WELCOME AND CONCERNS OF THE CONGREGATION

PRELUDE              “On Jordan’s Banks”              Michael Burkhardt                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLES

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; the one who follows me will not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”

We light these candles as a sign of the coming light of Christ.

The LORD says to his servant, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” —from Isaiah 49:6

    **Please join in singing the refrain from Hymn 314…

    Christ, be our light, shine in our hearts
    shine through the darkness.
    Christ, be our light, shine in Your church gathered today.

Come, Lord Jesus, our light and our salvation.

Let us walk in the light of the Lord.

*HYMN 105              People, Look East 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION                    

O Lord God, the day is growing closer. Still there is work to do. We are not the people you would have us be. We have not always spoken the truth. We have not always treated others with compassion and kindness. We have not always cared enough. Forgive us, in the name of Jesus, the One who is coming…

Silent Prayers of Confession

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS 

This is the promise: “A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from [you] the heart of stone, and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26)

In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!

Thanks be to God!

*GLORIA

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

SCRIPTURE LESSONS: Matthew 1:18-25, 2:13-15, 19-23

SERMON      “A Message from Joseph” 

*HYMN 108              Of the Father’s Love Begotten 

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH        The Apostles’ Creed     Page 35

PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER 

OFFERTORY ANTHEM   

  “Holy Emmanuel, God with Us Ever”          Paul D. Weber 

RECEIVING OF GOD’S TITHES AND OFFERINGS

*DOXOLOGY       

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

*HYMN 134              Joy to the World! 

*BENEDICTION    “Fanfare on ‘Puer Nobis’”      David Cherwien 

*POSTLUDE            

*Those who are able are invited to stand.