SPPC 14 Dec 2025

Please Stand for the Word of God

Facing the people, the leader greets them in the Lord's name. The Greeting should be explicitly Christian, declaring that the Lord is present and empowers our worship.

Welcome & Scripture Reading

“Good morning, beloved family in Christ. As we gather in this sacred space, we come not as strangers, but as children of the same God—welcomed, loved, and called to worship. May this time together renew our spirits and draw us closer to the heart of God.”

Scripture Reading – Psalm 100:4 “4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” (NIV)

Opening Prayer

“Gracious and loving God, We come before You with hearts full of gratitude. Thank You for the breath in our lungs, the joy of community, and the gift of this new day. As we enter Your courts, may our praise rise like incense, May our thanksgiving echo through this sanctuary, And may Your presence fill every corner of our hearts. We dedicate this service to You—our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”

Chorus Like the woman at the well

Chorus Our God is an awesome God

Chorus What a mighty God we Serve

Exhortation

 Dear friends, the scriptures urge us to acknowledge our wickedness before almighty God our heavenly Father and to confess our many sins to Him, that they may be forgiven through His infinite goodness and mercy in Jesus Christ our Lord. We should always humbly admit our sins before God, but especially when we meet together to give thanks for the great benefits we have received from Him, to praise and worship Him, to hear His holy word and to ask what is necessary for our bodies and souls. Therefore let us come before the throne of our gracious God and say together :

General Confession said together.  

Almighty and most merciful Father, we have strayed from Your ways like lost sheep, we have left undone what we ought to

have done, and we have done what we ought not to have done. We have followed our own ways and our own desires and we have neglected and broken Your holy laws. Have mercy on us Lord.

Restore those who repent and confess their sins according to Your promises declare in Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant, merciful Father, for His sake, that hereafter we may live a righteous and obedient life,  to the glory of Your Holy Name. Amen. 

Assurance of forgiveness said by the minister standing.

Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, does not desire the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live.  He has given authority and commandment to His ministers to declare to His people that He pardons and forgives the sins of all who truly repent and believe His holy gospel.  Therefore, let us ask Him to grant us true repentance and His Holy Spirit, that we may please Him now, and that the rest of our life may be pure and holy so that at the last we may come to His eternal joy through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed by thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, In earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, For ever and ever.  Amen. 

John

will now read the Old Testament reading to us from the NIV pew bible.

He begins with “Hear the Word of God as it is written in The Psalm Psalm 84 The OT Jeremiah 14:1-22 He ends with “This is the word of God”. Congregation: “Thanks be to God”

Carol

will now read the New Testament reading to us from the NIV pew bible.

She begins with “Hear the Word of God as it is written in The Epistle 2 Timothy 4:6-18 The Gospel Luke 18:9-14 She ends with “This is the word of God”. Congregation: “Thanks be to God”.

Sunday Morning, December 15

Title: The Joys of Christmas

Text: “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy . . .” (Luke 2:10 RSV).

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:8–15

Hymns:      “Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun,” Watts

“Angels from the Realms of Glory,” Montgomery

“Glory to His Name,” Hoffman

Introduction

For many Christmas is a sad time rather than a glad time. Psychiatrists are busier following Christmas and the New Year than at any other time of the year. It is said that the psychiatric rooms at our hospitals are more likely to be filled to capacity at that time of the year than at any other period. Perhaps this is because many people are reminded of how empty and meaningless life without God has become for them. Jesus came into the world to bring joy, to communicate love, and to make peace possible.

A part of the joy of Christmas is receiving. Many people have never learned how to graciously and humbly receive from others. There are many who cannot believe that God is the great giver. Perhaps this is due to a low sense of self-e steem and a feeling of great unworthiness. Some are unable to accept a gift from others without trying to repay them in some form or another. There is no way one can truly experience the richest joy of Christmas unless he or she develops the fine art of being a grateful receiver.

Another of the great joys of Christmas is the joy of giving. God loves a cheerful giver. God so loved that he gave. God is generous, gracious, even extravagant in his gifts. To see gracious, undeserved giving is a shocking experience for those who have built their lives on the development of their acquisitive instinct. Many never enter into the joy of Christmas because they have become like Scrooge. They live only to get.

Sunday Morning, December 15

The angels sang about the great joy that would come to those who recognized and responded to what God was doing in the gift of the Christ child.

I. The joy of Christmas is the joy of knowing that God is for us (Rom. 8:31–39).

Living in a “performance- oriented society,” in which success is judged on the basis of performance and in which rewards are bestowed in recognition of achievement, some find it difficult to believe that God is a gracious and loving giver. A sense of guilt often brings an attitude of self- condemnation, and we find ourselves unable to believe that the great God who gave the Ten Commandments and who spoke thorough Christ the words of the Sermon on the Mount is really for us. The Christmas message declares that God always has been and always will be for us if we will but trust him and let Christ have the place in our lives that rightfully belongs to him.

II. The joy of Christmas is the joy of belonging to God’s family.

Christmas is usually a family- oriented affair. For some this can be a painful experience, while to many it is indeed a joyous and pleasant experience. At Christmastime many are deprived of the joys of family relationships because of deaths that have taken place or because great distances separate them from the members of their families. At such a time we need to recognize and respond to the joys of being members of God’s family. We enter this family through the spiritual birth (John 1:12). We can stand in amazement before the joy of knowing that now we are the children of God (1 John 3:1–2).

III. The joy of Christmas is the joy of experiencing liberation from fear (Luke 2:10).

It was normal for the shepherds to respond to the presence of the she- kinah glory of God with a holy awe and a reverential fear. The angels spoke words to dispel that fear. Christmas can bring the joy of knowing that we need not live under the tyranny of fear.

A. We need not be afraid of the past. Through Jesus Christ we receive forgiveness for all of our sins (1 John 1:9).

B. Because of the promise of his abiding presence, we need have no fear in the present (Matt. 28:20). Our living Lord has promised to be with us day by day as the Light of the World. When we follow him we do not stumble in the darkness (John 8:12).

C. We need have no fear of the future, for our Lord has promised to prepare a place for those who love him (John 14:1–3). We can live our lives with fullness of joy if we will recognize Jesus as the great liberator and deliverer from fear.

Sunday Evening, December 15

IV. The joy of Christmas is the joy that comes to those who become givers.

A. We cannot give away what we do not have. Many fret and are unhappy because of their inability to give things they would like to give. B. What do we have that we can give at Christmastime?

1. We can give the gift of our faith to those who have not yet come to know Jesus Christ as Savior. We can share the testimony of what he has come to mean to us and encourage others to put their confidence in him.

2. We can give the gift of helpfulness to those about us who carry heavy burdens.

3. We can give the gift of encouragement to those who are depressed.

4. We can give the gift of friendship to those with whom we are associated.

5. We can give the gift of forgiveness to those who have mistreated us.

6. We can give the gift of acceptance and affirmation to those who are uncertain and insecure.

7. We can give the gift of kindness to those who are suffering physically, emotionally, or spiritually.

8. We can give the gift of gratitude to those who have been kind to us and to those who have ministered to others.

Conclusion

To truly experience the joy of Christmas, we must recognize and respond to him who was born to be our Savior and King. He is the great joy bringer, and he wants to use us in helping other people to find joy, which is deeper and richer and finer than happiness. Happiness is the result of something that happens. Joy is an inward condition of the heart that comes about as we recognize the greatness, the graciousness, and the goodness of God. May you have the joy of Christmas during this holiday season.

Notices: Mr. John Oberholzer

Offertory Prayer: Father God, you are the giver of every good and perfect gift. You have given the indescribable gift of your Son Jesus Christ to us and for us. Today we come bringing ourselves and our substance in the form of tithes and offerings. Bless these gifts to the honor and glory of your name and to the advancement of your cause on earth. Amen.

Collection

Praise God from whom all blessing flow

Prayer

Hymn To God be the glory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vbGFupxwu0&list=RD3vbGFupxwu0&start_radio=112526/10/2025

Benediction May the Lord who calls through whispers and wonders,

Who stirs our hearts in silence and storms,

Continue to draw you near with His unfailing love.

May your eyes be open to His presence,

Your ears tuned to His voice,

And your life responsive to His leading.

Go now in peace,

With courage to follow,

With grace to listen,

And with joy in knowing

That the God who seeks your attention

Also holds your heart.

Amen.

Doxology - Now unto him.