Welcome
Opening Prayer
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord, Emmanuel! God with us, You came
to us long ago as a helpless babe, as one in need of human love and
care. You taught us how to love and care for one another. Help us to
hold on to childlike wonder, amazement, and love, and help us to love
one another all year long. Guide our feet into the way of peace, as only
the Prince of Peace can lead us, by laying down our lives for one
another and serving one another. In the name of Christ, Emmanuel, God
with Us, we pray. Amen.
Lighting of Advent Candle
1st Hymn:
O Little Town Of Bethlehem (Saint Louis)
Verse 1
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
Verse 2
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
Verse 3
How silently how silently
The wondrous gift is given
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven
No ear may hear His coming
But in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive Him still
The dear Christ enters in
Verse 4
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
Pastoral Prayer
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 trespasses,
As we
forgive those who trespass against us,
And
lead us not into temptation,
But
deliver us from evil.
For
thine is the kingdom,
And
the power, and the glory,
For
ever and ever
Amen
2nd Hymn:
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear (Carol)
Verse 1
It came upon the midnight clear
That glorious song of old
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold
Peace on the earth good will to men
From heaven's all gracious King
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing
Verse 2
Still thro' the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing
Verse 3
And ye beneath life's crushing load
Whose forms are bending low
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow
Look now for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing
O rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing
Verse 4
For lo the days are hastening on
By prophet bards foretold
When with the ever-circling years
Comes round the age of gold
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling
And the whole world give back the song
Which now the angels sing
Offering Prayer
Solo/Anthem: Emanuel, God With Us by Jerri-Lynne Severance
Sermon: Waiting on the Threshold 2 Chronicles 7:1-3, Luke 1:26-38
Announcements / Closing
Postlude by Tracy Bailey
