PROVIDENCE CHURCH
December 13, 2020

Welcome

Passing of the Peace: Though we are separated by distance our hearts are one in Christ. The peace of Christ be with you! And also with you!

Lighting of the Advent Candle
Speaker: Please join us as we read the Advent Liturgy.

Speaker: The First candle reminded us of the prophets who foretold of the coming of Christ, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

The second candle reminded us of God’s preparation for the coming of the Christ-Child, to be born in Bethlehem of Judah.

Speaker: What does the third candle symbolize?

Congregation: The third candle reminds us that the Shepherds were the first to receive the glorious news of the birth of Christ. Just as they received this news, when they had witnessed it for themselves, they too became messengers for Christ.

Speaker: God uses messengers to tell His wonderful news. Isaiah 52 says this about God’s messengers:

“How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’ Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, they shout joyfully together; For they will see with their own eyes when the LORD restores Zion. Break forth, shout joyfully together, you waste places of Jerusalem; For the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations, that all the ends of the earth may see the salvation of our God. Isaiah 52: 7-10

Speaker: The shepherds received from the angels the wonderful news telling them of the birth of the Savior.

All: And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:8-14

Speaker: The shepherds acted on the news given them by the angels, and then they too, became messengers!

All: And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it, wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. Luke 2:15-18

Speaker: Let’s pray.

Call to worship: Matthew 1:18-25

Songs of Praise:
God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen (English carol, 18th cent.)
God rest you merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day,
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r when we were gone astray;
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.

From God our heav’nly Father, a blessed angel came;
And unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.

“Fear not, then,” said the angel, “let nothing you affright;
this day is born a Savior of a pure virgin bright,
to free all those who trust in him from Satan’s pow’r and might.”
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.

On Christmas Night All Christians Sing (Traditional English carol)
On Christmas night all Christians sing, to hear the news the angels bring;
On Christmas night all Christians sing, to hear the news the angels bring;
News of great joy, news of great mirth,
News of our merciful King’s birth.

Then why should men on earth be sad, since our Redeemer made us glad?
Then why should men on earth be sad, since our Redeemer made us glad,
When from our sin he set us free,
All for to gain our liberty.

When sin departs before your grace, then life and health come in its place;
When sin departs before your grace, then life and health come in its place;
Angels and men with joy may sing,
All for to see the newborn King.

All out of darkness we have light, which made the angels sing this night;
All out of darkness we have light, which made the angels sing this night:
“Glory to God and peace to men,
now and forevermore, Amen!”

Go, Tell it On the Mountain (Spiritual)
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night,
Behold, throughout the heavens there shone a holy light.
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

The shepherds feared and trembled when, lo! above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior’s birth.
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

Down in a lowly manger our humble Christ was born,
And God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

Confession/Assurance

Responding in Praise:
Silent Night (Joseph Mohr, 1818, tr. circa 1850; tune Franz Gruber, 1818)
Silent Night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin, mother and child,
Holy infant, so tender and mile,
Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.

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!

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

Silent night! Holy night! Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King;
Christ, the Savior, is born! Christ, the Savior, is born!

Scripture Reading: Matthew 18:21-35

This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Are you being tortured?” Guest Speaker: Rev. Dan Pinckney

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.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil:
for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Amen

Hymn of Thanksgiving:

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Charles Wesley, 1739; tune Mendelssohn, 1840)
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 host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ, by highest heav’n 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 Deitiy,
Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings, ris’n with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Benediction

KNOW
Tithes and Gifts:
If you are joining us via Zoom, your tithes and gifts can be mailed to P.O. Box 65, Clyde. We thank you for your prayerful financial support for our church.

GROW

Would you like to grow in the joy and work of prayer? Join our women on Wednesday mornings or our men on Thursday mornings. These seasons of weekly prayer are rich in fellowship and in prayers. Want to know more about the time and place for Women’s Prayer? Contact Linda Roberts. Would you like to join our ZOOM prayer times at 7:30 am Thursday’s call Sam Mitchell and he will send you the link to the meeting. NOTE: All these groups will resume in January.

Are you longing to grow in your connection with God through Scripture reading? Pastor Edward recommends Bible In One Year, a 20 minute reading of Scripture and commentary written by Nicky Gumble leader of Alpha (an international evangelism ministry). Just look it up under your apps on your phone/computer.

GO

Open Door Soup Kitchen: This is an ongoing commitment of Providence Church to the least, the last, the lost and the lonely of our community. While Open Door is no longer able to serve meals, we are still volunteering to cook the meals on the first Friday of each month, If you can serve in this way, please let Phil and Pat know at 828- 476-5130. Thanks for your faithfulness.

Prayer Requests: Healing: Wally, Eleonore, Sarah, Barb, Bob’s parents (hospitalized with COVID); Robbie Hargrove; Chuck & Carole Torpy; Glenn & Laura Glad; Thom Morgan’s mother; Caroline (Bev’s Mom); Sarah’s brother in law Dan – cancer; Lisa Rhodarmer’s brother Michael – cancer.