Today's service was not recorded due to its many moving parts. Please enjoy the outline below for our Christmas Eve Service.
Welcome – Welcome to Water of Life Fellowship. I know we are a small crew today since many are traveling. We are skipping all of the normal announcements for now. The only announcement is that there will not be any Bible studies this week. Please spend time with your families and rejoice in the togetherness, joy, and unity that comes in knowing Christ together as a family. Please also take time to intentionally consider Christ together in light of the remembrance of His birth. Let us begin with prayer.
Lighting of the 4 Advent Candles – With Reading
We will now proceed with the Lighting of the four Advent
candles. One of our mothers has
consented to light the four candles today.
On
the First Sunday of Advent we lit the candle representing the Hope of the
Prophets. Today we relight it and recall
God’s promise through His prophets to send a Savior. On the Second Sunday of Advent, we lit the
candle representing the Peace of the Angels.
As we relight it today, we remember the voices of angels declaring a message
of peace to astonished shepherds. On the
third Sunday of Advent we lit the candle representing the Joy of the
Shepherds. Today as we relight it we
recall their amazement and wonder. Today we light the fourth candle which is
the candle of Love and Magi.
As we
light this fourth candle, you might wonder how love and magi are related. Ponder this: What motivated the magi to make
their long dangerous journey and bring most precious gifts to a baby they had
never met of a family they did not know in a place they had never been? What would cause them to risk so much for
only the hope of bowing at the feet of a newborn “foreign” king? What would cause them to travel so far to adore
someone so small? What is amusing to me
is that they did not travel nearly so far as the baby they came to adore. He had traveled even farther than they had
traveled. What motivated Him to leave
his place in Heaven? What made Him set
aside His Divinity and take on humanity? For Him it was love. Genuine, astonishing, perfect love! As we
think about the magi today - as we remember how far they traveled to adore Him
- let us remember how far Jesus traveled in His love for us. “Today we
celebrate the greatness of God’s love revealed through the Christ child”[1]…Joy
from Heaven to earth come down!
A Capella Christmas Carols
Joy
to the World – Verses 1 & 4 (p.173)
The
First Noel – Verse 1 (p. 167)
It
Came Upon a Midnight Clear – Verse 1 (p. 168)
Oh
Come All Ye Faithful – Verse 1 (p. 175)
What
Child is this? – Verses 1 & 3 (p. 179)
Lighting of the Christ Candle – With Reading
We
have already lit the first four candles on the advent wreath. Now we will light the Christ Candle. Normally, this candle is lit on Christmas
Eve, which today is. In the lighting of
this candle, we rejoice that the promise made to the prophets has been
fulfilled. The announcement of peace by
the angels was true. The joy felt by the
shepherds was real. The adoration of the
magi was justified. Christ is born! Rejoice Oh Christians! Rejoice that He who came to bear our sorrows
has come at last! Rejoice to know He is
born who will bear our sins! Rejoice to
know that at His coming hope is restored, peace is complete, joy is full, and
our adoration is true! We bow at His
feet – He Who is born in lowly estate in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
KIDS’ CAROLS
Go Tell It on the Mountain – Chorus – Verse 3
– Chorus (P. 181)
Away in a Manger (p. 176)
“Humphrey’s First Christmas”
We Three Kings – Full Hymn
(p. 202)
PASTOR’S
WORDS
“Matthew
2:1 ¶ Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the
king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the
Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things,
he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief
priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ
should be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of
Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art
not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor,
that shall rule my people Israel.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the
wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go
and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me
word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9 ¶ When they had heard the king, they
departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till
it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with
exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house,
they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped
him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts;
gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that
they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another
way.”
Today, it is Christmas
Eve. Our weeks of anticipation awaiting
Christmas Day are nearly over. Tomorrow
we will be awakened by children eagerly awaiting the opening of gifts that are
given in love and received with joy that commemorate the gifts given by magi
and the greatest gift ever given, Jesus Christ Himself.
It is this greatest gift
we ponder today as we close our service with Christmas Communion. The Christmas story tells us how Jesus came
into the world. The Easter story
explains why he came into the world.[2] Communion reminds us of the entire continuing
story. It is with this remembrance we anchor our joy. As we partake of the symbolic elements of the
Lord’s Supper, we remember that Jesus was born to die. He was born to be the sacrifice for our
sins. We did not deserve such a
spectacular gift, yet He gave it with perfect freedom. For just as God is perfect in His justice,
perfect in His righteousness, perfect in His holiness, He is perfect in His
love. He is perfect in His freewill
giving. He gave out of the fullness of
His heart. Though we deserved much less,
He gave us far more – in fact, He gave us everything in the gift of His only
begotten Son. “John 3:16 For God so
loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to
condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
Because of this matchless
gift, we rejoice. We rejoice that God
came to dwell among us to save us. If
you are not saved this morning – if you have not been born again – you may. All you need to do is open your heart to let
Christ in.
COMMUNION
As we prepare to receive
the elements today, perhaps you are not ready to receive them. Perhaps you say, Pastor Rick, I have not
lived in the way I ought. Pastor Rick I
am in need of cleansing. In case there
is any among us who might be in need of forgiveness, let us read this
confession aloud together.
“Almighty God and Father
in heaven
Who also makes His home
with those
Of a humble and contrite
spirit:
Before You and Our Lord
Jesus Christ
We confess our sins:
Whether they be sins
committed with
A wicked heart in
rebellion against God
Or sins of unbelief
rejecting the truth.
Whether they be sins of
ignoring the
Gentle presence of Your
Spirit
Or sins of failing to look
faithfully for the
Return of our Savior &
Judge.
We confess our blindness to
your coming
In those who are lonely,
hungry, cold, poor, and sick.
All our sins we confess
before you today
And ask Your forgiveness.
In Your great goodness,
put away our offenses
And cleanse us from our
sins,
For Jesus Sake.
I welcome you in my heart
just now. Amen.”[3]
Having bowed ourselves
humbly requesting His pardon, we rest in His mercy. “Here is a trustworthy
saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners.” – 1 Timothy 1:15
And so now we partake of
the Elements of the Lord’s Supper.
Distribute the
Elements (Tom & Joe)
“The cup of blessing which
we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the
communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body;
for we are all partakers of that one bread (1 Cor. 10:16-17)”
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“1 Corinthians 11:23 ¶ 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:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it,
and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in
remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup,
when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do
ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and
drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.”
We will now partake in the
same manner in remembrance.
Please take the bread and
hold it in your hand:
“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed
it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples and said, Take, eat: this is my
body.” – The body of our Lord Jesus Christ which was given for thee, preserve
thy soul and body unto everlasting life.
Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee, and feed on
Him in thy heart by faith with thanksgiving.
(You may eat of the bread.)
Please take the cup of
wine in your hand:
“And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to
them, saying, Drink ye all of it: for this is my blood of the new testament,
which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink
henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with
you in my Father’s Kingdom (Matt. 26:26-29).” – The blood of our Lord Jesus
Christ, which was shed for thee, preserve thy soul and body unto everlasting
life. Drink this in remembrance that
Christ’s blood was shed for thee, and be thankful. (You may drink of the wine.)
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which art in
heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy
kingdom come. Thy will be done in 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.
Down from His glory,
Ever living story,
My God and Savior came,
And Jesus was His name.
Born in a manger,
To His own a stranger,
A Man of sorrows, tears
and agony.
O how I love Him! How I
adore Him!
My breath, my sunshine, my
all in all!
The great Creator became
my Savior,
And all God’s fulness
dwelleth in Him.
What condescension,
Bringing us redemption;
That in the dead of night,
Not one faint hope in sight,
God, gracious, tender,
Laid aside His splendor,
Stooping to woo, to win,
to save my soul.
Without reluctance,
Flesh and blood His substance
He took the form of man,
Revealed the hidden plan.
O glorious myst’ry,
Sacrifice of Calv’ry,
And now I know Thou art
the great “I AM.”
O how I love Him! How I
adore Him!
My breath, my sunshine, my
all in all!
The great Creator became
my Savior,
And all God’s fulness
dwelleth in Him.
Closing Hymn: Emmanuel
(Page 165)
Benediction:
Let us pray.
O
God, whose glory fills the skies,
O
Christ, the true and only Light,
Shine
on us with your light and truth
Through
the Word that gives light to all people.
Empower
us by your Spirit to walk
In
that light and to reflect your glory. Amen.[4]
“May the God of hope fill
you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy
Spirit you may abound in hope (Rom. 15:13).”
Merry Christmas!
[1]
Advent Wreath Readings, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W6koWS_sRI
[3]
Derived from a Reformed Worship Confession - https://www.reformedworship.org/article/september-1988/christmas-communion-service
