOPLE Leader: Heavenly Father, turn your ear to us and hear the prayers of your people: (You are invited to pray for personal needs, and the needs in our world, either silently or aloud. Participants may also now bring forward their visual prayers before the Lord.) Leader: Lord, in your goodness and grace: Hear our prayers; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Leader: Now, trusting in the kindness and love of God our savior, let us humbly confess our sins to our Lord: CONFESSION OF SIN (said together) Heavenly Father, we confess that we have obstructed the way for your Son s coming in our lives. We have lived for our own desires and interests, rather than seeking first your Kingdom and your righteousness. By the power of your Holy Spirit, prepare the way for your coming in our hearts. Straighten our crooked ways. Flatten the mountainous greed within us. Fill in the valleys of our unrighteous thoughts. Smooth out the roughness of our speech; so that all mankind may see your salvation, through Jesus Christ, the light who has come into the world. Amen. The absolution of sin is to be pronounced by a priest who symbolically stands in the authority of God to forgive the sins of those who truly repent (Matthew 16:19, John 20:23). Leader: May almighty God, who sent his son into the world to save sinners, bring you his pardon and peace, now and forever. Amen. Leader: The peace of the Lord be always with you; And also with you. WELCOME and OFFERING 5

6 What A Beautiful Name 1 You were the Word at the beginning One with God the Lord Most High Your hidden glory in creation Now revealed in You our Christ What a beautiful Name it is What a beautiful Name it is The Name of Jesus Christ my King What a beautiful Name it is Nothing compares to this What a beautiful Name it is The Name of Jesus 2 You didn't want heaven without us So Jesus You brought heaven down My sin was great Your love was greater What could separate us now What a wonderful Name it is What a wonderful Name it is The Name of Jesus Christ my King What a wonderful Name it is Nothing compares to this What a wonderful Name it is The Name of Jesus Death could not hold You The veil tore before You You silence the boast of sin and grave The heavens are roaring The praise of Your glory For You are raised to life again You have no rival You have no equal Now and forever God You reign Yours is the kingdom Yours is the glory Yours is the Name above all names What a powerful Name it is What a powerful Name it is The Name of Jesus Christ my King What a powerful Name it is Nothing can stand against What a powerful Name it is The Name of Jesus Ben Fielding Brooke Ligertwood 2016 Hillsong Music Publishing HOLY COMMUNION (All baptized and believing followers of our Lord Jesus Christ are invited to partake in Holy Communion regardless of denomination. It is our custom to use wine during communion. If you prefer, you may receive grape juice from the smaller chalices on the end of the serving lines. If it would not be authentic for you to receive Communion, you may remain in your seat and contemplate the prayers on the following page.) Leader: Is the Father with us? He is. Leader: Is Christ among us? He is. Leader: Is the Spirit here? He is. Leader: This is our God. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Leader: We are His people. We are redeemed. Leader: Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord It is right to give Him thanks and our God. praise. Leader continues in Eucharistic Prayer Leader: Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Unable to come forward? Please inform an usher to request that Communion be brought to you. Gluten-free wafers available upon request. 6

7 Our Father In Heaven (The Lord s Prayer) Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your Name Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as in heav'n Give us today our daily bread Forgive us our sins As we forgive those who sin against us Save us from the time of trial And deliver us from evil For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours Now and forever, Amen. Eric Wyse 2000 Wildgrove Music (BMI) PRAYERS FOR THOSE NOT TAKING HOLY COMMUNION The Church of The Apostles welcomes all Christians who are willing to forsake their sin and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation, to receive Holy Communion with us by coming forward to one of the communion stations at the front. If you are not able to receive Communion, please use this time to meditate on one of the following prayers. Prayer for Those Searching for Truth. Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth and the life. Grant that I might be undaunted by the cost of following you as I consider the reasons for doing so. If what you claim is true, please guide me, teach me and open me to the reality of who you are. Give me an understanding of you that is coherent, convincing and that leads to the life you promise. Thank you. Prayer of Belief. Lord Jesus Christ, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever dared admit, but through you I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank you for paying my debt on the cross, taking what I deserved in order to offer me complete forgiveness. Knowing that you have been raised from the dead, I turn from my sins and receive you as my Savior and Lord. Please come into my life through the power of your Holy Spirit. Thank you. COMMUNION SONGS (Please join in singing during communion.) A prayer team is available to pray with you at the back of the worship area. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence 1 Let all mortal flesh keep silence And with fear and trembling stand Ponder nothing worldly minded For with blessing in His hand Christ our God To earth descendeth Our full homage to demand 2 King of kings yet born of Mary As of old on earth He stood Lord of lords in human vesture In the body and the blood He will give to all the faithful His own self for heav'nly food 3 At His feet the six winged seraph Cherubim with sleepless eye Veil their faces to the Presence As with ceaseless voice they cry Alleluia alleluia alleluia Lord Most High 4 Rank on rank the host of heaven Spreads its vanguard on the way As the Light of light descendeth From the realms of endless day That the pow'rs of hell may vanish As the darkness clears away Gerard Moultrie Public Domain 7

8 In Christ Alone 1 In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song; This Cornerstone, this solid Ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, When fears are stilled, when strivings cease! My Comforter, my All in All, Here in the love of Christ I stand 2 In Christ alone! who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe! This gift of love and righteousness, Scorned by the ones He came to save: Til on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied For every sin on Him was laid; Here in the death of Christ I live 3 There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain: Then bursting forth in glorious Day Up from the grave He rose again! And as He stands in victory Sin s curse has lost its grip on me, For I am His and He is mine Bought with the precious blood of Christ 4 No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me; From life s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand; Til He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I'll stand! 2001 Kingsway s Thankyou Music Stuart Townend / Keith Getty The Stand So I'll stand With arms high and heart abandoned In awe of the One who gave it all I'll stand My soul Lord to You surrendered All I am is Yours So what can I say And what can I do But offer this heart O God Completely to You Joel Houston 2005 Hillsong Music Publishing PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING (said together) Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen. 8

9 BENEDICTION Let us walk in the light as Christ our Savior is in the light, having fellowship with one another, being purified from sin by the blood of Jesus the Son; and may the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be upon you and remain with you now and forever. Amen. Angels We Have Heard On High Gloria in excelsis Deo Gloria in excelsis Deo 1 Angels we have heard on high Sweetly singing o'er the plains And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains 2 Come to Bethlehem and see Christ whose birth the angels sing Come adore on bended knee Christ the Lord the newborn King Edward Shippen Barnes James Chadwick Public Domain DISMISSAL Leader: Alleluia, let us go forth to glorify our coming king! Thanks be to God. Alleluia! 9

10 Welcome Visitors and Newcomers We are glad you are worshiping with us this morning. Below are a few ways that you can become more involved at Apostles. If you have questions this morning, you can fill out a yellow Connection Card (found under the seat in front of you) and place it in the offering basket. Welcome! Sign Up For The Pulse newsletter To receive our weekly e-newsletter with updates and announcements about what is going on at Apostles. Simply fill out the Connection Card under the seat in front of you and drop it in the offering basket. Find a Group Interested in connecting deeper into the community here at Apostles? Consider joining a Community Group! Various men s and women s ministry groups meet throughout the week. Contact Curt for more information. Curt Solomon Seek Prayer The Apostles Prayer Ministry is a safe place to seek prayer for a variety of concerns. You will find trained prayer teams and a prayer room in the back of the sanctuary, toward the right as you enter Women's Retreat February 24-26, 2017 ApostlesLink.org Our online communication tool connects you to ministries and members of the Apostles community. For a login, Marsha Whyte: marsha@apostles-raleigh.org Student Ministry Small Groups happen Sundays at 5:30pm during the school year. (6th - 12th grades) Contact Chris for more information. Chris Hendricks chris@apostles-raleigh.org Kathy Risley will be our speaker and Christa Wells will be leading worship. Registration is open at Giving Records Please note that gifts of securities and mutual funds must be transferred to, and received in, the Church's brokerage account by noon on Due to the limited office/ staffing hours (closed December 26 and 27) during the week of December 26, we are requesting that you make every effort to bring any year end gifts for the offering during the service on December 25 or simply mail them. Payments mailed and postmarked by December 31, 2016 will be reflected on your 2016 Giving Record. If your bank issues your payment, please allow plenty of time for our receipt by mail. You can always check your giving records by logging into Apostles Link. Click on your name and select My Profile, then select the Financial tab. For any questions about your giving, please contact Laynette Rustin, accounting@apostle-raleigh.org. 10

11 What s Happening at Apostles Christmas Eve Services: Our Christmas Eve Services will be held on December 24 at 3pm, 5pm and 11pm. Family services will be at 3pm and 5pm, and the 11pm service is our traditional candlelight service. Childcare will be provided for children birth through 4 years old. Please consider parking in our the parking deck to make room for visitors! Christmas Day Service: On December 25th, we will have a morning prayer service at 10am. Town Hall Meeting ~ January 8th Save the date for our Town Hall Meeting on January 8 at 10am. This Apostles Sunday, December 18 Worship Services: 8:30am & 11:00am Christmas Pageant: 10am Tuesday, December 20 Tuesday Praise & Prayer: 1:30-3:30pm Wednesday, December 21 Band of Brothers (M): 7-8am (offsite) Sleepyheads (M): 7:15-8:15am Worship Practice: 6:30-8:30pm Thursday, December 22 Blackwater Group (M): 7-8am (offsite) Friday, December 23 Bedheads (W): 6-7am Saturday, December 24 CHRISTMAS EVE Christmas Eve Services: 3pm, 5pm, 11pm Sunday, December 25 CHRISTMAS DAY Morning Prayer Service: 10am Coming Apostles DECEMBER 24 ~ Christmas Eve Services {3pm, 5pm, 11pm} 25 ~ Morning Prayer Service {10am} JANUARY 1 ~ Morning Prayer Service {10am} 8 ~ Town Hall Meeting {10am} FEBRUARY ~ Women s Retreat Wrightsville Beach, NC Apostles Student Ministry > January 8 ~ The Deal & Small Groups return! > January 15 ~ 10:00 Hour returns! Summer 2017 The Great Escape - June Cleveland, TN (middle school) High School Mission Trip - July 9-15 Clendenin, WV IMPACT Week (local) - July 31-August 4 (middle school) Apostles Children s Ministry Lessons for December 18 > Nursery: Shepherds at the Stable {Luke 2} > Kids Time: Jesus is Both God and Human {Matthew 1} > Big Time: Isaiah 7 Christmas Pageant ~ Our Christmas Pageant is today between worship services. We hope you ll join us for this special time! 11

12 Welcome to Church of the Apostles We pray that you know God s presence as you worship with us today. Holy Communion is open to all who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Children are welcome to receive communion at their parent s discretion. It is our custom to use wine during communion. If you choose not to partake of the wine, you can receive grape juice from the smaller chalices on the end of the serving lines. Please do not feel obligated to participate in the offering. While our members and regular attendees will be participating, we do not want you to feel that it is required of you. Thank you for joining us today. Facebook Church of the Apostles CHURCH OF THE APOSTLES Members of the Anglican Church of North America and Rwanda 333 Church at North Hills Street Raleigh, NC Pastoral Care Emergencies: