December 18, 2022
O Come All Ye Faithful
Words & Music: John F. Wade, 1743
O come all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant
Come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him, Born the king of angels
CHORUS:
O come let us adore Him, Oh come let us adore Him,
Oh, 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, In the highest glory (Chorus)
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning
Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv’n
Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing (Chorus)
Call to Worship
Luke 1:31-33,38,2:8-11,15, Matthew 2:1-2
Leader: And behold, [Mary], you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." And Mary said,
All: "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word."
Leader: And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
All: "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."
Leader: Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,
All: "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Words: Various Latin antiphons, 12th century; Music: Veni Emmanuel arr. Thomas Helmore, 1856
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
CHORUS:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Drive away the shades of night,
Pierce the clouds and bring us light (Repeat Chorus)
O come, O come, Thou Rod of Jesse free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of hell Thy people save
And give them vict’ry o’er the grave (Repeat Chorus)
Prayer of Confession
Matthew 2:3-4, Luke 2:7
Leader: When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
All: For our hard-hearted, troubled responses to your invitation, Lord, forgive us.
Silent Prayers
Leader:And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
All:For our hurried, busy, no-room-for-interruption lives, Lord, forgive us.
Silent Prayers
God’s Assurance of Forgiveness
Psalm 139:7-10
All: Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
The Goodness of Jesus
By CityAlight
Come you weary heart now to Jesus
Come you anxious soul now and see
There is perfect love and comfort in your tears
Rest here in His wondrous peace
Chorus:
Oh the goodness, the goodness of Jesus
Satisfied, He is all that I need
May it be, come what may, that I rest all my days
In the goodness of Jesus
Come find what this world cannot offer
Come and find your joy here complete
Taste the living water, never thirst again
Rest here in His wondrous peace
Come and find your hope now in Jesus
He is all He said He would be
Grace is overflowing from the Savior's heart
Rest here in His wondrous peace
Tag:
May it be, come what may, that I rest all my days
In the goodness of Jesus
Family Life
† During a brief intermission, children can go with their teachers for a lesson.
The musicians will call us back with a song reprised.
Sermon Passage
Luke 14:7-24
7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8 "When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give your place to this person,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
12 He said also to the man who had invited him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just."
15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!" 16 But he said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.' 19 And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.' 20 And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.' 22 And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' 23 And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"
Pastor: The grass withers and the flower fades...
All: ...but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
Sermon
"God’s Invitation"
Pastor Mike McBride
CLICK HERE TO TAKE SERMON NOTES
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
Charles Wesley, 1744
Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Joy to those who long to see thee, Dayspring from on high appear.
Come thou promised Rod of Jesse, Of thy birth we long to hear!
Leaving riches without number, Born within a cattle stall;
Go to him your praises bring, Christ the Lord has come to earth.
Come to earth to taste our sadness, He whose glories knew no end.
By his life he brings us gladness, Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.
Leaving riches without number, Born within a cattle stall;
This the everlasting wonder, Christ was born the Lord of all.
Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit, rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.
The Lord’s Supper
† Receive bread and juice from one of our section leaders near you. Gluten free options are available at the front table.
Joy to the World
Isaac Watts, 1719. Arr. Lowell Mason, 1848. Based on Psalm 98
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heav'n and nature sing, And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav'n and heav'n and nature sing
Joy to the world! the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
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
Benediction
† We invite you to stretch out your hands as you receive the Lord’s blessing.
Words & Music: John F. Wade, 1743
O come all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant
Come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him, Born the king of angels
CHORUS:
O come let us adore Him, Oh come let us adore Him,
Oh, 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, In the highest glory (Chorus)
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning
Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv’n
Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing (Chorus)
Call to Worship
Luke 1:31-33,38,2:8-11,15, Matthew 2:1-2
Leader: And behold, [Mary], you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." And Mary said,
All: "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word."
Leader: And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
All: "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."
Leader: Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,
All: "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Words: Various Latin antiphons, 12th century; Music: Veni Emmanuel arr. Thomas Helmore, 1856
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
CHORUS:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Drive away the shades of night,
Pierce the clouds and bring us light (Repeat Chorus)
O come, O come, Thou Rod of Jesse free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of hell Thy people save
And give them vict’ry o’er the grave (Repeat Chorus)
Prayer of Confession
Matthew 2:3-4, Luke 2:7
Leader: When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
All: For our hard-hearted, troubled responses to your invitation, Lord, forgive us.
Silent Prayers
Leader:And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
All:For our hurried, busy, no-room-for-interruption lives, Lord, forgive us.
Silent Prayers
God’s Assurance of Forgiveness
Psalm 139:7-10
All: Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
The Goodness of Jesus
By CityAlight
Come you weary heart now to Jesus
Come you anxious soul now and see
There is perfect love and comfort in your tears
Rest here in His wondrous peace
Chorus:
Oh the goodness, the goodness of Jesus
Satisfied, He is all that I need
May it be, come what may, that I rest all my days
In the goodness of Jesus
Come find what this world cannot offer
Come and find your joy here complete
Taste the living water, never thirst again
Rest here in His wondrous peace
Come and find your hope now in Jesus
He is all He said He would be
Grace is overflowing from the Savior's heart
Rest here in His wondrous peace
Tag:
May it be, come what may, that I rest all my days
In the goodness of Jesus
Family Life
† During a brief intermission, children can go with their teachers for a lesson.
The musicians will call us back with a song reprised.
Sermon Passage
Luke 14:7-24
7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8 "When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give your place to this person,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
12 He said also to the man who had invited him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just."
15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!" 16 But he said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.' 19 And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.' 20 And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.' 22 And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' 23 And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"
Pastor: The grass withers and the flower fades...
All: ...but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
Sermon
"God’s Invitation"
Pastor Mike McBride
CLICK HERE TO TAKE SERMON NOTES
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
Charles Wesley, 1744
Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Joy to those who long to see thee, Dayspring from on high appear.
Come thou promised Rod of Jesse, Of thy birth we long to hear!
Leaving riches without number, Born within a cattle stall;
Go to him your praises bring, Christ the Lord has come to earth.
Come to earth to taste our sadness, He whose glories knew no end.
By his life he brings us gladness, Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.
Leaving riches without number, Born within a cattle stall;
This the everlasting wonder, Christ was born the Lord of all.
Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit, rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.
The Lord’s Supper
† Receive bread and juice from one of our section leaders near you. Gluten free options are available at the front table.
Joy to the World
Isaac Watts, 1719. Arr. Lowell Mason, 1848. Based on Psalm 98
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heav'n and nature sing, And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav'n and heav'n and nature sing
Joy to the world! the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
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
Benediction
† We invite you to stretch out your hands as you receive the Lord’s blessing.
Posted in Worship Guide