Order of Service - December 14

GOD CALLS
CALL TO WORSHIP
—Isaiah 9:2, 6

The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

SONG — Angels (Glory To God)
(Jonathan Smith, Phil Wickham /© 2024 Be Essential Songs) CCLI #22022177

Gloria in excelsis Deo

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains

Shepherds why this jubilee
Why your joyous strains prolong
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heav'nly song

Glory to God
Glory to God
Glory to God in the highest forever
For all He has done
His unfailing love
Glory to God in the highest forever

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord the new-born King

Gloria
Gloria
Glory to God in the highest

SONG — O Holy Night
(Adolphe Charles Adam, John Sullivan Dwight, Placide Cappeau / Public Domain)

O holy night the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night divine
O night O night divine

Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name

Christ is the Lord
O praise His name forever
His power and glory
Evermore proclaim
His power and glory
Evermore proclaim

GOD CLEANSES
CONFESSION
—Psalm 130:1-8
Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;

Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,

Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.

ASSURANCE
—Galatians 1:4-5
Jesus Christ gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

GOD COMMUNES 

OFFERING
If you wish to give financially to The Vine Presbyterian Church, we have online giving available, visit: www.thevine.to/give.

PASSING THE PEACE

SERMON
The Word Became Flesh
By Kiernan Stringer
John 1:1-18

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, ‘This is the one I spoke about when I said, “He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.”’) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in the closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

The word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

THE LORD'S SUPPER

We welcome all baptized Christians to receive Holy Communion with us. If you are exploring the Christian faith, please use this time to meditate on the following prayer:

God, the Bible claims that life is in Jesus, and that all things came to exist through him. If this is true, then show me more. Help me to understand what it means to have life in Jesus. Amen.

SONG — Joy To The World (Joyful Joyful)
(Edward Hodges, George Frideric Handel, Henry Van Dyke, Isaac Watts, Ludwig van Beethoven, Phil Wickham /© 2018 Phil Wickham Music) CCLI #22022177

Joy to the world the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and Heaven and nature sing

We will sing sing sing
Joy to the world
We will sing sing 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

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 wonders of His love

Joyful joyful we adore Thee
God of glory Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flow'rs before Thee
Op'ning to the sun above

GOD SENDS
WORD & PRAYER THIS WEEK
Scripture Reading: Genesis 31-36

Amid this busy month, pray that we may not lose the plot: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."

COMMUNITY LIFE ANNOUNCEMENTS
We would love to connect. You are welcome to approach any of the service volunteers, and you can fill out a visitor card or contact office@thevine.to.

Christmas Service: On Sunday, December 21, we will hold our worship service starting at the usual time. Join us as we celebrate with carols and readings from the Christmas story, and stay for post-service coffee and treats!

Year-End Giving: As a reminder, Dec 31 is the last day for donations to be included in your 2025 tax receipt.

DOXOLOGY

(Thomas Ken / Public Domain)
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

BENEDICTION
—2 Corinthians 13:14
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ 
and the love of God 
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit 
be with you all.