A SERVICE OF WORSHIP THE LORD S DAY SEASON OF CHRISTMAS December 30, 2018 that in everything he might be preeminent Colossians 1:18
WELCOME TO CHRIST COVENANT CHURCH We are glad you are here to worship the living God! This worship folder is intended to walk you through the service, as well as provide you with devotional material to take home. IN PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP This Sunday is the traditional day we remember the "slaughter of the innocents." It is neither a comforting subject nor what we would normally consider a fitting passage to meditate upon during the Christmas season. However, it is good to be reminded that while Satan comes to kill and destroy, Jesus Christ was born to deal a death blow to death. May the gospel do the same in our own culture. Mirroring this historical event, our service moves from praise to lament and then to thanksgiving and hope. Announcements and Greeting SERVICE OF WORSHIP 10:45 a.m. Scripture Meditation XXXXXXX The Shepherd s Candle Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!" Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and His arm rules for Him; behold, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him. He will tend His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms; He will carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. Prelude Call to Worship Isaiah 12:1 6 Leader: You will say in that day: I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. ALL: Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. Leader: With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. ALL: And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. Leader: Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. ALL: Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. 2
Congregational Hymn #227 On Christmas Night All Christians Sing Prayer of Adoration Text: Traditional English Carol; Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1919 New Testament Reading Matthew 2:1 18 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: "'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. 3
Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt I called my son." Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: "A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more." Congregational Hymn Coventry Carol 4 Renaissance Carol, 15 th Century
Pastoral Prayer Prayer of Confession of Sin 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. Assurance of Grace Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Leader: This is the word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God! 5
Congregational Hymn #193 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Text: 5 th Cent.; Music: PICARDY, French Melody, 17 th Cent. Arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams Giving of Tithes and Offerings Parents, you may escort your pre-school aged children to Children s Bible Time (B-102) after the collection bag has passed your pew. Thank you. Offertory One Small Child 6
Preaching of the Word Philippians 3:12 17 (p. 893) THE ORDINARY CHRISTIAN LIFE Rev. Bernie Lawrence Congregational Hymn To Us A Child of Hope Is Born Benediction Postlude Text: John Morison 1781; Music: CHRISTMAS, George Frederick Handle, 1728 Assisting in Worship: Preaching Pastor: Rev. Bernie Lawrence; Assisting Pastor: Rev. XXXXXXX; Pastor of Worship: Pastor Nathan George; Organist: Pam Eash; Pianist: Pamela Mullins; Instrumental Director: Scott Van Patter; Early Music Ensemble All music UBP CCLI # 260344. All Scripture quotes from ESV. Used by permission. 7
8 SERMON NOTES
Announcements and Greeting Call to Worship Psalm 47 Trinity Hymnal p. 803 Prayer of Invocation SERVICE OF WORSHIP 6:00 p.m. Congregational Hymn #580 Lead on, O King Eternal Corporate Confession Trinity Hymn p. 871 Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 23 & 26 Pastoral Prayer Tithes and Offerings Genesis 14:17 20 After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!" And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. Offertory Congregational Hymn #154 Thou Art the Way Preaching of the Word Revelation 3:7 13 (p. 71 72) A CALL TO FAITHFULNESS IN SPITE OF WEAKNESS Rev. Mike Miller Congregational Hymn #172 Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder Benediction Postlude Assisting in Worship: Preaching Pastor: Mike Miller; Pastor of Worship: Rev. Nathan George; Assisting Pastor: Rev. Bernie Lawrence; Organist: Pam Eash; All music UBP CCLI # 260344. All Scripture quotes are from the ESV. Used by permission. 9
10 SERMON NOTES
IN PREPARATION FOR THE SEASON OF ADVENT The four Sundays leading up to Christmas have traditionally been called Advent, a season of waiting and expectation. In ancient Rome, adventus was a ceremony in which townspeople would celebrate the arrival of the Emperor, usually after a victorious military campaign. Christians first commemorated Advent as a season of preparation for adult baptisms that would take place during the feast of Epiphany (January 6). Later, Christians tied Advent to the church's eager expectation for the second coming of Christ. It may not have been until the Middle Ages that Advent was linked to Christ's first coming at Christmas. Although we must be careful not to make too much of Christmas and Advent--since they come to us by way of church tradition rather than Scripture--it is surely appropriate that we sing about and celebrate the miracle of the incarnation. During the Advent season we reflect on the biblical themes of waiting, hoping, and longing. We also rejoice in the good news that salvation has come to us, Mary's Infant Child. Come, thou long expected Jesus born to set thy people free! From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart. In this season of waiting, let us remember the crucified King who has already come, with anticipation for his coming again. 11
The body of Christ Covenant meets in communities where people of all ages are welcomed and encouraged to engage through four distinct entry points: Sunday Worship, Congregational Communities, Covenant Groups, and Small Groups. SUNDAY WORSHIP Worship Services at 10:45 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. CONGREGATIONAL COMMUNITIES Senior Adults Community Young Families Community Community of senior adults ages 70+ Community of newly married & young Pastor Bruce Creswell families with children up to age 12 Pastor Derek Wells Young Seniors Community Community of couples & individuals ages 60-70 Young Professionals Community Pastor Bernie Lawrence Community of singles & young married couples Pastor Dave Baxter Sojourners Community Community of adults ages 45-59 who have 18/22 Generation / College Community college age/young adult children Community of college age adults Pastor Mike Miller Campus Outreach Director Zach Fulginiti Student Families Community Community of adults with middle & high school age children Pastor Brian Peterson Youth (Middle/High School) Community Youth Ministries Pastor Stewart Neely Middle School Director David Chambers COVENANT GROUPS Multi-generational & mixed-gender groups of 10-30 people. Please contact Pastor Brian Peterson. SMALL GROUPS Gender-specific groups of 4-10 people. Please contact Teresa Caldwell for women s groups and Pastor Brian Peterson for men s groups. 12