Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both reading and song.
Our Call to Worship
READING FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT
Reading from Zechariah 2:1-13
And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand! Then I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” And behold, the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him and said to him, “Run, say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”
Up! Up! Flee from the land of the north, declares the LORD. For I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, declares the LORD. Up! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon. For thus said the LORD of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye: “Behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD. And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And the LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.”
Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.
Our Sung Call to Worship
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Confession
We confess our need for mercy through responsive reading.
Our Spoken Confession
For the times we have not listened to your Word
and the times we have been led astray by lies,
heal us, Jesus, Savior of the world.
For the times we have walked in darkness
and the times the darkness has wounded us,
heal us, Jesus, Savior of the world.
For the times we have not believed your promise to save us
and the times others have told us we have no hope,
heal us, Jesus, Savior of the world.
For the times we have ignored the working of your Holy Spirit
and the times we have been overcome by Satan,
heal us, Jesus, Savior of the world.
O God of Heaven and Earth,
you have promised to save us,
to redeem us from our own sin
and to rescue us from our enemies.
Forgive our sins,
change our hearts,
heal our wounds,
and grant us peace through your saving reign.
Amen.
Assurance and Peace
We profess our assurance of salvation and peace in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Profession of Assurance
Remember the Gospel
Taken from the Nicene Creed (A.D. 325, revised A.D. 381)
Who is Jesus?
We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of the Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God,
Begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father,
by whom all things were made.
What has Jesus done for us?
He, for us and for our salvation, came down from heaven,
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary
and was made man,
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried.
And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures;
and ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of the Father.
And He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.
Amen.
Our Sung Profession of Assurance
The First Nowell (Lyrics, piano, organ – no singers)
What Child is This (Lyrics, piano, organ – no singers)
Thanksgiving and Petition
We Give Thanks in Prayer and Offer Petitions to God
We express our gratitude to God our Father for Christ’s work on the cross for us and bring our requests before him. In bringing our requests, we confess that we believe God truly is a good father, who cares about our needs and gives us what he knows is best.
We Give Thanks by Giving
We give financial offerings to support the work of the church because of our gratitude to God. By giving we confess we are trusting in God’s provision for us as well.
On the first Sunday of each month we have two offerings—one for the general fund and a second one for the benevolence ministry of our church.
We Give Thanks in Song
Joy Has Dawned
Scripture Reading
We hear the scripture text of the sermon read.
John 1:1-3 ESV
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Sermon
John 1:1-3 – Jesus is the Word of God – Pastor Eric Schumacher
The Lord’s Supper
This morning we will be celebrating the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper.
If you have trusted Christ as your Lord and Savior, have been baptized and are a member in good standing of a local church we invite you to share in this covenant meal with us.
If you are not able to receive the Lord’s Supper with us, please use this time to meditate on one of the following prayers.
PRAYER FOR THOSE SEARCHING FOR THE TRUTH
Lord Jesus, You claim to be the Way, the Truth and the Life. If what You claim is true, please guide me, teach me and open me to the reality of who You are. Grant that I might be undaunted in my pursuit of knowing You. Give me an understanding of You that is coherent and convincing, and that leads me to the life in You. Amen.
PRAYER OF BELIEF
Lord Jesus I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever dared admit, but through You I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank You for paying my debt on the cross, taking what I deserve in order to purchase my complete forgiveness. Knowing that You have been raised form the dead, I turn form my sins and receive You as My Savior and Lord. Amen.
PRAYER OF COMMITMENT
Lord Jesus, You have called us to follow You in baptism and in a life of committed discipleship in Your church. Grant that I may take the necessary steps to be the one with Your people, and live in the fullness of Your Spirit in a local community of Christ followers. Amen.
adapted from D. A. Carson, ed., Worship by the Book (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002)
Gluten Free Lord’s Supper: The elements of our Lord’s Supper are gluten free.
Lord’s Supper Song
Behold the Lamb
Sending
Having heard and confessed the Gospel, we are sent into the world on mission in Christ, which we express in spoken word.
Blessing
Blessing from Numbers 6:24-26
The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.