Worship
9 & 11:15 a.m. every Sunday
Welcome to worship at first pres
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First Presbyterian Church
17 Court Square
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
Worship Guide
Welcome
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.
Psalm 95:6-7
Worship is not something we observe. It’s something we bring our whole selves to, so we have worship guides for each service that we hope can help you engage in worship. We invite you to join in with every moment of worship: sing, listen, respond and pray as we gather together.
This worship guide is updated by Friday of each week in preparation for Sunday’s worship times.
9 AM
MUSIC SUNDAY
Gathering Music: “O COME, O COME EMMANUEL / O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL” Karen Holl, Organ & Annette Sprinkel, Piano
Welcome and Announcements
Opening Response: Let us praise our Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia! Jesus is coming!
At Christmas Jesus came as a baby. Alleluia! Jesus is coming!
He came to be like us because he loves us. Alleluia! Jesus is coming!
He came to save us from our sin. Alleluia! Jesus is coming!
He died, rose from the dead, and lives in heaven. He will come again because he loves us. Alleluia! Jesus is coming!
We praise Jesus, who came as a baby and will come again at the end of time. Alleluia! Jesus is coming!
LET ALL MORTAL FLESH KEEP SILENCE
Lighting the Advent Candle of LOVE
We light this candle as a sign of the coming light of Christ.
In the wilderness prepare the way of our Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:3)
The Lord will give you a sign. A young woman is with child and shall bear a son.
And they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” (from Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23)
Prayer: In this Advent season of waiting on the Lord,
May Emmanuel find welcome in our hearts, take flesh in our lives, and be for all peoples the welcome advent of redemption and grace.
We ask this through him whose coming is certain, whose Day draws near;
your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
LOW HOW A ROSE / HIGH KING OF HEAVEN
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5, 28-31
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Forgiveness
If we look at our own lives,
we must confess the mixture of giving and selfishness, our waiting on the Lord turned to an endless rush,
our missing the mark in truly celebrating Christ’s coming.
Lord, forgive our frantic ways and misplaced efforts. But we can also trust in God,
who still brings us salvation, who still supplies us strength, who hears our songs of gratitude,
who accepts our joyful praise. Let us all draw water from the wells of salvation. Let us shout it in the church and in the town:
The Lord’s great name will still be praised. His saving deeds support our lives. His greatness still astounds us.
The Holy One of Israel is among us. Praise the Lord and sing for joy! (based on Isaiah 12)
O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray. Cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord – Emmanuel!
HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING
Children’s Anthem: “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Kids)
Scripture Reading: John 1:1-5 (Kids)
Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer
Anthem: HE SHALL REIGN
Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:15-23, Isaiah 9:6-7
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
WHAT CHILD IS THIS?
Scripture Reading: Leviticus 26:11-12, Micah 5:2-4, Luke 1:68-79
Moreover, I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you. I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
SILENT NIGHT / ANGELS FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY
Benediction: Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:12-13)
WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS BY NIGHT
11:15 AM
MUSIC SUNDAY
Prelude: “A Christmas Gloria” Karen Holl, Organist & Dotty Anderson, Piano
Welcome and Announcements
Opening Response: Let us praise our Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia! Jesus is coming!
At Christmas Jesus came as a baby. Alleluia! Jesus is coming!
He came to be like us because he loves us. Alleluia! Jesus is coming!
He came to save us from our sin. Alleluia! Jesus is coming!
He died, rose from the dead, and lives in heaven. He will come again because he loves us. Alleluia! Jesus is coming!
We praise Jesus, who came as a baby and will come again at the end of time. Alleluia! Jesus is coming!
LET ALL MORTAL FLESH KEEP SILENCE (5)
Lighting the Advent Candle of LOVE
We light this candle as a sign of the coming light of Christ.
In the wilderness prepare the way of our Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:3)
The Lord will give you a sign. A young woman is with child and shall bear a son.
And they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” (from Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23)
Prayer: In this Advent season of waiting on the Lord,
May Emmanuel find welcome in our hearts, take flesh in our lives, and be for all peoples the welcome advent of redemption and grace.
We ask this through him whose coming is certain, whose Day draws near;
your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
LOW HOW A ROSE E’RE BLOOMING / HIGH KING OF HEAVEN
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5, 28-31
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Forgiveness
If we look at our own lives,
we must confess the mixture of giving and selfishness, our waiting on the Lord turned to an endless rush,
our missing the mark in truly celebrating Christ’s coming.
Lord, forgive our frantic ways and misplaced efforts. But we can also trust in God,
who still brings us salvation, who still supplies us strength, who hears our songs of gratitude,
who accepts our joyful praise. Let us all draw water from the wells of salvation. Let us shout it in the church and in the town:
The Lord’s great name will still be praised. His saving deeds support our lives. His greatness still astounds us.
The Holy One of Israel is among us. Praise the Lord and sing for joy! (based on Isaiah 12)
O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray. Cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord – Emmanuel!
HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING (31)
Children’s Anthem: “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Kids)
Scripture Reading: John 1:1-5 (Kids)
Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer
Anthem: “As Mary Sleeps” (Choir)
ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH (23)
Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:15-23, Isaiah 9:6-7
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
WHAT CHILD IS THIS?
Scripture Reading: Leviticus 26:11-12, Micah 5:2-4, Luke 1:68-79
Moreover, I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you. I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
ALL MY HEART TODAY REJOICES (21) / ANGELS FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY (22)
Benediction: Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:12-13)