WELCOME AND CONCERNS OF THE CONGREGATION

PRELUDE “Savior of the Nations Come” Douglas Wagner

LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLES

*HYMN 88 (vss. 1,4,6 & 7) O Come, O Come Emmanuel

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Merciful God, you pardon all who truly repent and turn to you. We humbly confess our sins and ask your mercy. We have not loved you with a pure heart, nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves. In your great compassion, cleanse us from our sin. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Do not cast us from your presence, or take your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of your salvation and sustain us with your bountiful Spirit…

Silent Prayers of confession

WORDS OF ASSURANCE – from Romans 13: 11b,12,14a

Salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers: the night is far gone, the day is near. That day of salvation is experienced as we lay aside the works of darkness and put on the protection of the Light of the world - Jesus Christ - in whom and through whom we are forgiven.

Thanks be to God!

*GLORIA

ANTHEM “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”

“Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” Benjamin Harlan

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

SCRIPTURE LESSON: 1 Kings 8:22-27, John 1:1–5; 10–14

SERMON “Light for Our Darkness” Rev. Barrett Ingram

*HYMN 144 In the Bleak Midwinter

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Apostles’ Creed

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.

*“catholic” (little c) is translated as “universal” and is not a reference to the Roman Catholic Church.

PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

OFFERTORY

RECEIVING OF GOD’S TITHES AND OFFERINGS

*DOXOLOGY

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

*HYMN 105 People, Look East

BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” Henry Balcombe

*Those who are able are invited to stand.