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December 19, 2021 10:30AM Worship Service Children are always welcome in worship. Children’s programming is available during this worship service for infants through 12th grade. Please ask an usher for assistance. Prelude Improvisation on “BRING A TORCH” Call to Worship Hymn 110 (Please rise in body or spirit, and sing.) BRING A TORCH Love Has Come Words of Welcome, Silent Prayer & The Lord’s Prayer We share a time of silence as a spiritual act of humility. The divine is beyond words and we simply stop speaking to honor that fact. Please know that silence does not mean we seek a complete lack of any noise - we love the sounds of small children and babies and other incidental noises. The remainder of our worship will be filled with music and spoken word, so we begin with peaceful silence to set the tone for worship. Lighting of the Fourth Advent Candle: Love Reader 1: For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2nd Corinthians 4: 6) Reader 2: On this fourth week in Advent, we light the candle of Love and remember the candles of Hope, Peace, and Joy. As we anticipate the birth of Jesus, open our eyes to the signs of your love all around us. (Isaiah 7: 11) All: Gracious God, visit us and reveal to us your unending love. May the birth of your son, Immanuel, give us the courage to carry your light into the shadows of this world; to love one another as you love us. Amen.

Response Joy to the World ANTIOCH He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love. Scripture Luke 1:46b-55 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” Sermon Anthem arr. Shawn Kirchner One Sweet Little Baby Sermon

Hymn 121 (Please rise in body or spirit, and sing.) ST. LOUIS O Little Town of Bethlehem stanza 1: all in unison; stanza 2: all in harmony harmony; stanza 3: all in harmony; stanza 4 all in harmony Benediction & Response E. Fred Morris The Lord Bless You Closing Voluntary arr. Tom Trenney It Came Upon a Midnight Clear Worship Leaders: Jim Keck, Juan Carlos Huertas, KJ Langlais, the Spale Family, Plymouth Choir, Ariel Merivil, Sam Eschliman, and Tom Trenney Service Notice Next Sunday, December 26, there will be just one service at 11:00 a.m. here at 20th and D. * Although the Bible and traditional prayers most often use the male pronoun to refer to the divine, it is helpful to remember God is beyond human gender. Consequently, feminine, gender-neutral, and gender-inclusive pronouns are effective metaphors as well. * Join us for coffee and cookies in Pilgrim Hall following the service. * I mmediately following this morning’s service, everyone is invited to receive communion. All are welcome to the Chapel to receive the elements from one of our clergy. First-Plymouth Congregational Church • 2000 “D” Street • Lincoln, Nebraska 68502 402.476.7565 • www.firstplymouth.org