Welcome, we’re glad you’re here. Our vision echoes the Lord’s prayer: may it be “in the South Bay, as it is in heaven.” We yearn to see people flourishing in Jesus. Join us in the worship of our Lord.
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP
Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
Isaiah 42:1
The Lord has bared his holy arm
before the eyes of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.
Isaiah 52:10
Jesus said, “For this purpose I was born
and for this purpose I have come into the world —
to bear witness to the truth.
Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
John 18:37
“A sentimentalist is one who desires to have the luxury of an emotion without paying for it.”
– Oscar Wilde
“A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes – and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside – is not a bad picture of Advent.”
– Dietrich Bonhoeffer, writing from prison
“The baby is in the manger because
Jesus had to make his way to us
since we would’ve never made our way to God.”
– Paul Tripp
“Once we have seen him in a stable,
we can never be sure where He will appear
or to what lengths he will go
or to what ludicrous depths of self-humiliation
He will descend in his wild pursuit of men.”
– Frederick Beuchner
“Jesus was born in a dungheap because that’s where he knew he’d find us.”
– Jerome
“The infinite has become an infant.”
– Charles Spurgeon
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP
Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths…
O house of Jacob,
come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.
Isaiah 2:3,5
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
[Verse 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 angelic hosts proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! the herald angels sing:
“Glory to the newborn King!”
[Verse 2]
Christ by highest Heav’n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! the herald angels sing:
“Glory to the newborn King!”
[Verse 3]
Hail the Heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son 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!”
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
[Verse 1]
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
[Verse 2]
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th’unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
[Verse 3]
‘Til, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
[Verse 4]
And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
[Verse 5]
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor does He sleep!
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men!”
SONG
O Come O Come Emmanuel
[Verse 1]
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
[Refrain]
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
[Verse 2]
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud, and majesty and awe
[Refrain]
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
[Verse 3]
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
[Refrain]
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
BAPTISMS
Kennedy Ellen Price (4 years)
Evelyn Marie Price (2 years)
Wyatt Suplee Price (5 months)
SONG
His Name Shall Be
[Verse 1]
Oh, can you hear the angels’ song
That rang so sweet and clear
When heaven’s light and music fell
and mercy found us here
Glory in the highest, and on the earth be peace
Glory to God, the angels sing
[Verse 2]
He came to tell the Father’s love
His goodness and His grace
To show the brightness of His smile
The glory of His face
So, glory in the highest, and on the earth be peace
Glory to God, Your children sing
[Chorus]
His name shall be called
Wonderful, Counselor
Mighty God, Everlasting Father
Prince of Peace for all eternity
His name shall be
[Verse 3]
He came to lift the weary ones
Give peace and perfect rest
To take away our burdens and
To give a glorious gift
So, glory in the highest
And on the earth be peace
Glory to God, the world will sing
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
One name above all others
One name that came to save us
Oh sing, His name is, His name is Jesus
GREETING & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Family Service (12/28) Nursery remains open.
2025 Giving statements will be emailed in January.
URM Angeles House Christmas Eve outreach (12/24) 2pm-7pm. Sign up here to participate.
OFFERTORY
________________________________
GIVING & BUDGET
Total 2025 Annual Budget: $764,000
Giving as of 12/14/25: $671,951
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If you would like to give electronically, you can do so here or through the mobile app by selecting “Giving” at the bottom-right corner. For cash or check donations to King’s Cross Church, please use the offering box located at the back of our worship space.
SERMON
“Songs of Advent: Nunc Dimmitus (Simeon)”
22 And when the time came for their purification
according to the Law of Moses,
they brought him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord
23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord,
“Every male who first opens the womb
shall be called holy to the Lord”)
24 and to offer a sacrifice
according to what is said in the Law of the Lord,
“a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem,
whose name was Simeon,
and this man was righteous and devout,
waiting for the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he would not see death
before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple,
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus,
to do for him according to the custom of the Law,
28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant
depart in peace, according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that
you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled
at what was said about him.
34 And Simeon blessed them
and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is appointed
for the fall and rising of many in Israel,
and for a sign that is opposed
35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also),
so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
Luke 2:22-35 (ESV)
SONG
The First Noel
The First Noel, the Angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel
Born is the King of Israel
BENEDICTION
“Lord, now let your servants depart in peace,
according to your word;
for our eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
Luke 2:29-32 [based upon]
CONNECTION
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