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
chapelgate worship 