The Fourth Sunday of Advent & Christmas Sunday
Call to Worship
Throughout this Advent season, we have gathered together
lighting candles to remind us of Jesus, the Light of the World,
and the gift of Christ’s light shining in and through our lives.
Even the darkness is not dark to God;
the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to God.
Emmanuel — God with us and God coming to us —
shines bright, bringing light and life to all the world.
Lighting of the Advent Candles
Week Four: The Candle of Love
Reading 1:
We light the candle of Hope
as we await the coming of Jesus,
who is our source of hope.
— Light one purple candle (the candle of Hope) —
Together:
Thank You, Lord, for the gift of hope
to a weary world.
Reading 2:
We light the candle of Peace,
knowing that Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
— Light one purple candle (the candle of Peace) —
Together:
Thank You, Lord, for the gift of peace
to all who are broken and lost.
Reading 3:
We light the candle of Joy,
knowing that the joy of the Lord is our strength.
— Light one pink candle (the candle of Joy) —
Together:
Thank You, Lord, for the gift of joy
in our times of sorrow.
Reading 4:
We light the candle of Love,
knowing that God is Love,
revealed to us in Jesus Christ.
— Light the final purple candle (the candle of Love) —
Together:
Thank You, Lord, for the gift of love
revealed to us in Jesus.
Reading 5:
In the beginning was the Word
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
The Word became flesh and lived among us,
full of grace and truth.
Reading 6:
In Him was life, and that life was the light of all.
We light the Christ Candle,
knowing that Jesus is our hope, our peace,
our joy, and the source of love.
— Light the gold Christ candle —
Together:
The Word became flesh and lived among us,
full of grace and truth.
Worship Song
O Come All Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant
O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem
O come and behold Him, born the King of Angels
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation
O sing, all ye bright hosts of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning
Jesus, to Thee be all glo — ry giv’n
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!
Advent Prayer
Holy One,
be the light in our darkness this day.
As we have lit the candles of hope, peace, joy, and love
we pray for those people and places who need
Your hope, peace, joy, and love…
— Invite people forward to light candles —
Holy One,
be the light in our darkness this day,
that we might reflect Your light
into every corner of our world.
Amen.
Assurance of God’s Love
Worship Song
O Holy Night
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!
O night divine
O night, O night divine
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 pow’r and glory
Evermore proclaim!
His pow’r and glory
Evermore proclaim!
Communion
Worship Song
The First Noel
The first Noel the angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds
In fields as they lay
In fields, where they
Lay keeping their sheep
On a cold’s winter night
That was so deep
Noel… Noel… Noel… Noel…
Born is the King of Israel
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east
Beyond them far
And to the earth
It gave a great light
And so it continued
Both day and night
Announcements
- Thanks for worshiping with us today! We hope you experience meaningful connection with God and others in our community. If you’re visiting for the first time today, we’d love to get to know you better. Please take home a visitor’s card with QR code so that we can stay in touch & build a relationship!
- Advent Offerings: This year’s advent offering will be given to two groups: Justice Ventures International and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and the children will be doing their annual collection for a World Vision Gift (1 goat and 2 chickens!)
- Sunday School Volunteers: We need volunteers to teach in the new year. Please talk to Tae today to sign up!
- Thank you! Thanks to the Vista Kim family for hosting our Christmas party and for everyone who contributed to the potluck!
- Upcoming Schedule:
- Youth Group outing today: Pastor David will take our students to an escape room after service today
- Worship Guides: Be on the lookout for a couple of worship guides, one for Christmas Eve/Christmas Day and one for Reset Sunday
- Reset Sunday: Next Sunday, 12/29/24, we will not gather in community but, instead, encourage you to connect with God and others out in the world
- Sunday, 1/5/25: Anchor & Hope’s anniversary where we’ll have a party in the park after worship! We’ll provide lunch — please consider donating $10.00 per person for the food
Offering Prayer
Passing of the Peace
Let’s greet each other at this time!
Family Praise
Light of the World
Scripture Reading
John 1:14 (CEV & the Message)
The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.
John 14:2
There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I wouldn’t tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.
Reflection
Pastor Jeya
Conversation:
- If we were to all get a big house together, what would the house look like? What kind of rooms should there be?
- If we were making a room for Jesus, what would you put in his room?
- What would be good about living together?
- What would be hard about living together?
- What’s a way that you feel you might love people in your sphere well this Christmas and this coming year?
Worship Song
Go Tell It on the Mountain / O Come Let Us Adore Him
Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
While shepherds kept their watching
O’er silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a Holy Light
The shepherds feared and trembled
When Lo! above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior’s birth
Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born
And God sent us our Salvation
That blessed Christmas morn!
O sing alleluia
Come let us adore Him
O sing alleluia
Come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
Benediction
Gingerbread Neighborhood Build
Together
Anchor & Hope Church 