Preparing for Worship | December 9 | Second Sunday of Advent

GOD CALLS US TO WORSHIP HIM |

Call to Worship |

Worship Leader: Lord, let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all people, to be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of your people Israel. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

(“The Song of Simeon,” Luke 2:29–32)

Hymn of Adoration: “Angels We Have Heard on High”

Verse 1:

Angels we have heard on high

Sweetly singing o'er the plains

And the mountains in reply

Echoing their joyous strains

Chorus:

Gloria in excelsis Deo

Verse 2:

Shepherds why this jubilee

Why your joyous strains prolong

What the gladsome tidings be

Which inspire your heavenly song

Verse 3:

Come to Bethlehem and see

Christ whose birth the angels sing

Come adore on bended knee

Christ the Lord the newborn King

Verse 4:

See Him in a manger laid

Whom the choirs of angels praise

Mary Joseph lend your aid

While our hearts in love we raise

By Thine all sufficient merit

Raise us to Thy glorious throne

GOD GRACIOUSLY RENEWS US IN CHRIST

Confession of Sin

Worship Leader: Lord, forgive us, we have called evil good and good evil. We have put darkness for light and light for darkness. We have put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter (Isaiah 6:20).

Forgiveness of Sin

Worship Leader: If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not practice the truth, but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son has cleansed us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:6–9).

Hymn of Assurance: “Hallelujah, What a Savior!”

Verse 1:

Shining star in heav’n so bright

Lowly tend their flocks by night Could this be our faith now sight

Hallelujah what a Savior

Verse 2:

Gift of gifts in manger laid

Hope of men no more delayed God the Just His love displayed

Hallelujah what a Savior

Chorus:

Hallelujah Praise to the One

Whose blood has pardoned me

Oh what a Savior

Redeemer and King

Your love has rescued me

Verse 3:

Eternal Word made flesh was He

The promise prophets longed to see

Jesus Christ our mystery

Hallelujah what a Savior

Verse 4:

And now the church His praises bring

Blood-brought bride and matchless King

Heav’n and earth now join to sing

Hallelujah what a Savior

Thanking God for What He Has Done

Worship Leader: I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Congregation: Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Sing praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.

(Psalm 9:1–2, 9–11)

Giving Our Tithes and Offerings In addition to your regular tithes and offerings, please consider giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. This offering, named after a missionary to China, goes to support approximately 4,900 missionaries. Last year Southern Baptists collected 147 million dollars for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Hymn of Affirmation: “What Child Is This?”

Verse 1:

What Child is this who laid to rest

On Mary's lap is sleeping

Whom angels greet

With anthems sweet

While shepherds watch are keeping

This this is Christ the King

Whom shepherds guard

And angels sing

Haste haste to bring Him laud

The Babe the Son of Mary

Verse 2:

Why lies He in such mean estate

Where ox and ass are feeding Good Christian fear

For sinners here

The silent Word is pleading

Nails spear shall pierce

Him through

The cross be borne for me for you

Hail hail the Word made flesh

The Babe the Son of Mary

Verse 3:

So bring Him incense

Gold and myrrh

Come peasant king to own Him

The King of kings salvation brings

Let loving hearts enthrone Him

Raise raise the song on high

The Virgin sings her lullaby

Joy joy for Christ is born

The Babe the Son of Mary

Advent Hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

Verse:

O Come Thou Dayspring

Come and cheer

Our spirits by Thine advent here

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night

And death’s dark shadows put to flight

Chorus:

Rejoice Rejoice

Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel

GOD INSTRUCTS US THROUGH HIS WORD

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 9:1–7

Nevertheless, the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times when he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the future he will bring honor to the way of the sea, to the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations.

The people walking in darkness

have seen a great light;

a light has dawned

on those living in the land of darkness.

You have enlarged the nation

and increased its joy.

The people have rejoiced before you

as they rejoice at harvest time

and as they rejoice when dividing spoils.

For you have shattered their oppressive yoke

and the rod on their shoulders,

the staff of their oppressor,

just as you did on the day of Midian.

For every trampling boot of battle

and the bloodied garments of war

will be burned as fuel for the fire.

For a child will be born for us,

a son will be given to us,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

He will be named

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

The dominion will be vast,

and its prosperity will never end.

He will reign on the throne of David

and over his kingdom,

to establish and sustain it

with justice and righteousness from now on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this. (CSB)

Pastoral Prayer

Advent Series: O Antiphons

For at least ten centuries, the church has sung a solemn antiphon on each of the last seven days in preparation for Christmas. The antiphon is a pleading, expecting song that addresses the Lord by scriptural titles: “O Wisdom,” “Adonai,” “Root of Jesse,” “Key of David,” “Dayspring,” “King of Nations,” and “Emmanuel.” Each song ends with a plea for Christ’s coming now in grace and finally in glory. During our Advent series, we will concentrate on four: “O Wisdom,” “O Dayspring,” “O King of Nations,” and “O Emmanuel.”

Sermon: “O Dayspring of Illumination” – Joel Elmore

GOD FEEDS US THROUGH HIS SUPPER

Breaking the Bread

Worship Leader: For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said,

Congregation: Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Taking the Cup

Worship Leader: After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this you do as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

Congregation: For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you show the Lord’s death until he comes (1 Corinthians 11:23–29).

GOD BLESSES US AND SENDS US OUT

Worship Leader: Now to you who were formerly alienated and hostile in your mind, who have now been reconciled through His death in order to present you holy and blameless and beyond reproach, go out in joy and be led forth in peace; until, as it were, the mountains burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field clap their hands (Colossians 1:21–22; Isaiah 55:12).