Morning Service

the fourth sunday of advent

SUNDAY DECEMBER 20, 2020

*congregation standing as able

PRELUDE
Nathan Skinner, organ

INTROIT
Veiled in Darkness
Words: Douglas Letel Rights
Music: Glenn L. Rudolph (b. 1951)

Veiled in darkness Judah lay,
Waiting for the promised day,
While across the shadowy night
Streamed a flood of glorious light,
Heav’nly voices chanting then,
‘Peace on earth, goodwill to men’.

Still the earth in darkness lies,
Up from death’s dark vale arise
Voices of a world in grief,
Prayers of men who seek relief;
Now our darkness pierce again,
‘Peace on earth, goodwill to men’.

Light of light, we humbly pray,
Shine upon Thy would today;
Break the gloom of our dark night,
Fill our souls with love and light,
Send thy blessed word again,
‘Peace on earth, goodwill to men’

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH
Elise and Christine Vasko

* CALL TO WORSHIP from 1 John 4
Rob Bradley, Elder

Leader: Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God
People: Whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
Leader: In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
People: This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. Let us worship the God of Love!

* HYMN No. 196 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

* INVOCATION, CONFESSION, & LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven; Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our coming day’s bread;
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
And lead us not into trial, but deliver us from the Evil One.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

* PEACE

LIFE OF THE CHURCH
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OLD TESTAMENT READING
Alex Pless
Exodus 33:18–34:9

Leader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God

* HYMN No. 320 Rejoice, All Ye Believers

NEW TESTAMENT READING
Julian L., Minister of Missions
John 1:9–18

Leader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God

GLORIA PATRI (Hymn No. 734)
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

SERMON
“Grace and Truth”
Mark Booker, Senior Minister

* HYMN Come, Thou Redeemer of the Earth

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Julian L.
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OFFERTORY
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Creator of the Stars of Night
Words: 7th cent. office hymn; tr. J. M. Neale (1818–1866)
Music: Malcolm Archer (b. 1952)

Creator of the stars of night,
Thy people’s everlasting light,
Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,
And hear thy servants when they call.

Thou camest, bridegroom of the bride,
As drew the world to eveningtide,
Proceeding from a virgin shrine,
The Son of Man, yet all divine.

At thy great name, exalted now,
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow,
And things in heav’n and earth shall own,
That thou art Lord and King alone.

To God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Spirit, Three in One,
Laud, honor, might, and glory be
From age to age eternally.

Amen.

* HYMN No. 194 O Come, O Come Emmanuel

* BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE
Toccata on “Veni Emmanuel”
by Andrew Carter (b. 1939)
Nathaniel Efthimiou, organ