Christmas Day Worship Booklet

Merry Christmas Hephatha Family, For the past four weeks we have been in the season of Advent. Advent is when we get ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. On Christmas day we celebrate the birth of the Christ Child that we have been anxiously awaiting during advent. If you have an advent wreath, at the beginning of each section of carols and lessons, you will be instructed to light one of the candles until finally we culminate with the celebration of Christmas. In addition to this booklet, there is a special Christmas message that can be found on our website at Hephatha.net/christmas-day, available through links to our Facebook page and our YouTube channel. If you would like to sing along with Mr. Cooper for the carols, a link to his recording of the carols can be found at Hephatha.net/christmas-day. After each carol pause the video as the video is one long video with each carol, one after another. You can also sing these carols to your favorite version or without music as well. Each section has a reading, devotional thought, questions, some have actions, and a carol to sing. May Christ abide in your hearts in the New Year. Blessings to you and yours on this Christmas day, Pastor Arthur, Vicar Timothy, Mr. Cooper and the Ministry team

THE REASON (If you have an advent wreath light the first candle) Reading Genesis 3:1-13 The Fall Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I

3 commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Devotional thought: Sin entered the world. It didn’t stop with just Adam and Eve but it is inside of us as well. There are many things that we do each day that go against God’s will and commands. This is the reason why Jesus needed to come. If it was left up to us we would fall short. At Christmas we do not usually think about our sin but it is because of sin that Jesus came. He came to save us from our sin and to provide a way to live with Him forever. Questions and actions:  Share a time when someone forgave you. How did it make you feel? Why was it a good thing?  What about Christmas reminds you that Jesus is the light of the world?  Spend time expressing thanks to God for forgiving us from sins. Carol “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” God rest ye 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 Chorus: O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy In Bethlehem, in Jewry This blessed Babe was born And laid within a manger Upon this blessed morn

The which His mother Mary Did nothing take in scorn Chorus From God our heavenly 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 Chorus Now to the Lord sing praises All you within this place And with true love and brotherhood Each other now embrace This holy tide of Christmas All others doth deface Chorus

CCLI Song #39441 © Public Domain For use solely in accordance with the SongSelect Basic Terms of Agreement. All rights Reserved. www.songtouch.com CCLI License #684779 (If using Mr. Cooper’s video press pause)

THE PLAN (If you have an advent wreath light the second candle) Reading Isaiah 9:2-7 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Devotional thought: God didn’t leave us in sin. He always wanted us to be in relationship with Him. Yes, God does not like it when we sin. The great news is that He didn’t leave us there. He loved us so much that He had a plan to forgive us. That plan was Jesus Christ. It was to give the world His son so that peace could come.

Questions:  What is the best gift that you received for Christmas? Could be this year or years past.  How is Jesus the best gift that God could give us? Carol “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” 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 angelic hosts proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem! Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn king! Christ, by highest heaven 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 deity! 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 Son 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!

CCLI Song # 27738 Charles Wesley | Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy © Words: Public Domain Music: Public Domain For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 684779 (If using Mr. Cooper’s video press pause)

THE INVITATION (If you have an advent wreath light the third candle) Reading Luke 2:8-20 The Shepherds and the Angels And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and 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 among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Devotional thought: Everyone loves a party especially a

Christmas party. There is good food, fun, and time with friends and family. The first Christmas looked much different than they do now. There was no Christmas tree, cookies, or a lot of people. The angels invited the shepherds who were out in the fields to come and behold the very first Christmas party. There was Mary, Joseph, and the Christ child. It might not seem like a great invitation to a party but it was the greatest party ever. The invitation that was given to the shepherds is given to us today. Come and see the Christ child. Questions and action:  When do you usually get an invitation?  If you were the shepherds what would excite you about the invitation to see the Christ child?  Create an invitation to send to people to invite them to church to experience the Christ child. Carol: “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” O come all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold Him, Born the King of angels. O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. Highest, most Holy, Light of light eternal, Born of a virgin, A mortal He comes. Son of the Father, Now in flesh appearing. O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. Sing choirs of angels, Sing in exultation, O sing all ye citizens of heav'n above. Glory to God, All glory in the highest. O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, 9

O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning; Jesus to Thee be all glory giv'n. Word of the Father Now in flesh appearing. O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

THE CELEBRATION (If you have an advent wreath light the fourth candle) Reading Psalm 98 Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord! Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity. Devotional thought: When you think of the first Christmas the sounds that night would have been quite different than a silent night. The sounds of animals would have filled the air along with cries from a newborn. To some this seems like it would be unpleasant noise but it is the best noise in the world. To God this noise means that the savior of the world is born. For us we take these noises and add our voice to them in worship, prayer, reading, and speaking the great news of the Messiah. 11

Questions and action:  What is your favorite Christmas carol? Why?  What is the favorite thing you have done this advent/ Christmas season?  How can we make a joyful noise to God all year long?  Come up with a way to make a joyful noise to God for Christmas and then raise that joyful noise to Him. Carol “Joy to the World” Joy to the world! the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room, And heav'n and nature sing, And heav'n and nature sing, And heav'n and heav'n and nature sing. Joy to the world! the Savior reigns; Let men their songs employ. While fields and floods, Rocks, hills and plains, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground. He comes to make His blessings flow, Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove. The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, and wonders of His love.

CLOSING PRAYER (If you have an advent wreath with a fifth candle light it now) Dear God, We celebrate the birth of your Son today. This is a day for us to be reminded of how much you love us. You love us so much to send your Son to bring us into a relationship with You. (Insert here things that you are thankful for that God provides) For these gifts that you give us we praise you. This Christmas day we turn to you, to celebrate Your Son, the light of the world. Help us share this light to our family and friends. Help us reflect this light into the world, to forgive the people we need to forgive, to say we are sorry for when we sin, and to praise you in everything. Merry Christmas, Amen. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Hephatha

NEW JANUARY SERMON SERIES Life can leave you feeling depleted and weary. Work is stressful. The kids won’t listen. You’re buried in debt and barely making ends meet. You begin to feel like you’ll never get it all done and you’ll never measure up. By the end of the day, we often find ourselves feeling maxed out, overwhelmed, or lost. But God whispers to you, don’t give up. There are many ways to say it. Keep going. Don’t stop. Hang on. Hold fast. Stand firm. Our circumstances may look different, but the message of faith never changes. Don’t give up. This series is based on Hebrews 12:1-3.  Listen to the Crowd—January 10  Hall of Fame—January 17  Throw off the Weight—January 24  Run the Race—January 31

FOUNDATIONS MEMBERSHIP CLASS The Foundations class is all about how God deals with the most important questions of life. We’re going to ask and answer:  Who is God?  How do I know God?  How does God give me hope?  Why is there suffering in this world?  How do I get power and hope for my life?  How do I deal with pain and suffering in life? As you go through the Foundations class, God will encourage, strengthen, and direct you through His Word to help you in your relationship with God and others. This study is required for people who are interested in membership. However, participation in class does not commit you to church membership. Classes start mid-January. Contact the church office to sign up at [email protected] or 714-637-0887.

END OF THE YEAR DONATIONS As 2020 draws to a close, prayerfully consider how God may lead you to give to Hephatha. All year end donations must be given no later than December 30. If you have any Questions, please contact Catherine Lagaris at 714-637-0887 ext. 156 or [email protected]

Offering Envelopes 2021 Offering envelopes are available for pick up. During the week, please contact the church office. For in- person services, please see an usher or elder. If you do not have envelopes, but would like some, please let the church office know at 714- 637-0887 or [email protected].

January through March Portals of Prayer are in. If you would like a copy, please contact us at [email protected] or 714-637-0887. Please include your name and address.