THE LORD'S DAY

December 8, 2002 - 10:30 A.M.

Worship Theme: Preparing for Christ's Coming

PRELUDE

ACTIVITIES & CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE

PREPARING IN STILLNESS

INTROIT

CALL TO WORSHIP

PASTOR: "See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple;

PEOPLE:The messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.

PASTOR: But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears?

ALL:For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.

PASTOR: The Lord be with you!

PEOPLE: And also with you!

PRAISING THE LORD

CALL TO CONFESSION

LEADER: In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

PEOPLE: People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.

ALL: Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

CONFESSING OUR SINS PRIVATELY

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

LEADER: Hear the promises of God to those who truly repent of their sins and trust in Christ: A voice of one calling in the desert, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.” Now, lift up your hearts!

Choral Response

I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior, did come for to die
For poor, ornery people like you and like I,
I wonder as I wander out under the sky

When Mary birthed Jesus ’twas in a cows’ stall
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God’s heaven a star’s light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing:
A star in the sky or a bird on the wing;
Or all of God’s angels in heav’n for to sing,
He surely could have had it, ’cause he was the King!

THANKING GOD FOR HIS PRESENCE

LEADER: We give thanks to you, Lord, for you are good.
ALL: Your love endures forever. Amen.

CONFESSION OF FAITH

LEADER: People of God, what do we believe?

We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

We believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried;
he remained under the power of death.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy apostolic church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the re surrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

PRAYING TOGETHER FOR GOD'S PEOPLE

Choral Anthem

And the glory, the glory of the Lord
Shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together
For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

WORSHIPPING BY GIVING

- LIFEChange Offering (Please bring your LIFEChange to the front after the offering plate has passed your row.)
- Prayer (Pastor Dave will be available in the front to pray with those who have a December birthday.)
- Offertory Sue Senzig

PRAISING OUR GOD

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him, all creatures here below, Alleluia, Alleluia
Praise him above, ye heav’nly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

DEDICATING OUR LIVES & GIFTS

ALL: O God, most merciful and gracious, of whose bounty we have all received: Accept this offering of your people. Remember in your love those who have brought it, and those for whom it is given, and so follow it with your blessing that it may advance the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

HEARING SCRIPTURE - Malachi 4:1-6

READER: This is the Word of the Lord.
CONGREGATION: Thanks be to God!

GREETING ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE

• Children ages 4-5 dismissed to Children's Church in Rooms M1 & M3.

PREPARING TO HEAR GOD'S WORD

I will offer up my life in spirit and truth, Pouring out the oil of love as my worship to you. In surrender I must give my ev'ry part, Lord, receive the sacrifice of a broken heart.

Jesus, what can I give, what can I bring To so faithful a friend, to so loving a King? Savior, what can be said, what can be sung As a praise of your name for the things you have done Oh, my words could not tell, not even in part Of the debt of love that is owed by this thankful heart.

You deserve my ev'ry breath, for you've paid the great cost, Giving up your life to death, even death on a cross. You took all my shame away, there defeated my sin, Opened up the gates of heav'n and have beckoned me in.

Repeat Chorus

Matt Redman ã 1994 Kingsway's Thankyou Music. Used by Permission. CCLI #89178

You will be our God and we will be Your people.
You will be our God and we will be Your people.

By Your plan and mighty hand, we have been formed. We will be Your people.
We rebelled, but by Your blood, we’ve been restored. We will be Your people.

Chorus

We’ll live lives of purity to honor Your name. We will be Your people.
We will love and show the world we’re un ashamed. We will be Your people.

Repeat Chorus

© Copyright 1999 BMG Songs (Gospel Division)/Above the Rim Music. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. CCLI# 89167

APPLYING GOD'S WORD

“Prophet of Tender Mercy”— - Luke 1:57–80

RESPONDING IN SONG

Rejoice, All Ye Believers

BENEDICTION

PASTOR: “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

PEOPLE: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

PASTOR: The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.

POSTLUDE