ORDER OF WORSHIP
December 24, 2023 10:30 AM
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
If you have individual prayer requests, please write them on prayer cards in the pews and bring them up or give them to an usher during the prelude.
**Kindly stand if you are able
PRELUDE “Mary Did you Know?” Mary Lee Farris, Piano
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE The Olson Family
CHORAL INTROIT “Sing We Now of Christmas” UNION CHOIR
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 89)
Leader: I will sing of your steadfast love, O LORD, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your
faithfulness to all generations.
PEOPLE: I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
Leader: You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David:
PEOPLE: ‘I will establish your descendants forever, and build your throne for all
generations.’
Leader: will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.
PEOPLE: He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation!’
INVOCATION
Dear Lord, to you we ascribe all power and majesty and beauty. You bring us a child whom we call blessed, upon whose shoulders rests he destiny of nations. He brings us life everlasting, the prophet’s wonderful counselor to guide your people as we lift our voices and rejoice with shepherds and angels for peace on earth goodwill to all. Amen
**OPENING HYMN “The First Noel” Red #162
MESSAGE FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES
CALL TO CONFESSION
Our journey through the waiting of Advent is almost complete. As we celebrate a wonderful
birth let us pray together as we seek to find a closer link to our Creator through our faith.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Creator God, you call us to love and serve you with body, mind, and spirit through loving your creation and our sisters and brothers. Open our hearts in compassion and receive these petitions on behalf of the needs of the church and the world. This we pray in Jesus name, Amen.
(a moment for silent personal confession)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
We have received the gift of Christmas, signifying God’s infinite love and ultimate forgiveness for each of us throughout history. In the mercy of this Christmas season, we are forgiven. Amen.
**GLORIA PATRI Red #805
**PASSING OF THE PEACE
**HYMN OF PRAISE “Angels We have Heard on High” Red # 152
Gage Szymanowicz, TRUMPET
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Gracious God, as we turn to your Word for us, may the Spirit of God rest upon us. Help us to be steadfast in our hearing, in our speaking, in our believing, and in our living. Amen
SCRIPTURE READINGS
OLD TESTAMENT READING 2 Samuel 7: 1-10, 16 Dan Olson
GOSPEL READING Luke 1: 46-55
ANTHEM “What Child is this” UNION CHOIR
SERMON MESSAGE Revolutionary Talk John Redman, CRE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
And Lord we pray for those in our own hearts whose names you already know, for their
own healing and comfort, in your name and that of our redeemer Jesus Christ, who
taught to pray, saying:
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
OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS
We give freely from the bounty we have been given by our Gracious God. May what we
offer in these moments help to become the very blessing and hope that others need.
This we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
OFFERTORY “Still, Still, Still”
**DOXOLOGY Traditional Red #809
PRAYER OF THANKS
Lord God, we thank you for these gifts. As we follow in faith, may we find ways to honor
you by giving of our treasure, our time and our talents to glorify you and our Lord Jesus
Christ. Amen.
**CLOSING HYMN “O Come All Ye Faithfull” Red #173
BENEDICTION
On this most special night of nights, may we all join in the hope, peace, love, and joy of this season and bring it into our lives throughout the coming days and months and in each of our lives together. Amen
POSTLUDE: “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken” Mary Lee Farris, Piano
Blessings!
John Redman, CRE
Mobile: (914) 474-0722
Union Church
44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh NY 12550
Phone: (845) 562-0954 Fax: (845) 562-0955