SERVICE FOR
THE LORD’S DAY

December 22, 2024

The Fourth Sunday of Advent

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE

Liturgist, Debbie Irvine

CALL TO WORSHIP — based on Romans 13:11-12

Leader: You know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep.

People: For salvation is nearer to us now
than when we became believers;
the night is far gone, the day is near.

Leader: Let us then lay aside the works of darkness
and put on the armor of light.

People: Come, let us worship God.

*OPENING CAROL #173 O Come, All Ye Faithful

*OPENING PRAYER

*CAROL #151 Go, Tell It On The Mountain

GUIDED PRAYER

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH — from Micah 5:2-5

We believe the promise of God given by the Prophet Micah is certain and sure: “But you, O Bethlehem, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace.”  Amen.

LIGHTING OF THE FOURTH ADVENT CANDLE Bennett/Martins

ANTHEM Angels We Have Heard on High

Arr. Carol Tournquist

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.  Amen.

WORSHIPING GOD WITH OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS

       Offertory 

       *Offertory Response — #126, O Come Let Us Adore Him

O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

       *Prayer of Dedication

NEW TESTAMENT READING:                                Revelation 12:1-9

Pastor:  The Word of the Lord

People:  Thanks be to God

SERMON: Rev. David Garrison

ADVENTUS GLORIFICANUS: A WOMAN, A DRAGON, & A BABY

Series: Adventus

And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. – Revelation 12:4

*CLOSING CAROL #157 Good Christian Friends, Rejoice

*BENEDICTION  

*POSTLUDE

WELCOME TO NORTHMINSTER EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

¹   And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. ² She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. ³ And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. ⁴ His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. ⁵ She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, ⁶ and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. ⁷ Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, ⁸ but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. ⁹ And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

— Revelation 12:1-9 (ESV)