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Welcome-Announcements Jane Henwood
TIME OF SILENCE
“Are you the one who is to come,
or are we to wait for another?” – St. Matthew 11.3
OPENING PRAYER
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
HYMN 249 – “O Come, All Ye Faithful” (vv.1,2) Adeste fideles
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES
The people es shall beat their swords into plowshares,
And their spears into pruning hooks;
nations shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly,
and rejoice with joy and singing.
The Lord will give you a sign
Look, the young woman is with child
and shall bear a son,
and shall name him Immanuel –
meaning “God is with us.”
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON – Romans 1.1-7
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from[c] faith for his name’s sake. 6 And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
HYMN 240 Divinum mysterium
“Of the Father’s Love Begotten”
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON – St. Matthew 1.18-25
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[a]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[b] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[c] because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[d] (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
SERMON “THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS”Pastor Tung
Hymn 281 – “What Child Is This?” Greensleeves
OFFERTORY Honor the Lord with your stewardship offerings to sustain our worship and work in our community and world. By mail: Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church, 500 Midvale Road, Upper Darby, PA 19082 Online: You may now also choose to contribute through an online giving form.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
OFFERTORY Gesù Bambino Pietro Yon (tr.F H. Marten)s)
PRAYING GOD’S KINGDOM IN OUR COMMUNITY / OUR Lord’s Prayer (Hymnal, inside front cover)
Hymn 288 – “We Three Kings of Orient Are” Kings of Orient
Blessing and Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God!
Announcements
PARTNERS FOR SACRED PLACES this week begins work with our congregation with a site visit — a comprehensive walkthrough and inventory of our facilities and property. This is the first step toward a strategic space-sharing plan that is “value-aligned, mutually-beneficial, and requires minimal capital improvement.”.
CHRISTMAS EVE – DECEMBER 24 6 pm.
– A PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP –
Bless us, O God, with a reverent sense of Your presence, that we may be at peace and may worship You with all our mind and spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
You are welcome to contact Pastor Tung directly for pastoral needs. Tel. 610.246.8240 • Email – arttung@gmail.com
