Prelude Men’s Choir

Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendor (Trinity Hymnal 230) arr. Albert Baker

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Trinity Hymnal 211) arr. J. Marty Cope

Now to the Lord sing praises, all you within this place, and with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace; this holy tide of Christmas all others doth deface. O tidings of comfort and joy. (verse 4)

Call to Worship

Doxology (Trinity Hymnal 731) Old Hundredth

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below;

Praise him above, ye heav’nly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Gospel’s Assurance of Pardon: Luke 1:50, 54–55

His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.

Advent Collect (from The Book of Common Prayer)

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Hymn 214: Angels We Have Heard on High Gloria

Responsive Reading: Psalm 87 (page 494)

Gloria Patri (Trinity Hymnal 734) Meineke

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen.

The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, ad 381

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, for us and our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered death and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life; who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spake by the prophets.

And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayer of Intercession (concluding with 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Announcements

Reception of New Members

9am

Román Gonzáles, Northern Tier

Charles Hall-Pinner, Northern Tier

Rudy Heuer, Northern Tier

11am

Elise Bushra, Western Suburbs (to be baptized)

Nathaniel & Caitlyn Cornelius, Metropolitan

Caroline Darlington, Metropolitan

Taylor Hertzler, Metropolitan

Hercules & Lanera Jones, Metropolitan

Nathan & Lynzee McKeever, Northern Tier

Ikuo Nagamine, IO (to be baptized)

Bethany Reynolds, Metropolitan

Charissa Schulze, Metropolitan

Michael Stevko, Metropolitan

Hymn 213: What Child Is This? Greensleeves

(In the 11am service, Praisemakers, ages 4-kindergarten, may go to B2; CLICK, grades 1-2, may go to B1)

Offering Prayer

Offertory: Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending (Trinity Hymnal 318) arr. John Rutter

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26–38 (page 855)

Sermon: “Mary, the Pure Mother of God” (Ulrich Zwingli, Reformer) Dr. Liam Goligher

Hymn 203: Hark! the Herald Angels Sing Mendelssohn

Benediction

Postlude: Personent Hodie Rebecca Groom Te Velde

Serving this morning:
Rev. Greg Hobaugh, 9am platform; Rev. John Park, 11am platform
Colin Howland, organist