chapelgate worship

The Lighting of the Fourth Advent Candle
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning.

O Israel, put your hope in the LORD,
for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.

The sun shall no longer be your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you by night.

For the LORD will be your everlasting light
and your God will be your glory.

We light this candle as a sign of the coming light of Christ.

Come, Lord Jesus, our light and our salvation.

 

Angels From the Realms of Glory
Angels from the realms of glory
Wing your flight o’er all the earth
Ye who sang creation’s story
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth

Come and worship, come and worship
Worship Christ, the newborn King

Shepherds, in the fields abiding
Watching o’er your flocks by night
God with man is now residing
Yonder shines the infant Light

Come and worship, come and worship
Worship Christ, the newborn King

Sages leave your contemplations
Brighter visions beam afar
Seek the great desire of nations
Ye have seen his natal star

Come and worship, come and worship
Worship Christ, the newborn King

Saints before the altar bending
Watching long in hope and fear
Suddenly the Lord ascending
In his temple shall appear

Come and worship, come and worship
Worship Christ, the newborn King

James Montgomery, 1816, 1825

 

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
Come, thou long expected Jesus
Born to set thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in thee

Israel’s strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth thou art
Dear desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart

Joy to those who long to see thee
Dayspring from on high appear
Come, thou promised Rod of Jesse
Of thy birth we long to hear

O’er the hill the angels singing news
Glad tidings of a birth
Go to him your praises bringing
Christ the Lord has come to earth

Born thy people to deliver
Born a child and yet a king
Born to reign in us forever
Now thy gracious kingdom bring

By thy own eternal spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone
By thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to thy glorious throne

Charles Wesley, Tune HYFRYDOL, Rowland H. Prichard; arr. Robert Harkness, CCLI 241710

 

Prayer for the People, the City, and the Nations

 

Gifts — Christmas Choir

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r
When we were gone astray

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

From God our heavenly Father
A blessed angel came
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same
How that in Bethlehem
Was born the Son of God by name

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Comfort and joy
Hallelujah
Emmanuel
Comfort and joy
Let love surround us

Now to the Lord sing praises
All you within this place
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace
This holy tide of Christmas
All others doth deface

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Hallelujah
Emmanuel
Comfort and joy
Let love surround us

Comfort and joy
Hallelujah
Emmanuel
Comfort and joy
Let love surround us

English carol, 18th century

 

A Confessional Litany of Christ
With the whole creation
we wait for the purifying fire of judgment.

For then we will see the Lord face to face.

He will heal our hurts, end our wars,
and make the crooked straight.

Then we will join in the new song
to the Lamb without blemish
who made us a kingdom and priests.

God will be all in all,
righteousness and peace will flourish,
Everything will be made new,

And every eye will see at last
that our world belongs to God!
Hallelujah! Come, Lord Jesus.

—Our World Belongs to God, st. 58

 

The First Noel
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

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel

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

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made heaven and earth of naught
And with his blood mankind hath bought

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel

Traditional English carol, W. Sandy’s “Christmas Carols, 1833; arr. John Stainer

 

Sermon
“There will be No End”
Isaiah 9:1-7

 

Prayer of Confession
Merciful Heavenly Father,
your kindness is greater than our unrighteousness.
Your mercy is deeper than our sin.
Your Compassion never fails.
Forgive our sins – They are many.
Cleanse us from unrighteousness.
We confess that our faith falters daily,
and we easily grow weary in our resolve to obey.
Deepen our longing for Christ,
and strengthen our eyes to see his coming
with hearts that love and hands that serve,
until he makes all things new.
Through Jesus. Amen.

 

The Lord’s Supper

 

What The Lord Has Done In Me
Hosanna, hosanna
To the Lamb that was slain
Hosanna, hosanna
Jesus died and rose again

Let the weak say I am strong
Let the poor say I am rich
Let the blind say I can see
It’s what the Lord has done in me

Into the river I will wade
There my sins are washed away
From the heaven’s mercy stream
Of the Savior’s love for me

Hosanna, hosanna
To the Lamb that was slain
Hosanna, hosanna
Jesus died and rose again

I will rise from waters deep
Into the saving arms of God
I will sing salvation songs
Jesus Christ has set me free

Hosanna, hosanna
To the Lamb that was slain
Hosanna, hosanna
Jesus died and rose again

Reuben Morgan, Hillsong Music Publishing ©1998 CCLI 241710

 

The Apostles’ Creed (for reflection)
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

 

Advent Doxology
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo

 

Benediction

The Lighting of the Third Advent Candle
But now thus says the LORD, he who created you,
O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.

We light this candle as a sign of the coming light of Christ.

Come to us, Lord Jesus!

Save us from our sins.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

When you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.

For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

 

Hark the Herald Angels Sing
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 the angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem

Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King

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 the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel

Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King

Hail the heav’n born Prince of Peace
Hail the Son 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

Charles Wesley, altered, Tune Mendelssohn. Felix Mendelssohn; arr. William H. Cummings 

 

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray

O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

From God our heavenly Father
A blessèd angel came
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name

O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

“Fear not, then,” said the angel
“Let nothing you afright
This day is born a Savior
Of a pure virgin bright
To free all those who trust in him
From Satan’s power and might”

O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Now to the Lord sing praises
All you within this place
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace
This holy tide of Christmas
All others doth deface

O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

English carol, 16th century

 

Andy Wood, the RUF Pastor @ Virginia Tech

 

Prayer for the People, the City, and the Nations

 

Gifts — Away In a Manger
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes
The little Lord Jesus no crying he makes
I love thee Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle ’til morning is nigh

He had no pillow to lay down his head
Straw for the blankets, a trough for his bed
But wise, poor and royal, came just to see
This humble baby, the Messiah, the King

Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay
Close by me forever and love me I pray
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care
And take us to heaven to live with Thee there

He had no pillow to lay down his head
Straw for the blankets, a trough for his bed
But wise, poor and royal, came just to see
This humble baby, the Messiah, the King

James Ramsey Murray, John Thomas McFarland, Anna Gilbert ©2010 Anna Gilbert Music CCLI 241710

 

Baptism—The child being presented for covenant baptism this morning is Brayden Lee Hamrick, covenant son of Rodger and Kim Hamrick.

 

A Confessional Litany of Christ
This Lord, our God, the Word of God, the Word made flesh,
the Son of the Father, the Son of God, the Son of man,

exalted that He might create us,
humbled that He might recreate us.

Walked among men and suffering what is human.
Let every sigh be a panting after Christ,

let that most beautiful One,
who loved even the ugly that He might make them beautiful,

let Him be longed for.

Hurry to Him alone.

—A Prayer from Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD)

 

What Child Is This
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

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

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh
Come, peasant king to own him
The King of kings salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone him

This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him laud
The Babe, the Son of Mary

William C. Dix, Tune GREENSLEEVES, Traditional English melody, 16th century, CCLI 241710

 

Sermon
“He will Save His People”
Matthew 1:18-25

 

Prayer of Confession
Merciful God and Loving Father,
forgive our sins and renew our spirits.
Forgive when we neglect your goodness
and look to lesser things for love and acceptance.
Forgive our unclean thoughts and deeds.
Be gracious and wash us with cleansing grace.
Forgive our callous and indifferent spirits.
Turn our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh.
Take the broken pieces of our lives
and mend them anew in Christ.
Heal our hearts, our relationships, our hopes and dreams.
Help us to live in the promise of what will one day be,
until you make all things new.
Through Jesus. Amen.

 

The Lord’s Supper

 

Jesus Paid It All
I hear the Savior say
Thy strength indeed is small
Child of weakness watch and pray
Find in me thine all in all

Jesus paid it all
All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Lord now indeed I find
Thy power and thine alone
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone

Jesus paid it all
All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

For nothing good have I
Whereby thy grace to claim
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb

Jesus paid it all
All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

And when before the throne
I stand in him complete
Jesus died my soul to save
My lips shall still repeat

Jesus paid it all
All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Elvina Hall, John Grape © Public Domain CCLI 241710

 

The Apostles’ Creed (for reflection)
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

 

Advent Doxology
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel

John Mason Neale, Thomas Helmore © Public Domain CCLI 241710

 

Benediction

The Lighting of the Second Advent Candle
When Israel was a child, I loved him,
And out of Egypt I called my son.

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known;
Along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;

We light this candle as a sign of the coming light of Christ.

I will turn the darkness into light before them
And make the rough places smooth.

These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.

We wait for you, and trust you to lead us.

 

Angels We Have Heard On High
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echo back their joyous strains

Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo

Shepherds, why this jubilee
Why your joyous strains prolong
Say what may the tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song

Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King

Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo

See him in a manger laid
Whom the choirs of angels praise
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid
While our hearts in love we raise

Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo

Traditional French carol, Tune GLORIA. Traditional French melody

 

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
It came upon the midnight clear
That glorious song of old
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold

Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heaven’s all gracious King
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing

Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled
And still their heavenly music floats
O’er all the weary world

Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing
And ever o’er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing

O ye beneath life’s crushing load
Whose forms are bending low
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow

Look now, for glad and golden hours Come swiftly on the wing
O, rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing

For lo, the days are hastening on
By prophets seen of old
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold

When the new heaven and earth
Shall own the Prince of Peace, their King
And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing

Edmund H. Sears, Tune CAROL, Richard S. Willis, CCLI 241710

 

Prayer for the People, the City, and the Nations

 

Gifts — We Have a Savior
A child has been given
The King of our freedom
Sing for the light has come
This is Christmas

Come and adore him
And bring gifts before him
Joy to the world, worship the Son
This is Christmas

This is Jesus, Emmanuel
Here with us, tell all the world
We have a Savior, we have a Savior
We are no longer lost
He has come down for us
We have a Savior, we have a Savior

Sing with the angels
And lift up your voices
Join in the song of hope
This is Christmas

This is Jesus, Emmanuel
Here with us, tell all the world
We have a Savior, we have a Savior
We are no longer lost
He has come down for us
We have a Savior, we have a Savior

His love will reign forever
His love will reign forever
His love will reign forever

His love will reign forever
His love will reign forever
His love will reign forever

This is Jesus, Emmanuel
Here with us, tell all the world
We have a Savior, we have a Savior
We are no longer lost
He has come down for us
We have a Savior, we have a Savior

This is Jesus, Emmanuel
Here with us, tell all the world
We have a Savior, we have a Savior
We are no longer lost
He has come down for us
We have a Savior, we have a Savior
Christ, the Lord

Ben Glover | Reuben Morgan © 2012 9t One Songs Ariose Music Hillsong Music Publishing CCLI 241710

 

A Confessional Litany of Christ
God joined our humanity in Jesus Christ the eternal Word made flesh.


He is the long-awaited Messiah, one with us and one with God,

Fully human and fully divine, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

—Our World Belongs to God, from stanzas 23 & 27

 

Silent Night
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing alleluia
Christ, the Savior is born
Christ, the Savior is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth

Joseph Mohr/Franz Gruber, 1818

 

Sermon
“The Fullness of Time”
Galatians 4:1-7

 

Prayer of Confession
Sovereign God and Heavenly Father,
You have made us yours through Christ,
And you hold us in the palm of your hand.
Yet each day we struggle to trust you.
Have mercy on us and forgive.
Give us courage to admit our fear and unbelief.
Where we wrestle for control, settle our spirits.
Enable us to celebrate the mysteries of your will,
And trust you with every part of our lives,
Liberate us to love and serve your good world,
Until you make everything new.
Through Jesus, our coming King. Amen.

 

The Lord’s Supper

 

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Come, thou fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing thy praise
Streams of mercy, never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it
Mount of thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer
Hither by thy help I’m come
And I hope, by thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home

Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wandr’ing from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger
Interposed his precious blood

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be
Let thy goodness, like a fetter
Bind my wand’ring heart to thee

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it
Seal it for thy courts above

O that day, when freed from sinning
I shall see thy lovely face
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing thy sovereign grace

Come, my Lord, no longer tarry
Take my ransomed soul away
Send thine angels, now to carry
Me to realms of endless day

Robert Robinson, Asahel Nettleton © Public Domain CCLI 241710

 

The Apostles’ Creed (for reflection)
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

 

Advent Doxology
O come, let us adore him
O come, let us adore him
O come, let us adore him
Christ the Lord

C. Frederick Oakeley, John Francis Wade © Public Domain CCLI 241710

 

Benediction