WELCOME AND CONCERNS OF THE CONGREGATION

PRELUDE    Chant on “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”   John Behnke                                                                                                      

LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLES – The Caballero Family 

*HYMN 106          Prepare the Way, O Zion

PRAYER OF CONFESSION                     

Almighty God, even though you grant us your peace, we often destroy that peace by causing strife. We quarrel with others and condemn them. We pursue our own selfish interests instead of showing love to others. We turn away from the guidance of your holy Word. Have mercy on us, forgive our sins and grant us your peace…

Silent Prayers of confession

CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE (sung in unison, Hymn 121, vs. 4)

O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.

WORDS OF ASSURANCE 

God sent his Son, the Prince of Peace, to be our Savior. Jesus shed his precious, innocent blood, suffering the penalty of death that we deserved for our sins. All who repent of their sins and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, rejoice and be glad and give glory to the Lord who has taken away all of our sins in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, Prince of Peace, rule in our hearts with the peace that you alone can bring.

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE (sung in unison, Hymn 134, vs. 3)

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 the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found.

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

SCRIPTURE LESSONS:  Colossians 1:13-20; John 14:25-27; Isaiah 9:1-7

SERMON     “Yearning for Peace”         Rev. Barrett Ingram 

*HYMN 129          Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming 

*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    “Come My Savior”     Stan Pethel 

RECEIVING OF GOD’S TITHES AND OFFERINGS

*DOXOLOGY       

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

*HYMN 87            Comfort, Comfort Now My People 

*BENEDICTION  

*POSTLUDE Toccata on “Veni, Emmanuel”   John Behnke