Welcome & Announcements
The Lighting of the Third Advent Candle
Shake yourself from the dust and arise; be seated,
O Jerusalem; loose the bonds from your neck,
O captive daughter of Zion.
For thus says the LORD: “You were sold for nothing,
and you shall be redeemed without money.”
“Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife,
for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus,
for he will save his people from their sins.”
—Isaiah 52:2-3, Matthew 1:20b-21
Advent Prayer
God of Compassion and Father of all Mercy,
with this broken world, we long for your presence,
and the unconditional embrace of your love.
Teach us to give that which we have received,
to love that which you love,
and to eagerly await the coming of Christ,
with grateful and loving hearts,
through Jesus. Amen.
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
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
Prayer for the People, the City, and the Nations
Gifts — 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
Born thy people to deliver
Born a child and yet a king
Born to reign forever
Now thy gracious kingdom bring
By thine own eternal spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone
By thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to thy glorious throne
Born thy people to deliver
Born a child and yet a king
Born to reign forever
Now thy gracious kingdom bring
Born thy people to deliver
Born a child and yet a king
Born to reign forever
Now thy gracious kingdom bring
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
Charles Wesley, Kings Kaleidoscope © 2011 Citizens CCLI 241710
Baptisms—{10:30 a.m. service}
The following people will be baptized today upon their Profession of Faith: Jonathan C Justi, Angelette Elizabeth Green, Rileigh Kate Hottle
Receiving of New Members
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 © Public Domain CCLI 241710
Children Dismissed for Children’s Church
Sermon
“The Inconspicuous Lover”
Ruth 3:1-18
Prayer of Confession
Almighty God,
you who shaped out of nothing all that is,
forgive us for returning empty-handed.
You who called forth light,
forgive when we prefer the dark!
Create in us clean hearts, O God,
and renew a right spirit within us.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Lord’s Supper
Come As You Are
Come out of sadness from wherever you’ve been
Come broken-hearted, let rescue begin
Come find your mercy, O sinner come kneel
Earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t heal
Earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t heal
So lay down your burdens, lay down your shame
All who are broken, lift up your face
O wanderer come home, you’re not too far
So lay down your hurt, lay down your heart
Come as you are
There’s hope for the hopeless
And all those who’ve strayed
Come sit at the table, come taste the grace
There’s rest for the weary, rest that endures
Earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t cure
So lay down your burdens, lay down your shame
All who are broken, lift up your face
O wanderer come home, you’re not too far
So lay down your hurt, lay down your heart
Come as you are
There’s joy for the morning, O sinner be still
Earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t heal
Earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t heal
So lay down your burdens, lay down your shame
All who are broken, lift up your face
O wanderer come home, you’re not too far
So lay down your hurt, lay down your heart
Come as you are
Ben Glover, David Crowder, Matt Maher © 2014 9t One Songs, Ariose Music, sixsteps Music, worshiptogether.com songs, Sony/ATV Tree Publishing CCLI 241710
O Come Let Us Adore Him
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
chapelgate worship 