December 22, 2024
Call to Worship
Romans 15:10-13
Leader: And again it is said, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people." And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him." And again Isaiah says,
All: "The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope."
Leader: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Fourth Sunday of Advent – Love
Isaiah 11:1-6
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.
Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
1739, Charles Wesley, adapted by George Whitefield. Based on Luke 2:14.
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 angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King"
Christ by highest heav'n adored, Christ the everlasting Lord
Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail th'incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel
Hark the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King"
Hail the heav'n born Prince of Peace, Hail the Sun of righteousness
Light and life to all He brings, Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth
Hark the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King"
Comfort, Comfort Ye My People
By: Johann Olearius (1671); Translated by: Catherine Winkworth (1862);
Arrangement: Nathan Clark George (2022)
Comfort, comfort ye my people
Speak ye peace, thus saith our God
Comfort those who sit in darkness
Mourning ‘neath their sorrows' load
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them
Tell her that her sins I cover
And her warfare now is over
For the herald's voice is crying
In the desert far and near
Bidding all unto repentance
Since the kingdom now is here
Oh, that warning cry obey
Now prepare for God a way
Let the valleys rise to meet Him
And the hills bow down to greet Him
Make ye straight what long was crooked
Make the rougher places plain
Let your hearts be true and humble
As befits His holy reign
For the glory of the Lord
Now o'er earth is shed abroad
And all flesh shall see the token
That His Word is never broken
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)
Confession of Sin
Romans 15:1-3
Leader: We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
All: For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."
Silent Prayers
Assurance of Forgiveness
Romans 15:3-6
Leader: For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."
All: For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Leader: May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pastoral Prayer
Thanksgiving and Petition
Family Life and Offerings:
† Tithes and offerings can be given at fieldspres.org/give or in the offering box.
† During a brief intermission, children can go with their teachers for a lesson.
Sermon Passage
Luke 1:8-17
8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."
Leader: The grass withers, the flower fades...
All: ...but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
Sermon
Pastor Terry Fox
Behold the Lamb of God
Andrew Peterson, 2004
We who walk in darkness deep
Now see the light of morning
The Mighty God, the Prince of Peace
A child to us is born
Chorus:
Behold, the Lamb of God
Who takes away our sin
Behold, the Lamb of God
The life and light of men
Behold, the Lamb of God
Who died and rose again
Behold the Lamb of God who comes
To take away our sin
Wanderers in the wilderness
O hear a voice is crying
Prepare the way, make straight the path
Your King has come to die
Bridge:
Son of God (Emmanuel)
Son of Man (We praise You)
Behold (Behold) the Lamb
The hope (the hope) of man
Behold the Lamb
The Lord’s Supper
† Receive bread and juice from one of our section hosts near you. Gluten free wafers are available at the front table. We will all eat and drink together.
Go Tell It On the Mountain
African-American spiritual. Compiled by John Wesley Work Jr., dating back to at least 1865.
Chorus:
Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the moun-tain
That Jesus Christ is born
While shepherds kept their watching
Over silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light
The shepherds feared and trembled
When, lo! Above the Earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior's birth
Down in a lowly manger
Our humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
On blessed Christmas morn’
That Jesus Christ is born; That Jesus Christ is born
Benediction
† We invite you to stretch out your hands as you receive the Lord’s blessing.
Romans 15:10-13
Leader: And again it is said, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people." And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him." And again Isaiah says,
All: "The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope."
Leader: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Fourth Sunday of Advent – Love
Isaiah 11:1-6
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.
Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
1739, Charles Wesley, adapted by George Whitefield. Based on Luke 2:14.
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 angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King"
Christ by highest heav'n adored, Christ the everlasting Lord
Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail th'incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel
Hark the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King"
Hail the heav'n born Prince of Peace, Hail the Sun of righteousness
Light and life to all He brings, Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth
Hark the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King"
Comfort, Comfort Ye My People
By: Johann Olearius (1671); Translated by: Catherine Winkworth (1862);
Arrangement: Nathan Clark George (2022)
Comfort, comfort ye my people
Speak ye peace, thus saith our God
Comfort those who sit in darkness
Mourning ‘neath their sorrows' load
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them
Tell her that her sins I cover
And her warfare now is over
For the herald's voice is crying
In the desert far and near
Bidding all unto repentance
Since the kingdom now is here
Oh, that warning cry obey
Now prepare for God a way
Let the valleys rise to meet Him
And the hills bow down to greet Him
Make ye straight what long was crooked
Make the rougher places plain
Let your hearts be true and humble
As befits His holy reign
For the glory of the Lord
Now o'er earth is shed abroad
And all flesh shall see the token
That His Word is never broken
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)
Confession of Sin
Romans 15:1-3
Leader: We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
All: For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."
Silent Prayers
Assurance of Forgiveness
Romans 15:3-6
Leader: For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."
All: For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Leader: May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pastoral Prayer
Thanksgiving and Petition
Family Life and Offerings:
† Tithes and offerings can be given at fieldspres.org/give or in the offering box.
† During a brief intermission, children can go with their teachers for a lesson.
Sermon Passage
Luke 1:8-17
8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."
Leader: The grass withers, the flower fades...
All: ...but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
Sermon
Pastor Terry Fox
Behold the Lamb of God
Andrew Peterson, 2004
We who walk in darkness deep
Now see the light of morning
The Mighty God, the Prince of Peace
A child to us is born
Chorus:
Behold, the Lamb of God
Who takes away our sin
Behold, the Lamb of God
The life and light of men
Behold, the Lamb of God
Who died and rose again
Behold the Lamb of God who comes
To take away our sin
Wanderers in the wilderness
O hear a voice is crying
Prepare the way, make straight the path
Your King has come to die
Bridge:
Son of God (Emmanuel)
Son of Man (We praise You)
Behold (Behold) the Lamb
The hope (the hope) of man
Behold the Lamb
The Lord’s Supper
† Receive bread and juice from one of our section hosts near you. Gluten free wafers are available at the front table. We will all eat and drink together.
Go Tell It On the Mountain
African-American spiritual. Compiled by John Wesley Work Jr., dating back to at least 1865.
Chorus:
Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the moun-tain
That Jesus Christ is born
While shepherds kept their watching
Over silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light
The shepherds feared and trembled
When, lo! Above the Earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior's birth
Down in a lowly manger
Our humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
On blessed Christmas morn’
That Jesus Christ is born; That Jesus Christ is born
Benediction
† We invite you to stretch out your hands as you receive the Lord’s blessing.
Posted in Worship Guide