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!