Sunday, December 15 @ THE TABLE Church SF

WELCOME / PREPARATION: Happy Advent Season! We’re glad you’re gathering with us for worship @ THE TABLE Church SF! We pray that God gives you rest and relationship through the good news of the Gospel and through the people you meet. Our worship gathering includes space for: Quiet Reflection, Celebratory Singing, Lamenting, Praying, Discipleship in God’s Word, Open-Discussion, Communion, Social Justice, and Fellowship. If you’d like to connect with others in a Bible study or connect with our Pastor, see info at the bottom.

*What is Advent? Advent is a word that means “coming” or “arrival.” It is a four-week period in which the church looks back to Jesus’ first coming as our Savior and looks forward to his second coming as our Judge. Just as John the Baptist told the Jewish people to “prepare” for the Lord’s coming, we need to encourage each other to be ready for his coming again, when he will fulfill God’s promises and renew all things. Indeed, the kingdom of God will come “on earth as it is in heaven” – the wolf will lie down with the lamb, death will be swallowed up, the dead in Christ will rise to new life, and every tear will be wiped away. As Isaiah the prophet says, “Prepare the way for the Lord... The glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together” (Isaiah 40:3-5).

*So what do we do during Advent? We wait and prepare ourselves. We commit ourselves to spiritual renewal through weekly Sunday worship and daily prayer as the means of God’s grace. We fast by giving up something we enjoy on a regular basis to deepen our hunger and desire for God. We give alms for those in need. We tell others about the joy and hope of Jesus’ return to be king and put the world to rights. We pray the final prayer in the Bible, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

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CALL TO WORSHIP

Luke 1:26-45 ~ 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. 39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER (Congregation prays aloud)

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.  (Source: The Book of Common Prayer)

WORSHIP THRU SINGING

Angels We Have Heard On High

1 Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.

Refrain
Gloria, in excelsis Deo;
Gloria, in excelsis Deo.

2 Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song? [Refrain]

3 Come to Bethlehem and see

Him whose birth the angels sing;

Come, adore on bended knee

Christ the Lord, the newborn King. [Refrain]

4 See within a manger laid
Jesus, Lord of heav'n and earth!
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
With us sing our Savior's birth. [Refrain]

© Public Domain | CCLI License #11174081

Hark The Herald Angels Sing

1. Hark the herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn King

Peace on earth and mercy mild

God and sinners reconciled

Joyful all ye nations rise

Join the triumph of the skies

With th'angelic hosts proclaim

Christ is born in Bethlehem

Hark the herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn King

2. Christ by highest heav'n adored

Christ the everlasting Lord

Late in time behold Him come

Offspring of the Virgin's womb

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see

Hail th'incarnate Deity

Pleased as man with men to dwell

Jesus our Emmanuel

Hark the herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn King

 

3. Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace

Hail the Sun of Righteousness

Light and life to all He brings

Ris'n with healing in His wings

Mild He lays His glory by

Born that man no more may die

Born to raise the sons of earth

Born to give them second birth

Hark the herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn King

 

4. Come Desire of nations come

Fix in us Thy humble home

Rise the woman's conqu’ring seed

Bruise in us the serpent's head

Adam’s likeness now efface

Stamp Thine image in its place

Second Adam from above

Reinstate us in Thy love

Hark the herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn King

© Public Domain | Words by: Charles Wesley / Music by: Felix Mendelssohn | CCLI License #11174081


COMMUNITY PRAYER: CELEBRATION, LAMENTATION, REPENTANCE

Structure: Minister reads verses from a selected passage. Afterwards anyone can pray aloud any praises, thanksgivings, requests, and laments.

Prayer from Isaiah 9:6-7

v.6 ~ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Pray aloud…

v.7 ~ Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Pray aloud…

*PRAYER MINISTER available at the end of the worship service to pray with you confidentially. (Prayer Minister will be up front near the piano.)


CHURCH CULTURE & COMMUNITY

DEC.15 ~ Table Christmas lunch: Walk to a local restaurant for a fun lunch together.

DEC.22 ~ Lucas Bere preaching.

DEC.29 ~ No Worship gathering. 


DISCUSSION & SERMON

Series: WHERE’S OUR FOREVER KING?

DISCUSSION (All)

* What attribute of God are you enjoying this Advent & Christmas season?

* How can I better prepare my heart to receive Jesus this Christmas?

SERMON (Rev.Troy Wilson): KINGDOM LYRICS

Luke 1:46-55 ~ 46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

  1. WHY DOES MARY SING?

  2. WHAT SONG DOES MARY SING?

  3. WHAT SONG DO YOU SING?


CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER (Congregation prays aloud)

(Source: The LORD’S Prayer, Matthew 6 – Jesus’ disciples asked Him how to pray and Jesus said: pray like this…)

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen. 


RESPOND BY GIVING GENEROUSLY

Ways to GIVE…

2 Corinthians 8:9 – “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”


RESPOND BY RECEIVING COMMUNION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION… Humble yourself before God and confess any sinful attitudes, actions, inactions, and patterns without defending yourself. Psalm 51:1-2 – “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING… Thank God for his mercy and forgiveness – given to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Psalm 32:5,11 – “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad.”

FEAST TOGETHER… Renew your vow to follow Christ by partaking of God’s grace: the bread (Gluten-Free) symbolizes Christ’s body that was broken for us and the red wine / white grape juice symbolizes Christ’s blood that cleanses us from sin.


WORSHIP THRU SINGING

O Come All Ye Faithful

1. O come all ye faithful

Joyful and triumphant

O come ye O come ye to Bethlehem

Come and behold Him

Born the King of angels

 

Chorus

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

Christ the Lord

 

2. Sing choirs of angels

Sing in exultation

O sing all ye bright Hosts of heav'n above

Glory to God all

Glory in the highest

 

3. Yea Lord we greet Thee

Born this happy morning

Jesus to Thee be all glory giv'n

Word of the Father

Now in flesh appearing

© Public Domain | Words & Music by: John Francis Wade | CCLI License #11174081


RESPOND BY GOING IN GOD’S GRACE

Lift up your hands and receive this closing blessing to empower you this week…

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. ~ Zephaniah 3:17

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CONNECT WITH OUR PASTOR

Wrestling with spiritual questions or the Christian faith? Navigating a difficult season of life? New to San Francisco? Have questions about the church? Our pastor would love to meet with you. You can email Troy Wilson at Troy@TheTableSF.com 

CONNECT WITH A COMMUNITY GROUP

Friendships, service opportunities, prayer, and Bible study is what you’ll find in a COMMUNITY GROUP (CG). We’re currently taking the Summer off and will resume in September.

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