Morning Service Live Stream

This week's service is a special Christmas cantata, blending musical performances with a narrative that traces the history of God's redemptive plan from the Old Testament to the birth of Christ. The program emphasizes that the true meaning of Christmas is found in God's love and His promise of a Savior.

Service Breakdown

- Worship and Music: The service opens with the hymn "Angels from the Realms of Glory." The children's leader lights the final two Advent candles—the candle of love and the Christ candle—and the choir presents a Christmas cantata, a beautiful musical and narrative journey through God's plan for salvation. The music highlights themes of prophecy, promise, and the joyous arrival of the Savior.

- Bible Reading: The congregation reads from Micah 5, a prophetic passage that foretells the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem and his role as a shepherd for God's people.

- Children’s Corner: The children's leader discusses the meaning of the last two Advent candles. The candle of love is presented as a reminder that Christmas is a celebration of God's love for us, and the Christ candle, the final one, is a reminder that Jesus is the light of the world and our victory over sin and death.

- Christmas cantata: A narrative that weaves together musical performances and readings. The cantata traces God's redemptive plan from the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden, through the promises to Abraham and David, to the long silence of the prophets, and finally to the birth of Jesus. The presentation emphasizes that Jesus is the fulfillment of all prophecy and that His arrival brought hope, joy, and peace to a world in darkness.

Key Moments & Themes

- Prophecy and Fulfillment: The cantata highlights the long-awaited fulfillment of prophecy, reminding listeners that God’s plan to send a Savior was in motion for thousands of years.

- The Role of Love: The service emphasizes that love is the driving force behind Christmas, from God's decision to send His Son to the human love shared within families during the holiday season.

- From Silence to Sound: The narrative describes the 400 years of silence between the Old and New Testaments, contrasting that silence with the joyful noise of the angels announcing Jesus’s birth.

- The Humility of the Savior: The cantata poignantly describes the stark reality of Jesus's birth in a dirty stable, highlighting the profound humility of a King who would be born in such a lowly manner.

Call to Action

The message is a call to reflect on the deeper meaning of Christmas. The cantata invites listeners to move beyond the commercial aspects of the holiday and to embrace the hope, faith, joy, and love that Jesus's birth represents.