BULLETIN

December 22, 2024

10:30am service

Prelude

Welcome and Call to Worship

The Lighting of the Fourth Advent Candle

The Ernst Family
Reader: Jesus said, “I am the light of the world, the one who follows me will not walk in darkness but have the light of life.” We light this candle as a sign of the coming light of Christ.
People: Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart. The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.

Congregational Hymn

Angels We Have Heard on High, #23

Angels we have heard on high

Sweetly singing o’er the plains,

And the mountains in reply

Echoing their joyous strains.

Refrain:

Gloria, in excelsis Deo;

Gloria, in excelsis Deo.

Shepherds, why this jubilee?

Why your joyous strains prolong?

What the gladsome tidings be

Which inspire your heavenly song?

Refrain

Come to Bethlehem and see

Him whose birth the angels sing;

Come, adore on bended knee

Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Refrain

Go Tell It On The Mountain, #29

Chorus

Go tell it on the mountain

Over the hills and ev’rywhere

Go tell it on the mountain

That Jesus Christ is born

While shepherds kept their watching

O’er silent flocks by night

Behold throughout the heavens

There shone a holy light

The shepherds feared and trembled

When lo above the earth

Rang out the angel chorus

That hailed the Savior’s birth

Down in a lowly manger

The humble Christ was born

And God sent us salvation

That blessed Christmas morn

Prayer of Confession

God of grace and truth,
you promise redemption and tell us not to fear.
We confess that we listen to our own fear
and set aside your promises.
We act in ways that dishonor you and hurt others.
Forgive our disobedience, and renew our strength,
so that we may receive the fullness of your promise,
and live into your joy (time of silent of confession).

Assurance of Forgiveness

The Blessing of the Children

Preschool and Childcare will be in NPNS classrooms 10,11,12. Childcare for ages 2 and younger will be in NPNS Classroom 16. K-5th grade Sunday school will be in Horton Hall.

*The Welcoming of One Another

Announcements

The Word of the Lord

Luke 2:1-20

The Sermon

Pastor Brandi Drake

“Fear Not: Shepherds”

“They wake up suddenly in the night. There is light.

And figures dancing in the sky…

clothed in more colors than the world can contain.

Then all the silences of the night—deep in song…

Like that of a river cascading from the wild mountain to the low human plain.

Gloria, In the Highest.”

-Shepherds, by Bruce Cockburn

Moment of Reflection

Our Offerings to God

Offertory

Prayers of The People and The Lord’s Prayer

Prayer Focus: Rev. Evalyn Wakhusama, Nambale Magnet School, Kenya and Christ Community Church, Darien
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.

*Congregational Song

Joy to the World, #40

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 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 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 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 wonders of His love

Benediction

Postlude

The Apostle’s Creed

Pastor Greg Doll

Leader: Do you believe in God the Father?
People: I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
Leader: Do you believe in Jesus Christ the Son?
People: I believe in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit; born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified, dead and buried; he descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
Leader: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?
People: I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy catholic church;
the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Sacrament of Baptism

Pastor Doll
Peter Riordan, Assisting Elder

We extend God’s love to Arianna Grace Morello, Caleb Alexander Morello, Zachariah Lucas Morello, children of Rev. Gary and Erica Morello.