Description
Matthew 1:18-25
The story is such a part of our Christmas lore we have lost its meaning. Our focus is on Joseph, who was led to accept Mary’s pregnancy, even ‘naming’ Mary’s child. We see his kindness as well as his obedience. Lost within our focus on Joseph is how radical an event this is. This is a new creation, no less wondrous than that recorded in Genesis. In fact, the Greek talks about the ‘genesis’ of the birth of Jesus. Like the Spirit hovering over the ooze of creation, the Spirit now creates something – SomeOne – in a totally miraculous way. The old creation cannot bring forth the new. No human being brought about this birth. This is God speaking His Word and resetting the universe. And this becomes the prototype for our own ‘resetting’, as the Spirit gives birth to the Son of God within us, and we experience the new creation.
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include videos (countdowns, worship music, welcomes), worship music CD, or live music by worship band.]
Time of Praise and Worship
This Is Love / Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Paul Baloche & Kathryn Scott, ©2013 Integrity Worship Music/Leadworship Songs/ASCAP (adm worldwide by Integrity Music via CapitolCMGPublishing.com excluding the UK which is adm at Integritymusic.com [email protected]) & Fuel Music Publishing
New Doxology
Thomas Ken & Thomas Miller, ©2008 Gateway Create Publishing (Admin. by Integrity’s Praise! Music)
Let Us Adore
Reuben Morgan, ©2005 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Born In Bethlehem
Brad Avery, David Carr, Mac Powell, Mark Lee, Tai Anderson, © 2006 Consuming Fire Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
[Traditional Options]
Angels From the Realms
BH 75 87; BH 91 94; CH 259; CHH 149; EH 93; ELW 275; HWC 131; HFG 190; HLC 110; HGP 62; HSP 333; LBW 50; LSB 367; LW 50; NCH 126; PH 22; RH 135; RS 508; STTL 192; WC 174; UMH 220; WAR 189; WHM 155; WIS 163
A Great and Mighty Wonder
LSB 383; LW 51
Savior Of The Nations Come
EH 54; ELW 263; LBW 28; LSB 332; LW 13; PH 14; RS 480; WC 138; UMH 214; WAR 168
Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme
Pastor: In the name of the Father, Who created us in the beginning, and brought about a new creation through the giving of His Son;
In the name of the Son, Jesus Christ, the Word spoken into the world, Who is the new creation;
In the name of the Holy Spirit, Who hovered over the first creation, and Who brought about the new creation in Mary, and in us.
ALL Amen
Opening Prayer
Pastor In the beginning, Almighty God, You hovered in Your Spirit over the nothingness, anc called creation being. Where there had been nothing, there was sun and moon and fish and fowl and mankind. And when your creation was spoiled with sin, You hovered in Your Spirit over the womb of a virgin, and brought forth a new creation, in and through Your Son. We marvel at such mystery, and offer You our humble praise. In the name of Jesus, the new creation, and the creating and re-creating Spirit
ALL Amen.
Time of Greeting
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor On this fourth Sunday in Advent, our focus is on the mystery of what God has done. This virgin birth, brought about through the Spirit, is a new creation. God did not try to ‘fix’ the broken creation – He started fresh – a new ‘Adam’ – a new ‘race’ – a new people. In the presence of such mystery and wonder, we are silent.
(a time of silence)
Almighty God, Creator of all, forgive our shallow focus on things trivial.
ALL We reduce Christmas to sentimental and religious clichés, and lose the wonder of what You have done.
We talk about the Christmas spirit, and ignore the Spirit Who makes Christmas real in each of us.
We focus on Christmas characters – Joseph and Mary and sheep and shepherds and wise men and angels, and do not bow before the sheer mystery of the new creation.
We are like Joseph – nice people, but slaves to our expectations of how things are to be.
Speak Your Word, and bring about the wonder of creation within us.
Pastor Joseph was told to name Mary’s child Jesus, “for He will save His people from their sins.” Jesus is the new creation, the eternal Son of the eternal Father. He entered our time and our space to die and rise again, restoring all to what was intended in the beginning. The old has passed, the new has come, and in the Spirit – we are new.
Lighting of the Advent Wreath
Pastor “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matrhew1:20,21
ALL Come, Lord Jesus.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-17
Virgin birth is a sign God provides for Ahaz
10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. 15 He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, 16 for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. 17 The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.”
