Third Sunday of Advent
Welcome! We’re glad you’re here.
“Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God, it is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
— Psalms 100:2-3
Order of Worship
*Please stand as you are able
Welcome and Preparation
Call to Worship*
LEADER: Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name
PEOPLE: Give to him glorious praise!
LEADER: All the earth worships you; they sing praises to you
ALL: Sing praises to your name!
Lighting of the Advent Candle
MINISTER: Prepare the way of the Lord. We light this candle in joy, the joy of our coming Savior, Jesus.
ALL: Prepare, then, the way of the Lord.
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by Castle Island Hymns, Felix Mendelssohn, Charles Wesley
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With th’angelic hosts proclaim
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King”
Christ, by highest heav’n adored
Christ, the everlasting Lord
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of the Virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail th’incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell
Jesus our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King”
Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace
Hail the Sun of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings
Ris’n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King”—
CCLI License No. 2051446
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by George Frederic Handel and Isaac Watts
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 singJoy 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 joyHe rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His loveJoy 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 sin—
CCLI License No. 2051446
Corporate Confession
ALL: Lord Christ, as we look forward to celebrating your first coming at Christmas, we are often distracted by the festivities around us. We get busy with the stress and joy of family gatherings. Forgive us for not preparing your way in the world; forgive us for adding to the distraction of others. As we look forward to your second coming, we are surrounded by the duties and expectations of everyday life. Forgive us for being too scared or overwhelmed to prepare the way for you. Help us, in this Advent season, to live in the joy of your first coming and the hope of your second coming so that those around us may see the difference your coming makes. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Personal Confession
Receiving of Grace
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered. O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem. It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Advent Doxology*
To us a child is born today
Immanuel in flesh displayed
To once for all His people saved|
Rejoice! Give thanks, and praise His name
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
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by Bob Kauflin, Lisa Clow
O come, all you unfaithful
Come, weak and unstable
Come, know you are not alone
O come, barren and waiting ones
Weary of praying, come
See what your God has done
Chorus
Christ is born, Christ is born
Christ is born for you
O come, bitter and broken
Come with fears unspoken
Come, taste of His perfect love
O come, guilty and hiding ones
There is no need to run
See what your God has done
Chorus
Bridge
He’s the Lamb who was given
Slain for our pardon
His promise is peace
For those who believe
So come, though you have nothing
Come, He is the offering
Come, see what your God has done
Chorus—
CCLI License No. 2051446
Prayer of Intercession* (concluded by The Lord’s 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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Membership Installation
Daniel Chu
James Kim
Abbey Kim
Sunkyo Kim
Gina Kwack
Max Madore
Jenna Rao
Sieun Roh
Joshua Suh
Prayer for Children
Extending Peace
MINISTER: Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another. The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
ALL: And also with you.
Announcements
Gospel Lesson
Scripture Reading*
14 While they were yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared.
1 So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther. 2 And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, “What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” 3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. 4 For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.” 5 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who has dared to do this?” 6 And Esther said, “A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.
7 And the king arose in his wrath from the wine-drinking and went into the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm was determined against him by the king. 8 And the king returned from the palace garden to the place where they were drinking wine, as Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. And the king said, “Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?” As the word left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman's face. 9 Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, “Moreover, the gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman's house, fifty cubits high.” And the king said, “Hang him on that.” 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated.
Esther 6:14-7:10, ESV
READER: This is the Word of the Lord.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
“Words of Life”
Sermon Series: Trust and Courage - For Such a Time As This
Rev. Benjamin Bae
Prayers for Tithes and Offerings
ALL: Merciful Father, we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us - our selves, our time, and our possessions - signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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by Charles Wesley
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.Come to earth to taste our sadness,
He whose glories knew no end
By his life he brings us gladness,
Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend
Leaving riches without number,
Born within a cattle stall
This the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born Lord of allBorn 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.By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne—
CCLI License No. 2051446
Benediction & Dismissal*
MINISTER: Let us go forth to serve the world as those who love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
ALL: Thanks be to God!
Announcements
Citylife strives to be a diverse community of grace that forms disciples of Jesus for the renewal of Boston and our neighbors.
Connect with Citylife. We’re happy you’re here! If you are new, the easiest way to get in touch with us is by filling out the Connect Card HERE.
Citylife Services
Welcome to Josiah Quincy Elementary School! We are excited to worship with you in our new Sunday home. At the conclusion of service, we invite you to join us for coffee hour in the cafeteria. Click HERE to view the “Know Before You Go” for all logistical details related to our new venue. If you have any questions, feel free to contact office@citylifeboston.org.
Join us for our Christmas Eve Service 7:30 p.m. on 12/24! The service will be held at Hope Fellowship Church at 16 Beech Street, Cambridge, MA 02140.
Justice & Mercy
Volunteers needed for Pine Street Inn! On the 3rd Saturday of each month, Citylife volunteers serve dinner at the men's shelter in the South End of Boston from 4:30-6 pm. Food is already prepared before we arrive, and free parking is available! More info HERE.
Catie's Closet Christmas Coat Drive. Pledge and donate coats for our 5th annual Christmas Coat Drive and Match for Catie's Closet now through next Sunday 12/21! Citylife will MATCH the total number of coats donated. More info HERE.
Healing Cohort Orientation. Are there struggles that hold you back from fully experiencing the joy and goodness of the gospel? On 1/11, learn more about Citylife's Healing Cohort, a fellowship of believers that walks together to seek healing from hurts, recovery from addictions, and freedom from secret sin, for lives wholly surrendered to Jesus. You are invited into a space where we submit to God even those parts of ourselves and our stories that we hold back from others, from church, and even ourselves. Click here to complete the interest form.
Get more involved with Justice & Mercy Ministries. An important part of Citylife's vision is to be for the flourishing of Boston and our neighbors. Will you join us? If you would like to be more involved in the ways Citylife serves the most vulnerable in our communities, please fill out this form. Please make sure each CG is represented!
We are at Somerville Homeless Coalition on the 1st Saturday of the month, L Street Mission on the 2nd Saturday, and Pine Street Inn on the 3rd Saturday. Sign up to purchase for and assemble hygiene kits every 3rd Sunday.
Kids & Youth
Saturday Youth Group and Youth Sunday School will begin again in January. See you in 2026!
Saturday Youth Group meets at Ruggles Baptist Church every 1st and 3rd Saturday from 6:30-8:30.
Youth Sunday School meets at Josiah Quincy Elementary School every 2nd & 4th Sunday at 9:15 a.m.