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. 

PRELUDE  “To God Be the Glory”

WORDS OF WELCOME

ANNOUNCEMENTS          

ADORATION

INTROIT “Rejoice in the Lord Always” 

CALL TO WORSHIP     Colossians 1:17-18

ONE: In Christ all things hold together; 

MANY: he is head of the church and Lord of all.

PRAYER OF THE DAY 

Eternal God, 

you set Jesus Christ to rule over all things, and made us servants in your kingdom. By your Spirit empower us to love the unloved, and to minister to all in need. Then at the last bring us to your eternal realm where we may worship and adore you and be welcomed into your everlasting joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

HYMN [Blue#][GTG#612] “We Praise You O God” 

1 We praise you, O God, our Redeemer, Creator;

in grateful devotion our tribute we bring.

We lay it before you; we kneel and adore you;

we bless your holy name; glad praises we sing.

2 We worship you, God of our fathers and mothers;

through trial and tempest our guide you have been.

When perils o’ertake us, you will not forsake us,

and with your help, O Lord, our struggles we win.

3 With voices united our praises we offer

and gladly our songs of thanksgiving we raise.

With you, Lord, beside us, your strong arm will guide us.

To you, our great Redeemer, forever be praise!

REPENTANCE

CALL TO CONFESSION                                                                  

SILENT CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Righteous God, 

you have crowned Jesus Christ as Lord of all. We confess that we have not bowed before him, and are slow to acknowledge his rule. We give allegiance to the powers of this world, and fail to be governed by justice and love. In your mercy, forgive us. 

Raise us to acclaim him as ruler of all, that we may be loyal ambassadors, obeying the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON                     

GLORIA PATRI [Blue#579[ [GTG581]     

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 READ AND PROCLAIMED

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

RESPONSE  [Blue#586] [GTG#601] “Amen”

1st SCRIPTURE Psalm 46

2nd  SCRIPTURE Colossians 1:11-20       

ONE: The Word of the Lord

MANY: Thanks be to God

HYMN [Blue#] [GTG#367] “Come Ye Thankful People Come”

1 Come, ye thankful people, come; raise the song of harvest home. All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.

God, our Maker, doth provide or our wants to be supplied.

Come to God’s own temple, come; raise the song of harvest home.

2 All the world is God’s own field, fruit in thankful praise to yield, wheat and tares together sown,

unto joy or sorrow grown.

First the blade, and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear. Lord of harvest, grant that we

wholesome grain and pure may be.

3 For the Lord our God shall come, and shall take the harvest home; from each field shall in that day

all offenses purge away; give the angels charge at last

in the fire the tares to cast, but the fruitful ears to store

in God’s garner evermore.

4 Even so, Lord, quickly come to thy final harvest home.

Gather thou thy people in, free from sorrow, free from sin,

there forever purified, in thy presence to abide:

come, with all thine angels, come; raise the glorious harvest home!

SERMON   “Joyfully Giving Thanks”   CP Ford J. Dieth

 RESPONSE     

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   “Give Thanks” 

DOXOLOGY [GTG#606]

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise God, all creatures here below;

Praise God above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

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#] [GTG#630] “Fairest Lord Jesus”

1 Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature,

O thou of God to earth come down,

thee will I cherish, thee will I honor,

thou, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown.

2 Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,

robed in the blooming garb of spring.

Jesus is fairer; Jesus is purer,

who makes the woeful heart to sing.

3 Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight,

and all the twinkling, starry host.

Jesus shines brighter; Jesus shines purer,

than all the angels heaven can boast.

4 Beautiful Savior, Ruler of the nations,

Son of God and Son of Man!

Glory and honor, praise, adoration,

now and forevermore be thine!

PARTING PRAYER    

We praise you, great God, 

for you are the ruler of the universe, and have sent your Son to be the King of kings. By your Spirit, claim our complete loyalty, and establish Christ’s reign of peace in every land and in every heart. Accept the offering of our lives in the service of Christ’s kingdom. He is Lord forever and ever. Amen.

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

RESPONSE [Blue#][GTG#368] “We Fall Down”

We fall down; we lay our crowns at the feet of Jesus:

The greatness of mercy and love, at the feet of Jesus.

 And we cry holy, holy, holy.

And we cry holy, holy, holy.

And we cry holy, holy, holy

is the Lamb.  

POSTLUDE   “O Sing to the Lord” Duet by Cindy Freudenthal and Randy Martono-Chai.               

*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.