One: We who have walked in darkness have seen a great light;
ALL: We, who lived in darkness, on us a light has shined!
One: For a child has been born for us, a Son given to us,
ALL: He shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace! He will rule with justice and righteousness from this time onward and forevermore!
*HYMN “O Come, All Ye Faithful” v. 1-3, 6
LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE Stephen & Mia Folds
Voice One: We relight four candles representing the four weeks of Advent as we awaited the blessed hope of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Voice Two: These candles symbolize gifts of Jesus Christ to us: hope, peace, joy and love.
Voice Three: Today we light the Christ Candle: the candle of hope made real in the Son of God come to earth at Christmas.
ALL: O come, O come, Emmanuel. Let us rejoice! God is with us!
*HYMN “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” v.5
SECOND LESSON: Isaiah 11:1-4 Andrew Janey
The Peaceful Kingdom
A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
2 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3 His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear;
4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
*CAROL “Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming”
THIRD LESSON: Luke 1:26-33, 38 Debbie Bowlus
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32He 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. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ 38 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.
CAROL “In the Bleak Midwinter” Laurie Ray & Mandy McDow, vocals & guitar; Wes Goldsberry, violin
PRAYER OF CONFESSION Tom Grode
God of Glory, we celebrate the birth of the Christ as a child on this night. This is how you came to redeem us, not as a king in splendor, but as an infant in swaddling cloths. Just as you have changed the world, change us, that we might see your might clothed in humility. Help us to praise you, to honor Jesus with gifts of mercy. Help us to welcome your perfect love with our love for one another. Help us to hear the call of the needy and the cry of the world for peace. Forgive us. Heal us. Redeem us. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
*PASSING OF THE PEACE - Through the act of passing the peace of Christ, we offer our sincere desire to love our neighbor.
FOURTH LESSON: Luke 2: 1-7 Savannah Southern-Smith
The Birth of Jesus
2In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
CAROL “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear”
FIFTH LESSON: Luke 2:8-20 Mark Schiff
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.10 But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
CAROL “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
GOSPEL LESSON John 1:1-14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
HOMILY A Change is Gonna Come Rev. Mandy McDow
THE 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 trespasses, as we forgive those
who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the
power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
CAROL “Joy to the World”
CEREMONY OF LIGHTS
CAROL “Silent Night, Holy Night”
BENEDICTION Rev. Mandy McDow
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Be sure to join us for Sunday worship on FB/YouTube/Periscope Live
January 3, 2020 at 10:30 a.m.
Los Angeles First United Methodist Church
1020 S. Flower Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Creative • Courageous • Compassionate