by Pastor Joel E. Wood
Advent 4: I’ve Been Everywhere
Malachi 4:4-5
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CCLI License #390757

9:30a Service
Welcome and Announcements

Choral Introit.   “This Is The Truth”
This is the truth sent from above, the truth of God, the God of love.
Therefore don’t turn me from your door, but hearken all, both rich and poor.

The first thing which I do relate is that God did man create.
The next thing which to you I’ll tell, woman was made with man to dwell.

And we were heirs to endless woes, till God the Lord did interpose.
And so a promise soon did run that He would redeem us by His Son. 

And at that season of the year our blest Redeemer did appear.
He here did live and here did preach, and many thousands He did teach.

Thus He in love to us behaved, to show us how we must be saved.
And if you want to know the way, be pleased to hear what He did say.
Music: Traditional English carol
Arr. Janet T. Watt

GREETING & CALL TO WORSHIP   Luke 1:68-72
Leader: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people.”
People: “And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David.”

Leader: “As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.”
People: “To show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant.”

PRAYER OF ADORATION, ASSISTANCE, & BLESSING

Hymnal #203   "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!"

Refrain:
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 the Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th'incarnate Deity,
pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel. [Refrain]

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. [Refrain]

REFLECTION ON GOD’S LAW from Exodus 20:1-17 & N.T. corollaries, ESV
Leader: Honor your father and your mother.
People: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (Eph. 6:1)

Leader: You shall not murder.
People: Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. (1 Jn. 3:15)

Leader: You shall not commit adultery.
People: Everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Mt. 5:28)

Leader: You shall not steal.
People: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.  Do your work quietly and earn your own living. (2 Th. 3:10,12)

Leader: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
People: Having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor. (Eph. 4:25)

Leader: You shall not covet anything that is your neighbor's.
People: For the whole law is fulfilled in one word:  "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Gal. 5:14)

SILENT PRAYER OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF GRACE   Romans 10:9-10

Hymnal #208   “O Come, All Ye Faithful”
While O come, all ye faithful, 
joyful and triumphant, 
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; 
come and behold him 
born the King of angels; 

Refrain: 
O come, let us adore him, 
O come, let us adore him, 
O come, let us adore him, 
Christ the Lord. 

God of God, 
Light of Light; 
lo, he abhors not the Virgin's womb; 
very God, 
begotten, not created; [Refrain] 

Sing, choirs of angels, 
sing in exultation, 
sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above; 
glory to God 
in the highest; [Refrain]

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, 
born this happy morning:
Jesus, to thee be all glory giv'n; 
Word of the Father, 
late in flesh appearing; [Refrain]

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH   Elder Dean Abbott

Hymnal #211   "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen”
God rest you merry, gentlemen,
let nothing you dismay,
remember Christ our Savior
was born on Christmas day,
to save us all from Satan's pow'r
when we were gone astray;

Refrain:
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

From God our heav'nly Father,
a blessed angel came;
and unto certain shepherds
brought tidings of the same:
how that in Bethlehem was born
the Son of God by name. [Refrain]

"Fear not, then," said the angel,
"let nothing you affright;
this day is born a Savior
of a pure virgin bright,
to free all those who trust in him
from Satan's pow'r and might." [Refrain]

The shepherds at those tidings
rejoiced much in mind,
and left their flocks a-feeding,
in tempest, storm, and wind:
and went to Bethlehem straightway,
the Son of God to find. [Refrain]

GOD’S WORD READ   Malachi 4:4-5
GOD’S WORD PREACHED.   “Advent 4: I’ve Been Everywhere” by Pastor Joel E. Wood

Prayer Of Application & The Lord’s Prayer
All: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever.  Amen.

Hymnal #212   “Within a Crib My Savior Lay”
Let Within a crib my Savior lay,
a wooden manger filled with hay,
come down for love on Christmas Day:
all glory be to Jesus!

Upon a cross my Savior died,
to ransom sinners, crucified,
his loving arms still open wide:
all glory be to Jesus!

A victor's crown my Savior won,
his work of love and mercy done,
the Father's high-ascended Son:
all glory be to Jesus!

Hymnal p. 845   “Apostles’ Creed”
Minister: Christian, what do you believe? 
All:  I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. 

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. 

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. 

SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Words of Institution & Warning
Minister: The Lord be with you;
People: And also with you.

Minister: Lift up your hearts;
People: We lift them up to the Lord.

Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God;
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

COMMUNION PRAYER
Approach the Table for the Lord’s Supper
Prayer of Thanksgiving

Song   “Holy Child”
Holy Child, who chose the hearts of men 
To be His favoured home. 
Leaving Heaven's gates for Bethlehem, 
God came to call His own. 
Now to us the highest King is born- 
Behold, the Royal Son. 
Glory kneels to bind up all that's torn; 
The promised One has come.

Joy and pain, as man, He knew on earth; 
No place to lay His head.
As a servant He embraced this world 
And on a cross He bled. 
Having borne the deepest grief of man, 
He rose to Heaven's throne. 
Now I'm sheltered in the Father's hand 
Until He calls me home.

May the gift of God amaze us still- 
The triumph of all time. 
As His child, I kneel to Heaven's will 
And make His purpose mine. 
Though this road be scarred with trial and pain, 
It's paved with lavish grace. 
Knowing Him will be my greatest gain;
His Throne my resting place.
Words and Music: Keith and Kristen Getty
© 2004 Thankyou Music Ltd
CCLI License #390757

Trinity Hymnal #731  “Doxology”
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

THE BENEDICTION
Postlude