Welcome! (No Church Gathering Sunday Dec. 28th)

Thank you so much for joining us at Grace and Peace Church! Below you’ll find song lyrics, scriptures, sermon notes, and information relating to this week’s service! Also take a minute to fill out our connect form. If you are new we have a FREE MUG for you at the welcome table.

We’re so glad you’re here with us!

Grace & Peace to you!

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  • Announcements;

    Sermon Based Study; Thursdays 7-8pm. Wells home. All are welcome just text/email if you're joining us or interested in more details.

    Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Dec 24th 6pm. Bring your family, friends, neighbors and lets celebrate the beautiful message of Gods love!

    No Church Gathering Sunday Dec. 28th

    Thanks for giving towards our mission to serve our brothers and sisters in Haiti! We have heard some of the progress of the work on the school that is being expanded and teachers are getting paid monthly to continue teaching. God is at work in beautiful ways!

  • Christmas Service 2025

    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:

    O come, let us adore Him,

    O come, let us adore Him,

    O come, let us adore Him,

    Christ the Lord.

    Sing, choirs of angels,

    Sing in exultation,

    Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above!

    Glory to God

    In the highest

    O come, let us adore Him,

    O come, let us adore Him,

    O come, let us adore Him,

    Christ the Lord.

    Yea, Lord, we greet thee,

    Born this happy morning;

    Jesus, to thee be glory given!

    Word of the Father,

    Now in flesh appearing!

    O come, let us adore Him,

    O come, let us adore Him,

    O come, let us adore Him,

    Christ the Lord.

    Song: O Come All Ye Faithful

    Section 1; Wells

    Twas years before Christmas, 700 or so

    When Isaiah, God’s Prophet sat down and wrote

    One of the messages God had him say

    He told what would happen the first Christmas Day  

    Isaiah 7:14 The Lord himself will give you a miraculous sign. The virgin is going to have a baby. She will give birth to a son. And he will be called Immanuel. 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

    Section 2; Andy 


    Other prophets, like Micah, also foretold

    More truths about Jesus which God let them know

    And ev'ry prediction all God’s prophets made

    Each one came true, including the place  


    Micah 5:2  "Bethlehem, you might not be an important town in the nation of Judah. 

       But out of you will come  a ruler over Israel for me. 

       His family line goes back to the early years of your nation. 

       It goes all the way back to days of long ago." 




    Slide: Song: O Come, O Come Emmanuel 

     O come, O come, Emmanuel,

    And ransom captive Israel,

    That mourns in lonely exile here

    Until the Son of God appear.

    Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

    Shall come to thee, O Israel.

    O come, Thou Dayspring

    Come and cheer

    Our spirits by Thine advent here

    Disperse the gloomy clouds of night

    And death's dark shadows put to flight

    Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

    Shall come to thee, O Israel.

    O come desire of nations, bind

    all people in one heart and mind

    Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease

    And fill the world with heaven's peace.

    Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

    Shall come to thee, O Israel.

    Section 3; Tiffany

    Slide: Luke

        

    Twas months before Christmas when a young lady saw

    An angel who brought her a message from God  

    The young lady named Mary couldn't believe

    The news from the Angel she was about to receive

    Luke 1:26-38 

    God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee. 27 He was sent to a virgin. The girl was engaged to a man named Joseph. He came from the family line of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel greeted her and said, "The Lord has given you special favor. He is with you." 29 Mary was very upset because of his words. She wondered what kind of greeting this could be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary. God is very pleased with you. 31 You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You must name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king like his father David of long ago. 33 He will rule forever over his people, who came from Jacob's family. His kingdom will never end."    37 Nothing is impossible with God." 38 "I serve the Lord," Mary answered. "May it happen to me just as you said it would." Then the angel left her.

    Section 4; Reyna

    Twas months before Christmas when an angel did speak

    To Joseph, who was nervous, while he had a dream

    The angel said it’s alright, marry Mary as planned

    And Joseph did what we all should, He obeyed God's command.

    Matthew 1:18-25 

    Mary became pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph was a godly man. He did not want to put her to shame in public. So he planned to divorce her quietly.20 But as Joseph was thinking about this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The angel said, "Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary home a deer s your wife. The baby inside her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She is going to have a son. You must give him the name Jesus. That is because he will save his people from their sins."

     22 All of this took place to bring about what the Lord had said would happen. He had said through the prophet, 23 "The virgin is going to have a baby. She will give birth to a son. And he will be called Immanuel” The name Immanuel means "God with us."24 Joseph woke up. He did what the angel of the Lord commanded him to do. He took Mary home as his wife and she gave birth to a son. And Joseph gave him the name Jesus.

    Section 5; Kai 

    Twas a while before Christmas when the emperor said

    Lets count all the people and see what number we get

    So a census was called for meaning Joseph and Mary

    Had to travel to Bethlehem where she’d have her baby

    Luke 2:3 All went to their own towns to be listed. 4 So Joseph went also. He went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea. That is where Bethlehem, the town of David, was. Joseph went there because he belonged to the family line of David. 5 He went there with Mary to be listed. Mary was engaged to him. She was expecting a baby.

    6 While Joseph and Mary were there, the time came for the child to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first baby. It was a boy. She wrapped him in large strips of cloth. Then she placed him in a manger. There was no room for them in the inn.

    Slide:  Song: 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 earth! 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

    He rules the world with truth and grace

    And makes the nations prove

    The glory of His righteousness

    And wonders of His love

    And wonders of His love

    And wonders, wonders of His love

    Angels We Have Heard on High

    Angels we have heard on high

    Sweetly singing o'er the plains

    And the mountains in reploy

    Echoing their joyous strains

    Glo—--ria, in excelsis Deo

    Glo—--ria, in excelsis Deo

    Shepherds, why this jubilee?

    Why your joyous songs prolong?

    What the gladsome tidings be?

    Which inspire your heavenly song?

    Glo—--ria, in excelsis Deo

    Glo—--ria, in excelsis Deo

    Come to Bethlehem and see

    Him whose birth the angels sing

    Come adore on bended knee

    Christ the Lord the newborn King

    Glo—--ria, in excelsis Deo

    Glo—--ria, in excelsis Deo


    Section 6; Patti

    Twas the very first Christmas, the Son of God’s birth

    And the angels got busy, out spreading the word

    They appeared to some shepherds and scared them a bit

    Said the Savior ‘s been born, and where they’d find him   

    Luke 2:9 The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy. It is for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. 12 Here is how you will know I am telling you the truth. You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger."13 Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven also appeared. They were praising God. They said,

     14 "May glory be given to God in the highest heaven! And may peace be given to those he is pleased with on earth!”

     15 The angels left and went into heaven. Then the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem. Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby. The baby was lying in the manger. 17 After the shepherds had seen him, they told everyone. They reported what the angel had said about this child. 18 All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.


    Section 7; Emily

    Twas months after Christmas when the Wise Men arrived

    They’d followed a star for a very long time

    They came to the house where Jesus now lived

    Where they bowed down and worshipped and gave gifts to him


    Mathew 2:9 After the Wise Men had listened to the king, they went on their way. The star they had seen when they were in the east went ahead of them. It finally stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. 11 The Wise Men went to the house. There they saw the child with his mother Mary. They bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures. They gave him gold, incense and myrrh.


    Oh Holy Night

    O holy Night! The stars are brightly shining!

    It is the night of our dear Savior's birth

    Long lay the world in sin and error pining

    Til he appeared and the soul felt its worth

    A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,

    For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

    Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!

    O night divine, O night when Christ was born!

    O night divine, Oh night, Oh night divine.

    Truly He taught us to love one another

    His law is love and His gospel is peace.

    Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother,

    And in His name all oppression shall cease.

    Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we

    Let all within us praise His holy name

    Christ is the Lord, O praise His name forever!

    His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim!

    His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim!

    Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!

    O night divine, O night when Christ was born!

    O night divine, Oh night, Oh holy night.



    Section 8; Nate


    Twas years after the first Christmas, 30 or so

    When Jesus, now grown up, sat down and spoke

    These words to his followers, about who he was

    Our Savior, our shepherd, God’s one and only Son.


    John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.



    Section 9; Nate

    Just little time later, he died on a cross

    He’d came here to seek and to save those who are lost

    If you will ask him to forgive all your sins

    He will do it, He’ll save you, and then in you He’ll live.


    Romans 10:9 –  If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.



    Section 10; NATE

    This night before Christmas, all through your house

    We pray you’ll be talking and thinking about

    Not just the presents under a tree

    But the baby who was born

    to save you and me.



    Song: Oh Holy Night


    Song; SILENT NIGHT

    Silent Night

    Silent night, holy night!

    All is calm, All is bright

    Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child

    Holy Infant so Tender and mild,

    Sleep in heavenly peace,

    Sleep in heavenly peace.

    Silent night, holy night!

    Shepherds quake at the sight!

    Glories stream from heaven afar;

    Heavenly hosts sing Al-le-lu-ia!

    Christ the Saviour is born!

    Christ the Saviour is born!

    Silent night, Holy night!

    Son of God, love's pure light

    Radiant beams from Thy holy face,

    With the dawn of redeeming grace,

    Jesus Lord at thy birth;

    Jesus Lord at thy birth.

  • Liturgical Worship Readings

    Daily Prayer

    Help me pay attention today.

    I want to be so acutely aware of Your presence in every space.

    Help me notice beauty that doesn't beg for applause, conversations that carry Your kindness, and the still, small ways You're working beneath the surface.

    Let my feet be rooted, not rushed.

    Let my heart be soft, not guarded.

    And let my soul remember that You waste nothing—not even times of slowing down.


    LEADER: As we prepare our house for the coming Christmas season, we would also prepare our hearts for the returning Christ.

    PEOPLE: You came once for your people, O Lord, and you will come for us again.

    Though there was no room at the inn to receive you upon your first arrival, 

    We would prepare you room here in our hearts and here in our home,

    Lord Christ.

    As we decorate and celebrate, we do so to mark the memory of your redemptive movement

    into our broken world, O God.

    Our glittering ornaments and Christmas trees, Our festive carols, our sumptuous feasts—

    By these small tokens we affirm that something amazing has happened in time and space— that God, on a particular night, in a particular place, so many years ago, was born to us, an infant King, our Prince of Peace.

    Our wreaths and ribbons and colored lights, our giving of gifts, our parties with friends— these have never been ends in themselves.

    They are but small ways in which we repeat that sounding joy first proclaimed by angels in the skies near Bethlehem.

    In view of such great tidings of love announced to us, and to all people, how can we not be moved to praise and celebration in this Christmas season?

    As we decorate our tree, and as we feast and laugh and sing together, we are rehearsing our coming joy!

    We are making ready to receive the one who has already, with open arms, received us!

    We would prepare you room here in our hearts and here in our home,

    Lord Christ.

    Now we celebrate your first coming, Immanuel, even as we long for your return.

    O Prince of Peace, return soon. We miss you so!

    Amen.


    Offering Prayer

    Compassionate Father, thank you that you are our strength and our song, you fill our hearts with joy. May we give our offerings to you with gladness and joy. Everything we have belongs to you and we rejoice to give some of your abundant gifts back to you. Bless the tithes and offerings we give today. Let the majesty of the Father be the light that guides us, the compassion of the Son be the love that inspires us and the presence of the Spirit be the power that empowers us. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

    Psalm 71:1-6

    In you, O Lord, I take refuge;
    let me never be put to shame.

    In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
    incline your ear to me and save me.

    Be to me a rock of refuge,
    a strong fortress, to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.

    Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
    from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.

    For you, O Lord, are my hope,
    my trust, O Lord, from my youth.

    Upon you I have leaned from my birth;
    it was you who took me from my mother’s womb.

    My praise is continually of you…


    THE LORDS PRAYER

    Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. 

    THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

    Offer Prayers of Intercessions, Petitions, or Thanksgivings to the Lord either silently or aloud. After each person shares we simply acknowledge by saying “Lord hear our prayer.”

    Prayer of Gratitude

    Heavenly Father, We come before you today with hearts full of gratitude. Thank you for your countless blessings and your unwavering love. Thank you for the gift of life, for the air we breathe, and for the strength you give us each day. Your grace and mercy sustain us, and we  are deeply grateful for your presence in our lifes.

    Thank you for our family, friends, and the community you have surrounded us with. Thank you for providing for our needs and for guiding us with your wisdom. Even in times of trial, we thank you for the lessons and the growth that come from trusting in you.

    Lord, may we never take your blessings for granted. Help us to remain mindful of your goodness and to share your love and kindness with others. We praise your name and give thanks for all that you are and all that you do.

    In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

 

SERMON NOTES & RESOURCES

We typically preach through the LECTIONARY READINGS — For further reading of all the passages click here https://wordtoworship.com/lectionary/acna

GP Mission;  We are a community established on experiencing the life-giving grace and peace found in knowing Christ.

"We participate in God's mission as a people. There's individual actions, there's individual moments, but ultimately, this is a symphony." -- MARK SAYERS

Lasting Change Haiti -- Newsletter Stories

Advent; Hope, Peace, Joy, LOVE

Sermon by Nate Wells


FIND PEACE THIS ADVENT SEASON

Advent can be a difficult time of year, especially for those in the deepest and darkest season of waiting for things to get better. Yet we know that the message of Advent is ultimately hope for the hopeless, peace in the chaos, joy for the joyless, and love for the unloved. The darkness has not overcome the light of Christ, so we rejoice even as we wait for all to be restored and made new. Advent reminds us that Jesus is the true Hope of All the Earth.


Christmas Eve Candlelight Service; “Seeds of Hope”

Christmas is the story of God planting something small yet great…

Advent is a time of expectation but now the wait is over.

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” — Isaiah 9:2


But every farmer knows this truth about a seed:

What looks like loss is often the beginning of life.


John 1:5

 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”


And here’s the beautiful truth of Christmas Eve and the message of Jesus:  

Light multiplies.


Christmas reminds us that God’s love is still at work.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” — John 1:14 (NIV)

ACTION STEP

Do you believe God loves you?

But also: How will you let your light shine?



Blessing…

Rejoice in knowing that we never walk alone.

Know the grace and peace of Christ walking beside us, guiding and protecting us.

Share this comfort with one another and feel his presence each moment of each day.

Amen





The option to give toward the ministry we partner with in Haiti is always available…

God is at work in Haiti, and we’re grateful to share just a few of the wonderful things He allowed our team to accomplish this past week through your support and generosity.

New Savings Group Started (last photo of all women)

The Outreach Mission – A Week of Transformation

Care Packs for families fleeing from violent gangs who currently pushing to gain more control over cities.

Thanks to the funds you sent, the outreach was a huge blessing. We were able to purchase gas, water, and supplies—and most meaningfully, we bought Bibles. With support from LCH and the local church, they are now walking in new obedience and joy.



PROVIDE EDUCATION and MEALS IN HAITI

Number one task of a Christ follower; Stay in that rhythm of receiving nourishment. A tree doesn’t work to receive but we choose what soil and if it’s near water source or in the care of a constant gardener. Here are a few more resources to study further.

We use Lectio Divina Journals as a guide for our daily spiritual formation. If you would like to journey with us you can order a journal here (link below) or pick one up at the welcome table at church.
https://www.lectiodivinajournal.com/buy/lectiojournal-nodates

If you’re looking for a great simple way to study the Bible check out this resource; https://throughtheword.org

 

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