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Ordinance of Baptism

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord. “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jeremiah 23:5-5 (NKJV)

Come and behold Him, come see His glory; Come with an honest heart to see all He is. We will discover all of His beauty; His light will burn away all the darkness we've known. “Come and Behold Him”

Come and behold Him, come and behold Him; Come with an honest heart to see all He is. Come and behold Him, wait now before Him; Come with an honest heart to see all He is. “Come and Behold Him”

Come and behold Him, come filled with wonder; Come see the Christ child here; a Savior is born. In His redemption we find forgiveness; Come now, believing our Messiah has come. “Come and Behold Him”

Come and behold Him, come and behold Him; Come with an honest heart to see all He is. Come and behold Him, wait now before Him; Come with an honest heart to see all He is. (repeat) “Come and Behold Him”

Come with an honest heart to see all He is. “Come and Behold Him”

SOLO Two thousand years have come and gone since You were born, Still You are here, and live inside my grateful heart. Savior, I was made to love You, Savior I will sing, “I Adore You”

I adore You, I adore You, Lord, I adore You, I adore You, Lord. “I Adore You”

SOLO O Prince of Peace, You are the King of every age, So through the years, I'll live to bring You all my praise. Jesus, I was made to love You, Jesus, I will sing, “I Adore You”

How I love You, how I love You, Lord, How I love You, how I love You, Lord. “I Adore You”

Concerns and Prayer

Lighting of the Advent Wreath

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. Isaiah 60:2 (NKJV)

Lighting of the Advent Wreath The Candle Of Hope

O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

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! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, And order all things far and nigh; To us the path of knowledge show, And cause us in her ways to go. Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

O come, Desire of nations, bind All peoples in one heart and mind; Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease, Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

Offertory Prayer Receiving of Tithes and Offerings 2 Corinthians 9:6 “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”

Children’s Message

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called

Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was

no room for them in the inn. 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will

be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the

saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. Luke 2:1-20 (NKJV)

“THE FIRST CHRISTMAS MISSIONARIES” Pastor Groover

SHEPHERDS WERE THE FIRST CHRISTMAS MISSIONARIES

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Luke 2:8-9 (NKJV)

DECLARATION

Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" Luke 2:10-14 (NKJV)

DECORATION

Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:17-19 (NKJV)

DEDICATION

Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. Luke 2:20 (NKJV)

Conclusions 1. Have you received the declaration of the GOOD NEWS the way the shepherds received it? Are you excited over a Savior who has COME and is COMING AGAIN.

Conclusions 2. Are you decorating the world with God’s Love through the sharing of Christ….spreading the word of GOOD NEWS as the shepherds (the first Christmas Missionaries) did that first Christmas? Are you spreading the Word of God’s Light that has come into the world?

Conclusions 3. Are you living a testimony of a changed life? A life now dedicated to the one thing (JESUS) that really made a difference?

O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There’s light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free! “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace. “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”

Thro’ death into life everlasting He passed, and we follow Him there; Over us sin no more hath dominion— For more than conquerors we are! “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace. “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”

His Word shall not fail you—He promised; Believe Him, and all will be well: Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell! “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace. “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”

Benediction

Greet the Family Of God Postlude Ashley Porter