Sunday, December 21, 2008
Fourth Sunday of Advent

Welcome
Call to Worship

Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem, in Judea, during the reign of King Herod.

At about that time some astrologers from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? For we have seen His Star in far-off eastern lands, and have come to worship Him.”

King Herod was deeply disturbed by their questions, and all Jerusalem was filled with rumors. He called a meeting of the Jewish religious leaders. “Did the prophets tell us where the Messiah would be born?” he asked.

“Yes, in Bethlehem,” they said, “for this is what the prophet Micah wrote: ‘O little town of Bethlehem, you are not an unimportant Judean village, for a Governor shall rise from you to rule my people Israel.”

Then Herod sent a private message to the astrologers, asking them to come to see him; at this meeting he found out from them the exact time when they first saw the star.

Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search for the child. And when you find Him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship Him, too.”

After this interview the astrologers started out again. And Look! The star appeared to them again, standing over Bethlehem. Their joy knew no bounds!

Entering the house where the baby and Mary His mother were, they threw themselves down before Him, worshiping. Then they opened their present and gave Him gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

But when they returned to their own land, they didn’t go through Jerusalem to report to Herod, for God had warned them in a dream to go home another way.

After they were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up and flee to Egypt with the baby and His mother,” the angel said, “and stay there until I tell you to return, for King Herod is going to try to kill the child.”

That same night he left for Egypt with Mary and the baby, and stayed there until King Herod’s death.

This fulfilled the prophet’s prediction; “I have called my Son from Egypt.”

Invocation
Lighting of the Advent Wreath
Songs of Worship—It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (Sears/Willis)
Special Music – Children/Teen Choir
Worship through Prayer
Worship through Giving
Song of Worship—Once in Royal David’s City (Alexander/Gauntlett)
Worship through God’s Word – Jesus Is the Prince of Peace [audio]
Song of Commitment—I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day (Longfellow/Calkin)
Benediction