To Give Light

Long Branch Baptist Church

Halfway, Virginia; est. 1786

Sunday, December 10th, 2006

Enter to Worship

Prelude David Witt

Meditation

Invocation

*Opening Hymn #90

“Good Christian Men, Rejoice!”

Welcome & Announcements

Morning Prayer [See Insert]

*Hymn #84

“Child in the Manger”

*Advent Litany [See Right]

*Hymn #82 [Chorus / 1st verse only / Chorus]

“Go tell it on the Mountain”

Offertory Mr. Witt

*Doxology

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.

*Scripture

Sermon

“To Give Light”

Invitation Hymn #83

“Hark, the Herald Angels Sing”

*Benediction

*Congregational Response

May the grace of Christ of 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?

We come together in the hope of His salvation. Just as the candle hopes in a greater light to come, so too we know our Eternal Hope is at hand.

He is our Hope, he is the author of our hope. In him our fathers trusted, and they were not pushed to shame.

We boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.

V The Candle of Hope is Lit

The Lord delivered this to us through the prophets:

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest. The yoke of their burden has been lifted; the rod of the oppressor is broken.

For a child has been born for us, unto us a son is given; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

All praise to Him who gives us this glorious hope. This hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit He has given.

Morning Prayer

Our King and Savior draws nigh: Come, let us adore him.

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious and gracious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal. Judge us not too harshly, we pray, but forgive us these our sins.

V Pray for forgiveness of your sin

Emmanuel, Forgive us in your gracious majesty we ask.

Lord, we thank you for your forgiveness. We thank you for your deliverance. You have protected us, cared for us, and given us comfort. You have graciously supplied more than we ask or imagine. And, yet Lord, you have commanded us to ask. So we raise up to your protection those whom we love. Comfort those of us who grieve. Heal those of us who are sick. Sustain those of us who must persevere. Look most kindly upon on us we ask: especially for Warren, Cory, Susan, Irene, Nannie Griffith’s family, Lori, Martha, Cindy, Burton, Lee, Mark and these too:

V Pray for your neighbors

Emmanuel, Be with us in your gracious majesty we ask.

Lord, at this time when we celebrate the arrival of the Kingdom through your glorious Son, we ask your blessings on our present kingdom. Grant us good rulers who would seek to do your will. Keep us free to be your church. Guide and grow this church, we pray, that your kingdom would advance. Lord, we humbly ask that we could be a part of that kingdom. Watch over us as we pray.

V Pray for your country and church

Emmanuel, Guide us in your gracious majesty we ask.

Be with us even as we return the prayer you once to taught us, saying. Our Father …

Announcements

We are ending a little early today in the hopes you will join with Middleburg Church for their message in music (Christmas Cantata) called “Celebrate the Child”

Thank you for being with us as we celebrate the birth our king.

Scripture Reading

68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.