Beloved in Christ, at this Christmastide let it be our care and delight to hear again the message of the angels, and in heart and mind go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. Let us meditate on the Babe lying in a manger as we read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious Redemption brought us by this Holy Child.

“O Come, All Ye Faithful” #147 1-3

First Lesson God announces in the Garden of Eden that the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head.

Genesis 3: 8-15 Tom

“Of the Father’s Love Begotten”

Second Lesson God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.

Genesis 22: 15-18 Savannah

“Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” Congregation

Third Lesson Christ’s birth and kingdom are foretold by Isaiah.

Isaiah 9: 2, 6-7; 11:1-2. Evan

“Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” #148 1-3

Fourth Lesson The prophet Micah foretells the glory of little Bethlehem Micah 5: 2-5a Dan

“O Little Town of Bethlehem” Congregational with piano/organ #154 1-4

Fifth Lesson The angel Gabriel salutes the Virgin Mary

Luke 1: 26-38 Valeri

“The Angel Gabriel from Heaven came” #139 Dan solo

Sixth Lesson Luke tells of the birth of Jesus

Luke 2: 1-7 Evan

“Away in a Manger” Verse 2 alternate melody sung by Dan

Carol/Esther duet, Sheep May Safely Graze

Seventh Lesson The shepherds go to the manger

Luke 2: 8-12 Savannah

“Hark the Herald Angels Sing”

Eighth Lesson The wise men are led by the star to Jesus

Matthew 2: 1-11 Tom

We Three Kings

Ninth Lesson John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation John 1: 1-14 (Dan)

Message - Dan

Lighting of Candles

“Silent Night” (words on back cover)

Benediction

December 24, 2017

Christmas Eve Morning Service

December 24, 2017/ Dolores Park Church

Emmanuel

Exclaiming God’s return

Evan Rogers

December 24, 2017

Genesis 3:23 Therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.

Genesis 3:22 Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—”

God made 4 covenants with man in the Old Testament

The Covenant with Noah not to destroy the earth

The Covenant with Abraham to make him a father

The Covenant with Israel through Moses to establish a lineage of his people

The Covenant with David to have a descendent on the throne forever

Each one a gift from God and a chance to redeem ourselves. Each one Failed

Noah Cursed Canan

Abraham had Ishmael

The people of Israel had idols

David had Bathsheeba

Isaiah 59:2

2 but your iniquities have made a separation

between you and your God,

and your sins have hidden his face from you

so that he does not hear.

Deuteronomy 31:17

Then my anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide my face from them, and they will be devoured. And many evils and troubles will come upon them, so that they will say in that day, ‘Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us?’

We had separated ourselves from God, and to separate yourself from life invites all kinds of death.

2 Peter 3:9 not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

God made us a deal we couldn't keep. He asked us to write a check that we couldn't cash, not so he could own us but so he could buy us back.

Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

“For the Son of God to empty himself and become poor meant a laying aside of glory; a voluntary restraint of power; an acceptance of hardship, isolation, ill-treatment, malice, and misunderstanding; finally, a death that involved such agony—spiritual even more than physical—that his mind nearly broke under the prospect of it. It meant love to the uttermost for unlovely men. . . .” J.I. Packer Knowing God

Every Covenant God has ever made with us He has wholly

fulfilled by Himself.

Aren't you thankful for the birth of Christ?

Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure;

“God could see every part of the future, the end before the beginning, the cost, the reward, and the journey. He knows your every mistake and your greatest achievements. This means that God cannot be surprised by your failures nor can he disappointed by your smallest triumphs. He cannot be convinced of a lie about you. He knows the truth, He knows your heart, He knows you. He knows you more than anyone ever could because He's already spent more time with you than anyone could. He's seen an eternity with you and valued it more than anything. So he bought it at the cost of himself, because if He didn't die you couldn't have lived.”

“The claim that Jesus is God also gives us the greatest possible hope. This means that our world is not all there is, that there is life and love after death, and that evil and suffering will one day end. And it means not just hope for the world, despite all its unending problems, but hope for you and me, despite all our unending failings.” Timothy Keller

2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Matthew 28:20 “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

No problem we face will ever be bigger than God who is with us.

“Christianity says God has been all the places you have been; he has been in the darkness you are in now, and more. And, therefore, you can trust him; you can rely on him, because he knows and has the power to comfort, strengthen, and bring you through.” Timothy Keller

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Matthew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

May we realize that God did all of this so we could be with him.

May we realize that the virgin Birth proves God's intent to save us all a long.

The greatest gift of Christmas is to know the love of the father who's greatest joy in Life was giving his so you could live.

December 20, 2017

John Lloyd - Emmanuel God With Us Pt.1

December 20, 2017/ Dolores Park Church

Music and singing by the congregation.

The Message

God With Us Changes Everything

Matthew 1:18-23

Pastor John Lloyd

December 17, 2017

Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

Principle: Immanuel means God has come into our lives through His son Jesus. Because Jesus is with us, it changes everything!

I. Jesus Christ is God.

Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

Luke 1:36 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. (Luke 1:35, John 8:41)

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.

“The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation. They say God became Man. Every other miracle prepares for this, or exhibits this, or results from this. …If the thing happened, it was the central event in the history of the Earth – the very thing that the whole story has been about. …In the Christian story God descends to re-ascend. He comes down; down from the heights of absolute being in time and space and down into humanity; down further still if the embryologists are right, to recapitulate in the womb…down to the very roots and sea-bed of the Nature He has created. But He goes down to come up again and bring the whole ruined world up with Him.” C.S. Lewis

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Hebrews 1:2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Hebrews 1:3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

Colossians 2:9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,

Psalm 130:8 And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Because Jesus is God, it changes everything!

II. Jesus Christ is human.

Matthew 1:21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Isaiah 53:2b He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.

Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature [8] and in favor with God and man.

Philippians 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

Hebrews 2:17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Have you been lonely? Have you been betrayed? Have you been destitute? Are you grieving a great loss in your life? So has Jesus!

Because Jesus is human, it changes everything!

III. God is with us through it all.

Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

Mark 3:14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him

May we realize that God did all of this so we could be with him.

Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

No problem we face will ever be bigger than God who is with us.

Matthew 28:20 “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

John 14:5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

"Despite our efforts to keep him out, God intrudes. The life of Jesus is
bracketed by two impossibilities: a virgin's womb and an empty tomb. Jesus
entered our world through a door marked 'No Entrance' and left through a
door marked 'No Exit.'" -Peter Larson, Prism (Jan/Feb 2001)

Because Jesus is with us, it changes everything!

Special Readings for this week:

Sunday: Matthew 2:7-8

Monday: Matthew 2:9

Tuesday: Matthew 2:10-11

Wednesday: Matthew 2:12-15

Thursday: Galatians 4:4-5

Friday: Ephesians 2:8-9

Saturday: 1 John 4:7-16

Sermon Podcast

A Service of Lessons and Carols

Dolores Park Church

December 24, 2017

Emmanuel

Exclaiming God’s return

Evan Rogers

December 24, 2017

Music and singing by the congregation.

The Message

Dolores Park Church