CALL TO WORSHIP
- OPENING CHORUSES
- OPENING PRAYER
WELCOME … and THANKS for joining us.
- We trust, as always, that your time with us will be well spent.
- Today is Christmas – the 1st day of Christmas … and our focus is on THE BIRTH OF THE CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR AND LORD.
- The theme for this week is finding ourselves in the hope of the nativity.
FIRST READING (Our Call to Worship) … a part of a Psalm that praises God’s righteousness, evident in the created world and our participation in it.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; 12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice 13 before the Lord. For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.
OPENING SONGS
1. HERE I AM TO WORSHIP … Michael W Smith … (p.63#2)
2. O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL ….
3. SILENT NIGHT …
4. ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID’S CITY …
SECOND READING
Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
5. O, HOLY NIGHT …
SERMONETTE … SPEAKING OF LIFE video
- Title: The Might and Light of a Saving Love
- Presenter: Greg Williams, President of GCI
THIRD READING
Isaiah 9:2-7 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. 3 You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy; They rejoice before You according to the joy of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. 5 For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle, and garments rolled in blood, will be used for burning and fuel of fire. 6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
SPECIAL SONG (to prepare our hearts for our sermon)
WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS BY NIGHT …
PRAYER FOR SERMON
(**Start recording to ZOOM**)
SERMON
Evangelistic Shepherds and You
Keynote Passage: Luke 2:8-20
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And [c]behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a [d]manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill[e] toward men!”
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
WHEN A CHILD IS BORN … Andrea Bocelli …