WELCOME AND CONCERNS OF THE CONGREGATION

PRELUDE        “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”         Lani Smith                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

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.

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you,

the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. —Isaiah 58:8

**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 113              Angels We Have Heard on High 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION                    

God of our salvation, straighten the winding ways of our hearts and smooth the paths made rough by sin. Turn our hearts to holy things, and bring to perfection the good you have begun in us. We ask this through him whose coming is certain, whose day draws near; your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ…

Silent Prayers of Confession

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS 

Through God’s love, we are restored and saved, for God entered our world in Jesus Christ, “not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” “Those who believe in him are not condemned.” (John 3,17, 18)

Thanks be to God!

*GLORIA

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

SCRIPTURE LESSON: Luke 2:1-7

SERMON      “A Message from the Innkeeper” 

*HYMN 115              Away in a Manger

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH        The Apostles’ Creed     Page 35

PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER 

OFFERTORY ANTHEM      “Angels from the Realms of Glory”

                                                                                    Rene Clausen

RECEIVING OF GOD’S TITHES AND OFFERINGS

*DOXOLOGY       

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

*HYMN 146              Gentle Mary Laid Her Child 

*BENEDICTION  

*POSTLUDE          “Carols of Joy and Wonder”         Steven Scott

*Those who are able are invited to stand