Welcome

Introit |

Advent Candle Lighting | Angela Hendryx & Nathanael Komline

Hymn | “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

Prayer of Confession (unison)
Lord God,we praise you for sending light into this world. We confess that we live as though the light had never defeated darkness. We confess that we pretend we do not need saving, and so we ignore the Savior. We’ve kept Christ’s birth confined to the Christmas season and do not yearn for his coming each moment in our waiting hearts.

Forgive us for not opening our eyes to Jesus. Prepare us for His return. Help us rejoice in the light, so that your grace can illuminate the darkened places of our hearts. Amen.

Silent Prayer

Assurance of Pardon
Leader: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed his people.
People: God has raised up salvation for us, as he spoke by the prophets, that we shall be saved.
Leader: In Christ, we are forgiven.
All: Thanks be to God.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

Scripture | Matthew 1:1-17

Sermon | “Surprise Family” - Rev.Dr. Barnabas Sprinkle

Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by 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.

Anthem

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Offering

Affirmation of Faith (Hebrews 11:1, 13, 12:1-2)
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. By faith the people of old received their commendation. These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hymn | “What Child Is This?”

Benediction

Postlude