December 13, 2020 Worship Services The Birth of Our Savior – The Hope of Christ presented in a new way, one way of the 2020 pandemic By Melody Oltmann
December 13, 2020
The mission of the First Presbyterian Church of Le Claire is to continue to be a warm and welcoming church that actively shows the love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Moment of Silence to Prepare Our Hearts for Worship
Worship - We lift our praise to you, O Lord.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel CCLI 11259100
1 O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
Call to Worship
M: The Lord had sone great things for us!
K: And we are filled with joy!
M: Our God has turned our weeping into singing,
K: our tears into songs of joy!
M: O Christ of God, come anew in our hearts this day,
K: and remain in us forever.
Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus CCLI 11259100
1 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.
2 Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
3 Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
4 By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Lighting the Advent wreath
L: This year, we are looking at Advent as a journey; not exactly a trip to a different place.
P: Rather, we are on a spiritual journey;
L: to be refreshed, restored and ready, for Christmas, for Emmanuel’s birth,
P: for Jesus, and for all that His birth, life, death and resurrection means.
L: The Advent wreath is a circle with no beginning and no end. It is a symbol of God’s unending love and faithfulness.
P: Its light reminds us of Jesus, the light of the world. In him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
L: Once we were in darkness, but, now in the Lord, we are light. Live as children of light.
P: If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
L: We are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness.
P: O Jesus, light of the world and Prince of Peace, we worship you!
Angels from the Realms of Glory CCLI 11259100
1 Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation's story
Now proclaim Messiah's birth.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!
4 All creation, join in praising
God, the Father, Spirit, Son,
Evermore your voices raising
To the eternal Three in One.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!
Confession & Pardon
Pastor’s bulletin only: Yes, like the Israelites, we are in exile – that is - we are separated from God, by our wrongs, by things we have done and by things we could have done. Let us confess and know God’s grace.
P: God of love and kindness, you have promised to renew our lives. We admit often we are unwilling to see that you have always been here. Hear us now as we confess our personal sins silently (time for silent prayer). . . Have mercy on us. Open our eyes and our hearts that we may be witnesses to your faithfulness. Help us to see you, wherever you are present in the world and whenever you are present in others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Confession Response: (4th verse of O Little Town of Bethlehem)
O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel
ASSURANCE OF PARDON:
L: In God’s love and mercy, we are given each new day to love and serve. In the name of Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!
Glory to the Father
Glory be to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
The Prayers of the People
May Jesus Christ be praised! May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice. For he defends the cause of the poor of the people and gives deliverance to the needy.
May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service. For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence, he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight. May his name endure forever, May Jesus Christ be praised!
The Lord’s Prayer
Scripture The Gospel, according to Luke 2:1-16;
About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.
While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.
There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”
At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.
Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory— this was during Herod’s kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.”
Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time!
They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.
The Birth of Our Savior – The Hope of Christ
presented in a new way, one way of the 2020 pandemic
youtu.be/Bi6MHeIYeNg
A Word from the Pastor
Joy To The World CCLI 11259100
1 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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 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.
Benediction
In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, let us strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth, praying: Come, Lord Jesus!
May the light of the Advent wreath and the Good News of the Gospel go with you today and everyday, as you are out and about in the world. Now may the Love of God, the Peace of Christ and the Power of the Holy Spirit be yours forevermore. Amen.
Musician: Stacey Worship Leader: Kirk AV: Wendi & Duane
Cast:
The mission of the First Presbyterian Church of Le Claire is to continue to be a warm and welcoming church that actively shows the love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Moment of Silence to Prepare Our Hearts for Worship
Worship - We lift our praise to you, O Lord.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel CCLI 11259100
1 O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
Call to Worship
M: The Lord had sone great things for us!
K: And we are filled with joy!
M: Our God has turned our weeping into singing,
K: our tears into songs of joy!
M: O Christ of God, come anew in our hearts this day,
K: and remain in us forever.
Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus CCLI 11259100
1 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.
2 Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
3 Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
4 By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Lighting the Advent wreath
L: This year, we are looking at Advent as a journey; not exactly a trip to a different place.
P: Rather, we are on a spiritual journey;
L: to be refreshed, restored and ready, for Christmas, for Emmanuel’s birth,
P: for Jesus, and for all that His birth, life, death and resurrection means.
L: The Advent wreath is a circle with no beginning and no end. It is a symbol of God’s unending love and faithfulness.
P: Its light reminds us of Jesus, the light of the world. In him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
L: Once we were in darkness, but, now in the Lord, we are light. Live as children of light.
P: If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
L: We are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness.
P: O Jesus, light of the world and Prince of Peace, we worship you!
Angels from the Realms of Glory CCLI 11259100
1 Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation's story
Now proclaim Messiah's birth.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!
4 All creation, join in praising
God, the Father, Spirit, Son,
Evermore your voices raising
To the eternal Three in One.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!
Confession & Pardon
Pastor’s bulletin only: Yes, like the Israelites, we are in exile – that is - we are separated from God, by our wrongs, by things we have done and by things we could have done. Let us confess and know God’s grace.
P: God of love and kindness, you have promised to renew our lives. We admit often we are unwilling to see that you have always been here. Hear us now as we confess our personal sins silently (time for silent prayer). . . Have mercy on us. Open our eyes and our hearts that we may be witnesses to your faithfulness. Help us to see you, wherever you are present in the world and whenever you are present in others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Confession Response: (4th verse of O Little Town of Bethlehem)
O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel
ASSURANCE OF PARDON:
L: In God’s love and mercy, we are given each new day to love and serve. In the name of Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!
Glory to the Father
Glory be to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
The Prayers of the People
May Jesus Christ be praised! May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice. For he defends the cause of the poor of the people and gives deliverance to the needy.
May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service. For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence, he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight. May his name endure forever, May Jesus Christ be praised!
The Lord’s Prayer
Scripture The Gospel, according to Luke 2:1-16;
About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.
While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.
There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”
At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.
Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory— this was during Herod’s kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.”
Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time!
They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.
The Birth of Our Savior – The Hope of Christ
presented in a new way, one way of the 2020 pandemic
youtu.be/Bi6MHeIYeNg
A Word from the Pastor
Joy To The World CCLI 11259100
1 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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 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.
Benediction
In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, let us strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth, praying: Come, Lord Jesus!
May the light of the Advent wreath and the Good News of the Gospel go with you today and everyday, as you are out and about in the world. Now may the Love of God, the Peace of Christ and the Power of the Holy Spirit be yours forevermore. Amen.
Musician: Stacey Worship Leader: Kirk AV: Wendi & Duane
Cast:
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