December 31 – God’s Long-Awaited Gift
December 30, 2023 by Rich
Filed under Featured, Livestream Links and Order for Worship
Welcome to Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ. Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!
WELCOME
PRELUDE – Angels from the Realms of Glory
*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Sing of God’s glory!
All: Shout to God, all the earth!
One: Rejoice!
All: Christ is born!
*HYMN – Joy to the World! – #194
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let ev’ry heart prepare him room
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n, and heav’n 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.
No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.
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.
*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
God, you are with us! We have heard the promise of the prophets. We have rejoiced at the melody of angels’ songs. We have seen your star in the heavens. We have followed your star to a humble birthplace. We have come to be with you, because you have come to be with us. Now, may all hope and joy fill our lives, as we echo your angels, proclaiming, “Glory to God in the highest! Peace to God’s people on earth.” Amen.
*RESPONSE – Angels We Have Heard on High – #206
Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echo back their joyous strains:
Refrain:
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
GOD’S WORD – Isaiah 61:10-62:3
SPECIAL MUSIC – Christmas Meditation
GOD’S WORD – Psalm 148
RESPONSIVE READING – The Savior’s Advent / Luke 2:8-20
– #639
SERMON – Pastor Dan
CHRISTMAS CAROL SING
We will sing the first TWO verses of each selected carol.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Pastor Dan
*HYMN – How Great Our Joy – #192
*RESPONSIVE BENEDICTION
One: In a lowly stable, the Son of God is born.
All: God Most High comes down to earth.
One: No one except God would have imagined doing this!
All: Go, tell it on the mountain – Jesus Christ is born!
*POSTLUDE – Joy to the World!
December 18 – God with us
December 17, 2022 by Rich
Filed under Featured, Livestream Links and Order for Worship
We are closer than ever to the Birth of Christ. Today, we celebrate with special music and light the fourth candle on the Advent Wreath, the Candle of Love.
Please join us in-person or online for our 5 p.m. Christmas Eve service, and at 10 a.m. Christmas Day for the celebration worship marking the Birth of Jesus.
WELCOME
PRELUDE – I Wonder As I Wander (John Jacob Niles) – Marsha Fix, Vocalist
*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: We come seeking a sign from God, the Creator of all life.
All: God heals those who are injured.
One: We come to worship God, the One who loves and takes cares of us.
All: God mends those who are broken.
One: We come to share in final preparations for the approaching celebration
of the birth of Christ.
All: Soon God’s Church will gather on the night our Dear Savior’s Birth.
*HYMN – O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Verses 1,2,3 and 4) – #186
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o’er the grave.
Refrain:
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
And drive away the shades of night,
And pierce the clouds and bring us light!
Refrain:
O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heav’nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Refrain:
O come, Messiah, come again,
And rid the world of death and sin.
Return, thou risen Saviour and King,
That heav’n and earth at last may sing.
Rejoice, rejoice; Emanuel
Has come to thee, O Israel!
*PRAYER OF INVOCATION – Inspired by Psalm 80
God of love – holy love, self-giving love, unconditional love, total love; we gather here now with gratitude for the ways your love lifts us up from the bleakest circumstances and into your marvelous light! We know of your goodness, and we are in awe of your acts of healing and mercy.
Emmanuel, you stir up this world through your unmatched strength and compassion. You help us recline and relax in green pastures. You lead us to refreshing shores beside still waters. You restore our souls.
Eternal Shepherd and Savior, we offer you our profound gratitude for your abundant blessings. Forever we will praise you, Christ Jesus. Amen.
ADVENT WREATH CANDLE LIGHTING – The Candle of Love
*PRAISE RESPONSE – Emmanuel – #185
Emmanuel, Emmanuel
His name is called Emmanuel;
God with us, revealed in us;
His name is called Emmanuel.
GOD’S WORD – Isaiah 7:10-16
SPECIAL MUSIC – Rose of Sharon (Larson) – Ivy Chapel Vocal Ensemble
GOD’S WORD – Matthew 1:18-25
SERMON – Pastor Dan
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Pastor Dan
*HYMN – Hark! The Herald Angels Sing – #191
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 th’angelic hosts proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Refrain:
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King”
Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of the Virgin’s womb:
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel. [Refrain]
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen 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. [Refrain]
*BENEDICTION – Pastor Dan
*POSTLUDE – Good Christian Friends, Rejoice – L. Smith
