December 15, 2019
It’s week three in the season of Advent. Advent is the four weeks leading up to Christmas where we celebrate the fulfilled promise of the first coming of Jesus and heighten our anticipation for His second coming, when the wolf will lie down with the lamb, death will be swallowed up, and every tear will be wiped away.
See our resources for Advent prayer and fasting here, and explore our artistic accompaniment to the season over at The Christian Year. Here’s how you can prepare for this Sunday:
1. Read through our text, Luke 2:36–38.
As we continue our journey through the Advent season, we’ll be looking more at the prophetess Anna and her deep hunger for God. This week, we’re considering her practice of daily prayer. Much more than something to check off your daily list, prayer is God’s method of communication for and with His people, accessing the spiritual realm to bring heaven to earth; to experience His presence now as we wait for Christ’s second coming.
2. Read, pray, and sing through the service:
CALL TO WORSHIP: Micah 5:2, 4–5a, The Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate;
was crucified, dead and buried;
He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
I believe in the holy catholic (“universal”) church;
the communion of saints;
The forgiveness of sins;
The resurrection of the body;
And the life everlasting.
Amen.
Joy To The World (Joyful, Joyful) (Beethoven, Handel, van Dyke, Watts, Wickham)
O Come All Ye Faithful (C. Frederick Oakeley, John Francis Wade)
CONFESSION OF SIN:
Everlasting Father,
You created us to walk in the Garden with You.
We were fashioned for union and communion with the God of the universe.
Our hearts were intended to be wholly Yours throughout each of our days, in step with Your Spirit.
Sadly we have long departed from this calling!
We confess we often live our days unaware of You—self-sufficient, busy, and numb.
We seek worldly experiences, pleasures, and things instead of abiding in and with You.
Forgive us for abandoning our first call!
Help us repent and return to You, our true home.
Would you teach us in this Advent season of longing to long after closer communion with You?
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit,
Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: 1 John 3:1–2
No Longer Slaves (Carson, Maher, Nockels, Reeves, Stanfill) / You Keep On Getting Better (Dante Bowe, Jonathan Jay, Majesty Rose)
GREETING, SERMON, RESPONSE & COMMUNION
Great Is The Lord (Joseph Pat Barrett, Daniel Bashta, Ben Smith)
VOCATIONAL COMMISSIONING: Retail
We Labor Unto Glory (Craig Harris, Isaac Wardell)