Everything Changes

Long Branch Baptist Church

Halfway, Virginia; est. 1786

Sunday, December 17th, 2006

Enter to Worship

Announcements

Prelude David Witt

Meditation 2 Corinthians 5:16-19

Invocation

*Opening Hymn #88

“Joy to the World”

Welcome

Morning Prayer

*Advent Litany [See Right]

*Hymn CH#622 – [See Insert]

“Humble Thyself”

Offertory & *Doxology Mr. Witt

Praise God from whom all blessings flow / Praise Him all creatures here below

Praise him above, ye heavenly host / Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Special Music Susan Hollinger

“Mary, Did You Know?”

Sermon Luke 1:46-56

“Everything Changes”

Invitation Hymn #94

“Infant Holy, Infant Lowly”

*Benediction

*Congregational Response

May the grace of Christ our Savior / And the Father’s boundless love

With the Holy Spirit’s favor / Rest upon us from above. Amen.

* Congregation, please stand.

Depart To Serve

Advent Litany

Light and peace to you through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Grace and peace be unto you!

Why do we light this candle?

The joy of the Lord is our strength. It is as a fire within us. We praise God for the joy he has given us.

Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his suffering ones.

We will sing for joy at the works of his hands. We sing for joy for we are fearfully and wonderfully made. We sing for joy because he who is our joy has come.

V The Candle of Joy is Lit

The Lord delivered this to us through the prophets:

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as hell or high as heaven. Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also?”

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

then the lame shall leap like a deer,

and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.

For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,

and streams in the desert;

the burning sand shall become a pool,

and the thirsty ground springs of water;

O Come let us adore him, he who is our joy!

Announcements

Next Sunday’s worship will be at the regular time – 10am.

There will be no evening Christmas Eve Service at Long Branch this year. Middleburg’s candlelight Christmas Eve service will be at 5:30pm.

The new Celebration Hymnals have been ordered (I got 30 + an organ edition). They should arrive soon.

Scripture Reading- Luke 1:46 – 56 (The Magnificat)

30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. … 37 nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”

Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;

He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,

according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

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

Title: Everything Changes

Text: Luke 1.46 – 56

MP: Humility is the right response to salvation

FCF: Mary’s song teaches us how to accept a gift in way that is both grown-up and gracious: namely by putting the focus back on the giver.

SO:

Intro:

I am proud to report to you that Rachel knows why we celebrate Christmas. The other day, when a friend asked her what Christmas is all about, she answered right away: “It’s when we get presents.” Sadly, it wasn’t for lack of trying.

Now, Rachel is fixated on Mary right now, albeit because of a TV show she saw. And, that’s ok – because Mary is a central part of the Christmas story. And, this morning I want to suggest that Mary has a timely lesson for us in what it means to accept a present.