Order of Worship

Lord’s Day, December 7, 10:30am

The Second Sunday of Advent

The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival."  Advent is the beginning of the Church Year for most churches in the Western tradition. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, which is the Sunday nearest November 30, and ends on Christmas Eve, with the focus being on celebrating the birth of Christ and anticipating His Second Advent.  The candle we will be lighting today recalls how Christ appeared in the flesh in humble manner, being born of a virgin in the insignificant village of Bethlehem.  This is why this candle is often referred to as the Bethlehem Candle.  Essentially, the Advent season is a time of preparation, anticipation and expectation.  The Session of New Life encourages you to reflect, ponder and meditate on the incarnation and redemption of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Preparation for Worship, Advent Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and forever.  Amen. 

Welcome & Announcements

Hymn of Adoration No. 203:  Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

Call to Worship, Psalm 105:1-5 [1]                      

Pastor:   Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;
             make known his deeds among the peoples!

People:    Sing to him, sing praises to him;
             tell of all his wondrous works!
             Glory in his holy name;
             let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

Pastor:   Seek the LORD and his strength;
              seek his presence continually!

All:        Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
              his miracles, and the judgments he uttered.

Prayer of Invocation (The Lord’s Prayer)

Scripture Reading        Isaiah 7:10-14, 9:2, 6-7, Micah 5:2-5

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord!

People: Thanks be to God!

The Lighting of the Advent Candle, Vic & Anita Hansen

Tithes and Offering Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise him all creatures here below; praise him above the heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  Amen.

Congregational Prayer

*Singing of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs

Good Christian Men, Rejoice

Trinity, 207

Away in a Manger

Trinity, 204

*God’s Word to Us

Scripture Reading       

            Leader: This is the Word of Lord!

            People:  Thanks be to God!     

Prayer for Illumination

Sermon:                       Bill Weckerly

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

A Word About Communion –The elements that you see on the Communion table are symbols of the gospel; the body and blood of Christ poured out on behalf of His people.  What makes the Lord’s Supper special is that Jesus is spiritually present in a unique way, and the believer is invited to come and feed his soul upon the Bread of Life.  When we come to the Table, we are not to partake carelessly, but at the same time we should allow the gravity of the work of Christ to fill us with great joy and thankfulness.  The completed work of Christ—His perfect life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension:  Jesus has done all that is necessary and because of His love on our behalf, He invites broken sinners to His table.  If you are a member of a church that embraces the Gospel of Jesus Christ and if you are at peace with your fellow Christians, the Session of New Life welcomes you to this table of Christ.  Come this morning to pray, ponder, and marvel at the broken body and shed blood of Christ Jesus.  Rejoice in your union with Christ and your union with the community of saints.  For those who are not taking Communion today, take this time to speak to the Lord about your struggle to believe, your search for truth, or your struggle with sin.  Ask the Lord to give you the faith to believe in the completed work of Christ knowing that we look forward to the day when you may join us in the Lord’s Supper.

*Hymn of Response No. 302: Come, Christians Join to Sing

Benevolent Offering

*Benediction

Postlude                     

“Go…and tell the people the full message of this new life” Acts 5:20