The Lord’s Day

December 21, 2008

Fourth Sunday of Advent

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 Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying No. 317

(congregation joins on verse 3)

*Call to Worship Psalm 71:17–19

O God, You have taught me from my youth;

And I still declare Your wondrous deeds.

And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me,

Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come.

For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens,

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

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.

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.

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 Praise Jehovah, All Ye Nations (following)

Prayer for the Tithe and Offerings

Collection of the Tithe and Offerings

*Doxology No. 731

*Declaring Our Faith² The Authority of the Scriptures

As we believe and confess the scriptures of God sufficient to instruct and make perfect the man of God, so do we affirm and avow their authority to be from God, and not to depend on men or angels. We affirm, therefore, that those who say the Scriptures have no other authority save that which they have received from the Church are blasphemous against God and injurious to the true Church, which always hears and obeys the voice of her own Spouse and Pastor, but takes not upon her to be mistress over the same.

Pastoral Prayer

*Responsive Reading Psalm 17

Hear a just cause, O Lord, give heed to my cry;

Give ear to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips.

Let my judgment come forth from Your presence;

Let Your eyes look with equity.

You have tried my heart;

You have visited me by night;

You have tested me and You find nothing;

I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.

As for the deeds of men, by the word of Your lips I have kept from the paths of the violent.

My steps have held fast to Your paths and my feet have not slipped.

I have called upon You, for You will answer me, O God;

Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech.

Wondrously show Your lovingkindness, O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand from those who rise up against them.

Keep me as the apple of the eye and hide me in the shadow of Your wings from the wicked who despoil me, my deadly enemies who surround me.

They have closed their unfeeling heart,

With their mouth they speak proudly.

They have now surrounded us in our steps;

They set their eyes to cast us down to the ground.

He is like a lion that is eager to tear,

And as a young lion lurking in hiding places.

Arise, O Lord, confront him, bring him low;

Deliver my soul from the wicked with Your sword,

From men with Your hand, O Lord,

From men of the world, whose portion is in this life, and whose belly You fill with Your treasure;

They are satisfied with children,

And leave their abundance to their babes.

As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness;

I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.

*Hymn Angels We Have Heard on High No. 214

*Public Reading of the Word Hebrews 9

*Prayer for the Ministry of the Word

Sermon The Savior

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