Dear Brothers and Sisters,

There was celebration in the midst of the ruins. There was worship in spite of the smallness of the progress. This is how God heals. Someone said it like this, God is more concerned with my broken relationship with Him than He is repairing what is broken.  Ezra 3:8-13 bears witness to this. The people gathered together and declared in v11, “The Lord is Good and His mercy endures forever.” On Sunday we will gather for this same purpose… to sing responsively of the goodness of God in the midst of the ruin… and to turn to Him who alone repairs the broken streets and walls… by first repairing our broken relationship with Him through worship.

Attention Men: Dec 15, 7:00 – Men’s Meeting for all men in the church (NOT Members only). We are going to address issues of purity and would like to ask all men to prioritize this meeting.

Prayer will be held at the Noah home.

Remember women’s mentoring on Wed… they will be continuing in the book, “Be Still My Soul” by Elisabeth Elliott. Childcare will be provided for preschool children. 

The Songs we will be singing on Sunday are,

Good Christian Men Rejoice

Thou Dost Reign on High

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery

How Deep the Father’s Love for Us

Good Christian Men Rejoice

Good Christian men, rejoice,

With heart, and soul, and voice;

Give ye heed to what we say:

Jesus Christ is born today;

Earth and heav’n before him bow,

And he is in the manger now.

Christ is born today!

Good Christian men, rejoice,

With heart, and soul, and voice;

Now ye hear of endless bliss:

Jesus Christ was born for this!

He hath op’ed the heavenly door,

And man is blessed evermore.

Christ was born for this!

Good Christian men, rejoice,

With heart, and soul, and voice;

Now ye need not fear the grave:

Jesus Christ was born to save!

Calls you one and calls you all

To gain his everlasting hall.

Christ was born to save!

Thou Dost Reign on High

Thou dost reign on high with a kingly crown,

Yet thou camest to earth for me,

And in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room

For thy holy nativity:

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,

There is room in my heart for thee.

Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,

Proclaiming thy royal degree;

But of lowly birth didst thou come to earth,

And in great humility:

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,

There is room in my heart for thee.

The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest,

In the shade of the forest tree;

But thy couch was the sod,

O thou Son of God, in the deserts of Galilee:

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,

There is room in my heart for thee.

Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word

That should set thy people free;

But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn,

They bore thee to Calvary:

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,

Thy cross is my only plea.

When heav’n’s arches shall ring,

And her choirs shall sing,

At thy coming to victory,

Let thy voice call me home,

Saying, “Yet there is room,

There is room at my side for thee.”

And my heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,

When thou comest and callest for me.

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

Come, Thou long-expected Jesus

Born to set Thy people free

From our fears and sins release us

Let us find our rest in Thee

Israel’s Strength and Consolation

Hope of all the earth Thou art

Dear Desire of every nation

Joy of every longing heart

Joy to those who long to see Thee

Dayspring from on high, appear

Come, Thou promised Rod of Jesse

Of Thy birth we long to hear!

O’er the hills the angels singing

News, glad tidings of a birth

“Go to Him, your praises bringing;

Christ the Lord has come to earth”

Born Thy people to deliver

Born a child and yet a King

Born to reign in us forever

Now Thy gracious kingdom bring

By Thine own eternal Spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone

By Thine all-sufficient merit

Raise us to Thy glorious throne

Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery

Come behold the wondrous mystery

In the dawning of the King

He the theme of heaven’s praises

Robed in frail humanity

In our longing, in our darkness

Now the light of life has come

Look to Christ, who condescended

Took on flesh to ransom us

Come behold the wondrous mystery

He the perfect Son of Man

In His living, in His suffering

Never trace nor stain of sin

See the true and better Adam

Come to save the hell-bound man

Christ the great and sure fulfillment

Of the law; in Him we stand

Come behold the wondrous mystery

Christ the Lord upon the tree

In the stead of ruined sinners

Hangs the Lamb in victory

See the price of our redemption

See the Father’s plan unfold

Bringing many sons to glory

Grace unmeasured, love untold

Come behold the wondrous mystery

Slain by death the God of life

But no grave could e’er restrain Him

Praise the Lord; He is alive!

What a foretaste of deliverance

How unwavering our hope

Christ in power resurrected

As we will be when He comes

How Deep the Father’s Love For Us

How deep the Father’s love for us

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son

To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss

The Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the Chosen One

Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross

My sin upon His shoulders

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice 

Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything

No gifts, no pow’r, no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom