Please use this link for the
Zoom Service December 22, 2024 at 8:30 AM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81188368778?p30wd=QzZNMlFNNWVRVFIyUXZieWtNWkV0UT09
December 22, 2024
Acton Community Presbyterian Church
P.O. Box 177, 32142 Crown Valley Road, Acton, CA 93510
Message: 661-208-8032 w who ww.actonpc.org
1888 – 2024 Celebrating Heritage and Sharing Hope
“Mary is … the supreme example of what always happens when God is at work by grace through human beings. God’s power from the outside, and the indwelling spirit within, together result in things being done which would be unthinkable any other way.” —NT Wright
WELCOME, ANNOUNCMENTS, GUESTS AND SPECIAL DAYS
ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING: The Candle of Love
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
All: Minister: Those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.
Leader: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
All: And the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Leader: Jesus Christ is the Light of the World. In his name, let us worship God!
OPENING HYMN – #22 - Angels from the Realms of Glory
1 Angels from the realms of glory, Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation's story Now proclaim Messiah's birth.
Refrain: Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King!
2 Shepherds, in the field abiding, Watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing; Yonder shines the infant light:
3 Sages, leave your contemplations, Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great Desire of nations; Ye have seen His natal star.
4 All creation, join in praising God, the Father, Spirit, Son,
Evermore your voices raising To the eternal Three in One.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Almighty God, You have called us to love you with all our being and to love our neighbor as ourselves. O Father, we are not sufficient for these things. We confess that our affections continually turn us away from you and your path for our lives: from purity to lust, from freedom to slavery, from compassion to indifference, from fullness to emptiness. Have mercy on us, dear Lord. Forgive us for Jesus’ sake, who came into the world to save sinners. Conform us, more and more, to the image of Christ your Son, and keep us, while we wait for him to come again in glory. In his name, we pray. Amen.
SILENT CONFESSION PRAYERS FOR GOD’S PEOPLE
Old Testament Reading - Micah 5:2-5a
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labour has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace. If the Assyrians come into our land and tread upon our soil we will raise against them seven shepherds and eight installed as rulers.
1John
Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desire[f] are passing away, but those who do the will of God live for ever.
Matthew 6
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth an rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
SERMON : “The Pilgrim’s Progress: Vanity Fair”
CALL FOR OFFERING–Congregation sings - Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: The Heidelberg Catechism, questions 29, 31
Leader: Why is the Son of God called “Jesus,” meaning “savior”?
All: Because he saves us from our sins. Salvation cannot be found in anyone else; looking for any salvation elsewhere is futile.
Leader: Why is he called “Christ,” meaning “anointed”?
All: Because he has been ordained by God the Father and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit to be our chief prophet and teacher who perfectly reveals to us the secret counsel and will of God for our deliverance, our only high priest who has set us free by the one sacrifice of his body, and who continually pleads our cause with the Father; and our eternal king who governs us by his Word and Spirit, and who guards us and keeps us in the freedom he has won for us.
HYMN #366 - Jesus Thy Boundless Love to Me
1 Jesus, Thy boundless love to me No thought can reach, no tongue declare;
O knit my thankful heart to Thee, And reign without a rival there!
Thine wholly, Thine alone, I'd live, Myself to Thee, entirely give.
2 O, grant that nothing in my soul May dwell, but Thy pure love alone;
O may Thy love possess me whole, My joy, my treasure, and my crown!
All coldness from my heart remove; May every act, word, thought be love.
3 O love, how gracious is thy way! All fear before thy presence flies;
Care, anguish, sorrow melt away, Where'er Thy healing beams arise.
O Jesus, nothing may I see, Nothing desire or seek, but Thee
HOLY COMMUNION
CLOSING HYMN #44 - O Little Town of Bethlehem
1 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.
2 For Christ is born of Mary, And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars together Proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God the King, And peace to men on earth!
3 How silently, how silently, The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming, But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still, The dear Christ enters in.
BENEDICTION – The Lord Be With You
Congregation sings
God be with you till we meet again, By his counsels guide, uphold you, With his sheep securely fold you God be with you till we meet again.
**Offerings 1. May be deposited in the Offering Box by the Narthex.
2. Processed through “E-Give” online at actonpc.org
3. Send a check to Acton Presbyterian Church P.O. Box 177 Acton, Ca. 93510
FOOD PANTRY
Buy what you need and a little more, To help the needy and the poor.
Leave non-perishables in the barrel at the new Acton Market or the basket in the Narthex
Christmas Eve Candle Light Service
December 24, 2024, 6:30 PM
Join us in-person or on Zoom
