The Lord’s Day
December 23, 2007
Fourth Sunday of Advent
To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;
not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead;
for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
(1 Peter 3:8, 9)
Prelude
Lighting of the Advent Candle Luke 1:26–35
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.”
Musical Offering Nativity Carol (text on facing page)
*Call to Worship Psalm 71:17–19
Minister: O God, You have taught me from my youth;
Congregation: And I still declare Your wondrous deeds.
Minister: And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me,
Congregation: Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come.
Minister: For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens,
Congregation: You who have done great things; O God, who is like You?
*Gloria Patri No. 734
*Prayer of Invocation
*Hymn Joy to the World! The Lord Is Come No. 195
Public Confession
All: Our joy is full, O God of our salvation! You have revealed Your strong arm of redemption. You have delivered us from our misery, and You have caused Your light to shine upon us. We praise You, therefore, because You are a God of grace. You have given us life instead of death.
We acknowledge that in spite of what has been done for us, we yet sin. We still wrestle with the call to holiness and sometimes falter in our efforts. Please forgive our many sins. Please pardon all our iniquities and cause us to manifest righteousness in our speech and in our conduct.
Children: We love You, heavenly Father, and are thankful for Jesus our Savior. Please forgive our sins and cause us to love the way of truth and goodness.
Words of Assurance Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Response In Sweet Communion (inside back cover)
Prayer for the Tithe and Offerings
Collection of the Tithe and Offerings
*Doxology No. 731
*Declaring Our Faith The Larger Catechism (85-86)
Death being the wages of sin, why are not the righteous delivered from death, seeing that all their sins are forgiven in Christ?
The righteous shall be delivered from death at the last day, and even in death are delivered from the sting and curse of it; so that, although they die, yet it is out of God’s love to free them perfectly from sin and misery, and to make them capable of further communion with Christ in glory.
What is the communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible church enjoy immediately after death?
The communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible church enjoy immediately after death, consists of their souls’ being perfected in holiness and received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory.
Pastoral Prayer
*Responsive Reading Proverbs 18:1-12
He who separates himself seeks his own desire,
He quarrels against all sound wisdom.
A fool does not delight in understanding,
But only in revealing his own mind.
When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes,
And with dishonor comes scorn.
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
To show partiality to the wicked is not good,
Nor to thrust aside the righteous in judgment.
A fool’s lips bring strife,
And his mouth calls for blows.
A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
He also who is slack in his work is brother to him who destroys.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower into which the righteous runs and is safe.
A rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own imagination.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,
But humility goes before honor.
*Hymn Hark! the Herald Angels Sing No. 203
*Public Reading of the Word Galatians 1
*Prayer for the Ministry of the Word
Sermon Luke 2:1-20
Hymn Thou Who Wast Rich beyond All Splendor No. 230
Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper+
*Hymn O Come, All Ye Faithful No. 208
*Benediction
*Threefold Amen No. 740
* Congregation will please stand
+ Visitors: please see the note on the back of this bulletin