Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Call to Worship
Today is the first Sunday in Advent, a season of waiting and preparation for the arrival of the King at Christmas. The lighting of the Advent candles dramatically depicts the growing expectation we have for the coming of the Messiah, the light of the world. Each Sunday, as the light grows brighter, we look forward to celebrating his arrival at Christmas, and we remember that he will come for us again.
From Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14 (CSB)
The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom should I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
whom should I dread?
I have asked one thing from the LORD;
it is what I desire:
to dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
gazing on the beauty of the LORD
and seeking him in his temple.
I am certain that I will see the LORD’s goodness
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart
be courageous.
Wait for the LORD.
Our Sung Call to Worship
Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Confession
We confess our need for mercy through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Confession
O promised Christ:
We are a world at war.
Our peace depends on your coming.
We are a sinful people.
Our pardon depends on your coming.
We are full of good intentions but weak at keeping promises;
our only hope of doing God’s will
is that you should come and help us do it.
Lord Christ, Word made flesh,
our world waits
for your peace,
for your pardon,
and for your grace.
Even so: come, Lord Jesus. Amen.
TIME OF SILENT CONFESSION
Our Sung Confession
Child in The Manger
Assurance and Peace
We profess our assurance of salvation and peace in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Remember the Gospel
Based on Jeremiah 33:14-16 (NRSV)
Hear the Good News that God has promised!
The days are surely coming, says the Lord,
when I will fulfill the promise I made
to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
In those days and at that time I will cause
a righteous Branch to spring up for David;
and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
In those days Judah will be saved
and Jerusalem will live in safety.
And this is the name by which it will be called;
“The Lord is our righteousness.”
People of God: Jesus Christ, our Lord,
whose coming we announce in this season,
is our righteousness.
In Christ, we are made right with God.
Thanks be to God!
Our Sung Profession of Assurance
How Beautiful The Mystery
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/Angels We Have Heard On High
Scripture Reading
Ephesians 2:1-10 (ESV)
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
Sermon
Ephesians 2:1-10 – Christmas Letters: God’s Great Grace for Dead People – Steve Vardeman
Sending
Having heard and confessed the Gospel, we are sent into the world on mission in Christ, which we express in both song and spoken word.
Sending Song
Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery
Blessing
Based on Psalm 72:17 (NRSV)
May his name endure forever,
his fame continue as long as the sun.
May all nations be blessed in him.
May Jesus Christ be praised!