Advent Reading
For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.
I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living!
Wait for the LORD;
Be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
-Psalm 130:7, 27:13-14
Joy to the World
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
Joy to the earth, 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
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
Joy to the world
Joy to the world
He rules the world
He rules the world
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Issac Watts, Tune ANTIOCH, George F. Handel, Arr. Lowell Mason © Public Domain CCLI 241710
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 © Public Domain CCLI 241710
Welcome & Announcements
Prayer for the People, the City, and the Nations
Gifts — Glory (Let There Be Peace)
One star burns in the darkness
Shines with the promise, Emmanuel
One Child born in the stillness
Living within us, Emmanuel
We’re singing glory, glory
Let there be peace, let there be peace
Singing glory, glory
Let there be peace, let it start in me
One voice speaks for the voiceless
Hope for the hopeless, Emmanuel
One love brings us together
Now and forever, Emmanuel
We’re singing glory, glory
Let there be peace, let there be peace
Singing glory, glory
Let there be peace, let it start in me
Do not be afraid
His love is strong enough to save us
Nothing stands in the way
His love is strong enough to lead us
Do not be afraid
His love is strong enough to save us
Nothing stands in the way
His love is strong enough to lead us
Glory, glory
Let there be peace, let there be peace
We’re singing glory, glory
Let there be peace, let it start in me
We’re singing glory, glory
Let there be peace, let there be peace
We’re singing glory, glory
Let there be peace, let it start in me
Let there be peace, let it start in me
Chris Stevens, Matt Maher, Rachel Taylor Popadic © 2018 Meaux Mercy, Moody Producer Music, Be Essential Songs, I Am A Pilgrim Songs, Rachel Popadic Designee CCLI 241710
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
So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh
Come peasant, king, to own him
The King of kings salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone him
Raise, raise the song on high
The virgin sings her lullaby
Joy, joy for Christ is born
The Babe, the Son of Mary
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
Children Dismissed for Children’s Church
Sermon
“Don’t be Afraid (It Isn’t Too Good to be True)”
Luke 1:26-38
Prayer of Confession
Father, we confess that our hearts
are prone to wander from you.
We obsess over self,
focusing on personal pleasure,
while ignoring the needs of the world around us.
Forgive us, we pray.
Cleanse us from everything
that prevents us from loving you
with all our heart, mind, and strength.
We ask all of this, as we look to Christ in faith. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
May the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that you may serve the living God.
— paraphrase of Hebrews 9:14
The Lord’s Supper
Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace
Come boldly to the throne of grace
Ye wretched sinners come
And lay your load at Jesus’ feet
And plead what he has done
How can I come, some soul may say
I’m lame and cannot walk
My guilt and sin have stopped my mouth
I sigh, but dare not talk
Come boldly to the throne of grace
Though lost, and blind, and lame
Jehovah is the sinner’s friend
And ever was the same
He makes the dead to hear his voice
He makes the blind to see
The sinner lost he came to save
And set the prisoner free
Come boldly to the throne of grace
For Jesus fills the throne
And those he kills he makes alive
He hears the sigh or groan
Poor bankrupt souls, who feel and know
The hell of sin within
Come boldly to the throne of grace
The Lord will take you in, take you in
Brian T. Murphy, Clint Wells, D. Herbert © 2004 Clint Wells Music 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 