WE’RE GLAD YOU’VE JOINED US TODAY.

WHO WE ARE.

• We are a community of city-centred, gospel-focused people striving to serve and renew Toronto through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

WHO WE WELCOME.

• We welcome people of all races, ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds and faiths – both religious and irreligious.

WHO WE BELIEVE IN.

• We believe Christ is relevant to every person in every situation, and we want to help you discover him.

‍

‍

GOD CALLS

CALL TO WORSHIP

‍

LEADER:

Let us go, in heart and mind, to see what has come to pass.

Let us go with the shepherds:

‍

ALL:

Let us go to find the Saviour!

‍

LEADER:

Let us go with the wise ones:

‍

ALL:

Let us go to find God’s promise, born for us!

‍

LEADER:

Let us go with the poor and humble:

‍

ALL:

Let us go to find our King, born in a lowly manger.

‍

LEADER:

Let us go with all the world, with all the peoples of the nations.

‍

ALL:

Come, let us worship; come, let us adore him:

Christ the Lord!

‍

‍

SONG - JOYFUL JOYFUL WE ADORE THEE‍

(© Public Domain. CCLI # 2647951)

‍

Joyful joyful we adore Thee

God of glory Lord of love

Hearts unfold like flow'rs before Thee

Opening to the sun above

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness

Drive the dark of doubt away

Giver of immortal gladness

Fill us with the light of day

‍

All Thy works with joy surround Thee

Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays

Stars and angels sing around Thee

Centre of unbroken praise

Thou our Father Christ our brother

All who live in love are Thine

Teach us how to love each other

Lift us to the joy divine

‍

Mortals join the mighty chorus

Which the Morning Stars began

Love divine is reigning o'er us

Leading us with mercy's hand

Ever singing march we onward

Victors in the midst of strife

Joyful music lifts us sunward

In the triumph song of life

‍

‍

SONG - HOLY FOREVER

(© 2022 Brian and Jenn Publishing; Capitol CMG Paragon; S. D. G. Publishing; Be Essential Songs; My Magnolia Music; Phil Wickham Music; Simply Global Songs; Bethel Music Publishing. CCLI Song # 7201044)

‍

A thousand generations falling down in worship

To sing the song of ages to the Lamb

And all who've gone before us

And all who will believe

Will sing the song of ages to the Lamb

‍

Your name is the highest

Your name is the greatest

Your name stands above them all

All thrones and dominions

All powers and positions

Your name stands above them all

‍

And the angels cry Holy

All creation cries Holy

You are lifted high Holy

Holy forever

‍

If you've been forgiven and if you've been redeemed

Sing the song forever to the Lamb

If you walk in freedom and if you bear His name

Sing the song forever to the Lamb

We'll sing the song forever and amen

‍

Hear Your people sing Holy

To the King of Kings Holy

You will always be Holy

Holy forever

‍

You will always be Holy

Holy forever

‍

‍

SONG - O HOLY NIGHT

(© Words: Public Domain; Music: Public Domain. CCLI Song # 32015)

‍

O holy night the stars are brightly shining

It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Till 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

O hear the angel voices

O night divine

O night when Christ was born

O night O holy night

O night divine

‍

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming

Here came the wise men from Orient land

The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger

In all our trials born to be our Friend

‍

He knows our need

To weakness is no stranger

Behold your King

Before Him lowly bend

Behold your King

Before Him lowly bend

‍

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 power and glory

Evermore proclaim

His power and glory

Evermore proclaim

‍

GOD CLEANSES

‍

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

‍

LEADER:

O God, in the beginning you spoke,

and creation was born, the object of your loving care.

In the fullness of time you spoke,

and the Word became flesh, Jesus, gift of your love.

We wonder at the miracle of creation;

we stand in awe before the mystery of the incarnation.

Forgive us earthbound creatures, feeble in faith,

empty of hope, lacking in love.

This year let the miracle and mystery of Christmas happen for us again.

We wait upon you with ready hearts, O God,

through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

‍

ALL:

Amen.

‍

SILENT CONFESSION

‍

WORDS OF ASSURANCE

—Titus 3:4-7, NRSV

‍

When the goodness and loving kindness

of God our Saviour appeared,

he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness

that we had done, but according to his mercy,

through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour,

so that, having been justified by his grace,

we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

‍

‍

SONG OF ASSURANCE - HOW GREAT THOU ART

(© 1949 and 1953 Manna Music, Inc., Stuart Hine Trust. CCLI # 14181)

‍

O Lord my God

When I in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds

Thy hands have made

I see the stars

I hear the rolling thunder

Thy pow'r thru'out

The universe displayed

‍

Then sings my soul

My Saviour God to Thee

How great Thou art

How great Thou art

Then sings my soul

My Saviour God to Thee

How great Thou art

How great Thou art

‍

When through the woods

And forest glades I wander

And hear the birds

Sing sweetly in the trees

When I look down

From lofty mountain grandeur

And hear the brook

And feel the gentle breeze

‍

And when I think

That God His Son not sparing

Sent Him to die

I scarce can take it in

That on the cross

My burden gladly bearing

He bled and died

To take away my sin

‍

When Christ shall come

With shout of acclamation

And take me home

What joy shall fill my heart

Then I shall bow

In humble adoration

And there proclaim

My God how great Thou art

‍

PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH AND THE CITY

‍

COMMUNITY LIFE ANNOUNCEMENTS

‍

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE AND DINNER

• Join us on December 24th for a Christmas Eve service from 4-5PM, followed by a communal dinner from 5-7PM! Invite your friends, colleagues and neighbours as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

SMALL GROUPS REGISTRATION OPENS JAN 1

• Want to join a Grace Gathering Small Group? The Winter 2025 registration period will be OPEN between January 1-15, 2025. To register and learn more about our Grace Gatherings,  please go to, https://gracetoronto.ca/grace-gatherings.

WOMEN'S MINISTRY BIBLE STUDY

• Ladies, Are you looking for a fuller spiritual experience? Are you feeling bored with your Christian walk? Join us as Women's Ministry explores the big truths found in the book of Colossians. We meet Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm from Jan. 14 - Mar. 18. Register online at gracetoronto.ca/events

YEAR-END REIMBURSEMENTS AND GIVING

• Donations must be received and deposited in the bank by DECEMBER 31 for your 2024 tax receipt. Receipts will be sent out on FEBRUARY 2025. The CRA requires your mailing address.  Please log in to your Planning Center account to update your mailing address for  tax receipts.

GIVING THANKS

• Giving ThanksBy God’s grace, we were able to raise $3,000 for the Pregnancy Care Centre through our Christmas Bake Sale, and we collected 40+ sleeping bags to distribute to the homeless. Thank you for your contributions!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK

• JOY (Luke 1:46-55) How does God fill us with joy? In Mary’s song of praise, she rejoices in the mighty acts of God, who lifts up the humble and fulfills His promises. As we celebrate Christ's coming, let us rejoice in the joy of the Lord, who brings salvation to the world and transforms our lives with His grace.

SUPPORT

• If you are in any form of need or if you are able to help others, please visit http://www.gracetoronto.ca/help  or visit http://www.gracetoronto.ca/prayer  to submit your prayers.

DIACONATE

• The Diaconate exists to contribute to the flourishing of gospel-centered community by meeting the practical needs of our church community, and extending help and compassion to those experiencing hardship or difficult circumstances.
• Click here for more information.

OFFERING

• To set up your online giving or to learn more about giving options, visit gracetoronto.ca/give.

‍

GOD COMMUNES

SCRIPTURE READING

‍

Luke 2:1-21

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and 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, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

‍

‍

SERMON

Kingsley Lai

Q&A

Text your questions to 416-830-0335

‍

SONG OF RESPONSE - O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM

(© Words: Public Domain; Music: Public Domain. CCLI Song # 27879)

‍

O little town of Bethlehem

How still we see thee lie

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting Light

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight

‍

For Christ is born of Mary

And gathered all above

While mortals sleep

The angels keep their watch of wondering love

O morning stars together

Proclaim the holy birth

And praises sing to God the King

And peace to men on earth

‍

How silently how silently

The wondrous gift is given

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of His heaven

No ear may hear His coming

But in this world of sin

Where meek souls will receive Him still

The dear Christ enters in

‍

Where children pure and happy

Pray to the blessed Child

Where misery cries out to Thee

Son of the mother mild

Where charity stands watching

And faith holds wide the door

The dark night wakes the glory breaks

And Christmas comes once more

‍

O holy Child of Bethlehem

Descend to us we pray

Cast out our sin and enter in

Be born in us today

We hear the Christmas angels

The great glad tidings tell

O come to us abide with us

Our Lord Emmanuel

‍

‍

COMMUNION
‍

PRAYER FOR THOSE SEARCHING FOR TRUTH

Lord Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth, and the life.  Grant that I might be undaunted by the cost of following you as I consider the reasons for doing so. If what you claim is true, please guide me, teach me, and open me to the reality of who you are.  Give me an understanding of you that is coherent, convincing and that leads to the life you promise.  Amen.

‍

PRAYER OF BELIEF

Lord Jesus Christ, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever dared admit, but through you I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope.  I thank you for paying my debt on the cross, taking what I deserved in order to offer me complete forgiveness.  Knowing that you have been raised from the dead, I turn from my sins and receive you as my Saviour and Lord.  Amen.

‍

GOD COMMISSIONS

‍

BENEDICTION

—2 Corinthians 13:14

‍

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ

and the love of God

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit

be with you all.

‍

‍

PRAYER

Would you like prayer?  Send us an email at prayer@gracetoronto.ca.  We would love to intercede for you!

CONNECT WITH US

Need to get connected at Grace? Click here to fill in our Connections form!