Service of Celebration and Covenant Renewal

Christmas Day

25December 2011

Quotes for Reflection

Show thyself the Prince of Peace;Bid our jarring conflicts cease.

Let us for each other care,Each the other’s burden bear,

To thy church the pattern give,Show how true believers live.

Make us one of heart and mind,Courteous, pitiful, and kind,

Lowly, meek in thought and word,Altogether like our Lord.

—Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

“Maker of the sun, He is made under the sun. In the Father He remains, from His mother He goes forth. Creator of heaven and earth, He was born on earth under heaven. Unspeakably wise, He is wisely speechless. Filling the world, He lies in a manger. Ruler of the stars, He nurses at His mother’s bosom. He is both great in the nature of God, and small in the form of a servant.” —Augustine (354-430)

Christmas is coming; the goose is getting fat;

Please put a penny in the old man's hat;

Jesus would have us celebrate-just like that.

—Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

God Calls His People to Worship

It is God Himself who calls His people to worship. We do not call ourselves, but it is the King who opens His gates and beckons us into his courts.

Lighting of the Advent Wreath—Joy to the World, Vs 1 & 2

Text: Isaac Watts, 1719: Music: ANTIOCH, arr. by Lowell Mason, 1836

Call to Worship—Isaiah 9:6; Psalm 98:1

Pastor: Unto us a Child is born.

All: Unto us a Son is given.

Reader 1: The government shall be on His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Reader 2: O sing to the Lord a new song; for He has done marvelous things.

Pastor: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

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

Hymn of Praise—Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Text: Charles Wesley, 1739, 1753; Music: MENDELSSOHN, Felix Mendelssohn, 1840, Arr. William H. Cummings, 1856.

God Speaks to His People Through His Word

The Bible is the means by which God graciously reveals Himself to His people—so we listen, read, and study with expectant hearts. God particularly entreats us in His Word to sing Psalms. And while all Scripture is appropriate for hymns and spiritual songs, there is a specific exhortation for us to make use of the Psalter as the Church’s songbook.

O Come, All Ye Faithful

Text: Latin Hymn, Tr. By Frederick Oakeley, 1841; Music: Cantus Diversi, 1751.

Scripture Reading—John 1:1-5, 10-14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and without Him not one thing came into being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him; yet the world did not know Him. He came to what was His own, and His own people did not accept Him. But to all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth.

Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Hymn of Praise—What Child is This

Text: William Chatterton Dix, 1865; Music: Greensleeves, 16th Century English

The Reading of the Word—Genesis 4:25-26

And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD.

Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Sung Response—Good Christian Men, Rejoice, Vs 3

Text: Medieval Latin Carol, Tr by John Mason Neale, 1853; Music: In Dulci Jubilo, German Melody, 14th c.

Sermon—Calling on the Lord

—George Grant, Pastor

God Calls His People to Confession, Repentance, and Reconciliation

The People of God respond to His Word by confessing their sins, repenting of their sinful ways, and seeking God’s favor through the reconciling work of Jesus, the Son of God.

Corporate Confession of Sin— Isaiah 9:2-7

Pastor: Lord, we come confessing. We confess that we were people who walked in darkness.

All: But now we have seen a great light.

Pastor: We who lived in a land of deep darkness--on us light has shined.

All: Despite our sins, You have multiplied our blessings, You have increased our joy

and so we rejoice before You.

Pastor: We rejoice as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing treasure.

All: For the yoke of our burden, and the bar across our shoulders, the rod of our oppressor,

You have broken.

Pastor: There is endless peace at Your throne of mercy.

All: O Lord, You establish and uphold justice and with righteousness--

from this time forth and forevermore.

Pastor: The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

All: Thanks be to God.

.Assurance of Pardon: Titus 3:4-7

When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy. And He has poured out His Spirit upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Hymn of Praise—See Amid the Winter’s Snow

Text: Edward Caswall, 1851; Music: See Amid the Winter’s Snow, John Goss, 1870.

Heavenly Gift—Eucharisto

As God beckons His people to the bounty of His table, they make joyous profession of their fealty to Him.

Profession of Faith—The Apostles’ Creed

We believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of Heaven and Earth,

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,

Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate,

Was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into Hell.

On the third day he rose again from the dead.

He ascended into Heaven and now sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

From whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

We believe in the Holy Spirit; The one holy Church—both visible and invisible;

The communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins;

The resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Sursum Corda

Pastor: The Lord be with you.

People:And also with you.

Pastor: Lift up your hearts.

People:We lift them up to the Lord.

Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People:It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

Pastor: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to

give thanks to You, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

Trisagion Hymn

Pastor: Therefore, we praise You, Triune God, and we join our voices with the Angels, the Archangels,

and the whole company of Heaven in this hymn of eternal praise:

Words of Institution and the Lord’s Table

Having confessed our sins and made a good profession of faith, God's Table is open to all those “faithfully-fenced" members of the covenant community. Please come forward to partake of this means of grace. You may take the bread and dip it either in the cup of wine or grape juice. Elders and their wives are available for prayer in the front after communion.

Hymn of Communion—Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming

Text: 15th century German Carol, Trans. Theodore Baker, 1894;Music: Es Ist Ein Ros, harm. Michael Praetorius, 1609.

Hymn of Praise—The First Noel, Vs. 1-3

Text and Music: Traditional English Carol, 13th c.

Hymn of Communion—Angels We Have Heard on High

Text: Traditional French Carol. Music: Traditional French Melody.

God’s People Respond in Grateful Praise, Petitions, Tithes & Offerings

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession— 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.

Hymn of Praise—Angels from the Realms of Glory

Text: James Montgomery, 1816, 1825; Music REGENT SQUARE, Henry Smart, 1867.

God Sends His People out

After calling His people into His presence, forgiving their sins, instructing them in His Word, and providing a foretaste of the marriage supper of the Lamb, God sends His people into the world to show His light in the darkness.

Benediction—Luke 2:29-32

Lord, now let your servants go in peace; Your Word has been fulfilled. Our own eyes have seen the salvation which You have prepared in the sight of all: a light to lighten the nations and the glory of Your people. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Lighting of the Advent Wreath—Joy to the World, Vs 3 & 4

Text: Isaac Watts, 1719: Music: ANTIOCH, arr. by Lowell Mason, 1836

Announcements

Resources for Family Worship

The following is presented to help prepare your hearts and the hearts of your children for worship throughout the week.

Presbyterian Church in America

Web: / Twitter: @parishpres

Church Office:(615-574-1029) or

Pastors: George Grant (574-1029 Office) or

Bing Davis (574-1029 Office) or / Parish Presbyterian Pastoral Care (615-378-7774)

Chief Musician: Nathan George (944-8831) or

Music Intern: Henry Haffner,

Parish Nursery Coordinator: Susan Sadler (356-3948) or

Elders

Tom Goddard (791-9231)Mike Miserocchi (373-3124)John Scherrer (790-3207)

Danny Ketchum, adjunctSteve Nelson (595-0520)Louis Huesmann (309-6937)

Deacons

Aaron Anderson (794-2989)Andy Clark (545-7626)Jason Parolini (497-3337)

Jeff Dokkestul (618-6064)Rich Fleck (794-2499)Randy Sadler (356-3948)

Mark Haney (772-1396)Will Matheny (790-5095)

All Biblical Quotes from the English Standard Version