Psalm 105: A Psalm for the New Year

Play Video

Matthew 2: The Gifts of the Magi 12/24/2020

Play Video

Sermons: Watch

WORSHIP RESOURCES
CHRISTMAS EVE

Lessons in Carols

OPENING CAROL

O Come, All Ye Faithful

Latin Text: John Francis Wade, Trans. Frederick Oakley, Tune: ADESTE FIDELES irreg. (Wade)

1 O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him, born the King of angels;

Refrain:
O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

2 God of God, Light of Light;
Lo, he abhors not the virgin's womb;
Very God, begotten not created;

[Refrain]

3 Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above;
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;

\[Refrain]

4 Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be all glory giv'n;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;

\[Refrain]

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH: THE CHRIST CANDLE

Luke 1:46-56 (The Magnificat)

46 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

50 And his mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

51 He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

and exalted those of humble estate;

53 he has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

54 He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

55 as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus

Text: Charles Wesley, 1744; Tune: HYFRYDOL 8. 7. 8. 7. D. (Rowland H. Pritchard)

1 Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

2 Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.

THE FIRST LESSON

Luke 1:26-38

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Text: Liturgy of St. James, 5th c., adapted by Gerald Moultrie; Tune: PICARDY 8. 7. 8. 7. 8. 7. (French Melody, 17th c.)

1 Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly-minded,
For with blessing in his hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
Our full homage to demand.

2 King of kings, yet born of Mary,
As of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
In the body and the blood,
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heav'nly food.

3 Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of light descendeth
From the realms of endless day,
That the pow'rs of hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away.

4 At his feet the six-winged seraph,
Cherubim, with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry,
"Alleluia, alleluia,
Alleluia, Lord Most High!"

THE SECOND LESSON

Matthew 1:18-25

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us).

24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Angels from the Realms of Glory

Text: James Montgomery; Tune: REGENT SQUARE 8. 7. 8. 7. 8. 7. (Smart)

1 Angels, from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation's story,
Now proclaim Messiah's birth

Refrain:
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

2 Shepherds in the fields abiding,
Watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant Light:

[Refrain]

3 Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great Desire of nations;
Ye have seen his natal star:

[Refrain]

4 Saints before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In his temple shall appear:

[Refrain]

5 All creation, join in praising
God the Father, Spirit, Son;
Evermore your voices raising
To th' eternal Three in One:

[Refrain]

THE THIRD LESSON

Luke 2:1-7

2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

What Child Is This?

Text: William C. Dix; Tune: Greensleeves 8. 7. 8. 7. w chorus (Traditional English Melody, 16th c.)

1 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!

2 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, spear shall pierce Him through;

The cross be borne for me, for you;

Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

3 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 the song on high;

The virgin sings her lullaby

Joy, joy for Christ is born,

The Babe, the Son of Mary!

THE FOURTH LESSON

Luke 2:8-20

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Angels We Have Heard on High

Text: Traditional French Carol; Tune: Gloria 7. 7. 7. 7. w refr. (Trad. French Melody)

1 Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o'er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echo back their joyous strains.

Refrain:
Gloria in excelsis Deo,
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

2 Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
Say what may the tidings be,
Which inspire your heav'nly song?

[Refrain]

3 Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

[Refrain]

THE FIFTH LESSON

Matthew 2:1-12

2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

We Three Kings of Orient Are

Text: John H Hopkins, Jr; Tune: KINGS OF ORIENT 8. 8. 8. 6. w refr. (Hopkins)

1 We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.

Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.

2 Born a King on Bethlehem's plain,
Gold I bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.

[Refrain]

3 Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, gladly raising,
Worship Him, God on high.

[Refrain]

4 Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorr’wing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.

[Refrain]

5 Glorious now behold him arise;
King and God and sacrifice:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Earth to heav’n replies.

[Refrain]

HOMILY: THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI

(see video above)

Silent Night

German text: Josef Mohr; Tune: STILLE NACHT irreg. (Franz Grueber)

1 Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
'round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

2 Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heav'nly hosts sing alleluia;
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Christ, the Savior, is born!

3 Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

THE BENEDICTION

Revelation 19:6-8

6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah!

For the Lord our God

the Almighty reigns.

7 Let us rejoice and exult

and give him the glory,

for the marriage of the Lamb has come,

and his Bride has made herself ready;

8 it was granted her to clothe herself

with fine linen, bright and pure”—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

Joy to the World!

Text: Isaac Watts, 1719; Tune: ANTIOCH C.M. (G. F. Handel)

1 Joy to the world! The Lord is come:
let earth receive her King;
let ev'ry heart prepare him room,
and heav'n and nature sing,
and heav'n and nature sing,
and heav'n, and heav'n and nature sing.

2 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.

3 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.

4 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.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

List Subtitle

List Body

Sermons: List

WORSHIP RESOURCES 12/20/2020

A suggested service of worship for those unable to attend church

Sermons: Text

Sermons: Video

GATHERING CAROL ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH

Text: Traditional French Carol; Tune: Gloria 7. 7. 7. 7. w refr. (Trad. French Melody)

1 Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o'er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echo back their joyous strains.

Refrain:
Gloria in excelsis Deo,
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

2 Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
Say what may the tidings be,
Which inspire your heav'nly song? [Refrain]

3 Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King. [Refrain]

Sermons: HTML Embed

Sermons: Image

LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH

Christians have traditionally celebrated Advent, the four Sundays preceding Christmas by lighting candles on an advent wreath, one additional candle for each Sunday. There are usually some Scripture readings, prayer, and a devotional reading.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent

Micah 5:2-5

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

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.

3 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.

4 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.

5 And he shall be their peace.

--ESV

Luke 2:8-20

14 “Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

. . .And then, just when everything is bearing down on us to such an extent that we can scarcely withstand it, the Christmas message comes to tell us that all our ideas are wrong, and that what we take to be evil and dark is really good and light because it comes from God. Our eyes are at fault, that is all. God is in the manger, wealth in poverty, light in darkness, succor in abandonment. No evil can befall us; whatever men may do to us, they cannot but serve the God who is secretly revealed as love and rules the world and our lives.--ESV

~Dietrich Bonhoeffer~

God Is in the Manger (1906-1945)

Sermons: Text

Sermons: Video

CAROL: WHAT CHILD IS THIS?

Text: William C. Dix; Tune: Greensleeves 8. 7. 8. 7. w chorus (Traditional English Melody, 16th c.)

1 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!

2 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, spear shall pierce Him through;

The cross be borne for me, for you;

Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

3 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 the song on high;

The virgin sings her lullaby

Joy, joy for Christ is born,

The Babe, the Son of Mary!

Sermons: Text

PRAYER

Raise up Your great power, Lord, and come among us to save us; that, although through our sins we are handicapped in running the race that is set before us, Your plentiful grace and mercy may help and deliver us; through the sufficiency of Your Son our Lord, to whom with You and the Holy Spirit be honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Sermons: Text

SERMON: NOW DISMISS YOUR SERVANT IN PEACE

Luke 2:25-35

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,

according to your word;

30 for my eyes have seen your salvation

31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and for glory to your people Israel.”

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Sermon is a sound file below.

Sermons: Text

Sermons: Listen

OUR RESPONSE AND OFFERING

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

Please remember that the work of the church continues, as does the worship of God. Please read 2 Corinthians 8:1-15. Then pray about what you would like to give.

Gifts may be mailed to the church or you may use your online banking's bill-pay feature.

Grace Fellowship

PO Box 2106

Asheboro NC 27204-2106

Sermons: Text

Sermons: Video

CLOSING CAROL:

HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING

Words: Charles Wesley, alt. George Whitefield; Text: Mendelssohn 7. 7. 7. 7. D. w refrain

1 Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King:
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic hosts proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

Refrain:
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King."

2 Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of the Virgin's womb:
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th' incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel. [Refrain]

3 Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that we no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give us second birth. [Refrain]

Sermons: Text

Psalm 105: A Psalm for the New Year

Psalm 105: A Psalm for the New Year

Matthew 2: The Gifts of the Magi 12/24/2020

WORSHIP RESOURCESCHRISTMAS EVE

OPENING CAROL

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH: THE CHRIST CANDLE

THE FIRST LESSON

THE SECOND LESSON

THE THIRD LESSON

THE FOURTH LESSON

THE FIFTH LESSON

HOMILY: THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI

THE BENEDICTION

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

WORSHIP RESOURCES 12/20/2020

GATHERING CAROL ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH

LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH

CAROL: WHAT CHILD IS THIS?

PRAYER

SERMON: NOW DISMISS YOUR SERVANT IN PEACE

OUR RESPONSE AND OFFERING

CLOSING CAROL:

HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING

WORSHIP RESOURCES
CHRISTMAS EVE