WELCOME TO WORSHIP
THE LORD’S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
POSTLUDE
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Thank you for joining us in worship today.
(Children, kindergartners through third grade, are invited to exit the Sanctuary for Children’s Worship. Children will return to reserved pews in the Sanctuary at the close of worship.)
WE HEAR THE WORD PROCLAIMED
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT • DECEMBER 24, 2023 • 11:00AM
THE COMMUNITY GATHERS The prelude signifies the beginning of worship. You are invited to be in a spirit of prayer and meditation. Please silence all mobile communication devices. †
Please stand as you are able
SCRIPTURE — Matthew 1:18-25 This is the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.
PRELUDE GREETING INTROIT
CANTICLE See, Amid the Winter’s Snow — Dan Forrest Alleluia! See, amid the winter’s snow, born for us on earth below, see the tender Lamb appears, promised from eternal years. Hail, thou ever blessed morn, hail redemption’s happy dawn, sing through all Jerusalem: “Christ is born in Bethlehem.” Alleluia! Lo, within a manger lies He who built the lofty skies, He, who, throned in light sublime, sits amid the cherubim. Sacred infant, all divine, what a tender love was Thine, thus to come from highest bliss, down to such a world as this. Hail, thou ever blessed morn, hail redemption’s happy dawn, sing through all Jerusalem: “Christ is born in Bethlehem.” Alleluia!
Of the Father’s Love Begotten — DIVINUM MYSTERIUM O that birth forever blessed, when the Virgin, full of grace, by the Holy Ghost conceiving, bore the Savior of our race; and the babe, the world’s Redeemer, first revealed his sacred face, evermore and evermore! Amen.
OPENING PRAYER Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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HYMN OF PROCESSION #224 Good Christian Friends, Rejoice — IN DULCI JUBILO
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AFFIRMATION OF FAITH We are not alone, we live in God’s world. We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit. We trust in God. We are called to be the church: to celebrate God’s presence, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope. In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God. Amen.
SERMON — “Deck the Halls with Love”
WE RENEW OUR COMMITMENT OFFERTORY Personent Hodie — Lara Hoggard On this day earth shall ring with the song children sing to the Lord, Christ our King, born on earth to save us, him the Father gave us. His the doom, ours the mirth, when he came down to earth, Bethlehem saw his birth; ox and ass beside him from the cold would hide him. God’s bright star o’er his head, wise men three to him led; kneel they low by his bed, lay their gifts before him, praise him and adore him. On this day angels sing, with their song earth shall ring, praising Christ, heaven’s King, born on earth to save us, peace and love he gave us. Ideo-o-o-o. Ideo-o-o-, ideo gloria in excelsis deo! (Sung in Latin) DOXOLOGY #221 In the Bleak Midwinter — CRANHAM What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part, yet what I can I give him: give my heart.
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AFFIRMATION RESPONSE Come, Renew Your Love for Him — GLORIA Come, renew your love for Him: Jesus Christ, who sets us free! Cast off fear and doubt and shame; live in grace eternally! Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
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PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Almighty God, giver of every good and perfect gift, teach us to render to you all that we have and all that we are, that we may praise you, not with our lips only, but with our whole lives, turning the duties, the sorrows, and the joys of all our days into a living sacrifice to you; through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
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WE GO AS GOD’S PEOPLE INTO THE WORLD HYMN
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LIGHTING OF ADVENT WREATH
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PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
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#238 Angels We Have Heard on High — GLORIA
SERMON NOTES
___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ PARTICIPANTS IN WORSHIP PREACHING The Reverend Dr. P. Glenn Kinken III, Senior Minister LITURGIST The Reverend Meg Peters, Assoc. Minister The Reverend Kate May, Assoc. Minister Tammy Pollock, Director of Youth Ministries ADVENT WREATH Crucifer & Torchbearers
MUSIC Jonathan Emmons, Director of Music Ministries Joshua Sobel, Organ Scholar The Chancel Choir CRUCIFER Jack Norman TORCHBEARERS Hamilton Norman Mary Claire Norman
BENEDICTION BENEDICTION RESPONSE Hallelujah (from Messiah) — George Frideric Handel Hallelujah, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth, and He shall reign for ever and ever. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords! Hallelujah! - Revelation 19:6,11:15, 19:16
The anthem texts are printed with permission. One License A-707342 By entering the Sanctuary, you grant to Centenary United Methodist Church unrestricted right to use and publish, transmit or telecast photographs or likenesses that might be taken of you this day for use in communications related to the church.