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THE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE

7:00 p.m. December 22, 2002

Assemble in God’s Name

Organ Prelude:

Call To Worship (In Unison)

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

s Hymnbook: "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night" #169

Lighting of the Advent Candles

Prayer of Confession (in unison)

Almighty God, you have sent a star to guide us to the holy child Jesus. We confess that we have not followed the light of your Word. We have not searched for signs of your love in the world. We have not trusted the Good News to be good. We have failed to praise your Son's birth, and we have refused his peace on earth. We have expected little and hoped for less. Forgive our doubt, and renew our faith, so that we may again hear the glad story of our Savior. In his name we pray, Amen.

Declaration of Forgiveness

Leader: The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (I Tim. 1:15).

People: He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed (I Peter 2:24).

 

s Gloria Patri #546

Christmas Benevolent Offering

Offertory

s Doxology #544

Proclaim God’s Word

s A Scriptural Litany of Light

s Scripture Lesson: Luke 11:14-23

Anthem:

Sermon: "The Beelzebub Controversy"

A Christmas Prayer

The Candlelight Service

s. Lighting the Candles

s The Nicene Creed (p12, The Hymnbook)

s Hymnbook: "Silent Night! Holy Night!"...#154 (First Stanza)

s Prayer of Thanksgiving and the Lord's Prayer

s Charge and Blessing

Postlude:

 

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The Candlelight Service at Christmas is symbolic. The lighting of the first candle symbolizes the coming of Christ the light of the world. From him, the light of God is spread throughout the world. As the congregation lights other candles, they symbolize the spreading of God’s light into all the world. Each candle we light is as an act of rededication. Each person who receives the light accepts his or her responsibility to spread God’s light. Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before people that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).

 

After the service, please deposit the candles in the boxes provided for this purpose.

Christmas Benevolent Offering

The offering tonight will go to help needy retired church workers, retired ministers and minister's widows. The General Synod has requested that a special offering be received at Christmas for this purpose.

 

 

A Scriptural Litany of Light

One: "And God said, Let there be light" (Gen. 1:3).

All: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear" (Psalm 27:1).

One: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105).

All: "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is a light" (Proverbs 6:23).

One: "I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth" (Isaiah 49:6).

All: "The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory" (Isaiah 60:19).

One: "The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up" (Matthew 4:16).

All: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid" (Matthew 5:14).

One: "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12).

All: "Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness" (I Thess. 5:5).

One: "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world" (John 9:5).

All: "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light." (Eph. 5:8).

 

 

If you have questions or comments, email Tony Grant

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