ORDER OF WORSHIP FOR
THE FAITH REFORMED CHURCH
215 MIDDLE ROAD, HAZLET, NJ 07730
(* indicates to stand if you are able)
Sunday, December 20; Fourth Sunday of Advent
VOTUM AND SALUTATION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 89:1, 5-8, 52)
Leader: We will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;
People: Lord, we will make your faithfulness known through all generations!
Leader: The heavens praise your wonders, Lord!
People: And your faithfulness too!
Leader: For who in the skies can compare with the Lord?
People: The Lord is greater than all who surround him.
Leader: Who is like you, God Almighty?
People: You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
Leader: Praise be to the Lord forever!
People: Amen and amen!
LIGHTING OF THE FOURTH ADVENT CANDLE
CONFIRMATION OF KAYLA AUMACK AND SONIA MOORE
Do you promise to love, encourage, and support these new members, by teaching the gospel of God’s love, by being an example of Christian faith and character, and by giving the strong support of God’s family in fellowship, prayer, and service? If you so promise please say, “We do.”
Congregation: We do.
I believe in God the Father, almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried.
The third day he rose from the dead
He ascended into heaven
And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The holy catholic church, The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins, The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting. Amen.
BLESSING AND WELCOME
By the Holy Spirit all who believe and are baptized receive a ministry to witness to Jesus as Savior and Lord, and to love and serve those with whom they live and work. We are ambassadors for Christ, who reconciles and makes whole. We are the salt of the earth. We are the light of the world. Welcome these beloved in Christ.
Congregation: Joyfully we receive you! Alleluia!
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face to shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
And give you peace. Amen!
* HYMN OF PRAISE “God Is Love, Let Heaven Adore Him” (Verses 1 & 2)
(hummed – not sung)
God is love, let heaven adore him;
God is love, let earth rejoice;
Let creation sing before him
And exalt him with one voice.
God who laid the earth’s foundation,
God who spread the heavens above,
God who breathes through all creation:
God is Love, eternal Love.
God is love and love enfolds us,
All the world in one embrace;
With unfailing grasp God holds us,
Every child of every race.
And when human hearts are breaking
Under sorrow’s iron rod,
Then we find that self-same aching
Deep within the heart of God.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
(Please remain in place, and greet your nearest neighbors with a wave and a blessing of peace)
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
All: Holy Lord, we confess that we are not ready to meet you. You offer us a place in your house, yet we find no room for you in our lives. You invite us into your eternal kingdom, yet we fail to welcome others. God of grace, we ask your forgiveness. Let your word of life be with us, that we may truly believe and live in your faith. Through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
(Responsive Hymn #817 – to be hummed, not sung) - Hear our prayer O Lord. Hear our prayer O Lord. Incline thine ear to us, and grant us Thy peace. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE (1 John 4:15-16)
All: “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”
*Gloria Patri: Glory be to The Father (hummed – not sung)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
World without end, Amen, Amen.
SUMMARY OF THE LAW (John 13:34-35)
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so must you love one another. By this, everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
HYMN FOR ILLUMINATION (seated) “Spirit of the Living God” Verse 1 (hummed – not sung) Hymn #297
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me;
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SERMON HYMN “They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love”
(Verses 1, 2, & 4) Hummed- not sung
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored,
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand,
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand,
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in the land,
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
All praise to the Father from whom all things come,
And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son,
And all praise to the Spirit who makes us one,
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
SCRIPTURE READINGS – Luke 1:26-38
THE MORNING MESSAGE - “Love Finds a Way“
*OFFERTORY PRAYER AND DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
JOYS & CONCERNS – MORNING PRAYER – THE LORD'S PRAYER
(Lord’s Prayer – “…sins / …those who sin against us…”)
*CLOSING HYMN “The Gift of Love”
(hummed – not sung)
Though I may speak with bravest fire,
And have the gift to all inspire,
And have not love my words are vain;
As sounding brass and hopeless gain.
Though I may give all I possess,
And striving so my love profess,
But not be given by love within,
The profit soon turns strangely thin.
Come, Spirit, come our hearts control,
Our spirits long to be made whole,
Let inward love guide every deed,
By this we worship and are freed.
*CLOSING PRAYER & BENEDICTION
*CHORAL POSTLUDE: "Lord, Dismiss Us with your Blessing"
(hummed – not sung)
Lord, dismiss us with your blessing; fill our hearts with joy and peace;
Let us each, your love possessing, triumph in redeeming grace;
O direct us and protect us, traveling through this wilderness.
THE FAITH REFORMED CHURCH
215 MIDDLE ROAD, HAZLET, NJ 07730
(* indicates to stand if you are able)
Sunday, December 20; Fourth Sunday of Advent
VOTUM AND SALUTATION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 89:1, 5-8, 52)
Leader: We will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;
People: Lord, we will make your faithfulness known through all generations!
Leader: The heavens praise your wonders, Lord!
People: And your faithfulness too!
Leader: For who in the skies can compare with the Lord?
People: The Lord is greater than all who surround him.
Leader: Who is like you, God Almighty?
People: You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
Leader: Praise be to the Lord forever!
People: Amen and amen!
LIGHTING OF THE FOURTH ADVENT CANDLE
CONFIRMATION OF KAYLA AUMACK AND SONIA MOORE
- PRESENTATION
- PROFESSIONS OF FAITH
- PROMISES OF THE CONGREGATION
Do you promise to love, encourage, and support these new members, by teaching the gospel of God’s love, by being an example of Christian faith and character, and by giving the strong support of God’s family in fellowship, prayer, and service? If you so promise please say, “We do.”
Congregation: We do.
- PROMISES OF THE CANDIDATES
- APOSTLE’S CREED
I believe in God the Father, almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried.
The third day he rose from the dead
He ascended into heaven
And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The holy catholic church, The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins, The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting. Amen.
BLESSING AND WELCOME
By the Holy Spirit all who believe and are baptized receive a ministry to witness to Jesus as Savior and Lord, and to love and serve those with whom they live and work. We are ambassadors for Christ, who reconciles and makes whole. We are the salt of the earth. We are the light of the world. Welcome these beloved in Christ.
Congregation: Joyfully we receive you! Alleluia!
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face to shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
And give you peace. Amen!
* HYMN OF PRAISE “God Is Love, Let Heaven Adore Him” (Verses 1 & 2)
(hummed – not sung)
God is love, let heaven adore him;
God is love, let earth rejoice;
Let creation sing before him
And exalt him with one voice.
God who laid the earth’s foundation,
God who spread the heavens above,
God who breathes through all creation:
God is Love, eternal Love.
God is love and love enfolds us,
All the world in one embrace;
With unfailing grasp God holds us,
Every child of every race.
And when human hearts are breaking
Under sorrow’s iron rod,
Then we find that self-same aching
Deep within the heart of God.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
(Please remain in place, and greet your nearest neighbors with a wave and a blessing of peace)
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
All: Holy Lord, we confess that we are not ready to meet you. You offer us a place in your house, yet we find no room for you in our lives. You invite us into your eternal kingdom, yet we fail to welcome others. God of grace, we ask your forgiveness. Let your word of life be with us, that we may truly believe and live in your faith. Through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
(Responsive Hymn #817 – to be hummed, not sung) - Hear our prayer O Lord. Hear our prayer O Lord. Incline thine ear to us, and grant us Thy peace. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE (1 John 4:15-16)
All: “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”
*Gloria Patri: Glory be to The Father (hummed – not sung)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
World without end, Amen, Amen.
SUMMARY OF THE LAW (John 13:34-35)
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so must you love one another. By this, everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
HYMN FOR ILLUMINATION (seated) “Spirit of the Living God” Verse 1 (hummed – not sung) Hymn #297
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me;
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SERMON HYMN “They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love”
(Verses 1, 2, & 4) Hummed- not sung
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored,
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand,
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand,
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in the land,
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
All praise to the Father from whom all things come,
And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son,
And all praise to the Spirit who makes us one,
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
SCRIPTURE READINGS – Luke 1:26-38
THE MORNING MESSAGE - “Love Finds a Way“
*OFFERTORY PRAYER AND DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
JOYS & CONCERNS – MORNING PRAYER – THE LORD'S PRAYER
(Lord’s Prayer – “…sins / …those who sin against us…”)
*CLOSING HYMN “The Gift of Love”
(hummed – not sung)
Though I may speak with bravest fire,
And have the gift to all inspire,
And have not love my words are vain;
As sounding brass and hopeless gain.
Though I may give all I possess,
And striving so my love profess,
But not be given by love within,
The profit soon turns strangely thin.
Come, Spirit, come our hearts control,
Our spirits long to be made whole,
Let inward love guide every deed,
By this we worship and are freed.
*CLOSING PRAYER & BENEDICTION
*CHORAL POSTLUDE: "Lord, Dismiss Us with your Blessing"
(hummed – not sung)
Lord, dismiss us with your blessing; fill our hearts with joy and peace;
Let us each, your love possessing, triumph in redeeming grace;
O direct us and protect us, traveling through this wilderness.