Rev. Dr. Joel Mitchell, Pastor
Morgan Park
Baptist Church
11024 S. Bell Avenue
Chicago, IL 60643
773-445-9443
God’s Family Worships
First Sunday after Christmas
December 26, 2021
11:00 A.M.
The Lord is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, our Creator and our Savior, our Source of Hope.
Therefore, we come to pray and to praise, to thank and to hope, for the Lord our God is the eternal God. Amen.
The Fellowship of Praise
Prelude
Cameron Jones
*Call to Worship Judy Healy
Leader: O Lord, our God,
Congregation: How majestic is your name!
Leader: As we journey through life,
Congregation: you are always with us.
Leader: In seasons of rejoicing,
Congregation: we do not laugh alone.
Leader: In seasons of mourning,
Congregation: we do not weep alone.
Leader: When the heavens open up,
Congregation: we behold your glory.
Leader: O Lord, our God,
Congregation: how majestic is your name!
*Hymn of Praise “Angels We Have Heard On High”
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly, sweetly through the night
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their brief delight
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
*Invocation and Lord’s Prayer (debts/debtors)
*Gloria Patri #734
Lighting of the Advent Candle of Christ -
Rev. Dr. Naomi Mitchell
Christmas Day - The Lighting of the Christ Candle
1st Reader:
Over the last weeks we have lit all four of the Advent candles. The first was the candle of hope which represented the expectancy on the part of Israel as they waited for the Messiah. It also helped us reflect on the hope we have in the birth of a Savior. We asked for new understanding of the possibilities of hope in our lives.
2nd Reader:
On the second Sunday we lit the candle of Peace. In a world where there is no peace, we seek the peace that only Christ can give. That candle reminded us that He who was born into the world came to bring healing salvation and also bore the promise of peace. The Child was to be called the Prince of Peace and of the increase of His government and of peace there would be no end.
1st Reader:
On the third Sunday of Advent, we lit the candle of Joy. It reminded us that joy is in the heart of Christmas- joy in prophecy to be fulfilled, joy at the birth to come and joy at the possibilities of new life in Jesus Christ. Even in the midst of trials and tribulations, joy can give us strength to endure. The very anticipation of the celebration of Jesus’ birth brings us joy and lifts our hearts.
2nd Reader:
The fourth Sunday of Advent we lit the candle of Love. No word better holds within itself the meaning of Christmas. All that we celebrated in the expectancy of AdvenT and today, the birth of Christ is caught up in one word, Love. That Sunday we prayed each of us would reflect on the love of God that we might let that love turn to worship and praise.
Pastor:
Today we light the Christ candle which will burn until we celebrate the ascension of Jesus to heaven after the resurrection. Born in that stable that night was the baby whose life would bring hope, peace, joy and love to all people. The reconciling love of God was made flesh that night and we awake today to a time of new possibilities, to awe and wonder, to the exquisite joy of the incarnation, for it was for you and me He was born.
Prayer:
Gracious God, thank you for guiding us throughout this season of wonder.
We stand amazed at the promise now fulfilled, and awed by your humble birth.
Help us receive again, the joy and wonder of the greatest gift offered to the world.
We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Newborn King. Amen.
† † †
The Fellowship of the Family of God
Greetings and Announcements
Pastor's Welcome
The Fellowship of Giving
*Doxology #34
*Prayer
The Fellowship of Prayer
Joys and Concerns
Praise and Thanks
For the continued ministry of MPBC; and the love and support of our MPBC members and friends; for our Pastor, Rev. Dr. Joel Mitchell and his family.
For Healing and Rehabilitation
Annette Adams; Annether Baines; Diane Brownlee; Patsy Browning; Beverly Capers (sister of Beatrice Haywood); Elizabeth Chelton (Granddaughter of Patsy Browning); Trisha Clark (granddaughter of Penny Lord); Neil Cunningham; The Goodman Family; Linda Guisewite (mother of Debbie Taylor); Floyd Hale and family; Priscilla Hall; Aretha Hampton; Shavon Harp (Niece of Annether Baines);
The Haywood Family; The Healy/Chase Family; Family of Cleone Kober;
The Kurut Family; Jack & Penny Lord; Linda, Stephanie & Joan McCarty; John & Flora Mitchell (Pastor Joel’s parents);Sam and Karen Mitchell;
Family of Reverend Millie Myren; Beverly Nickerson; Haile Selassie (son of Bruce and Rev. Francine White); Barbara Shriver (mother of Gretchen Shriver); Robert Soria (grandson of Susan Soria); Debbie and Mack Taylor; Cassandra Taylor (JFK owner); Jean Turner; Michael Whaley; Jeremy Williams & Family; Ira Williams
For Guidance and Direction
For our MPBC family, our vision for the future, and for our young people
For Watchcare
All of our service men and women serving and all of our veterans; All of our missionaries, who serve in all parts of the USA and in many parts of the world; For the President of the United States, Joe Biden. For all the people who have suffered through natural disasters; For the city of Chicago, that violence will cease
Pastoral Prayer
The Fellowship of the Word
*Hymn “Do You Hear What I Hear?”
Said the night wind to the little lamb
Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky, little lamb
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite
Scripture Readings Judy Healy
Solo: “By Christmas Day”
Sermon Rev. Dr. Joel Mitchell
The Sending Forth
*Closing Hymn “Joy to the World”
Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing
Joy to the world! The Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy
* Benediction
Postlude
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