Sunday

December 22, 2024

Resources and content for this Sunday.

The Shepherds’ Advent Answer

Luke 2:8-20 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

Order of Worship

December 22, 2024

*Call to Worship | Luke 2:14 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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

14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

*Song of Adoration | It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

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

It came upon the midnight clear

That glorious song of old

From angels bending near the earth

To touch their harps of gold

Peace on the earth, good will to men

From heaven's all gracious King

The world in solemn stillness lay

To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come

With peaceful wings unfurled

And still their heavenly music floats

O'er all the weary world

Above its sad and lowly plains

Old echoes plaintive ring

And ever o'er its Babel sounds

The blessed angels sing.

O ye, beneath life's crushing load

Whose forms are bending low

Who toil a-long the climbing way

With painful steps and slow

Look now for glad and golden hours

Come swiftly on the wing

O rest beside the weary road

And hear the angels sing.

Music and Lyrics: Edmund Sears

*Confession of Faith | Westminster Confession of Faith Ch.8.2, Of Christ the Mediator

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

The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance and equal with the Father, did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon him man’s nature, with all the essential properties, and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin; being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance. So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion. Which person is very God, and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man.

*Song of Confession | What Child Is This

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

What child is this, who, laid to rest,

On Mary's lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,

While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing

Haste, haste to bring Him laud,

The babe, the son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,

Where ox and ass are feeding?

Good Christians, fear, for sinners here

The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spears shall pierce him through,

The cross he bore for me, for you.

Hail, hail the Word made flesh,

The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh,

Come, peasant, king, to own him.

The King of kings salvation brings,

Let loving hearts enthrone him.

Raise, raise a song on high,

The virgin sings her lullaby

Joy, joy for Christ is born,

The babe, the Son of Mary.

Music and Lyrics: William Chatterton Dix

Confession of Sin 

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.

Almighty Father, we acknowledge and confess before your holy majesty, that we are poor sinners; conceived and born in guilt and in corruption, prone to evil, who, because of our depravity, transgress without end your holy commandments. Therefore we have drawn upon ourselves, by your just sentence, condemnation and death. But, O Lord, with heartfelt sorrow we repent and deplore our offenses! We beseech that your grace may relieve our distress. Be pleased then to have compassion upon us, O most gracious God, Father of all mercies, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord. And, in removing our guilt and our pollution, grant us the daily increase of the grace of your Holy Spirit; that, acknowledging from our inmost hearts our own unrighteousness, we may be touched with sorrow that shall work true repentance; and that your Spirit, mortifying all sin within us, may produce the fruits of holiness and righteousness and joy well-pleasing in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon | Isaiah 12:2 | Rev. 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.

2 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

*Song of Response | Hark the Herald Angels Sing

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

Hark the herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn King

Peace on earth and mercy mild

God and sinners reconciled

Joyful all ye nations rise

Join the triumph of the skies

With angelic hosts proclaim

Christ is born in Bethlehem

Hark the herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn King

Christ by highest heav'n adored

Christ the everlasting Lord

Late in time behold Him come

Offspring of the Virgin's womb

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see

Hail th'incarnate Deity

Pleased as man with men to dwell

Jesus our Emmanuel

Hark the herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn King

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace

Hail the Sun of Righteousness

Light and life to all He brings

Ris'n with healing in His wings

Mild He lays His glory by

Born that man no more may die

Born to raise the sons of earth

Born to give them second birth

Hark the herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn King

Music and Lyrics: John Sullivan Dwight, Placide Cappeau, Kurtis Parks

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.

Song of Thanks | O Holy Night

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

O holy night the stars are brightly shining

It is the night of the dear Savior's birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

Fall on your knees

O hear the angel voices

O night divine

O night when Christ was born

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming

Here come the wise men from Orient land

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger

In all our trials born to be our friend


Fall on your knees

O hear the angel voices

O night divine

O night when Christ was born

Truly He taught us to love one another

His law is love and His gospel is peace

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother

And in His name all oppression shall cease

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we

Let all within us praise His holy name

Christ is the Lord

O praise His name forever

His power and glory

Evermore proclaim

Fall on your knees

O hear the angel voices

O night divine

O night when Christ was born

O night divine

O night O night divine

Music and Lyrics: John Sullivan Dwight, Placide Cappeau, and Kurtis Parks

Prayer for Christ’s Church

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

*Reading of Scripture | Luke 2:8-20 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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

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!”

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Pastor: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

The Preaching of the Word | Rev. Blake Arnoult

“The Shepherds’ Advent Answer”

Advent: The Answer of Advent

Pastoral Prayer

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.

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. 

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.

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Words of Institution

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.

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.

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.

Communion Song | Away In A Manger

We celebrate our communion in faith and song.

Away in a manger no crib for a bed

The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head

The stars in the sky looked down where He lay

The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing the Baby awakes

But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes

I love Thee Lord Jesus look down from the sky

And stay by my cradle 'til morning is nigh

Be near me Lord Jesus I ask Thee to stay

Close by me forever and love me I pray

Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care

And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there

Music and Lyrics: James Ramsey Murray, John Thomas McFarland, Martin Luther

Departing Song | Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

We begin to end in faith and song.

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!

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

Call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving,

Ever blessing, ever blest,

Well-spring of the joy of living,

Ocean-depth of happy rest!

Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,

All who live in love are Thine;

Teach us how to love each other,

Lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the mighty chorus,

Which the morning stars began;

Father love is reigning o’er us,

Brother love binds man to man.

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

*Benediction | Isaiah 60:1-3 | Rev. 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.

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.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Christmas at Cornerstone

Christmas Eve Service

Tuesday, December 24, 1:30pm

Join us on Tuesday, December 24, at 1:30pm for Christmas Eve fellowship followed by a 2pm candlelight service at A.D. Players!

Bible Studies

Women’s Evening Study: Thursday, January 9

Our women’s evening study on Prayer will meet on Thursday, January 9! Join us at the home of Susan Arnoult at 7pm.

Men’s Morning Study: Friday, January 10

Our men’s study on Prayer will meet on Friday, January 10 at 7am at Bean and Bottle! 9655 Katy Freeway Suite 100.

Wine Tasting Event

Friday, January 31, 7pm

Adults are invited to join us on January 31 at the home of Jeff and Susan Arnoult for our annual wine tasting event, led by Ethan McEwin! 

Important Communication Update!!

If you would like to receive volunteer and event reminders and updates through text, please text YES to 87447. This allows us to quickly get information and event addresses to you!

Connection Card

We'd love to say hi.

What we would like most is to connect with you. It can be intimidating to meet new people, so we want to make the process as easy as possible. Fill out the connection card and we will reach out!

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.