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THE LORD’S DAY WORSHIP THE TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY OF DECEMBER, TWO THOUSAND AND FOURTEEN Eight-Thirty and Eleven O’clock THE PRELUDE “Middlebury” arr. Wood Jennifer Velázquez, Organist THE INVOCATION AND THE LORD’S PRAYER O ur 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, for ever. Amen. “I was glad when they said to me,‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!”’ — Psalm 122:1 THE PROCESSIONAL HYMN “All People That on Earth Do Dwell” No. 1 THE CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 100 The Minister: “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing! The Congregation: Know that the Lord, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. The Minister: Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name! The Minister and Congregation: For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.” The Reverend Parker Tenent Assistant Pastor THE HYMN OF ASSURANCE “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” Stuart Townend THE SOLO “Abide with Me: Fast Falls the Eventide” Monk Lamar Frazier, Tenor Abide with me: fast falls the eventide; the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide: When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, help of the helpless, O abide with me. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me. I need Thy presence every passing hour; what but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r? Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me. THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 8:1 THE CONFESSION OF SIN O God of grace, I need to repent of my repentance; I need my tears to be washed; I have no robe to bring to cover my sins, no loom to weave my own righteousness; I am always standing clothed in filthy garments, and by grace am always receiving change of raiment, for You always justify the ungodly; I am always going into the far country, and always returning home as a prodigal, always saying, Father, forgive me, and You are always bringing forth the best robe. Every morning let me wear it, every evening return in it, go out to the day’s work in it, be married in it, be wound in death in it, stand before the great white throne in it, and enter heaven in it shining as the sun. Amen. — Adapted from The Valley of Vision THE SERMON Ephesians 3:14-21 (pew Bible page 977) “The Joy of Christmas” The Reverend J. Edward Norton Associate Pastor THE HYMN OF RESPONSE “O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus!” No. 535 THE OFFERTORY “Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head” arr. Flummerfelt Harrison Howle, Director Jesus, Jesus, rest Your head, You have got a manger bed; All the evil folk on earth sleep in feathers at their birth; Jesus, Jesus rest Your head, You have got a manger bed. Have you heard about our Jesus? Have you heard about His fate? How His mother went to that stable on that Christmas eve so late? Winds were blowing, cows were lowing, Stars were glowing, glowing, glowing. To that manger came three wise men, Bringing things from hin and yon For the mother and the father and that blessed little Son; Milkmaids left their fields and flocks And sat beside the ass and ox. THE BENEDICTION THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Sarah Elizabeth Lott, 11:00 a.m. THE GLORIA PATRI Greatorex 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. Please sign and pass the Friendship Pad at this time. ™ 3. I 2. Be 1. How will deep hold - not the the Fa Man boast ther's up in - an on love - y the for - - thing: us, cross, No how my vast sin gifts, be no up on yond pow’r, - - all His no shoul meas wis dom, ure ders - - - that a But - I He shamed will should I boast hear give His my in on Je mock ly sus ing - - - Son Christ: voice His to call make out death a a and wretch mong res - ur the His - treas rec scof - ure. fers. tion. - - - How It Why was great should the my I gain pain sin of that from sear held His re ing Him - ward? loss. there - The un I Fa til can - ther it not - - was turns give ac an His com an face - a plished, swer. way - - - as His But dy this wounds I ing which - breath know mar the has with Cho all brought my sen me - heart: One, life. His bring I wounds man know y that have - sons it paid to is my glo fin ran ry. som. ished - - - I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless: ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness. Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still, if Thou abide with me. Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes; shine through the gloom, And point me to the skies: Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee: in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me. THE DOXOLOGY Old Hundredth Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise Him, all creatures here below; praise Him above, ye heav’nly host: praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen. THE STATEMENT OF FAITH The Nicene Creed We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets; and we believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church; we acknowledge one baptism for the re- mission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. THE CHORAL RESPONSE “My Gracious Redeemer” Sjolund THE POSTLUDE “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” arr. Behnke
