First Presbyterian Church
December 27, 2020
10:00 AM
Order of Worship
CALL TO WORSHIP (based on Psalm 148)
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the
heavens; Praise God in the heights!
Praise the Lord, all
angels; Praise God, all God’s host!
Praise God, sun and moon;
Praise God, all you shining stars!
Praise God, you highest
heavens, And you waters above the heavens!
Let us worship the Living
God.
Hymn
of Praise: “Angels from the Realms of Glory”
1.
Angels from the realms of glory, wing your flight o'er all the earth; ye who
sang creation's story now proclaim Messiah's birth:
Refrain: Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn king.
2.
Shepherds, in the field abiding, watching o'er your flocks by night, God with
us is now residing; yonder shines the infant light: (Refrain)
4. Saints, before the altar bending, watching
long in hope and fear; suddenly the Lord, descending, in his temple shall
appear: (Refrain)
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)
Merciful God, we confess our complicity in the divisions that have
wounded our country and our world. We have been silent when others are
disparaged or held in contempt. Indeed, we ourselves have harbored ill will in
our hearts. Forgive and restore in us your Spirit of compassion and
justice-seeking love. Amen.
*SILENT PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
*THE GLORIA
PATRI
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.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Friends, hear the good news of
the gospel. In Christ we are forgiven and set free from the sins that bind and
enslave us. God’s Spirit has been sent into our lives and our world to empower
us to live out the Great Commandment — loving God with all of who we are, and
loving others as ourselves. Thanks be to God.
INVITATION: “Dear Lord, I
need You, please come into my life today.
Amen”
LESSON: Luke 2:
22-40
22 When the time
came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up
to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in
the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the
Lord’), 24and they offered a sacrifice according to what is
stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’
25 Now there was
a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and
devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit
rested on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27Guided
by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought
in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28Simeon took
him in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 ‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according
to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31which
you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light
for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’
33 And the
child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34Then
Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined
for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be
opposed 35so that the inner thoughts of many will be
revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
36 There was
also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She
was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her
marriage, 37then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She
never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and
day. 38At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to
speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of
Jerusalem.
39 When they had
finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee,
to their own town of Nazareth. 40The child grew and became
strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
SERMON: “This Child
Is Destined…” Rev.
Peter Hofstra
AFFIRMATION OF
FAITH (from A Brief Statement of Faith)
In life and in
death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of
God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the
Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve. With believers in every
time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from
the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.
PASSING OF THE
PEACE
THE OFFERING OF
OUR TITHES & GIFTS
In
the Christmas season, we celebrate the great gift of Emmanuel, God with us. Let
us now bring our gifts in joyful response to God’s incarnate love.
*DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from
whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him
above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
O God, giver of
all good gifts, we offer gifts to you in return, including the gift of our very
lives. May they, and we, bear your peace, love and justice into our community
and our world. Amen.
JOYS AND
CONCERNS
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Loving God, in this season of
celebration, we remember all for whom hardship has robbed joy. We remember
especially the children in our church family, in our community and around the
globe. We lift before you children who are separated from their parents, who
are without a family or who grieve the death of a parent during this season in
which family is our deepest yearning. Help us to be ever attentive to the needs
and tender sufferings of children in our midst. Lord, in your mercy, hear
our prayer.
Help us to be your witnesses in word
and deed in our communities. Empower us to break down barriers that divide your
human family — to resist and disarm stereotypes that malign, to stand in
solidarity with outcasts and to hold our civic leaders accountable for our
common life and for support of the most vulnerable in our midst. Lord, in
your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of the nations, we pray for elected
officials of this country and countries around our globe. Help them resist
greed, prideful ambition and partisan gain in order that they may serve the
welfare of all. Inspire them to strive for peace and justice so that all your
children may dwell secure, free of war and injustice. Move them to hear the
cries of the poor and hungry, and to ensure a rightful share of the resources
needed to sustain life. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
And as we continue to grapple with
overwhelming pandemic challenges, we pray that you would grant special measures
of strength and endurance to weary healthcare workers who labor on the
frontlines of this struggle and to all who are now facilitating vaccinations.
We pray for your comfort for all who are sick and for all who have lost loved
ones. Grant us all wisdom and courage for the living of this hour. We pray all
these things in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray saying,
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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
from evil; for Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: “O Sing A Song
of Bethlehem”
1. O sing a song of Bethlehem, of
shepherds watching there, and of the news that came to them from angels in the
air. The light that shone on Bethlehem fills all the world today; of Jesus'
birth and peace on earth the angels sing alway.
2. O sing a song of Nazareth, of sunny
days of joy; O sing of fragrant flowers' breath, and of the sinless Boy. For
now the flowers of Nazareth in every heart may grow; now spreads the fame of
his dear name on all the winds that blow.
3. O sing a song of Galilee, of lake and
woods and hill, of him who walked upon the sea and bade the waves be still. For
though like waves on Galilee, dark seas of trouble roll, when faith has heard
the Master's work, falls peace upon the soul.
4. O sing a song of Calvary, its glory and
dismay, of him who hung upon the tree, and took our sins away. For he who died
on Calvary is risen from the grave, and Christ, our Lord, by heaven adored, is
mighty now to save.
*BENEDICTION
*THREE FOLD AMEN
Elements of Order of Worship drawn from The Presbyterian Outlook,
written by Roger Gench.
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