John Calvin Presbyterian Church

MANY: Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord. 

PRAYER OF THE DAY 

God of glory, we know that you are coming at an unexpected hour.  Come to us now, in spirit and truth. Through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 

HYMN  [Blue#9][GTG#88] “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” Verses 1, 5-7

1 O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,

that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.

Refrain:

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

5 O come, thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home;

make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery. [Refrain]

6 O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here;

disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight. [Refrain]

7 O come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind;

bid envy, strife, and discord cease; fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. [Refrain]

 REPENTANCE

CALL TO CONFESSION                                                                  

SILENT CONFESSION

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Lord, we have not kept watch for you. We have occupied ourselves with our own concerns. We have not waited to find your will for us. We have not noticed the needs of the people around us. We have not acknowledged the love that has been shown to us. Forgive us, we pray for our lack of watchfulness. Help us to wait to know your will. Help us to look out for the needs of others. Help us to work and watch for your coming.  Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON                    

*GLORIA PATRI [BLUE#579] [GTG#581] 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, 

world without end, Amen, Amen.

THE WORD WRITTEN AND PROCLAIMED

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

RESPONSE  [Blue#586] [GTG#601] “Amen”

1st SCRIPTURE                                        Psalm 122

2nd SCRIPTURE                                       Romans 13:11-14

ONE: Heaven and earth will pass away but the Word of the Lord stands forever.

MANY: Thanks be to God

SERMON                 The Rev. Jan Condren 

HYMN[BLUE#379] [GTG#353]: “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less”

1 My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain:

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand;

all other ground is sinking sand.

2 When darkness seems to hide his face, I rest on his unchanging grace;

in every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil. [Refrain]

3 His oath, his covenant, his blood support me in the whelming flood;

when all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay. [Refrain]

4 When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found,

dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne. [Refrain]

 THE WORD MADE FLESH   

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH             Apostle’s Creed

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,  and in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY  “Hallelujah” arr. Leonard Cohen, performed by Briana Mayfield on vocals and Randy Martono-Chai on piano

*DOXOLOGY[BLUE#592] [GTG# 606]

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures here below;

Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

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

RESPONSE “Hear Our Prayer O Lord”

HYMN [Blue#31][GTG#119]  “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

1 Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king.

Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”

Joyful, all ye nations, rise; join the triumph of the skies;

with the angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Refrain:

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king!”

2 Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ. the everlasting Lord,

late in time behold him come, offspring of the virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail the incarnate deity,

pleased in flesh with us to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. [Refrain]

3 Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the sun of righteousness!

Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings.

Mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die,

born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth. [Refrain]

PARTING PRAYER

Holy God, as we go into the world of shopping and wrapping, of family time and holiday stress, remind us to live in the world that is coming, more than in the one that is. Make us aware of places and times where that world shines a light on this one. Help  us live with strength and courage. We pray all this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

*RESPONSE [Blue#40][GTG#134] “Joy to the World” Verse 4

4 He rules the world with truth and grace,

and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness

and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love,

and wonders, wonders of his love.

POSTLUDE  “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Francesca Battistelli arr. Ralph Blane /Hugh Martin, performed by Briana Mayfield on vocals and Randy Martono-Chai on piano                    

*Note: the hymn lyrics in the bulletin and on the projection screen are from the Glory To God Hymnal (© 2013 Westminster John Knox Press), which we are transitioning to. Words in the “Blue” Presbyterian Hymnal (© 1990) in your pew may differ slightly.

The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved.

Reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, ©2004, Faithful Alive Christian Resources. 

STAFF