Download: Readings and Song Lyrics for December 12
Reflection
“His fatherly care of his people and tenderness toward them are everlasting.
He is the author of everlasting life and happiness to them,
and so is the Father of a blessed eternity to them.
He is the Father of the gospel-state, which is put in subjection to him.
He was from eternity, Father of the great work of redemption: his heart was upon it;
it was the product of his wisdom, as the Counsellor; of his love, as the everlasting Father.”
Matthew Henry
Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Call to Worship
From Psalms 103:1, 20-22 (CSB)
My soul, bless the Lord,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord,
all his angels of great strength,
who do his word,
obedient to his command.
Bless the Lord, all his armies,
his servants who do his will.
Bless the Lord, all his works
in all the places where he rules.
My soul, bless the Lord!
Our Sung Call to Worship
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Verse 1
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild;
God and sinners reconciled.”
Joyful all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With angelic hosts proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King.”
Verse 2
Christ, by highest heav’n adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord:
Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail th’incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus our Immanuel.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King.”
Verse 3
Hail the heav’n born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King.”
Tag
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King.”
Words by Charles Wesley
Music by Felix Medelsso
Public Domain
Confession
We confess our need for mercy through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Confession
Based on “Cleanse Me, Emmanuel” by Robert Hawker
Dear Emmanuel, in whom alone, and by whom alone,
all our hopes and confidences are founded:
We fall down at your feet.
As the prophet cried out, so do each of us,
“I am a man of unclean lips!”
But if you cause the iniquity to be taken away,
and our sin to be purged, we will be clean.
Precious Jesus, you are the Lord,
our righteousness, our all in all,
the Alpha and Omega, our first and last,
the Author and Finisher of our faith.
Precious Lord! May we, like Paul, be able to say,
“Not as though I had already attained”—because we
long to catch up to and hold fast to you, Christ Jesus,
even as you have caught up to and held fast to me.
So come, Lord Jesus, to your bride, the church.
Be the fountain of life to all your redeemed,
until we all dwell together
in the light of your glory forever.
Amen.
Time of silent confession.
Our Sung Confession
O Savior of Our Fallen Race
Verse 1
O Savior of our fallen race,
O Brightness of the Father’s face;
O Son who shared the Father’s might
before the world knew day or night.
O Jesus very Light of Light
Our constant star in sin’s deep night;
Now hear the prayers Your people pray
Throughout the world this holy day.
Verse 2
Remind us Lord of life and grace
how once, to save our fallen race,
You put our human vesture on
and came to us as Mary’s son.
Today, as year by year its light
brings to our world a promise bright,
one precious truth outshines the sun;
Salvation comes from You alone.
Verse 3
For from the Father’s throne You came,
His banished children to reclaim;
and earth and sea and sky revere
the love of Him who sent You here.
And we are jubilant today,
For You have washed our guilt away.
O hear the glad new song we sing
on this, the birth of Christ our King!
Verse 4
O Savior of our fallen race,
the world will see Your radiant face
for You who came to us before
will come again and all restore.
Let songs of praise Your name adorn,
O Christ, Redeemer, virgin born
whom with the Father we adore
and Holy Spirit evermore.
Original Lyrics: Christe Redemptor Omnium, Latin office hymn, circa 6th Century. Translated by Gilbert E. Doan, Jr.
Text ©1978 Lutheran Book of Worship
Adapted by Kristyn Getty Music by Keith Getty
Music ©2011 Gettymusic
Assurance and Peace
We profess our assurance of salvation and peace in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Remember the Gospel & The Lord’s Supper
Reading from the Nicene Creed
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.
Distribution of the elements. Singing of “What Child is This?”
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
Singing of “O Holy Night”
What Child is This?
Verse 1
What Child is this, who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap, is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this, is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
Verse 2
Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear, shall pierce Him through.
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
Verse 3
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king, to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise the song on high.
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
Tag
This, this, is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
Words by William Dix
Music Traditional English Melody
Public Domain
O Holy Night
Verse 1
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining.
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Chorus 1
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices.
O night divine, O night, when Christ was born.
O night divine, O night, O night divine.
Verse 2
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming.
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our Friend.
Chorus 2
He knows our need, to weakness is no stranger.
Behold, your King; before Him gladly bend.
Behold your King; before Him gladly bend.
Verse 3
Truly He taught us to love one another.
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Chorus 3
Christ is the Lord, O praise His name forever.
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim.
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim.
Words by Placide Cappeau
Music by Adolphe Charles Adam
Translation by John Sullivan Dwight
Public Domain
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.
You may give electronically at gabcames.org/giving/ or place your offering in the boxes at the back of the sanctuary or send a check in the mail.
Scripture Reading
Psalm 103:1-13 (ESV)
1Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
This is the word of the Lord.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord endures forever.
Sermon
Psalm 103:1-13 – Jesus: Everlasting Father – Pastor Michael Felkins
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.
Blessing
From Romans 15:12-13 (NRSV)
May the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace in believing,
so that you may abound in hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.