December 3, 2023

*Call to Worship | John 14:6,7, 9 | Blake Arnoult

God invites and calls us into his presence to worship him.

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6 Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him…

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9 Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”

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*Song of Adoration | O Come All Ye Faithful

We begin by responding with praise to God for who he is and for what he does. 

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O Come All Ye Faithful

Joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.

Come and behold Him,

Born the King of Angels;

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O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

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Sing, choirs of angels,

Sing in exultation,

Sing all ye citizens of Heaven above

Glory to God, glory in the highest;

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Chorus

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Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,

Born this happy morning,

Jesus, to Thee be all glory given.

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;

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Chorus

Music and Lyrics: John Francis Wade

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*Confession of Faith | Nicene Creed

With the church in history we confess a basic statement of what Christians believe.

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We believe in one God,

      the Father almighty,

      maker of heaven and earth,

      of all things visible and invisible.

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And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

      the only Son of God,

      begotten from the Father before all ages,

           God from God,

           Light from Light,

           true God from true God,

      begotten, not made;

      of the same essence as the Father.

      Through him all things were made.

      For us and for our salvation

           he came down from heaven;

           he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,

           and was made human.

           He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;

           he suffered and was buried.

           The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.

           He ascended to heaven

           and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

           He will come again with glory

           to judge the living and the dead.

           His kingdom will never end.

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And we believe in the Holy Spirit,

      the Lord, the giver of life.

      He proceeds from the Father and the Son,

      and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.

      He spoke through the prophets.

      We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.

      We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

      We look forward to the resurrection of the dead,

      and to life in the world to come. Amen.

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*Song of Confession | Joy to the World

Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs are simply prayers that are sung. We respond in repentance and praise for God’s redemptive work in Christ.

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Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King!

Let ev’ry heart prepare him room;

and heav’n and nature sing,

and heav’n and nature sing,

and heav’n, and heav’n, and nature sing.

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Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!

Let men their songs employ!

While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains,

repeat the sounding joy,

repeat the sounding joy,

repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

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No more let sins and sorrows grow;

nor thorns infest the ground!

He comes to make His blessings flow,

far as the curse is found,

far as the curse is found,

far as, far as the curse is found.

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He rules the world with truth and grace

and makes the nations prove,

the glories of His righteousness

and wonders of His love,

and wonders of His love,

and wonders, wonders of His love.

Music and Lyrics: G. F. Handel, Isaac Watts

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Confession of Sin | 1 John 1:5-6, 8, 10

We fight the temptation to hide our sin and instead acknowledge it openly to God, but we do so in light of the grace offered in Jesus.

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5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth...8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us…10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

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Assurance of Pardon | 1 John 1:7, 9 | Blake Arnoult

The good news of the gospel is that we are forgiven in Jesus Christ. This assurance is based on God’s words of promise and it is therefore certain.

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7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin…9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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*Song of Response | Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee

We respond in repentance and praise for God’s redemptive work in Christ.

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Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,

God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee,

Op’ning to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;

Drive the dark of doubt away;

Giver of immortal gladness,

Fill us with the light of day!

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All Thy works with joy surround Thee,

Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays,

Stars and angels sing around Thee,

Center of unbroken praise;

Field and forest, vale and mountain,

Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,

Chanting bird and flowing fountain

Praising Thee eternally!

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Always giving and forgiving,

Ever blessing, ever blest,

Well-spring of the joy of living,

Ocean-depth of happy rest!

Loving Father, Christ our Brother,

Let Thy light upon us shine;

Teach us how to love each other,

Lift us to the joy divine.

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Mortals, join the mighty chorus,

Which the morning stars began;

God’s own love is reigning o’er us,

Joining people hand in hand.

Ever singing, march we onward,

Victors in the midst of strife;

Joyful music leads us sunward

In the triumph song of life.

Music and Lyrics: Henry Van Dyke

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Prayer of Thanksgiving 

We offer our gratitude to God in prayer in response to his gifts and blessings to his people and ask that he make us faithful managers of these gifts.

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Song of Thanks | O Little Town of Bethlehem

As we offer our prayers so we also offer up our thanks in song.

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O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by;

Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light.

The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

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For Christ is born of Mary, and, gathered all above

While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.

O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth,

And praises sing to God the King and peace to all the earth.

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How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given!

So, God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven.

No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive him, the dear Christ enters in.

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O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray.

Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel!

Music and Lyrics: Phillip Brooks

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Prayer for Christ’s Church

We lift up our requests to God knowing that he hears us when we pray.

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*Reading of Scripture | John 1:1-5, 9-14, 18 | Blake Arnoult

God reveals himself and his work and speaks to us his people through his Word.

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1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…

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9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

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14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth… 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

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Pastor: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

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The Preaching of the Word | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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“Begotten of the Father”

Advent: What Child Is This?

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Pastoral Prayer

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Sacrament of Communion

Sacraments are visible signs of the invisible grace of God - what Christ does by his Holy Spirit within us. Communion (also called the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist), as the distribution of the elements of bread and wine, symbolizes a meal. Communion is a sign of fellowship. That sign signifies more than just the future heavenly fellowship that is to come. The outward sign signifies the inner reality that sinners already experience fellowship with God in the Spirit because of Jesus. Communion is not a meal for good people. It functions as a renewing seal to desperate sinners of that fellowship we have with our holy and gracious God.

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You will be invited to come forward. If you are not a Christian we encourage you to spend this time in reflection on what you’ve seen and heard in the worship. Children who have not received their first communion are welcome and encouraged to come forward with their families to witness their partaking. We invite children who are ready to make a public profession of faith in Christ to arrange a meeting with the elders, and thus become “communicants” at the Lord’s Table. 

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Pastor: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Pastor: Lift up your hearts!

People: We lift them up to the Lord.

Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

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Prayer of Thanksgiving and Words of Institution

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Pastor: Let us proclaim the mystery of the faith: 

People: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Hallelujah! 

Pastor: Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed for us. Hallelujah! 

People: Therefore, let us keep the feast. 

Pastor: The gifts of God for the people of God.

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Please let an usher know if it is difficult for you to come forward. We would be happy to serve you at your seat. All communion bread is gluten-free. All communion wine is made from  grape juice.

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A communion prayer for those searching for the truth:

Lord Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth and the life. If what you claim is true, please guide me, teach me, and open to me the reality of who you are. Give me the ability to follow you no matter what it might cost me. Give me an understanding for you that is coherent, convincing, and leads to the life that you promise. Amen.

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Communion Song | Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

We celebrate our communion in faith and song.

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Come Thou long expected Jesus,

Born to set Thy people free.

From our fears and sins release us,

Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel's strength and consolation,

Hope of all the earth Thou art;

Dear desire of every nation,

Joy of every longing heart.

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Joy to those who long to see thee,

Day-spring from on high appear,

Come thou promised Rod of Jesse,

Of Thy birth we long to hear.

O'er the hills the angels singing

News, glad tidings of a birth!

Go to him your praises bringing,

Christ the Lord has come to earth!

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Come to earth to taste our sadness,

He whose glories knew no end.

By his life he brings us gladness,

Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.

Leaving riches without number,

Born within a cattle stall;

This the everlasting wonder,

Christ was born the Lord of all!

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Born Thy people to deliver,

Born a child and yet a King.

Born to reign in us forever,

Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal spirit,

Rule in all our hearts alone.

By Thine all sufficient merit,

Raise us to Thy glorious throne!

Music and Lyrics: Charles Wesley, Mark E. Hunt

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Departing Song | Go Tell It On The Mountain

We begin to end in faith and song.

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Go, tell it on the mountain

Over the hills and everywhere

Go, tell it on the mountain

That Jesus Christ is born

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While shepherds kept their watching

O'er silent flocks by night

Behold throughout the heavens

There shone a Holy light

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Chorus

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The shepherds feared and trembled

When, lo! Above the Earth

Rang out the angel chorus

That hailed our Savior's birth

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Chorus

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Down in a lowly manger

Our humble Christ was born

And brought us all salvation

That blessed Christmas morn

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Chorus

Music and Lyrics: John W. Work Jr.

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*Benediction | John 3:16 | Blake Arnoult

God sends us out with his blessing. A benediction is not a prayer. We don’t bow our heads. We lift them up and even lift up our hands to receive his blessing as we are sent out as participants in his mission to the city of man.

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16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Spring Supper Clubs

Sign up for 2024 spring supper clubs on our website now! 

Supper clubs are a great small group avenue to enjoy fellowship with others in the church by getting together once a month in the spring. Sign up to join on our website or weekly email!

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Adult Christmas Party - This Evening!

Sunday, December 3 at 6pm! 

Save the date for our adult Christmas party taking place on December 3 at the Plank home! Valet parking will be available!

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Children’s and Youth Christmas Party - Next Sunday!

Sunday, December 10 at 11:30am!

Save the date for our children’s and youth Christmas Party taking place on December 10 at the Donovan home!

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Christmas Eve Breakfast

Sunday, December 24 at 9am!

Join us for breakfast before the worship service on Christmas Eve! 

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Bible Studies

Men’s Morning Study: Monthly on the first Friday of each month, 7am at Bean and Bottle. 9655 Katy Freeway Suite 100. 

Women’s Evening Study: Monthly on the first Thursday of each month at 7pm at the home of Susan and Jeff Arnoult.