December 20, 2020


4th Sunday of advent


Self-GUIDED Worship

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." 

(2 Corinthians 1:2)


Join us this Sunday


We are glad you have decided to worship with us this day!  Our prayer is that God would work through everything we do in order to bring an awareness of our need for God; and that God would then extend His forgiveness, mercy, and grace to all who worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23).  As you go through each Section of worship, slow down and prayerfully think about the meaning of each section and ask God to speak to you through each part of the worship service.  


Click HERE to review the meaning behind the 4 parts of worship (Gathering, The Word, Our Response, Sending). 

  • Prelude

    Please click on the image to listen to an Advent prelude on a large Pipe Organ. (Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming) 


    For a flute and Organ Advent prelude, click the "MORE" button.


    As you listen, silently and reverently, come before God and prepare your heart and mind to worship. 

  • Call to Worship

    One: Come! Share the joy of the Lord!

    ALL:  Delight in God's goodness!

    One:  Praise God who gives each person a special gift to be nurtured and shared.

    ALL:  Lord, we thank you for these gifts!

    One:  Come, let us worship God who entrusts us with so much.

    ALL:  Lord, make us worthy of your love and trust in us.  Amen

    (For a unique call to worship, please click the "MORE" button as you enter into a spirit of worship.)

  • Hymn of praise

    "O Come O Come Emmanuel"  (click  "MORE" button) 

  • A prayer of Advent

    Pray along with this video by clicking the "MORE" button. 

  • Prayer of confession and Assurance of Pardon

    Click the "MORE" button for a video confession and assurance of pardon.  Notice the pastor leads the congregation in confession and pardon from the baptismal font, symbolizing our own baptism and the cleansing and washing away of our sins (1 John 1:8-9),

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    Prayer for Illumination    

    Click the "MORE" button for an Advent Prayer

  • Hearing the word

    2 Samuel 7:1-11; 16 (click here)

    Luke 1:26-38  (click here)

  • Hymn of response for the hearing of God's word!

    Prepare the Way O Zion (MORE button)

    Canticle of the Turning (Click on the "Hymn Sing" image)

  • The word Proclaimed

    "Anticipate Love; anticipate the impossible"

    Worship service can be watched live at 10:30 on Vimeo, YouTube, Facebook or our webpage.   


    Pastor J.C.'s message will be available Sunday Dec. 20 at 10:30am.

  • offering

    The Christian life is an offering of one’s self to God. In the Lord’s Supper we are presented with the costly self-offering of Jesus Christ for the life of the world. As those who have been claimed and set free by grace  through faith, we now respond with gratitude; offering him our lives, our spiritual gifts, and our material goods. Friends, let us give prayerfully and cheerfully, out of our response to God's goodness in Jesus Christ!  


    To read more about Presbyterian Convictions about worship and giving click HERE.

    Click on the "WHY GIVE" image to watch a brief video by Pastor Francis Chan on the nature of self-sacrifice in Christian giving.  He is talking about 2 Corinthians 8:8-9 and focuses on the generosity of God and the calling for our grateful response to God's goodness!

    • Click on the "MORE" button to give safely and securely online through our website.
    • You can also "TEXT-TO-GIVE" by texting (812) 504-2283. 
    • This number is connected to the same system as the online giving and is safe and secure.  Simply text the amount (just a number...like "25" for twenty five dollars and "BPC" to give to our general operations budget. 

  • Prayers of the people

    Our prayers are also part of our response to the hearing of God's Word.  We pray for each other, Christ's church, our community, and the world.  Prayer is an act of faith and it expresses our dependence on God and deepens our relationship with God and with one another.  


    If you have a prayer request, please click the "MORE" button to be taken to our "Prayer" page on our website.  There you can offer a prayer request and it will be seen and prayed for by members of Christ's church at BPC!  May God bless you as you turn to Him in prayer!

    • Click on the image "Power in Prayer" to see a brief message from Mother Teresa about the importance of prayer at home! 

  • Song of Sending

    "God be with you till we meet again"  (click HYMN SING image)

    "Be not Afraid" (click "MORE" button)


    This is a closing Hymn meant to praise and thank God and to encourage us to leave worship, secure in the knowledge of God's love and provision for us; so that we are ready to love God with our whole selves and love our neighbor as ourselves!

  • Benediction / Charge / Blessing

    Hear (or read) these words and receive them as your benediction (blessing) today!


    Go now: wait and work for the coming of the day of God.
    In the wild places prepare a straight path for the Lord.
    Lead lives of holiness and godliness,
    strive to be found at peace,
    and speak freely of the Lord’s comfort and promise.

    And may God our shepherd gather you in loving arms;
    May Christ Jesus reconcile justice and peace within you;
    And may the Holy Spirit baptise you into the life of God.

    We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,

    In the name of Christ. Amen.

     

    Click on the "MORE" button for an Advent Pipe Organ Postlude


    Thank you for worshiping with us today!

    May God bless and keep you!