PRELUDE: Carols for Christmas, Hermann Schroeder
WELCOME
* CELEBRATION OF FRIENDSHIP
* Gloria Patri (pew card)
* CALL TO WORSHIP and salutation
Leader: Sing to the Lord a new song
People: Sing to the Lord, all the earth
Leader: Declare God’s glory among the nations and God’s wonders among all peoples.
People: Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
Leader: Let the heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad.
People: Let the earth shout for joy before the Lord.
Leader: Grace and peace to you from God our Creator, our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
* HYMN No. 173: O Come, All Ye Faithful
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)
Merciful God, we come to you for forgiveness and for help. Forgive us for taking your presence for granted, for treating this special world as if it were ordinary, and for treating one another as if we were not treasured gifts. Help us to see our mistakes. Help us to recognize our fault. Help us to look to you for the strength we need to turn back to the ways you have taught us.
* KYRIE (pew card)
* ASSURANCE OF PARDON
* SUMMARY OF THE LAW
ANTHEM: Christ is Born, Marvin Curtis
The Chamber Choir
Christ is born! What do you say? Born He was on Christmas day. All the angels in Heaven did sing, for born was He, our Savior King!
Wise men and shepherds made the journey afar, following angels and blazing star, finding for us sweet Prince of Peace, finding for us our sins’ release.
Alleluia for His birth we sing, let the whole earth hear the yuletide ring, peace on earth, good will extend unto the world rejoice again.
* HYMN No. 174: Angels from the Realms of Glory
SCRIPTURE LESSON
Luke 2: 8-20, Pew Bible, pg. 833
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
The Word of God for the people of God. Let the people of God say - AMEN!
THE SERMON, Dr. Ian Rottenberg
Christ is Born Today! (But What Does that Mean?)
WORSHIP OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Offering
Offertory: Carol of the Star, Donald Moore
A star, a shining star, let wise men on their way to find that Bethlehem town where lay a holy babe. Venite adoremus Dominum.
A star, a guiding star, let angels from above. To seek a tiny babe, surround Him with their love. Venite adoremus Dominum.
A star, a mighty star, did shine o’er all the earth. To welcome Him with joy, proclaim His wondrous birth. Venite adoremus Dominum.
* The Doxology (pew card)
* Prayer of Dedication
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
* Apostles’ Creed (pew card)
ANTHEM: Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming, Michael Praetorius
Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hasth sprung! Of Jesse’s lineage coming as men of old have sung. It came, a flow’ret bright, amid the cold of winter, when half-spent was the night.
Isaiah ‘twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind, with Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind. To shew God’s love aright she bore to us a Saviour, when half-spent was the night.
SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Remembering with Love and Hope (pew card)
Invitation
Communion Prayer
Sanctus (pew card)
Mystery of the Faith (unison)
Christ has Died, Christ is Risen, Christ will come again.
Words of Institution
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING & INTERCESSION
Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
Prayer Response, Felix Mendelssohn
As bright the star of morning gleams, So Jesus sheddeth glorious beams Of light and consolation! Thy Word, O Lord, Radiance darting, Truth imparting, Gives salvation; Thine be praise and adoration.
* HYMN No. 156: Gentle Mary Laid Her Child
* BENEDICTION
Response: Fanfare for Christmas Day, Martin Shaw
Gloria in excelsis deo. (Glory to God in the highest.)
POSTLUDE: Carillon, Louis Vierne
ANNOUNCEMENTS
WE WELCOME DR. IAN ROTTENBERG BACK TO THE PULPIT. Ian is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Saint Leo University near Tampa, Florida.
2014 offering envelopes are at the church entrance. If you do not see your box and would like one, sign your name on the clipboard. A set will be prepared and available for you.
SUNDAY SCHOOL and CHILDREN AND WORSHIP will not meet this Sunday, December 29 and will resume on Sunday, January 5, 2014, Epiphany Sunday.
PRAYER REQUESTS: Ruth Bailey, Letty Delgado, Ed Diercks, Dombrowski Family, Edythe Durney, Alfred Gessner, Lisa Gessner, Jenny Hampton, Robert Keller, Hope Kingman, Fritz Kunisch, Ann Martin, John Molino, Josephine Rivera, Janice Serra