:: Download the 12.21.2014 Worship Study Guide and Sermon Notes
:: Download the 12.21.2014 Bulletin
:: Download the 12.21.2014 Parent Bulletin
:: Download the 12.21.2014 Sermon Audio
image :: The Prophetess Anna, Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1631)
Preparation for Worship on the Fourth Sunday of Advent :: Anna: Waiting for a Lifetime
“Seeing an infant, I wonder how this could be the One who says, ‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’ I see a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. Is this the One who is clothed in the beautiful glory of unapproachable light? Listen! He is crying. Is this the One who thunders in the heavens making the angels lower their wings? Yes, but He has emptied Himself in order to fill us.” (Guerric of Igny, d.1157)
Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for December 21 include:
:: Gloria (Luke 2:15) CHART [bandcamp track=3705156614 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]
:: O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Latin antiphons, 12th century) CHART [bandcamp track=3332547118 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]
:: In Christ Alone (Getty & Townend, 2002) CHART [bandcamp track=676321818 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]
:: O Come All Ye Faithful (attr. John Francis Wade, 1743) CHART [bandcamp track=1923573538 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]
:: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Charles Wesley, 1739) CHART [bandcamp track=5650534 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]
Call to Worship :: Isaiah 65: 17-19,24,25
“Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD.
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by Your daily visitation, that Your Son Jesus Christ, at His coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for Himself; who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Declaration of Faith :: The Belgic Confession, Article 15(1561)
We believe that by the disobedience of Adam original sin has been spread through the whole human race. It is a corruption of all nature— an inherited depravity which even infects small infants in their mother’s womb, and the root which produces in man every sort of sin. It is therefore so vile and enormous in God’s sight that it is enough to condemn the human race, and it is not abolished or wholly uprooted even by baptism, seeing that sin constantly boils forth as though from a contaminated spring. Nevertheless, it is not imputed to God’s children for their condemnation but is forgiven by His grace and mercy— not to put them to sleep but so that the awareness of this corruption might often make believers groan as they long to be set free from the “body of this death.”
Old Testament Reading :: Isaiah 42:1-4
Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.
Confession of Sin :: based on Isaiah 60:1-3
“Arise, shine: for your Light has come.” Heavenly Father, forgive us; we have lived as if the Light of the World had not overcome the darkness of our sin.
“And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” Lord Jesus Christ, redeem us; We confess that we sought our own glory as we grew impatient for Your advent.
“For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you.” Holy Spirit, renew us; We have often grown accustomed to darkness, and so hardened the true yearnings of our waiting hearts.
“And nations shall come to Your light, and kings to the brightness of Your rising.” Almighty God, You came to us in the fullness of time. Draw us to live in Your presence and grace. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Words of Encouragement :: from Colossians 1:12-14
Give thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son. In Him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Sermon :: Luke 2:36-38
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.