Loving God and loving neighbor here in central Vermont and to the ends of the earth—all to the glory of God.
December 14
Prelude
Rebekah Barnes
Welcome and Announcements
σ Listen for upcoming events and ways you can get involved.
Pastor Josh
Lighting the Candles
σ Jesus is the light of the world.
Acolytes
Statement of Faith—Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 35
σ Confess what you believe about the Christian faith.
Pastor Josh
L: What does it mean that he “was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary”?
C: That the eternal Son of God, who is and remains true and eternal God, took to himself, through the working of the Holy Spirit, from the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary, a truly human nature so that he might also become David’s true descendant, like his brothers and sisters in every way except for sin.
Greeting Your Neighbors
σ Greet your neighbors in the name of the Lord.
Congregation
Call to Worship—Based on Phil 4:4-5
σ Hear God call you to worship through his word.
Scott Puopolo
L: Rejoice in the Lord always.
C: I will say it again: Rejoice!
L: Let your gentleness be evident to all.
C: The Lord is near.
L: We rejoice in the hope of Christ’s coming. Let us worship God!
Opening Prayer
σ Invite God to work in you as you worship today.
Scott Puopolo
Worship Songs
σ Join with the congregation in praise to God.
Rebekah Barnes, Pastor Josh, and Megan Moore
O Come, All You Unfaithful
Verse 1
O come all you unfaithful
Come weak and unstable
Come know you are not alone
Verse 2
O come barren and waiting ones
Weary of praying
Come see what your God has done
Chorus
Christ is born Christ is born
Christ is born for you
Verse 3
O come bitter and broken
Come with fears unspoken
Come taste of His perfect love
Verse 4
O come guilty and hiding ones
There is no need to run
See what your God has done
Bridge
He’s the Lamb who was given slain for our pardon
His promise is peace for those who believe
He’s the Lamb who was given slain for our pardon
His promise is peace for those who believe
Verse 5
So come though you have nothing
Come He is the offering
Come see what your God has done
#94—The First Noel, the Angel Did Say
Verse 1
The first Noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep
Chorus
Noel Noel Noel Noel
Born is the King of Israel
Verse 2
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night
Verse 3
And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came from country far,
To seek for a king was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Verse 4
This star drew nigh to the northwest,
O’er Bethlehem it took its rest,
And there it did both stop and stay,
Right over the place where Jesus lay.
Verse 5
Then entered in those wise men three,
Full rev’rently up on their knee,
And offered there in His presence
Their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense.
Verse 6
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heav’nly Lord,
That hath made heav’n and earth of naught,
And with His blood mankind hath bought
Behold
Verse 1
Behold the King has come
Divinity incarnate
Creator of the world breathing our air
Behold what light has come
And the dark cannot contain it
The Savior of the world is finally here
Chorus
O come let us adore Him
Come let us adore Him
For He alone is worthy
Christ the Lord
Verse 2
Behold the Father’s love
Beyond all comprehension
He gave His only Son to die in our place
Go and see that empty tomb
He’s not there for He is risen
Every heart prepare Him room
Jesus Christ the King of Heaven
Bridge 1
We give You all the glory we give You all the glory
We give You all the glory Christ the Lord
(REPEAT)
Bridge 2
We praise Your name forever
We praise Your name forever
We praise Your name forever
Christ the Lord
Tag
Christ the Lord
He is Christ the Lord
Advent Readings and Candles—Joy (Pink)
Sheng Sun and Meifang Li
READER #1: Today we relight the candles of HOPE and PEACE and light the third candle of the Advent wreath. This is the candle of JOY. With Christians around the world, we light these candles to remind us that Jesus brings light into the dark places of the world.
READER #2: During the Advent season we remember the promise of God to send a deliverer who would give rain to our parched hearts.
READER #1: The prophets declared that this deliverer would not only rescue us from sin and death but he would give us “a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:3).
READER #2: Jesus declared that these promises were fulfilled in Him. He declared that the enemy comes to kill and steal and destroy, but He has come that we might have life abundant. (John 10:10)
READER #1: We have tasted of this joy but our hearts are so often weighed down with the burdens of this life. We look forward to the day when our hearts will fully realize the joy of His presence.
BOTH READERS TOGETHER: We light the candle of joy and say, “Come again Lord Jesus!”
Scripture Meditation—1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 (p. 1174 in Pew Bible)
σ Hear a reading from the Gospel that relates to the sermon text.
Wyatt Jones
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
Confession and Assurance—Based on Psalm 126 and Micah 7
Pastor Josh
L: God of salvation, in Christ you have done great things—our hearts are filled with joy. By your power you lifted us out of the wasteland of sin and brought us with joy and laughter into your kingdom. Salvation is your gift to us.
C: But we confess that often we try to replace your gift with our own efforts. We try to complete what is already perfect; we try to add to what is already full; we try to earn what we already have. Forgive us for our foolishness. Help us to focus on your grace. Help us to live grateful lives in return. For Jesus’ sake alone, Amen.
L: Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!
Congregational Prayer
σ Join together in prayer and lift your concerns to our gracious God.
Scott Puopolo
The Lord’s Prayer
σ In closing, pray the words that Jesus taught us to pray.
Congregation
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 daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Children Dismissed for Program
Yanmei Lin and Audrey Zhang
Scripture Reading—Zephaniah 3:14-20 (p. 940 in Pew Bible)
σ Read this portion of God’s word.
Scott Puopolo
14 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;
he has cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall never again fear evil.
16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
17 The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
18 I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,
so that you will no longer suffer reproach.
19 Behold, at that time I will deal
with all your oppressors.
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.
20 At that time I will bring you in,
at the time when I gather you together;
for I will make you renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes,” says the Lord.
L: The grass withers and the flower fades.
C: But the word of our God will stand forever.
Sermon
σ Hear God’s word proclaimed and explained.
Pastor Josh Moore
Song of Response—Joy to the World (Joyful Joyful medley)
σ Respond to the preaching of the word with song.
Rebekah Barnes, Pastor Josh, and Megan Moore
Verse 1
Joy to the world the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and Heaven and nature sing
Chorus
We will sing sing sing
Joy to the world
We will sing sing sing
Verse 2
Joy to the World the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods rocks hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat repeat the sounding joy
Verse 3
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders wonders of His love
Ending
Joyful joyful we adore Thee
God of glory Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee
Op’ning to the sun above
Extinguishing the Candles
σ You are the light of the world.
Acolytes
Benediction
σ Receive a parting blessing.
Pastor Josh
Postlude
Rebekah Barnes