FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 20, 2020 600 Holly Avenue Winston-Salem, NC 27101-2716 Witnessing to the love of God in the heart of Winston-Salem since 1893. FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT December 20, 2020 11:00 a.m. Watchword for the Week – The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. Luke 1:49 (Selections in today’s service are taken from the blue Moravian Book of Worship.) The beautiful season of Advent calls us to personal preparation for the celebration of the birth of our Savior. Our banners and all the appropriate appointments in our sanctuary should serve as silent reminders of the significance of this season. As the people of old were called to prepare the way for God’s Promised One, we are called to share the good news. PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP BAND PRELUDE Calvary Band Trio, Brian Lott, Director TRINITY CHIME GREETINGS AND NEWS OF THE CONGREGATION The Right Reverend Lane A. Sapp 2 PRELUDE – Once He Came in Blessing Rebecca Kleintop Lepore (2014) Mary Louise Kapp Peeples, organ LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE Brian Lott THE PRAISE OF GOD HYMN OF PRAISE 260 – Rejoice, Rejoice, the Kingdom Comes T. KINGSFOLD (The hymn music and text are shown on page 4.) MOMENTS WITH THE CHILDREN Mrs. Amanda Schumpert T. HAGEN (310 B) [Hymn 281] Text: Johann Scheffler (1657). Tr. Bennet Harvey, Jr. (1885) Tune: Francis Florentine Hagen (1836) [Moravian composer] Morning Star, my soul’s true light, tarry not, dispel my night. Morning Star, my soul’s true light, tarry not, dispel my night. Jesus mine, in me shine; in me shine, Jesus mine; fill my heart with light divine. (The service ode continues on page 5.) 3 4 THE WORSHIP OF GOD WITH OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS OFFERTORY – All Silent Was the Night Theodor I. Clemens (1858-1933) Ed., Nola Reed Knouse (2021) Choral Ensemble DOXOLOGY AND OFFERTORY PRAYER The Reverend Chaz Snider T. OLD HUNDREDTH (22 E) 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. (The service ode continues on page 6.) 5 ‘Tis the Season The Christmas Story through Scripture, Hymns, and Candles Pastors Lane and Chaz The Prophecy of the Messiah Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 (RSV) “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined….For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will 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, upon 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 for evermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” HYMN – O Come, O Come, Immanuel T. VENI EMMANUEL [HYMN 274] O come, O come, Immanuel, and random captive Israel, that mourns in lowly exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel! O come, O bright and morning star, and bring us comfort from afar! Dispel the shadows of the night, and turn our darkness into light. Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel! (The hymn continues on the next page.) 6 O come, Desire of Nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind; bid envy, strife and quarrels cease; fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel! The Impending Birth of Jesus is Announced to Mary and Joseph Luke 1:26-38 and Matthew 1:18-25 (RSV) (Candles are lighted for Gabriel, Mary, Joseph) “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!’ But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ And Mary said to the angel, ‘How shall this be, since I have no husband?’ And the angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.’ And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:26-38 [RSV]) 7 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel’ (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus.” (Matthew 1:18-25 [RSV]) HYMN – Come, O Long-Expected Jesus T. CASSEL (167A) [HYMN 262] Come, O long-expected Jesus, born to set your people free; from our fears and sins release us; O, in you our rest shall be. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope to all the earth impart, dear desire of ev’ry nation, joy of ev’ry longing heart. Born your people to deliver, born a child and yet a king, born to reign in us forever, now your gracious kingdom bring. By your own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by your all sufficient merit raise us to your glorious throne. 8 The Preparations for the Birth of Jesus Luke 2:1-5 (RSV) “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.” HYMN – O Little Town of Bethlehem T. ST. LOUIS [HYMN 282] O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie; above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. Jesus is Born Luke 2:6-7 (RSV) (Candle is lighted for the infant Jesus.) “And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” HYMN – Once in Royal David’s City T. IRBY (89 D) [HYMN 292] Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed. Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child. (The hymn continues on the next page.) 9 He came down to earth from heaven who is God and Lord of all, and his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall; with the poor and meek and lowly lived on earth our Savior holy. The Angels Announce Christ’s Birth Luke 2:9-14 (RSV) (Candles are lighted for the angels.) “And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.