Sunday, December 19, 2021 - Celebrating Our Relationships (in Love)
Theme: Finding Ourselves in Jesus’ Story - Celebrating Our Relationships (in Love)
Carol Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn (In Person Only)
Welcome
Lighting of the Advent Candle (Hope, Peace, Joy. & Love)
Carol Love Has Come (In Person Only)
Prayer for God’s Presence
Matthew 1:18-19 Common English Bible Translation
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. When Mary his mother was engaged to Joseph, before they were married, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband was a righteous man. Because he didn’t want to humiliate her, he decided to call off their engagement quietly. (Question: What hinders having empathy for others?)
Matthew 1:20-24
As he was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child she carries was conceived by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you will call him, Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Now all of this took place so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled: Look! A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, And they will call him, Emmanuel. (Emmanuel means “God with us.”) When Joseph woke up, he did just as an angel from God commanded and took Mary as his wife. (Question: How has taking time to make a decision changed how you handled a situation?)
Carol The First Nowell (In Person Only)
Luke 2:8-14
Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you – wonderful, joyous news for all people. Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.” (Question: What is it about Jesus that makes you want to know more?)
Luke 2:15
When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” (Question: How do you decide what is worth your time to understand more fully?)
Carol Go, Tell It on the Mountain (In Person Only)
Luke 2:16-20
They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told. (Question: What are the memories you hold onto and go over in your mind the most? Why?)
Reflection Together (In Person Only)
Offering Ourselves to God
During this time let us reflect upon the words of “O Come, All Ye Faithful”
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant; O come ye; O come ye to Bethlehem! Come, and behold him, born the King of angels! O Come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord!
True God from true God, Light from light eternal, born of a virgin, a mortal he comes; very God, begotten not created! O Come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord!
Sing, choirs of angels; sing in exultation; sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest! O Come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord!
Yea, Lord, we greet the, born this happy morning; Jesus, to thee be all glory given; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! O Come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord!
Carol O Come, All Ye Faithful (In Person Only)
Prayers of the People and 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 sins, as we forgive those who sin against us;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom and the power
and the glory, forever. Amen
Benediction
Closing Carol Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (In Person Only)
Hymn List
107 Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn
110 Love Has Come
119 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
133 O Come, All Ye Faithful
136 Go, Tell It on the Mountain
147 The First Nowell
Christmas Eve Services
Dec 19th @ 5pm
Dec 24th @ 7pm
Sunday, December 26th Worship is Online Only (No in person worship this day)
Dec 26th - Theme: How does Jesus change our reactions?
Jan 2nd–Theme: The Birth that Gives us Purpose