Bulletin - December 12th, 2021
NCPC Sunday Morning Worship Service
December 12, 2021
Once in Royal David’s City
Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed, where a mother laid her baby in a manger for His bed: Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.
He came down to earth from heaven Who is God and Lord of all, and His shelter was a stable, and His cradle was a stall: with the poor and meek and lowly lived on earth, our Savior holy.
Jesus is our childhood’s pattern, day by day like us He grew, He was little, weak, and helpless, tears and smiles like us He knew: and He feels for all our sadness, and He shares in all our gladness.
And our eyes at last shall see Him, through His own redeeming love; for that child so dear and gentle, is our Lord in heaven above, and He leads His children on to the place where He has gone.
Words and music by Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander and Henry John Gauntlett; Public Domain; CCLI License # 387777
Call to Worship/Prayer of Invocation
It Came upon the Midnight Clear (Hymn No. 200)
It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, from angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold: “Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heav’n’s all gracious King”; the world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come, with peaceful wings unfurled, and still their heav’nly music floats o’er all the weary world: above its sad and lowly plains they bend on hov’ring wing, and ever o’er its babel sounds the blessed angels sing.
And ye, beneath life’s crushing load, whose forms are bending low, who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow, look now! For glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing: O rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing.
For lo, the days are hast’ning on, by prophet bards foretold, when with the ever-circling years comes round the age of gold; when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling, and the whole world give back the song which now the angels sing.
Words and music by Edmund Hamilton Sears and Richard Storrs Willis; Public Domain; CCLI License # 387777
Joy to the World! The Lord Is Come (Hymn No. 195) / Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
Joy to the world! The Lord is come: let earth receive her King; let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns: let men their songs employ; while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love, and wonders of His love, and wonders, wonders of His love.
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love; hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away. Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!
All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays. Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise. Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife. Joyful music lifts us sunward in the triumph song of lie.
(Joy to the World) Words by Isaac Watts and music by George Frederick Handel; (Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee) Words by Henry Van Dyke and music by Ludwig van Beethoven and Edward Hodges; Public Domain; CCLI License # 387777
Lighting of the Advent Wreath
Pastor Tim Dryden
Corporate Confession of Sin
Jeff Brauch, Ruling Elder
Our God and King, Whose power is infinite and wisdom infallible, we come to You confessing our rebellion, trusting in our own power and questioning Your wisdom. Please forgive our sin of self-reliance and pride. You did not hold back even Your own Son, Whom You sent to redeem us from our sin. You have made us new in Him, washed us, cleansed us, filled us with His Spirit, given us hope eternal. Open our spiritual eyes to clearly see the wonders of Your provision and to bask in Your grace and love. To believe Your forgiveness. Make us quick to flee to You, our Father, in trust and devotion. We ask in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Morning Prayer
(Dismissal for Children’s Worship for Age 4 through Kindergarten.)
Offertory (** You Can Give by Text: Text "Give" to 757-500-8680. **)
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming and Angels from the Realms of Glory
Hymn No. 731
Doxology
Scripture Reading
Luke 2:17-20 (Pew Bible pg. 857)
Sermon
How to Celebrate Christmas
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
New Covenant welcomes all baptized Christians who have forsaken their sin and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, and who are members of congregations that proclaim the Gospel, to receive the Lord’s Supper with us. Individuals pick up their elements from the tables in the sanctuary or in the fellowship hall and wait to eat together as a family meal. Gluten free bread is provided.
O Come, All You Unfaithful (During Communion)
What Child Is This (Hymn No. 213)
What Child is this, Who laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing: haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary.
Why lies He in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christian, fear; for sinners here the silent Word is pleading. Nails, spears, shall pierce Him through; the cross be borne for me, for you: hail, hail the Word made flesh, the Babe, the Son of Mary.
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh; come, peasant, king, to own Him; the King of kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone Him. Raise, raise a song on high, the virgin sings her lullaby; joy, joy for Christ is born, the Babe, the Son of Mary.
Words and music by Chris Tomlin and William Chatterton Dix; Words (public domain); Music (2015, S. D. G. Publishing, Sixsteps Songs, and Worship Together Music); CCLI License # 387777
Postlude
Angels from the Realms of Glory
Announcements
** Please contact Josh at josh.escamilla@newcovenantpca.org if you are interested in being a part of the praise band or sharing a Christmas musical piece on your own in our Christmas Music Program next Sunday, Dec. 19, at 6 p.m.
** Choir rehearsal TONIGHT at 5 p.m. in the sanctuary for teens and adults who would like to sing for the Christmas program on December 19. Contact Bob Essmann for details 757-560-4912.
** Next Sunday, Dec. 19, the children in preschool through 5th grade will meet immediately after the worship service in the Learning Center to decorate Christmas ornaments (Christmas cookies and ornament making supplies will be provided). Each child will make 1-2 ornaments to hang on the tree in the gathering area. Also, the story of Jesus’ birth will be read. Regular children’s Sunday school classes will be held afterwards.
** Singtime TODAY immediately after worship, Preschool - 5th grade, Learning Center in Children’s Ministry Wing.
** Sunday School Classes TODAY. Preschool - 5th grade in the Children’s Ministry Wing; Middle & High School Class in the Green Room; College & Career Class (Let Us Biblically Worship) in Classroom A; Heaven Class in Classroom B; and I & II Thessalonians Class in the Fellowship Hall.
** The Weekly Prayer Group will meet this Friday, Dec. 17, at Bubba-N-Franks Smokehouse BBQ, VA Beach 23464 at 11:30 a.m. for lunch and prayer. Contact Sharon Nadlicki (757-769-1575) with questions.
** Our ESL ministry needs volunteers to help in various ways. NO previous experience or knowledge of a foreign language is needed! Please contact Mark Leech (703-338-3951, mjleech@hotmail.com) for more info. Classes are Tuesday nights from 7-9 p.m.
** Community Groups & Women’s Bible Studies. Check out the info table in the narthex for details.
** Visit Our Website at www.newcovenantpca.org for information about our church – if you want to plug in at the church, you can do so through New Covenant Connect on the site.
** Are You Getting Texts & Emails Through Flocknote? If not, text please to 84576.
What’s Happening at New Covenant During December?
Sunday, December 12 Singtime Children help lead singing in worship
Sunday, December 19 Children’s Christmas Ornament Decorating
Sunday, December 19 Congregational Meeting to present 2022 budget, following worship
Sunday, December 19, 6 pm Christmas Music Program
Friday, December 24, 5 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Friday, December 31, 7 pm New Year’s Eve Prayer and Praise