Sunday, December 24
Welcome to our Order of Service page! Each week, a team of pastors and staff get together to collaborate on the liturgy, or order of service, for Sunday. Every element is prayerfully and carefully crafted so that the Gospel, God’s redemptive story to save a people for Himself in and through His Son Jesus Christ, would be clear and compelling. We hope you’ll enjoy following along with us as we present and rehearse the Gospel again this morning.
Order of Service
WELCOME
Pastor of Musical Worship: Peter Beers
ADVENT READING
Mary & Wally Purdy
ADORATION
Carol Medley (Angels We Have Heard On High, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Angels From the Realms of Glory)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery
THANKSGIVING & PRAISE
Manger Throne
Lord, I Need You
PRAYER FOR THE OFFERING
Pastor of Spanish Ministries: David Cea
OFFERTORY
Mary, Did You Know?
PROCLAMATION
The People of the King | Ephesians 2, 3, 4
Senior Pastor: David W. Hegg
SONG OF COMMITMENT & HOPE
Advent Gloria
COMMISSION & BENEDICTION
Pastor of Adult & Family Ministries: Alan Berthiaume
What is Advent?
The word "Advent" is a Latin word meaning "coming" or "arrival." During the Advent season (about four weeks leading up to Christmas Day), Christians worldwide prepare to celebrate the coming of God into our world through the birth of his Son, Jesus Christ.
Candles and wreaths are symbols the church has used over the centuries to promote and portray the gospel during this season. Here at Grace, you'll notice that we have an Advent wreath encircling five candles during Sunday services. Candles are lit in succession, one more each week as we count the Sundays in Advent, waiting for Christ's birth. The center and final candle, the Christ candle, celebrates the Light of Life invading our darkness of sin. Jesus said this of Himself in John 8:12,
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life."
The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some of the hectic busyness of the holiday season and quietly reflect on the baby born in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago and His promise to come again. The twin focus of the Incarnation and the Second Coming cannot be separated. So just as God's people eagerly awaited the first coming of the Messiah for thousands of years, we do so now "waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13 ESV).
Gloria, Gloria! Our God has come for us, and He will come again.
Hard copy booklets like “The Advent Companion” are available on our resource wall in the Worship Center Lobby and at the Engage Center on Sunday Mornings.
FREE E-BOOK | VIEW & DOWNLOAD