WELCOME AND CONCERNS OF THE CONGREGATION

PRELUDE        “Prepare the Royal Highway”    James Mansfield                                                                                                

LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE   

                                               Candace and Shannon Ward Family

*HYMN 83            Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

PRAYER OF CONFESSION                     

Almighty God, you have called us to a living hope in Jesus. Yet so often we do not reflect that hope in our lives. We turn away from the promises of your Word. We walk in our own selfish ways instead of following in Jesus’ footsteps. We do not love others as we should, and we are not always willing to share our hope with the people around us. Have mercy on us and forgive us…

Silent Prayers of confession

WORDS OF ASSURANCE – from Romans 5:1-2; Romans 15:13 

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 

Amen. 

*GLORIA

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

SCRIPTURE LESSONS: Isaiah 51:1-5; Romans 5:1-5; Luke 1:67-79

SERMON       “The Light of Hope”        Rev. Barrett Ingram 

*HYMN 109              Blest Be the God of Israel

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH        The Apostles’ Creed           Page 35

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, 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 sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic* Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.  

PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER 

OFFERTORY ANTHEM      “Creator of the Stars of Night”

                                                                                 Andrew Bruhn

RECEIVING OF GOD’S TITHES AND OFFERINGS

*DOXOLOGY       

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

*HYMN 93            Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates 

*BENEDICTION  

*POSTLUDE    “Wake, Awake for Night is Flying”

                                                                             David Cherwien