Service for the Lord’s Day: December 18, 2005

4th Sunday of Advent: 10:30 a.m.

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

Worship begins with the prelude. Please speak softly enough

to allow worshipers to pray and to prepare for time with God and God’s people.

PRELUDE How Great Our Joy! arr. S. Pethel

Joy to the World arr. S. Pethel

(with “Away in a Manger” and “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”)

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming arr. S.Pethel

(with “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”)

CHORAL INTROIT Christmas Hymn (vs. 1-4) arr. H. Jungst

LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE & ADVENT WREATH

*CALL TO WORSHIP from Mary’s Song, Luke 1: 47-49

My soul magnifies the Lord.

Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.

The Mighty One has done great things for me.

Holy is God’s name.

*PROCESSIONAL HYMN # 48 Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming

LESSON FROM THE GOSPEL (In unison) Luke 1: 26-38 (NRSV)

In the sixth month (of Elizabeth’s pregnancy) the angel Gabriel was sent by

God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her,

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son;

and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will

be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

*THE PEACE

The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Peace be with you.

(Worshipers greet one another with words and gestures of God’s peace)

PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

ANTHEM When Will He Come? D. Besig

WORD WITH CHILDREN

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Isaiah 62: 6-12 (NRSV)

SERMON “The Sought”

RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

AN OFFERING OF OURSELVES TO GOD

Call to Respond & Minute for Joy Offering

Offertory Infant Holy/Joy to the World traditional arr. Halferty

*Hymn # 592 Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow

Prayer of Dedication

PRAYERS OF THANKS AND INTERCESSION, THE LORD’S PRAYER

DEPART IN GOD’S NAME

*HYMN # 22 Angels, from the Realms of Glory

*CHARGE & BLESSING

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE #14 (vs. 4) Savior of the Nations, Come

POSTLUDE Celebrate the Child (with “O Come, All Ye Faithful” arr. S. Pethel

(Please sit for the Postlude))

*Congregation stands as able

Next Week’s Scriptures: Isa. 52: 7-10; Ps. 98; Heb. 1: 1-4; John 1: 1-14

WE ARE A STEPHEN MINISTRY CONGREGATION

WORSHIP LEADERS

Liturgists	Rev. Jonathan C. Siehl
Sermon	Rev. William R. Leety
Word with Children	Rev. Jonathan C. Siehl
Musical Leadership	Westminster and Chancel Choir Flute Choir: Amy Christie Sarah Shaffer, Director & Flute Nancy Deeth, Organist

IN MEMORIAM

Elder Thomas A. Pryor

March 29, 1943 ~ December 9, 2005

“I am the resurrection and the life.

Those who believe in me, though they die, will live.”

-John 11:25