:: Download the 12.29.2013 Worship Study Guide & Sermon Notes
:: Download the 12.29.2013 Bulletin
:: Download the 12.29.2013 Parents Bulletin
:: Listen to the 12.29.2013 Sermon Audio
image :: Before Time (Mysteries 12) 05-01-11, John Hoyland (British, 2011)
Preparation for Worship :: The Mystery of Christ
Kneeling
at the foot of the universe
I ask
from this body
in confusion
and pain (a condition
which You
may recall)
Clothed now in light
clothed in abyss, at the prow
of the desert
killed
Into everywhereness—
have mercy
Mercy on us all
Franz Wright, “Petition”
:: O Come All Ye Faithful [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=3373596575 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5]
:: What Child is This? [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=2254475816 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=7]
:: Love Came Down at Christmas [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=2254475816 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=3]
:: Silent Night [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=1862228885 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5]
:: In the Bleak Midwinter [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=2254475816 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=8]
:: Creator of the Stars of Night [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=2254475816 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=1]
Call to Worship :: Psalm 95:1-3,6-7
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.
New Testament Reading :: Romans 11:25-7,33-36
Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob; and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”… Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Sermon :: Ephesians 3:1-6
1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
We Confess Our Sin Together
Heavenly Father–You alone are our Maker, Who delights to dwell with the broken and contrite. Jesus Christ– You are our Redeemer, Who alone satisfies divine wrath by His perfect sacrifice. Holy Spirit– You are our only Comforter, Who grants us repentance and faith. We confess before You and one another that we have sinned against You in thought and word and deed; that we have not loved You with all our heart and soul, mind and strength; that we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. O Lord, with You there is forgiveness, Therefore you are feared. We beseech You, O God, to forgive what we have been, to change what we are, and by Your mercy direct what we are becoming; so that we may hereafter walk in the way of Your commands. Forgive and sanctify us, O Lord. Amen.
Words of Encouragement :: II Corinthians 5:21
God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.