January 3, 2021 Worship Service

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

PRELUDE: “Once in Royal David’s City,” arr. Mark Hayes

Musicians today: Barbara Jayne, piano

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 Stephanie Stehl

“I will say to the north, ‘Give up, and to the south, do not withhold; bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by My name, whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made.’” (Is. 43:6-7)

“‘Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I might be glorified,’ says the Lord.” (Is. 60:21)

“To grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” (Is. 61:3)

“‘For as the loincloth clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to Me,’ declares the Lord, ‘that they might be for Me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory…. (Jer. 13:11)

“God predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ,  according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. (Eph. 1:5-6)

“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)

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SONG OF PRAISE: “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne”

1 Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,

When Thou camest to earth for me;

But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room

For Thy holy nativity.

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,

There is room in my heart for Thee.

2 Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,

Proclaiming Thy royal degree;

But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,

And in great humility.

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,

There is room in my heart for Thee.

3 The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest

In the shade of the forest tree;

But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,

In the deserts of Galilee.

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,

There is room in my heart for Thee.

4 Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word

That should set Thy people free;

But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn,

They bore Thee to Calvary.

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,

There is room in my heart for Thee.

5 When the heavens shall ring, and the angels sing,

At Thy coming to victory,

Let Thy voice call me home, saying “Yet there is room,

There is room at My side for thee.”

My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,

When Thou comest and callest for me.

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INVOCATION: In Unison

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HYMN OF WORSHIP: “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly”

1 Infant holy, infant lowly,

for his bed a cattle stall;

oxen lowing, little knowing

Christ the babe is Lord of all.

Swiftly winging angels singing,

bells are ringing, tidings bringing:

Christ the babe is Lord of all!

Christ the babe is Lord of all!

2 Flocks were sleeping; shepherds keeping

vigil till the morning new

saw the glory, heard the story,

tidings of a gospel true.

Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow,

praises voicing, greet the morrow:

Christ the babe was born for you!

Christ the babe was born for you!

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CONFESSING OUR SIN TOGETHER: In Unison

Lord God, give us hearts of great expectation as we wait for the glorious return of our Savior, Jesus, the Son of God. We confess far too many daily moments of apathy, indifference, and distraction. Forgive us, Lord, for these patterns of passionless discipleship. Instead, plant in us a sense of adventure, a growing excitement over Christ’s coming. May we be full of joy even now as we anticipate the day of His arrival. And may we be found faithful in that moment. We pray in the merciful name of Jesus. Amen. Please the next few moments for quiet reflection and confession of sins to God.

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ASSURANCE OF PARDON:

Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the One who justifies. In Jesus, we are forgiven.

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THE READING OF GOD’S WORD: Pastor Geoff

OT: Isaiah 40:1-31; NT: Luke 2:25-35

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PRAYER FOR THE PASTOR SEARCH COMMITTEE: Elder Craig Ditman

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OFFERTORY: “We Three Kings,”  arr. James Koerts

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DOXOLOGY:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above ye heavenly host,

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

HYMN OF ADORATION: “O Sing a Song of Bethlehem”

1 O sing a song of Bethlehem,

Of shepherds watching there,

And of the news that came to them

From angels in the air:

The light that shone on Bethlehem

Fills all the world today;

Of Jesus’ birth and peace on earth

The angels sing alway.

2 O sing a song of Nazareth,

Of sunny days of joy,

O sing of fragrant flowers’ breath,

And of the sinless boy:

For now the flow’rs of Nazareth

In ev’ry heart may grow;

Now spreads the fame of his dear name

On all the winds that blow.

3 O sing a song of Galilee,

Of lake and woods and hill,

Of him who walked upon the sea

And bade the waves be still:

For though, like waves on Galilee,

Dark seas of trouble roll,

When faith has heard the Master’s word,

Falls peace upon the soul.

4 O sing a song of Calvary,

Its glory and dismay;

Of him who hung upon the tree,

And took our sins away:

For he who died on Calvary

Is risen from the grave,

And Christ, our Lord, by heav’n adored,

Is mighty now to save.

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THE WORD SPEAKS TO OUR LIVES: Pastor Geoff

“A Better than Anything New Year”

—Exploring How Jesus Makes the New Year Better

Part 7

“On Joining Wait Watchers”

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CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER: Pastor Geoff

You will be directed when to take the Elements.

Taking of the Bread: Piano Meditation

Drinking the Cup in unison

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CLOSING SONG: “Once in Royal David’s City”

1 Once in royal David’s city

stood a lowly cattle shed,

where a mother laid her baby

in a manger for his bed:

Mary was that mother mild,

Jesus Christ, her little child.

2 He came down to earth from heaven

who is God and Lord of all,

and his shelter was a stable,

and his cradle was a stall:

with the poor, and mean, and lowly,

lived on earth our Savior holy.

3 And thro’ all his wondrous childhood

he would honor and obey,

love and watch the lowly maiden

in whose gentle arms he lay:

Christian children all must be

mild, obedient, good as he.

4 And our eyes at last shall see him,

thro’ his own redeeming love;

for that child so dear and gentle

is our Lord in heav’n above:

and he leads his children on

to the place where he is gone.

5 Not in that poor lowly stable,

with the oxen standing by,

we shall see him, but in heaven,

set at God’s right hand on high;

when like stars his children crowned

all in white shall wait around.

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POSTLUDE: “Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow,”   arr. Mark Hayes