Advent 2020 | A Great Light: Christ is Born (December 20, 2020)
Please participate in the following liturgy, reading aloud all the parts in bold italics.
Welcome & Invitation
Call to Worship
We find the mighty God in the most unlikely places.
An empty tomb, an infant in a stable.
Today, may we find him afresh, slipping through each crack of the unlikely corners of our lives.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins.
His mercy endures forever.
The Story Begins
Song: Gather ’round, Ye Children Come
Gather round ye children come,
Listen to the old, old story
Of the power of death undone
By an infant born of glory
Son of God, Son of Man
Gather ’round, remember now
How creation held its breath
How it let out a sigh
And it filled up the sky with the angels
Son of God, Son of Man
So sing out with joy for the brave little boy
Who was God, but He made Himself nothing
Well, He gave up His pride and He came here to die
Like a man
The Story: Creation & Fall
Song: His Mercy is More
What patience would wait as we constantly roam
What Father, so tender, is calling us home
He welcomes the weakest, the vilest, the poor
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
Praise the Lord, His mercy is more
Stronger than darkness, new every morn
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
The Story: Covenant, Exodus, Exile
Awaiting All Things Right
In a broken world, this will be our hope:
Jesus is coming, Your Kingdom is coming
Though walking in darkness, we will see a Great Light,
The King will come to set all things right
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 9
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
Song: O Come, O Come Emmanuel & All Things Right
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel, shall come to thee, O Israel
And the government is on his shoulders
And his Reign will ever increase
Wonderful counselor, Mighty God
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace
Though walking in darkness, we will see a great light
the King will come to set all things right
The Story: The Prophets & The Promise
Song: Baby Son & All Things Right
We thought You’d come with a crown of gold
A string of pearls and a cashmere robe
We thought You’d clinch an iron fist
And rain like fire on the politics
But without a sword, no armored guard
But common born in mother’s arms
The government now rests upon
The shoulders of this Baby Son
Emmanuel, God with us, Heaven’s Plan
Jesus is Coming, Your Kingdom is Coming
Justice and peace, power and love in our hands
Jesus is Coming, Your Kingdom is Coming
Though walking in darkness, we have seen a great light
The King has come to set all things right
Song: Silent Night & Gather Round
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, oh, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth
So in heaven and earth and below
Every knee would bow in worship
And every tongue would proclaim
That Jesus, He reigns with the angels
So sing out with joy for the brave little boy
Who was God, but He made Himself nothing
Well, He gave up His pride and He came here to die
Like a man
Gather round ye children come,
Listen to the old, old story
Of the power of death undone
By an infant born of glory
Son of God, Son of Man
The Story: Unto Us a Child is Born
Song: Hark the Herald Angels Sing
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!”
Scripture Reading: John 1:1-5, 14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Litany of the Great Light
Leader: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given.
In him was life, and the life was the light of all the people.
The Word of God moved into our neighborhood.
We see his glory, full of grace and truth.
Song: O 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!
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;
For You alone are Worthy,
For You alone are Worthy,
For You alone are Worthy, Christ the Lord!
The Story: This Has Come True In Your Hearing
Song: Gather Round & Joy to the World
Gather round ye children come,
Listen to the old, old story
Of the power of death undone
By an infant born of glory
Son of God, Son of Man
Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.
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.
Blessing & Sending
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
