Prelude: “A Christmas Carol” by Robert J. Powell, based on a traditional French Carol
Welcome and Announcements: Roslyn Nowak
Call to Worship and Invocation
Lighting the Advent Candle Four
Light the Advent Candle, Four: Think of joy forever more;
Christ child in a stable born, Gift of love that Christmas morn.
Candle, candle, burning bright, Shining in the cold winter night;
Candle, candle, burning bright, Fill our hearts with Christmas light.
Words and music by Mary Lu Walker. Paulist Press, 1975. Used by permission. CCLI#460144
Praise and Worship with Chandru Muthurajan
Hymn: “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 the dark street 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 giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heav’n.
No ear may hear His coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.
4) O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray.
Cast out our sin, and enter in;
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell.
Oh, come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord, Emmanuel!
Choir: “O Holy Night”
Moments of Prayer
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:13
Sermon: “The Greatest is Love” by Rev. Dr. Esther Pearson
Hymn: “The Gift of Love”
Though I may speak with bravest fire,
And have the gift to all inspire,
And have not love, my words are vain,
As sounding brass, and hopeless gain.
Though I may give all I possess,
And striving so my love profess,
But not be given by love within,
The profit soon turns strangely thin.
Come, Spirit, come, our hearts control,
Our spirits long to be made whole.
Let inward love guide every deed;
By this we worship, and are freed
Benediction
Postlude: “Canticle of Joy” by J.S. Bach, arranged by Van Denman Thompson
Organist: Ms. Marilyn Glover
We welcome our guest preacher, Rev. Dr. Esther Pearson. Rev. Pearson is a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Master of Arts Urban Ministry), Master’s Graduate School of Divinity (Doctorate of Biblical Studies), and University of Massachusetts (Doctorate of Education in Mathematics and Science). She has taught as an Adjunct Professor for Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in the Christian Education Ministry track. She is the TABCOM Adoniram Judson Baptist Association Liaison for Community Building, Biblical Counseling and Conflict Resolution. She has authored 16 books including “The History and Theology of Christianity”, “Into the Midst of the Fire: A Guide to Women in Ministry”, and “The Doctrine of Salvation”. She is married to retired pastor, Rev. Dr. Neal Pearson.