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worship as communal exchange | 3rd Sunday of Advent – Joy
called to come in
God comes near and calls his people out of the world, and takes hold of us and brings us into the community of Himself.we hear | Psalm 95:1, Psalm 35:9 and Revelation 21:1-6
(leader) O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
(all) My soul WILL be joyful in the LORD: it WILL rejoice in his salvation.
(leader) What is this salvation?
(leader) Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away… 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
we respond | SONG: 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 th’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 th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh 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 Sun 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!”
Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conquering Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Now display Thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Advent reading from Luke 1:39-47 and lighting of the JOY candle
In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
we respond | SONG: Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee
God of glory, Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee
opening to the sun above
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness
drive the dark of doubt away
Giver of immortal gladness
fill us with the light of day
All Thy works with joy surround Thee
earth and heaven reflect Thy rays
Stars and angels sing around Thee
center of unbroken praise
Field and forest, vale and mountain
flowery meadow, flashing sea
Singing bird and flowing fountain
call us to rejoice in Thee
Thou art giving and forgiving
ever blessing, ever blessed
Wellspring of the joy of living
ocean depth of happy rest
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother
all who live in love are Thine
Teach us how to love each other
lift us to the joy divine
Mortals, join the happy chorus
which the morning stars began
Father love is reigning o’er us
brother love binds man to man
Ever singing, march we onward
victors in the midst of strife
Joyful music leads us Sunward
in the triumph song of life
confessing our sin
God the Spirit reminds us that God the Father has saved us through the righteous life and sacrificial death of Christ the Son – and in faith we rest on his gracious interest to renew us yet again.we hear and confess | Psalm 51
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love. According to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
O Lord, purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, Amen.
we rest | SONG: Joy Has Dawned
Joy has dawned upon the world
Promised from creation
God’s salvation now unfurled
Hope for every nation
Not with fanfares from above
Not with scenes of glory
But a humble gift of love
Jesus born of Mary
Sounds of wonder fill the sky
With the songs of angels
As the mighty Prince of Life
Shelters in a stable
Hands that set each star in place
Shaped the earth in darkness
Cling now to a mother’s breast
Vulnerable and helpless
Shepherds bow before the Lamb
Gazing at the glory
Gifts of men from distant lands
Prophesy the story
Gold a King is born today
Incense God is with us
Myrrh His death will make a way
And by His blood He’ll win us
Son of Adam Son of heaven
Given as a ransom
Reconciling God and man
Christ our mighty Champion!
What a Saviour what a Friend
What a glorious mystery
Once a babe in Bethlehem
Now the Lord of history
declaration | 1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
consecrated by the Word
God declares the finished gospel of his Son, and continues his powerful, internal work of change/consecration by his Spirit.sermon | What Are You Building Your Life On? •Haggai 2:1-9 | Matthew Coleflesh
we respond | SONG: A Mighty Fortress is Our God
A mighty fortress is our God
a bulwark never failing
Our helper He, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing
For still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe
His craft and power are great
and, armed with cruel hate
On earth is not his equal
Did we in our own strength confide
our striving would be losing
Were not the right Man on our side
the Man of God’s own choosing
Dost ask who that may be
Christ Jesus, it is He
Lord Sabaoth, His Name
from age to age the same
And He must win the battle
And though this world, with devils filled
should threaten to undo us
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us
The Prince of Darkness grim
we tremble not for him
His rage we can endure
for lo, his doom is sure
One little word shall fell him
That word above all earthly powers
no thanks to them, abideth
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
through Him Who with us sideth
Let goods and kindred go
this mortal life also
The body they may kill
God’s truth abideth still
His kingdom is forever
SONG: 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
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
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders, of His love
compelled to go out
God blesses us and charges us go out and extend his kingdom into the broken world around us, making disciples of all nations
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