December 23, 2007, 11:00 AM
Fourth Sunday of Advent

WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
*Call to Worship –
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
As we come to the end of this season of Advent, may the love of God the Father, and the grace of Jesus the Son, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be and abide with us all.
Amen!
*Opening Song – “What Child Is This”
*God Greets Us
*We Greet Each Other
Children’s Presentation – a puppet show of Christmas
Song – “Do You Hear What I Hear?”
Children’s Time
Welcoming Advent – a PowerPoint presentation
Lighting the Fourth Advent Candle
*Song for Advent – 351 “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”
*Continuing Praise  – “Majesty”
“O How He Loves You and Me”
“Father, I Adore You”
Call to Confession
When Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, he became like us in all things but sin.  May we who have been reborn in him be free from our sinful ways.  Let us confess our sin to God.
Prayer of Confession
Lord Christ, we confess our willingness to be loved but also our reluctance to love.  We confess our readiness to accept your forgiving love but also our refusal to forgive.  We confess our eagerness to grasp your offer of redeeming love but also our resistance to follow you without question. 
In this Advent time, forgive us our failure to respond as we should.  Come to us anew, and by your grace, assist us to receive you with joy, as the shepherds; with gratitude, as Simeon; with obedience, as Mary; with love, as you have loved us. 
Even so:  come, Lord Jesus.  Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
*Song – 350:1,3 “Christians, Awake”
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Prayer of Preparation
Scripture Reading – Isaiah 9:1-7
Message – “Unto Us a Child Is Born”
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
*Song – 349 “Away in a Manger”
The Offering – General Fund
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Intercessory Prayer
WE ARE SENT TO LOVE AND SERVE
Opportunities for Ministry and Fellowship
*God Blesses Us
*Closing Praise – 340:3 “Sing, Choirs of Angels”
Postlude

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Today is the fourth Sunday of the Advent season.  Join your hearts with ours as we anticipate our celebration of Jesus’ birth and remember his promise to return again some day.  We hope you enjoy hearing parts of the prophetic section of Handel’s Messiah each Sunday. We are also lighting the Advent candles at each service, offering a visible reminder of the coming of the Light of the World into our world.

The children who attend the Children’s Worship during the regular worship time will be telling the Christmas story this morning using puppets and scenery they made themselves.  A special “thank you” goes to Gina Martinichio for coming up with the ideas and working with the children to prepare the presentation.  Thanks too to all who helped her with this the past several weeks.

All are invited to join us for the traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight service Monday at 7:30 PM.  This special service of lights, Scripture and music is not only meaningful for many at Valley Church but is another excellent opportunity to invite neighbors or friends to come with you.  The offering at this service is for the Valley Church youth programs.

Monday, 7:30 PM Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

The Gelders will be leaving Christmas afternoon for a week of vacation with family in Tennessee.  Please contact an elder if you need spiritual counsel during their absence.

Advance notice:
New Year’s Eve Worship will be December 31 at 7:30 PM.  The elders will lead this service in the absence of Pastor Gelder.

Prayer notes:  Continue to pray for Beth Cunningham and Dick Crawford as they continue with their treatments to counteract any cancer cells that may still be active in their bodies.  Remember too that while Christmas is a happy time for many, it is also a very trying time for others.  Pray that they will experience the peace of Christ in a special way this year.

“Our prayer for all of you is that the joy of this season will radiate from your faces all through the year; that the peace of Christ will calm you in whatever troubles you face; and that the love of God for you will be shared with all you meet.  May God bless you and us together throughout the new year 2008.”
With love,
The Gelders

Next Sunday, December 30, 2007

SUNDAY SCHOOL:  Classes will NOT meet this week as we take a short break for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.  Classes will resume on January 6.

MORNING WORSHIP:     11:00 AM   Elder Bill Kutz will bring the message for the last Sunday of 2007.