WELCOME AND CALL TO WORSHIP
Welcome to our annual Lessons and Carols Service!
Lessons and Carols Services are a Christmas tradition that began almost one hundred and fifty years ago at Truro Cathedral in Cornwall, England. At the time, carols were typically thought of as secular and excluded from Christian worship. The local bishop, Edward White Benson, started a “Lessons and Carols” service to provide a religious gathering for the community. He hoped it would draw citizens out of the pubs, where excessive drinking was prevalent during the holidays.
The first gathering of “Lessons and Carols” included nine Bible readings interspersed with corresponding carols of worship. These lessons began in Genesis 3 with the fall and the promise of a rescuer. They continued with readings from the prophets and gospels that tell the story of how God rescues his people.
These services quickly gained popularity, and entire communities would gather together on Christmas Eve to listen to the lessons and sing carols to celebrate the season. Today, churches across the world have adopted this service as part of celebrating the Advent season.
As you sing these beloved songs, we pray your heart is filled with a renewed love for God through faith in Christ, our Incarnate Lord.
CALL TO WORSHIP
O Come All Ye Faithful (Children’s Choir)
LESSON ONE: THE FALL AND GOD’S PROMISE OF A RESCUER
Genesis 3:8-15 (CSB)
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 So the LORD God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” 11 Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.” 13 So the LORD God asked the woman, “What is this you have done?”
And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 So the LORD God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than any livestock and more than any wild animal.
You will move on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. 15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
Lord, we hide from your presence.
Our sin makes us afraid and ashamed.
The serpent deceives us,
But you have promised to send a rescuer
To strike the serpent’s head.
He will overcome…
Help us to rest in the promised one.
Cause our hearts to rejoice in your provision.
Make us delight in your plan to rescue
and redeem your people.
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
LESSON TWO: GOD’S PROMISE REPEATED
Genesis 22:15-18 (CSB)
15 Then the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn,” this is the LORD’s declaration: “Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your only son, 17 I will indeed bless you and make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the city gates of their enemies. 18 And all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed my command.”
Lord, you promise to establish a people.
You promise to send one who will overcome his enemies
And bless all nations.
Help us to rest in the promised one.
Cause our hearts to rejoice in your provision.
Make us delight in your plan to rescue and redeem your people.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
LESSON THREE: GOD’S PROMISE OF A FOREVER KING
Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 (CSB)
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light; a light has dawned
on those living in the land of darkness.
6 For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.7 The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the LORD of Armies will accomplish this.
We are living in darkness,
But light has come.
A child will be born.
He will reign on the throne of David.
His kingdom will be established and sustained
With justice and righteousness forever.
The Zeal of the Lord will do this.
Help us rest in the promised one.
Cause our hearts to rejoice in your provision.
Make us delight in your plan to rescue and redeem your people.
The Holly and The Ivy
LESSON FOUR: GOD’S PROMISE OF UNITY AND PEACE TO HIS PEOPLE
Micah 5:2-4 (CSB)
2 Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times. 3 Therefore, Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of the ruler’s brothers will return to the people of Israel. 4 He will stand and shepherd them in the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD his God. They will live securely, for then his greatness will extend to the ends of the earth.
A king is coming from Bethlehem
He will fulfill the promise to David.
He will bring unity to the people of God.
God’s people can find rest and peace in him.
Help us to rest in the promised one.
Cause our hearts to rejoice in your provision.
Make us delight in your plan to rescue and redeem your people.
O Little Town of Bethlehem
LESSON FIVE: THE PROMISED FOREVER KING IS JESUS
Luke 1:26-38 (CSB)
26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 30 Then the angel told her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”
34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” 35 The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.
The angel spoke to Mary
And declared she would give birth to the
promised Forever King.
He is to be named Jesus,
And he is the Son of God.
Help us to rest in the promised one.
Cause our hearts to rejoice in your provision.
Make us delight in your plan to rescue and
redeem your people.
Silent Night
LESSON SIX: THE PROMISED RESCUER IS JESUS
Matthew 1:18-23 (CSB)
18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. 20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”
The angel spoke to Joseph
And declared Mary would give birth
To the promised Rescuer.
He is to be named Jesus,
And he is Immanuel—God with us.
Help us rest in the promised one.
Cause our hearts to rejoice in your provision.
Make us delight in your plan to rescue and redeem your people.
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
LESSON SEVEN: GO AND SEE THE PROMISED REDEEMER
Luke 2:8-16 (CSB)
8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors! 15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger.
The angel proclaimed good news of great joy to the shepherds—
Today, a savior for you was born who is the Messiah, the great Rescuer.
This baby is meant to be seen and worshiped.
A multitude of angels praised God declaring,
Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to people he favors.
Help us rest in the promised one.
Cause our hearts to rejoice in your provision.
Make us delight in your plan to rescue and redeem your people.
Angels We Have Heard On High
LESSON EIGHT: THE PROMISED KING IS TO BE WORSHIPPED
Matthew 2:1-11 (CSB)
1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Christ would be born. 5 “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet: 6 And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: Because out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” 7 Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.” 9 After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
The wise men saw the star of the promised king, And they went to find him.
When they found him, they were overwhelmed with joy and worship,
Bringing gifts to lavish on him.
Help us to rest in the promised one.
Cause our hearts to rejoice in your provision.
Make us delight in your plan to rescue and
redeem your people.
We Three Kings
LESSON NINE: THE RESCUER IS GOD IN HUMAN FLESH
John 1:1-14 (CSB)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. 14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus is the Word.
The Word was with God and is God.
He is the light that gives life to those in darkness.
His own people did not receive Him,
But all who believed in his name
He rescued and gave the right to become
children of God.
God put on flesh and dwelt among us,
And we have seen his glory.
Help us rest in the promised one.
Cause our hearts to rejoice in your provision.
Make us delight in and declare your plan to
rescue and redeem your people.
Joy to the World
Sermon Scripture
Isaiah 9:1-7
1But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and
of peace there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
Sermon
Isaiah 9:1-7 – The Triumph of Grace: For Unto Us A Child is Born – Pastor Michael Felkins
Giving
We Give Thanks by Giving
We give financial offerings to support the work of Christ’s Church because of our gratitude to God. By giving generously and faithfully 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.
Closing Song
Go Tell It On The Mountain
Benediction
You are sent out to go and tell the message—
Jesus, the promised Rescuer,
has come to provide redemption to all
who believe in him.