Gathering: Organist Howard Prushek
Welcome/Announcements
Music Team
Lighting of the Candles Scripture: John 1:1-5
“In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made;
without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.
The Light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”
(Light the 3rd candle.)
We light this candle as a symbol of Jesus Christ our Light and our Joy.
May the joyful promise of our salvation, O God, make us rejoice in our hope, your Son, Jesus Christ.
Song: “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” verse 3 (Music Team)
Hymnal #105: “What Child is This?” (Howard)
Offering & Response #572: “Praise God”
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Prayers of the Saints and “The Lord’s Prayer”
Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18-25
"This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about.
His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph,
but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law,
and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife,
because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”
(which means “God with us”).
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son.
And he gave him the name Jesus."
Hymnal #108: “The First Noel” (Howard)
Message: “The Love of an Earthly Father”
Hymnal #121: “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
Close of service.