December 22, 2013

Welcome

to

Exeter Presbyterian Church

December 22, 2013

"This is the day that the Lord has made,

let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24

*CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 107:1-3

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

*OPENING HYMN: (#196) Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

PRAYER OF ADORATION AND INVOCATION

*THE 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. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

*GLORIA PATRI (#735)

THE LAW OF GOD – “Follow Me” – Luke 9:23-26

CONFESSION OF SIN Father God, Your ways are holy, perfect, and altogether righteous. But we have denied You by our thoughts, words, and actions. We have had unclean hearts. We have not loved You as we should. We have sought to justify ourselves in the sight of men, but have not sought Your face. We have not had a right and appropriate fear of You. And our love for You has been weak.

Please be our helper as we come to You this morning. We come as a community of faith that You have called together for such a time as this. We come in the perfect righteousness of Your Son, Jesus Christ. We come with boldness in Him. We come to You now with both fear and love - with that fear of You which is the beginning of wisdom - and with true love for You, because You first loved us. We repent of all known sin, and trust in Your unfailing love for Your children, In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

DECLARATION OF PARDON [Romans 8:12-15]

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

*PREPARATION HYMN: (#201) O Little Town of Bethlehem

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Psalm 80 page 491

GOSPEL PASSAGE: Matthew 1:18-25 page 807

*SERMON TEXT: Isaiah 7:10-16 page 572

SERMON: High as Heaven—Deep as Sheol

PREACHING: Pastor Stephen Magee

*RESPONSE HYMN: (#218) Angels from the Realms of Glory

PRAYER OF INTERCESSION

OFFERING

*DOXOLOGY (#731) and Prayer of Thanksgiving

*CONFESSION OF FAITH Heidelberg Catechism Question 1

Q: What is your only comfort in life and death?

A: That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by His Holy Spirit He also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for Him.

THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER

There is a GF alternative on the back table; please help yourself or ask a server for assistance. The inner ring on the communion tray has juice for those who do not drink wine.

*CLOSING HYMN: (#210) Silent Night

*BENEDICTION

* Congregation standing as able

Evening Service

Please join us at 5:00 p.m. for the Evening Worship Service

Discussion of Morning Sermon

Isaiah 7:10-16 page 572

Opening Prayer

Opening Hymn: (#208) O Come, All Ye Faithful

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Second Hymn: (#670) If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee

Prayer of Intercession and Illumination

Old Testament Reading: Psalm 55 page 476

Gospel Reading: Mark 15:6-15 page 852

Sermon: He Passed through the Heavens - Hebrew 4:14 page 1002

Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee

The Sacrament of The Lord’s Supper

There is a GF alternative on the back table; please help yourself or ask a server for assistance. The inner ring on the communion tray has juice for those who do not drink wine.

Gloria Patri

Benediction

Pastor: Steve Magee

Associate Pastor: Nathan Snyder

Elders: Alan Bailey (emeritus), Doug Camp, John Coskery,

Dave Herrod, Skip Phelps

Deacons: Fred Kneisley, Stephen Rohrdanz, John Warenda

EXETER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (PCA)

Nourishing the Soul in the Hope of the Resurrection

(603)772-7479 www.exeterpca.org