THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER Sunday, December 27th, 2020

OPENING VOLUNTARY It Came Upon the Midnight Clear arr. Diane Bish CHIMING OF THE HOUR The Chimes One: This is the day the Lord has made. Psalm 118:24 All: Let us rejoice and be glad in it! WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHORAL INTROIT (Hymnal 139, v. 6) That Boy-Child of Mary BLANTYRE CALL TO WORSHIP: One: God is telling a story in our lives. It’s quite a story - full of God’s promises and our struggles to trust in them; full of mystery and angels with surprising news; full of hard endings and unexpected new beginnings. So come, hear the story! All: Then join all creation in worshipping the God who tells it, full of grace and truth; who comes in Jesus, the Word made flesh, and makes our story holy. One: Let us worship God!

OPENING HYMN 147 (vs. 1,2,6) The First Nowell THE FIRST NOWELL The first Nowell the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay, in fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold winter’s night that was so deep. (Refrain)Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, born is the King of Israel. They looked up and saw a star shining in the east beyond them far; and to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued both day and night. (Refrain) Then let us all with one accord sing praises to our heavenly Lord, that hath made heaven and earth of nought, and with his blood our life hath bought. (Refrain) CALL TO CONFESSION PRAYER OF CONFESSION O God, you search us out and know us, and all that we are is open to you. We confess that we have sinned: When we make no room for Christ and fail to welcome him into our lives. When we follow shooting stars and kneel before other lords. When we seek to cut down those whom we fear might rise above us. When we sanitize the story of your birth and erase from memory your favor for the poor and displaced. When we sing sweet sentiments over Christ's birth and fail to rejoice over his everyday presence. So, we turn to you, O Christ, and we renounce evil. We claim your love and choose to be made whole…(A moment for silent confession)… Amen. KYRIE ELEISON Lord have mercy upon us. Christ have mercy upon us. Lord have mercy upon us. ASSURANCE OF PARDON RESPONSE Good Christian Friends, Rejoice IN DULCI JUBILO Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; now ye need not fear the grave: Jesus Christ was born to save! Calls you one and calls you all to gain the everlasting hall. Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save! CHILDREN'S SERMON: Rev. Richard W. Carr, III

EPISTLE READING: Galatians 4: 4-7 READING: Luke 2: 22-40 SERMON: “Mailing It In?” Rev. Richard W. Carr, III AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (The Apostles’ Creed) I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of ; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

HYMN OF RESPONSE 118 (vs. 1,2,3,6) While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks WINCHESTER OLD While shepherds watched their flocks by night, all seated on the ground, the angel of the Lord came down, and glory shone around, and glory shone around. “Fear not,” said he, for mighty dread had seized their troubled mind: “Glad tidings of great joy I bring to you and human-kind, to you and human kind. “To you, in ’s town this day, is born of David’s line the Savior, who is Christ the Lord, and this shall be the sign, and this shall be the sign: “All glory be to God on high, and to the earth be peace; good will to all from highest heaven begin and never cease, begin and never cease!” PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

CLOSING HYMN 136 (all vs.) Go, Tell It on the Mountain GO TELL IT (Refrain) Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born! While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night, behold, throughout the heavens there shone a holy light. (Refrain) The shepherds feared and trembled when lo! above the earth rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior’s birth. (Refrain) Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born, and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn. (Refrain) CHARGE AND BENEDICTION CONGREGATIONAL BENEDICTION Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates TRURO Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates; behold the King of glory waits; the King of kings is drawing near; the Savior of the world is here. CLOSING VOLUNTARY Praise Ye the Lord of Hosts C. -Saens