We’re into our Christmas series for 2009 called “Catch the Christmas Spirit.” This year, we are focusing on helping people remember and capture the true meaning and spirit of this time of year. As soon as Halloween is over, we are thrust into the season of red, green, and sales.
The rush to get the right stuff for the right people is all that many people know and experience at this time of year. But, when we settle for that, we settle for a cheap substitute of what this time of the year is really about.
In Isaiah 9:1-7, God promised an amazing gift for the people. If we can catch the true Christmas spirit, our holiday celebration will not be the same, and neither will we. Click for service flow.For the third week we looked at how the reign of Christ is unending and always expanding. The Kingdom of Christ will see ever increasing gains. We have a part to play in this advance, and the unstoppable advance of Christ’s kingdom is both something to be amazed by and involved in.
Service Flow:
Welcome/Announcement/Greeting
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Our God Saves (Baloche / Brown)
Angels We Have Heard on High (HymnCharts)
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (HymnCharts)
Offering
Video: Light of the World from danstevers.com
Message
Communion
Video
Joy to the World (Unspeakable Joy) (Watts/Handel/Tomlin/Cash/Gilder)
Dismiss (Psalm 72:18-19)
A couple of cool things in this week’s service. We had one of our middle school students do a duet with his piano teacher for the offering. I remember getting started playing in church that way, so that was neat to see and have.
As we concluded the message, we took a moment to remember the many people who have yet to hear of the Kingdom of God and are this unable to participate in the Lord’s Supper. We drew attention to some of the people groups who are still unreached by having people stand in representation of those who haven’t heard while showing some pictures on the screen.
As the elements were distributed for Communion, we had the song “O Holy Night” sung. At first glance, it may seem an odd choice for Communion. But if you stop to look at the words for the song, there are many in there that directly relate to what Communion is about and the advancing kingdom of Christ. One that really struck me was the phrase “the weary world rejoices.” That’s exactly what happens as people hear and respond to the greatness of the good news.
We ended the service with Chris Tomlin’s new take on “Joy to the World” from his Christmas album “Glory in the Highest.” I heard taken a look at it, but was drawn back to it by Bob Kauflin over at www.worshipmatters.com. Our team did a great job with it, especially as it climbs up kind of high on the new refrain, but I’m not sure the congregation quite got a hold of it. It could be because the introduction is somewhat on the rocky side, and that may have thrown people a little bit. We will most likely try again. The arrangement worked for us, so I hope it catches on. We’ve had a challenge over the past few years landing on an arrangement of “Joy to the World” that works for us.
If you were there, I would love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks for stopping by. Check out how other churches worshiped together at Fred’s Sunday Setlists blog.
