December 18, 2022

*Call to Worship | Isaiah 60:1-3 | Blake Arnoult

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

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1 Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,

and thick darkness the peoples;

but the LORD will arise upon you,

and his glory will be seen upon you.

3 And nations shall come to your light,

and kings to the brightness of your rising.

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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 | Luke 2:8-14

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

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8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a 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 among those with whom he is pleased!”

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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 | Psalm 88:14-18

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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14 O LORD, why do you cast my soul away?

Why do you hide your face from me?

15 Afflicted and close to death from my youth up,

I suffer your terrors; I am helpless.

16 Your wrath has swept over me;

your dreadful assaults destroy me.

17 They surround me like a flood all day long;

they close in on me together.

18 You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me;

my companions have become darkness.

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Assurance of Pardon | Psalm 88:1 | 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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1 O LORD, God of my salvation,

I cry out day and night before you.

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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 | Oh 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 | Isaiah 9:2-7 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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

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2 The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,

on them has light shone.

3 You have multiplied the nation;

you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

as with joy at the harvest,

as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

4 For the yoke of his burden,

and the staff for his shoulder,

the rod of his oppressor,

you have broken as on the day of Midian.

5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult

and every garment rolled in blood

will be burned as fuel for the fire.

6 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and of peace

there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

to establish it and to uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

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Pastor: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

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The Preaching of the Word | Blake Arnoult

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“The Power of Light”

Isaiah 9: The Advent of a Great Light

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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 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 | 2 Corinthians 4:6 | 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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6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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2022 Giving Update

Visit our website to give online or scan the code below!

2022 Giving Target: $705,000

Giving Received as of 12/15/22: $580,473

Difference as of 12/15/22: $(124,527)

Please prayerfully consider giving to Cornerstone by December 31st to help us reach our 2022 giving target! All gifts must be dated and sent by 12/31/22 to count towards our 2022 giving target.

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Christmas Eve Service

December 24, 3-4:30pm

Cornerstone is gathering for our annual Christmas Eve fellowship at 3pm followed by a worship service at 3:30pm. Invite your friends and family to join us!

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Christmas Day Service

December 25, 10am

This year, Christmas is on a Sunday… and we have the awesome opportunity to worship Jesus with our church family on Christmas day!! What could be better?? Bring your friends and family and join us on Sunday, December 25 as we celebrate the birth of our savior! 

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New Year’s Day Service

January 1, 10am

Kick off the new year and gather with us for Cornerstone’s first worship service of 2023! Yes, we are gathering on New Year’s Day at 10am!  Don’t worry, we’ll have coffee!

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Spring Calendar is Up!

Check out our events page to subscribe to our spring calendar!

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