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December 3, 2023 | 7pm
FULLNESS OF GRACE
FROM JOHN 8:12, ISAIAH 9:2; 42:16; 2:5
Leader: Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
All: The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
Leader: I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
All: Come, Lord Jesus, our light and our salvation. Let us walk in the light of the Lord.
COME, THOU LONG-EXPECTED JESUS
Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art,
Dear desire of ev’ry nation, joy of ev’ry longing heart.
Joy to those who long to see thee, Dayspring from on high, appear;
Come, thou promised Rod of Jesse, of thy birth we long to hear!
O’er the hills the angels singing news, glad tidings of a birth:
“Go to him, your praises bringing; Christ the Lord has come to earth.”
Come to earth to taste our sadness, he whose glories knew no end;
By his life he brings us gladness, our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.
Leaving riches without number, born within a cattle stall;
This the everlasting wonder, Christ was born the Lord of all.
Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all-sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.
COME BEHOLD THE WONDROUS MYSTERY
Come behold the wondrous myst’ry in the dawning of the King.
He the theme of heaven’s praises, robed in frail humanity.
In our longing in our darkness, now the light of life has come.
Look to Christ who condescended, took on flesh to ransom us.
Come behold the wondrous myst’ry: he the perfect Son of Man.
In his living, in his suff’ring, never trace nor stain of sin.
See the true and better Adam come to save the hell-bound man;
Christ the great and sure fulfillment of the law in him we stand.
Come behold the wondrous myst’ry: Christ the Lord upon the tree.
In the stead of ruined sinners hangs the Lamb in victory.
See the price of our redemption, see the Father’s plan unfold,
Bringing many sons to glory, grace unmeasured, love untold.
Come behold the wondrous myst’ry, slain by death the God of life.
But no grave could e’er restrain him. Praise the Lord! He is alive!
What a foretaste of deliv’rance, how unwavering our hope.
Christ in power resurrected as we will be when he comes.
What a foretaste of deliv’rance, how unwavering our hope.
Christ in power resurrected as we will be when he comes.
Most merciful God, you have called us to wait, hope, and rest in you alone, yet too often we have busied and buried our souls with the cares of this world. You have called us to give our full devotion to Christ, your Son, yet too often we have ignored his voice and avoided his presence. You have called us to be your faithful servants, yet too often we have foolishly preferred to serve our own interests above yours. Forgive us, Lord. Redeem us from all our iniquities and blot out all our transgressions. In this Advent season, help us to draw near to you. Renew our hearts, and breathe new life into our souls. Make us more aware of your presence now, and rekindle our desire to see your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Restore us, we pray, through the coming of our Lord Jesus, in whom we place our hope and trust. Amen.
ISAIAH 44:21-22
Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant; I formed you; you are my servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me. I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.
Leader: Because our sins have been blotted out through the blood of Christ, we now have peace with God and with one another. May the peace of Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.
You can join us in prayer for our community and world; the Flock Notes are available on Connect. If you would like to submit a prayer request, fill out our prayer request form.
We want to be a generous community. In response to the grace we’ve received, we seek to give cheerfully, diligently, proportionately, and sacrificially (2 Cor 8:1-15). You may place your offering in the plates as they are passed, in boxes at the back, or give online or by mail (1020 Balls Hill Rd, McLean, VA 22101).
ONLY A BABY CAME
They waited for a king with crown of gold, to save the world as was foretold,
A Sov’reign wise, a ruler bold, but only a baby came.
They waited for a prince to gain the throne, a Savior sent by God alone,
A Lord with kingdom yet unknown, but only a baby came.
‘Twas but a babe who came that night, the wonder to proclaim,
With brightest star to shed its light, and set the world aflame.
They waited for a word of truth divine, a heavenly dove, a sacred sign,
A living branch from Jesse’s line, but only a baby came.
Only a babe to bear the shame, only a babe with Love his name,
Only a lowly, holy baby came.
GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH
Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but thou art mighty; hold me with thy powerful hand.
Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven, feed me ‘til I want no more;
Feed me ‘til I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain, whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliver’r, strong Deliver’r, be thou still my strength and shield;
Be thou still my Strength and Shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan, bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell’s destruction, land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises I will ever give to thee;
I will ever give to thee.
EXODUS 13:17-22 (CHURCH BIBLE P. 55)
Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God!
GOD WITH US
During the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, true believers who repent of their sins and desire to live as followers of Christ, who revealed himself to be fully God and man in one person, are invited to partake. Children who have not been received by the Session into communing membership after a public confession of faith should refrain even though they may have personally received the Savior, because of the responsibility of the recipient to discern the Lord’s body.
1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-26
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
LET ALL MORTAL FLESH KEEP SILENCE
Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly-minded, for with blessing in his hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth, our full homage to demand.
King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of Lords, in human vesture, in the body and the blood,
He will give to all the faithful his own self for heav’nly food.
Rank on rank the host of heaven spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of light descendeth from the realms of endless day,
That the pow’rs of hell may vanish as the darkness clears away.
At his feet the six-winged seraph; cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence,As with ceaseless voice they cry,
“Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, Lord Most High!”
FULLNESS OF GRACE
Fullness of grace in man’s human frailty, this is the wonder of Jesus.
Laying aside his power and glory, humbly he entered our world.
Chose the path of meanest worth: scandal of a virgin birth.
Born in a stable, cold and rejected: here lies the hope of the world.
Fullness of grace, the love of the Father shown in the face of Jesus.
Stooping to bear the weight of humanity, walking the Calvary road.
Christ the holy innocent took our sin and punishment.
Fullness of God, despised and rejected, crushed for the sins of the world.
Fullness of hope in Christ we had longed for, Promise of God in Jesus.
Through his obedience, we are forgiven, op’ning the floodgates of heaven.
All our hopes and dreams we bring gladly as an offering.
Fullness of life and joy unspeakable: God’s gift in love to the world.
EMMANUEL (GOD WITH US FOREVER)
Before you set the edge of time, foundations of the earth and sky,
You saw it all and said that it was good.
The joy was set before your eyes, you knew that you would give your life;
You saw it all and said that it was good.
Pre-Chorus: Behold, behold the One, our Love has come.
Behold, behold the One, our King has come.
The heavens warred, the earth stood still, his final breath he tore the veil;
The angels sang, “Holy is his name.”
Defeated death, he broke the grave. Our hope returned, the lost are saved.
We lift our voice in neverending praise. Pre-Chorus 2x
Chorus: Emmanuel, God with us forever. Emmanuel, Savior of the world.
Emmanuel, Emmanuel. (repeat)
Pre-Chorus 2x, Chorus
O SING A SONG OF BETHLEHEM
O sing a song of Bethlehem, of shepherds watching there,
And of the news that came to them from angels in the air.
The light that shone on Bethlehem fills all the world today;
Of Jesus’ birth and peace on earth the angels sing alway.
O sing a song of Nazareth, of sunny days of joy;
O sing of fragrant flowers’ breath, and of the sinless Boy.
For now the flowers of Nazareth in every heart may grow;
Now spreads the fame of his dear name on all the winds that blow.
O sing a song of Galilee, of lake and woods and hill,
Of him who walked upon the sea and bade the waves be still.
For though like waves on Galilee, dark seas of trouble roll,
When faith has heard the Master’s Word, falls peace upon the soul.
O sing a song of Calvary, its glory and dismay,
Of him who hung upon the tree, and took our sins away.
For he who died on Calvary is risen from the grave,
And Christ, our Lord, by heaven adored, is mighty now to save.
For he who died on Calvary is risen from the grave,
And Christ, our Lord, by heaven adored, is mighty now to save.
BEHOLD THE SAVIOR
Oh, what innocence sleeping in a manger under dreamless skies.
See the newborn King trading ev’ry glory for a silent night.
Here is the promise we have waited for. He will not leave us in the dark.
Chorus: He will bear our weight. He will wear our shame.
Come, lift him high. Behold the Savior.
Jesus Christ, law of love and light.
Come, lift him high. Behold the Savior.
Veiled deity, praise of ev’ry angel, shepherds bowing low.
Sweet humility, mercy as a baby, God in flesh and bone.
Here is the promise we have waited for. He will not leave us in the dark. Chorus
Here is the promise we have waited for. He will not leave us in the dark.
He is the promise we have waited for. The cry of ev’ry searching heart. Chorus
Come, lift him high. Behold the Savior.
Come, lift him high. Behold the Savior.
As we’ve received a tangible expression of God’s love for us, we offer a tangible expression of care for those in need. This fund provides assistance for temporary financial needs (rent, healthcare bills, repairs, etc.) for people in our congregation and community. If you or someone you know needs assistance, call our office at 703.821.0800 or contact [email protected].
To contribute to the Deacon’s Fund, please visit https://mclean.capitalpres.org/give/ and select the “Deacon’s Fund” designation for your gift.
2 CORINTHIANS 13:14
Leader: May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
People: Amen. Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
BEHOLD THE SAVIOR
