BIBLE SENTENCE & PRAYER: Stated Supply Pastor Rev. Dr. R. Geoffrey Brown

PRELUDE: “O Brother Man,”                                                              arr. Lani Smith

Musicians today: Jann Moreshead, piano; Shannon Lewis, violin

PLEASE NOTE: This music provides an opportunity for us to meditate, prepare our hearts, and reverently worship God the Father, the Son, & the Holy Spirit.

CALL TO WORSHIP: Elder Susan Colts

^“To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by His power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thess 1:11-12)

^“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Phil 1:9-11)

^“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Pet 4:10-11)

^“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Cor 6:19-20)

“Bless the Lord, O you His angels, you mighty ones who do His word, obeying the voice of His word! Bless the Lord, all His hosts, His ministers, who do His will!

Bless the Lord, all His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul! The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all.” (Ps 103:20-22,19)

SONG OF PRAISE: “Angels We Have Heard on High”

1 Angels we have heard on high,

singing sweetly through the night,

and the mountains in reply

echoing their brave delight.

Refrain:

Gloria in excelsis Deo,

gloria in excelsis Deo.

2 Shepherds, why this jubilee?

Why these songs of happy cheer?

What great brightness did you see?

What glad tidings did you hear? [Refrain]

3 Come to Bethlehem and see

him whose birth the angels sing.

Come, adore on bended knee

Christ the Lord, the newborn King. [Refrain]

4 See him in a manger laid

whom the angels praise above.

Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,

while we raise our hearts in love. [Refrain]

INVOCATION: In Unison

God of all blessings, Source of all life, Giver of all grace: look on the face of Your people that we might enter now into Your courts, and be received in the house of our God. Extend the scepter of Your grace to us who trust in You and bless the ministry of Your people as we worship You, praising the name of our triune God as we sing, confess, pray and receive Your word. Send the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with our spirits. To You belong all glory, laud and honor, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three persons and one God, world without end. Amen.

HYMN OF WORSHIP: “One Day”

1 One day when heaven was filled with His praises,

One day when sin was As black as could be,

Jesus came forth To be born of a virgin,

Dwelt among men, my example is He!

Chorus:

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;

Buried, He carried my sins far away;

Rising, He justified freely forever:

One day He’s coming– O glorious day!

2 One day they led Him Up Calvary’s mountain,

One day they nailed Him To die on the tree;

Suffering anguish, despised and rejected:

Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He![Chorus]

3 One day they left Him Alone in the garden,

One day He rested, from suffering free;

Angels came down o’er His tomb to keep vigil;

Hope of the hopeless, my Savior is He![Chorus]

4 One day the grave Could conceal Him no longer,

One day the stone rolled away from the door;

Then He arose, over death He had conquered;

Now is ascended, my Lord evermore![Chorus]

5 One day the trumpet Will sound for His coming,

One day the skies with His glory will shine;

Wonderful day, my beloved One bringing:

Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine![Chorus]

CONFESSING OUR SIN TOGETHER: In Unison

O precious Lamb of God, You came into this world to stand in our place and to offer Yourself as a sacrifice for us. Through Your great suffering and the costly shedding of Your blood, You have freed us from a life of bondage, yet we are often frightened, faint-hearted disciples who are slow to speak Your Good News. Immersed in ourselves, we have not risen to new life. Forgive us, Lord. Baptize us with Your Holy Spirit, so that, forgiven and renewed, we may tell others about Your glory, which shines in the face of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. Please the next few moments for quiet reflection and confession of sins to God.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON:

Jesus Christ entered the world to rescue sinners so that we might be dead to sin and alive to all that is good. In Him, we are forgiven.

THE READING OF GOD’S WORD: Pastor Geoff

OT: Deuteronomy 6:1-9 ; NT: Matthew 2: 1-12

PRAYER FOR THE PASTOR SEARCH COMMITTEE: Susan Colts

OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS TO GOD FOR RPC MINISTRY & MISSION

OFFERTORY: “Blessed Be Your Name,”                                             arr. C. Tornquist

DOXOLOGY:

Praise God from Who all blessings flow,

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts,

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

HYMN OF ADORATION, “We Three Kings”

1 We three kings of Orient are;

bearing gifts we traverse afar,

field and fountain, moor and mountain,

following yonder star.

Refrain:

O star of wonder, star of light,

star with royal beauty bright,

westward leading, still proceeding,

guide us to thy perfect light.

2 Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain,

gold I bring to crown him again,

King forever, ceasing never,

over us all to reign. [Refrain]

3 Frankincense to offer have I;

incense owns a Deity nigh;

prayer and praising, voices raising,

worshiping God on high. [Refrain]

4 Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume

breathes a life of gathering gloom;

sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,

sealed in the stone-cold tomb. [Refrain]

5 Glorious now behold him arise;

King and God and sacrifice:

Alleluia, Alleluia, sounds through the earth and skies. [Refrain]

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CLOSING SONG: “As with Gladness Men of Old”

1 As with gladness men of old

did the guiding star behold,

as with joy they hailed its light,

leading onward, beaming bright;

so, most gracious God, may we

evermore be led to thee.

2 As with joyful steps they sped,

Savior, to thy lowly bed,

there to bend the knee before

thee whom heav’n and earth adore;

so may we with willing feet

ever seek thy mercy seat.

3 As they offered gifts most rare

at thy cradle rude and bare,

so may we with holy joy,

pure and free from sin’s alloy,

all our costliest treasures bring,

Christ, to thee, our heav’nly king.

4 Holy Jesus, ev’ry day

keep us in the narrow way,

and, when earthly things are past,

bring our ransomed souls at last

where they need no star to guide,

where no clouds thy glory hide.

BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE

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