Third Sunday of Advent

Welcome and Announcements Cambridge Chimes Welcome and Announcements Greeting Each Other Ringing of the Bell

“Hark the Herald Angels Sing” ~BELL CHOIR Lighting of the candles Prelude “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” ~BELL CHOIR Lighting of the candles

*CALL TO WORSHIP L:Sisters and Brothers, your God is coming! That is reason to rejoice with all your heart! P: Let us sing a song to the One who fills our lives with wonder and joy.

L: Sing aloud to God who brings love and peace. P: Let us sing a song to the One who hears our words and our hearts. L: Our God comes to gather us in! Is that not good news this day?

P: That is the best news, so let us sing a song to the One who graces us with hope, peace, and joy.

LIGHTING OF THE JOY CANDLE L: Today we light three candles – the first represents our HOPE, which is God’s presence with us. P: The second candle represents PEACE;

God’s gentle loving peace in our hearts and our world God’s gentle loving peace in our hearts and our world. L: The third candle represents JOY, because we rejoice this day: P: We are filled with Joy that God is in our midst.

L: God exults over each of you with loud singing L: God exults over each of you with loud singing! P: God is in our midst! L: God is here to gather us in; P: Joy is ours today as we celebrate God’s coming to us in Jesus.

HYMN #8 “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Might Gates” v.1 Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates, Behold, the King of glory waits; The King of kings is drawing near; The Savior of the world is here!

HYMN #8 “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Might Gates” v.2 Fling wide the portals of your heart; Make it a temple, set apart From earthly use for heaven’s employ, Adorned with prayer and love and joy.

HYMN #8 “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Might Gates” v.3 Redeemer, come! I open wide My heart to Thee: here, Lord, abide. Let me Thy inner presence feel; Thy grace and love in me reveal.

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) It is getting more and more difficult, Lord, for us to keep our attention on the holy things. Our lives are caught up in planning, parties, and presents.

We get side-tracked easily. Exhausted, we fall into restless sleep We get side-tracked easily. Exhausted, we fall into restless sleep. Those in need abound and we are overwhelmed by the needs. Too often we turn a deaf ear,

feeling we just can’t meet all the needs presented to us feeling we just can’t meet all the needs presented to us. That is confusing and painful. Heal our hearts and spirits, Lord. Help us understand that you do not ask us to fix everything,

but rather to find simple ways in which we might lighten someone else’s burden. Strengthen us to rejoice in the wondrous things that you have done.

Teach us to use our gifts for the common good, where all find great and abundant joy. In Jesus’ Name, we pray.

(Silence is observed for individual reflection and prayer)

* ASSURANCE OF PARDON L: This is the good news proclaimed to us: the Lord is coming, the Lord who is our salvation. P: We give thanks to God, who has come bearing hope, bringing peace, and carrying joy into our lives. Amen.

Time With Young Christians

“Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord” Grace Alessi, soloist

“Prepare, Make Room” ~Schwarz

“Glory, Hallelu” ~Besig

“The First Noel/Pachelbel’s Canon” ~Clawson

“Ring the Bells” ~Wilson

“Et In Terra Pax (And On Earth Peace)” ~Purifoy

OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD Offertory Invitation Offertory “Silent Night” ~BELL CHOIR

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; *DOXOLOGY #542, v.4 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION We rejoice, O God, that you lovingly give us so much. In response, we offer these gifts and the service of our lives. We pray that they will bear fruits worthy of Jesus,

and that you will use them to bring your joy to all people. Amen.

JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE PASTORAL PRAYER

The Lord’s Prayer (unison) Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

BEARING AND FOLLOWING THE WORD INTO THE WORLD

HYMN #23 “Angels We Have Heard On High” v.1 Angels we have heard on high Sweetly singing o’er the plains, And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains.

Glo-o-o-o-ria, in excelsis Deo; Glo-o-o-o-ria, in excelsis Deo. HYMN #23 “Angels We Have Heard On High” v.1 Glo-o-o-o-ria, in excelsis Deo; Glo-o-o-o-ria, in excelsis Deo.

HYMN #23 “Angels We Have Heard On High” v.2 Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be Which inspire your heavenly song?

Glo-o-o-o-ria, in excelsis Deo; Glo-o-o-o-ria, in excelsis Deo. HYMN #23 “Angels We Have Heard On High” v.2 Glo-o-o-o-ria, in excelsis Deo; Glo-o-o-o-ria, in excelsis Deo.

HYMN #23 “Angels We Have Heard On High” v.3 Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Glo-o-o-o-ria, in excelsis Deo; Glo-o-o-o-ria, in excelsis Deo. HYMN #23 “Angels We Have Heard On High” v.3 Glo-o-o-o-ria, in excelsis Deo; Glo-o-o-o-ria, in excelsis Deo.

BENEDICTION

Postlude “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” ~BELL CHOIR