PROVIDENCE CHURCH

     December 11, 2022

 

Welcome

Passing of the Peace: Though we are separated by distance our hearts are one in Christ. The peace of Christ be with you!  And also with you!

 

Lighting of the Advent Candle

 

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

 

Call to Worship:   Isaiah 40:1-5

Leader:  Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

Congregation:  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.

Leader:  A voice of one calling:  “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Congregation:  Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level,  the rugged places a plain.

ALL:  And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.  For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Songs of Praise:

God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen (English carol, 18th cent.) (#211)

God rest you merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay,

Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day,

To save us all from Satan’s pow’r when we were gone astray;

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.

 

From God our heav’nly Father, a blessed angel came;

And unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same:

How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name.

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.

 

“Fear not, then,” said the angel, “let nothing you affright;

this day is born a Savior of a pure virgin bright,

to free all those who trust in him from Satan’s pow’r and might.”

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.

 

The shepherds at those tidings rejoic-ed much in in mind,

And left their flocks a-feeding, in tempest, storm, and wind:

And went to Bethlehem straight-way, the Son of God to find.

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.

 

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night (Nahum Tate, 1700) (#222)

While shepherds watched their flocks by night, all seated on the ground,

the angel of the Lord came down, and glory shone around.

 

“Fear not,” said he—for mighty dread had seized their troubled mind—

“Glad tidings of great joy I bring, to you and all mankind.”

 

“To you, in David’s town this day, is born of David’s line,

The Savior, who is Christ the Lord, the manger is the sign.”

 

Thus spake the angel, and at once appeared a shining throng

Of angels praising God the King with this, their joyful song:

 

“All glory be to God on high, and to the earth be peace;

Good will henceforth, from heaven to men, begin and never cease!”

 

Go, Tell it On the Mountain (Spiritual) (#224)

Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;

Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

 

While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night,

Behold, throughout the heavens there shone a holy light.

Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;

Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

 

The shepherds feared and trembled when, lo! above the earth

Rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior’s birth.

Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;

Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

 

Down in a lowly manger our humble Christ was born,

And God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.

Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;

Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

Respond in Praise: 

On Christmas Night All Christians Sing (Traditional English carol) (#227)

On Christmas night all Christians sing, to hear the news the angels bring;

On Christmas night all Christians sing, to hear the news the angels bring;

News of great joy, news of great mirth,

News of our merciful King’s birth.

 

Then why should men on earth be sad, since our Redeemer made us glad?

Then why should men on earth be sad, since our Redeemer made us glad,

When from our sin he set us free,

All for to gain our liberty.

 

When sin departs before your grace, then life and health come in its place;

When sin departs before your grace, then life and health come in its place;

Angels and men with joy may sing,

All for to see the newborn King.

 

All out of darkness we have light, which made the angels sing this night;

All out of darkness we have light, which made the angels sing this night:

“Glory to God and peace to men,

now and forevermore, Amen!”

 

 

 

 

Scripture Reading:   Luke 2:8-20

 

The Shepherds and the Angels

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.   An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.   But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.   This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 

   “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

 

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

 

This is the Word of the Lord.   Thanks be to God!

Sermon:  “ Evangelism Explosion”                                                                                                           

 

Hymn of Dedication

You Are the Light (Providence Choir) (David Steele, lyrics; Tom Fettke, music)

You are the Light we see,

You are the Truth we know,

You are the Life we live;

You are the Hope, You are the Joy, You are the Song we sing.

 

Living God, loving God, we glorify Your Name.

High and Holy One come down, we lift our hearts in praise.

Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, Jesus, Lord of Love,

 

Within our hearts, your Light,

Within our minds, your Truth,

Within our lives, your Love;

Living your Hope, spreading your Joy,

Singing your beautiful song,

Singing your beautiful song, your song.

 

 

 

Confession and Assurance                                        2 Peter 1 (select verses)

 

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.   Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.   For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.   But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

 

Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil:

for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory.  Amen

 

Hymn of Thanksgiving

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Charles Wesley, 1739; tune Mendelssohn, 1840) (#203)

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King;

Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”

Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies;

With th’angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

 

Christ, by highest heav’n adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord!

Late in time behold him come, offspring of the Virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail th’incarnate Deitiy,

Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

 

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings.

Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die,

Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

 

Benediction 

 

KNOW

Welcome to Providence Church! We are glad that you are here, joining us in person or via Zoom!.

Sunday School:   Adult and Youth Sunday School is at 11:15. Paula Rhodarmer will be teaching.   Will/Christina are leading a study in Exodus.  Children’s Sunday School – K-3 downstairs and 4-6 upstairs at the end of the hall.

Fellowship Time: Between the end of our worship service and before SS

Children of all ages are invited to participate in the entire service of worship.  Childcare for children up to 6 years of age, in our downstairs Christian Ed wing (on the left) at the end of the hallway.

Giving: Have you ever wondered why we don’t “pass the plate” at Providence? It starts with the meaning of our name and the heart we have. Providence means that God is ordering and providing everything we need. Our heart is a response of gratitude for God’s provision, first in the Incarnation and second, in the new life we have in Christ because of His death and resurrection. We believe that God “will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory”. And so we leave it to the Holy Spirit to move on the hearts of our people to share God’s abundance in their lives, also in the life of the community of God’s people: the church. As this year comes to a close, consider God’s goodness and abundance to you and share that in the advancement of the gospel through the local church.

 

GROW

Women’s Prayer Group – 10:15am Tuesday mornings, contact Linda Roberts,  828) 506-3101

Men’s Prayer Group – 6:45am Thursday mornings, contact Sam Mitchell,        (828) 734-1392

 

GO

Prayer Requests:   Glenda White received news that her older brother had passed away at 87. As a church family, we extend our sincere condolences and take comfort in knowing that Cornell was a believer. The funeral is in Nashville this weekend. Kindly pray for comfort and traveling mercies. Let’s remember and pray for people struggling with grief and depression, especially during Christmas.

For Mercy and Grace:  Bill Silverthorne, Robbie Hargrove

Praise:  LuAnn is recovering well