ORDER FOR WORSHIP
FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT
* Congregation stands
BOLD – Congregation responds
PRELUDE Deborah Im
SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
* PASSING OF THE PEACE
* Sanctus (pew card)
* CALL TO WORSHIP Michael, Laurie, Lexie, and Junie Chan
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel. Stir up your might and come to save us!
Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself.
Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Then we will never turn back from you; give us life when we call on your name.
Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
* HYMN No. 151 Go, Tell It on the Mountain
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Lord, we have not kept watch for you. We have occupied ourselves with our own concerns. We have not noticed the needs of the people around us. Forgive us for our lack of watchfulness.
(Silent personal prayers of confession)
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
This is God’s Word of grace:
We are accepted, we are forgiven, we are loved.
SUMMARY OF THE LAW
Herein is the wisdom of God for the people of God.
May God grant us the grace and courage to live in this way.
Gloria Patri (pew card)
ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; the one who follows me will not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”
Come and lead your people into the way of salvation.
Isaiah says: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined. . . . Then [God’s] light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
We light these candles as a sign of the coming light of Christ.
(Lighting of the fourth candle)
Come, Lord Jesus, our light and our life.
Until that day, let us walk in the light of the Lord.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
Prayer Response O Jesus Franck
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
Lord God, may your Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.
Speak, O Lord, for your servants are listening.
SCRIPTURE READINGS:
Isaiah 7:10-16 p. 554
Matthew 1:18-25 p. 783
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
Offertory: The Holy City Stephen Adams
Glenn Alamilla, tenor
* The Doxology (pew card)
* Prayer of Dedication
* CONFESSION OF FAITH Belgic Confession, Article 18
So then we confess that God fulfilled the promise made to the early fathers and mothers by the mouth of the holy prophets when he sent the only and eternal Son of God into the world at the time appointed. The Son took the “form of a slave” and was made in “human form,” truly assuming a real human nature, with all its weaknesses, except for sin…. In this way Christ is truly our Immanuel—that is: “God with us.”
TABLEAU OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST
Sunday School and Chancel Choir:
Gabriel’s Message Chancel Choir
How Quietly Sunday School and Chancel Choir
Love Came Down at Christmas Sunday School and Chancel Choir
Silent Night Sunday School and Chancel Choir
Congregational Hymns:
O Little Town of Bethlehem No. 155, stanza 1
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel No. 133, stanza 1
O Come, All Ye Faithful No. 173, all stanzas
(During this hymn, White Christmas gifts will be offered.)
* BENEDICTION
Response
POSTLUDE
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE - Saturday, Dec. 24, 8:00 P.M. Followed by a wassail hour in Gessner Hour. All are invited.
CHRISTMAS MORNING SERVICE – Sunday, Dec. 25, 11:00 A.M.
CHURCH OFFICE & BUILDING WILL BE CLOSED the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, except for worship services. We will re-open on Tuesday, January 3, 2017.
2017 AUCTION - Saturday, Jan. 7, in Gessner Hall. If you have small, easily transportable items to donate, WE WILL PICK UP YOUR DONATIONS. We do not take very heavy items or large furniture. Call the Church Office or Emerson Chen (917) 881-1868.
COOKIES NEEDED - Will you give the Church on the Hill a box of home-baked cookies for the Wassail Hour on Christmas Eve after the Candlelight Service? Mark the box "Christmas Eve Cookies" and bring it to the kitchen on Christmas Eve before the service or to the Church office during the week. Thank you.
2017 offering envelopes are at the entrance of the church. If you do not see your box and would like one, put your name on the sign-up sheet.
PRAYER LIST
Helga Brenner-Khan, Allegra DeMelo, Lynne Johnson, Robert Keller, Sal Lombardo, Marie Mark, Ann McCaffrey-Amalfitano, James McCreary, Eva Munoz, Joan Pearson, Keith Pearson, Edie Petry, Dorothy Reid, Kook Ryo, Debra & Greg Sparrow, Mary Ann Sullivan