Gathering. THE CHURCH AT WORSHIP 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 a.m. DECEMBER 23, 2018 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

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DECEMBER 23, 2018 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT THE CHURCH AT WORSHIP 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 a.m. PRELUDE Magnificat of the 1 st Tone Nicolas Lebegue LIFE IN THE CHURCH Rev. Sanderford (8:00/9:30) Rev.

1 DECEMBER 23, 2018 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT THE CHURCH AT WORSHIP 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 a.m. PRELUDE Magnificat of the 1 st Tone Nicolas Lebegue LIFE IN THE CHURCH Rev. Sanderford (8:00/9:30) Rev. Rogers (11:00) LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE Lighting the Candle of Love are Doug and Carol Gottliebsen (8:00); the Brewster and Gaffney families: Russ, Barb, Molly and Haley Brewster and Becky Gaffney (9:30); and members of Chancel Choir: David Magumba, Jenny Rhodes, and Gerry Leckrone (11:00). A Reading on Love Advent Candles 2015 John Stuart Gathering

2 Choral Response: Draw Near Please join in singing when indicated. Prayer 3 & b 4 * HYMN 600 Song of Mary morning song PRAYER OF CONFESSION Rev. Rogers (9:30) Rev. Koenig-Reinke (11:00) Lord of Light, we seek you now as the world is getting darker by the hour. Our hope for peace is diminished. Our faithful search for truth has gone astray. Our joy for justice has faded. We are at a breaking point. And yet, in this moment, Christ s love breaks in, bringing new hope, new life, and new joy. Open our eyes to your light. Open our hearts to your love. May we no longer fear the darkness of this world. Instead, may we place our hope in your peace, our trust in your light, and our joy in your justice. SILENT CONFESSION Draw near, Draw near, Draw near, Draw near, 3 & & b b U 4 Draw near, Draw near, Draw near. & b ASSURANCE OF GOD S FORGIVENESS * PASSING OF THE PEACE You are invited to share signs with one another of the peace we experience as God s people. Greet one another saying, The peace of Christ be with you, and respond, And also with you. * CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Out, My Soul G & # 4 * Ma & # glo - ri - fy cat & # Ma C ú out, my soul. D7 ú out, my soul. - gni - Þ - cat. Ma - gni - Þ - cat. Ma - gni - Þ - the Lord who sets us free. G (chords continue) * a - ni - ma me - a Do - mi-num. Ma - gni - Þ - cat. ú out, my soul. * - gni - Þ - cat. Ma - gni - Þ - cat * ú magnificat out and out, my soul. out and glo - ri - fy the Lord ú a - ni - ma me - ú God! *May be sung as a canon. Text : Taizé Community, 1978; Music: Jacques Berthier, 1978; 1979 Les Presses de Taizé (admin. GIA Publications, Inc.); OneLicense.net #A a!

3 Proclaiming PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Cheryl Gulbranson (8:00) Lori Richert (9:30) Mark Lindley (11:00) FIRST READING Micah 5:2 5a This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. A CONVERSATION WITH YOUNG DISCIPLES (9:30) Children through grade five are invited forward. SECOND READING Luke 1:46b 55 This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. SERMON Rev. Buckley (8:00) Soul ing Rev. McGowan (9:30/11:00) Responding * HYMN Now the Heavens Start to Whisper jefferson This hymn may be found on the next page of this bulletin. WELCOME Rev. Parks-Piatt (9:30) Rev. Buckley (11:00) Please sign the Friendship Pad and pass it to others sitting nearby. OFFERING OF TITHES AND GIFTS Offertory (9:30/11:00) Magnificat Johann Pachelbel My soul doth magnify the Lord, and now the spirit in me doth praise and rejoice in my God and Savior. For he regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold shall all generations henceforth call me blessed. With his power and his greatness doth he magnify me, let his name be evermore praised. And his mercy shall be upon them that fear him throughout all generations. With his arm he has shown his strength and his power. He brings down the vain and haughty from high places. The humble and meek are exalted. He helps the needy and fills the hungry with good substance. He sends the greedy person away. And with his mercy he hath remembered his servant Israel. As he did promise to Abraham and to his children. Praise to the Father, praise to his blessed Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and is forever, world without end, Amen! * Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. * Prayer of Dedication

4 * HYMN Now the Heavens Start to Whisper jefferson & b b? b b? b b Now 2 Heav - 3 Christ, the heav - ens start to whis - per, as the y clouds that block the moon - light now be - e - ter - nal Sun of jus - tice, Christ, the & b b ú veil gin rose is to of grow - ing thin. Earth from slum - ber wakes to lis - ten drift a - way. Dia - mond bril - liance through the dark - ness wis - dom s seed, come to bless with Þre and fra - grance ú & b b ú? b b to the shines the hours of stir - ring, faint with - in: seed of prom - ise, deep-ly hope of com - ing day. Christ, the morn - ing star yearn - ing, hurt, and need. In the lone - ly, in ú of the Text : Mary Louise Bringle, GIA Publications, Inc.; Music: Alexander Johnson s Tennessee Harmony, Lutheran Book of Worship; OneLicense.net #A

5 SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION (8:00) See Communion Card PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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. Amen. * HYMN 4 Creator of the Stars of Night Please sing stanzas 1 3. conditor alme siderum * CHARGE AND BENEDICTION Sending * CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE To God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit, Three in One, Praise, honor, might, and glory be from age to age eternally. Amen. * POSTLUDE Savior of the Nations, Come Johann Pachelbel This work is based on Hymn # 14. * Please rise in body or spirit. Those parts of the service of worship in which the congregation participates in word or song are noted in bold type. Hearing-assistance devices and large-print bulletins and hymnals are available from the ushers. Welcome to all! Please know that all, including visitors and newcomers, are invited to share in the life of the church. A full description of church events is online at If you have questions, please visit the Welcome Center, just outside the Social Hall. Greeting you there today are Peggy Jensen and Judy Landau. The Church Office is staffed by Jane Bartman. Greeters are David and Jane Schmidt (9:30) and Pat Gilbreath and Carol Fletcher (11:00). Sound system volunteer is Roland Kibler. Ushers are Bill Austin and Nancy Fox (8:00); Bill Austin (head), Paul Smith (captain), Ken, Ali, and Ava Westfall, Carol Smith, Angela Yang, Spaulding Clark, Dean Gilchrist, Holly, Aidan, and Chloe Majorprice, Kay Fuller, and Kate Silbert (9:30); and Bill Austin (head), Jeannette Middleton and Jim Douglass (captains), Cindy Lambrides, Gregg, Vincent, and Stacey Pakela, and Sandy Herold (11:00). The prayer team is available for those desiring prayer in Hillegonds Chapel after the 9:30 and 11:00 services. Prayer team members are Nancy Fox and Marolin Bellefleur (9:30) and Marolin Bellefleur (11:00). Following the 8:00 service a minister is available for prayer at the Communion Table. I have to hurry all day to get time to pray. Martin Luther Musical leadership is provided by Children s Choir (9:30); Benton DeGroot, soloist; Ben Thauland and Carl Engelke, trumpet; and Chancel Choir (9:30/11:00).

6 The red rosebud celebrates the birth of Desmond Frederick Hammond, son of Katherine Alice Hammond and Joseph Jay Rothenbuehler, born December 8, Grandparents are Linda Hammond and the late Rick Hammond. TODAY S EVENTS Worship is at 8:00 in Monteith Hall, and at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Radio Worship is broadcast at 11:00 a.m. on WAAM (1600 AM) and on the web ( Join us for Coffee Hour in the Social Hall immediately following the 9:30 a.m. worship service. Cookies are provided by Lisa Danielson, Marlene Stoeffler, and Angela Yang. Take part in our Advent Art Installation as we Draw Near to hope and wonder, truth and faith, justice and joy, and one another. Paper stars are available for you to respond to the themes and questions of Advent. Add your stars to the Advent Art Installation in the Social Hall. Children s Ministry Opportunities: Sunday School classes are held for three-year olds through fifth graders at 9:30 a.m. Childcare is available for crib through preschoolers at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Worship activity totes and Busy Hands activity baskets are available at the entrances to the Sanctuary for children attending worship at 11:00 a.m. Youth Ministry Opportunities: All youth grades 6 12 are invited to Christmas carol at Glacier Hills at 2:00 p.m. Meet in the front lobby. All are welcome. Adult Education Opportunities: The 9:30 meets in the French Room/Library. Rev. Ed Koster is the presenter. This year s theme is The Bible Speaks to You about the Important Ideas. All are welcome for study and robust discussion. First Friends meet in Monteith Hall at 9:30 a.m. First Friends is a self-directed adult group that offers a safe, supportive gathering to discuss religious and spiritual topics. Today the group explores The Life of Meaning. ANNOUNCEMENTS First Pres member Cheong-Hee Chang travels to Niger December 23 January 9 to visit with our Presbyterian Mission CoWorkers Rachel and Rev. Michael Ludwig. With a team from Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship, she will see first-hand the present ministries in education and community development, and imagine new ministries in nursing education. Living God s Love Stewardship Update: As of December 18, 439 pledges totaling $1,368,232 have been received. This represents 80.5% of our $1,700,000 goal. If you have not turned in your pledge yet, First Pres still needs your help as we begin planning the 2019 budget. Thank you for Living God s Love through the ministries of First Pres!

7 Christmas Eve Worship 3:00 p.m. Christmas Pageant and Worship Service 5:00 p.m. Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols 7:00 p.m. Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols 11:00 p.m. Candlelight Service of Communion Please join us for a Special Christmas Prelude 30 minutes before the 5:00, 7:00, and 11:00 Christmas Eve services. Music by brass, organ and choir will be featured. The Christmas Cantata by Daniel Pinkham will be one of the highlights. Childcare will be provided at the 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. services by reservation only. If you need childcare for either of these services, contact the Church Office. If you are able to give the young families of this church the wonderful gift of providing childcare during one of these services, please contact Beca Torres-Davenport. It is tradition for children to bring a gift of new socks and underwear in any size to the Christmas Pageant. These gifts are given to the House-by-the-Side-of-the-Road for distribution to families in need. Christmas Eve Parking: Please be considerate in parking choices as many visitors join us for worship on Christmas Eve. Overflow parking is available in the Forest Street parking structure, a short walk down Forest Court. Parking is not available this year at nearby sorority houses. The 2018 Christmas Eve offering will support Mar Elias Schools in Ibillin, Israel and the Hand in Hand Center for Jewish-Arab Education in Israel. Next Sunday, December 30, we have one worship service at 10:00 a.m. During this Family Worship we will offer a prayer-ground for children to worship with us. Join us at the front of the Sanctuary, on the lectern side. Before that service, join us for coffee and treats to celebrate the year s end in the Lounge, just outside the pulpit door, starting at 9:30 a.m. The 2019 class for fourth and fifth graders, Amazing Stuff: God s Gift for Growing Up, will meet Sundays, January 6,13, and 20 and February 3 and 10 at 11:00 a.m. Please note there is no class during the Annual Congregational Meeting on January 27. The corresponding class for parents whose children are enrolled in Amazing Stuff will meet at the same time in a different room. To register or for additional information contact Beca Torres-Davenport. Mature les meet for dinner this Friday, December 28, at Carlyle Bar & Grill, 3660 Jackson Road, at 5:30 p.m. All are welcome. UKirk@UMich, Undergraduate Campus Ministry Opportunities return January 13.

8 Year-End Finance Information: Please support the ministries of First Presbyterian Church with your year-end gifts. The IRS requires that books for 2018 be closed on December 31. Your mailed donation must be postmarked no later than December 31 for your contribution to be applied to your 2018 financial statement. When paying your financial commitment with a credit/ debit card, the commitment is for one calendar year. A new authorization form, available on our website and in the Finance Office, must be filled out annually. We encourage you to use our GivePlus app for your donations contribution envelopes for those who requested them are available outside the Finance Office. FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH STAFF Robin Agnew, Administrative Assistant Reverend Blair Buckley, Resident Minister GJ Frye, Peer Minister for Youth Ministry Lisa Haddrill, Technology Coordinator Dr. Paul Haebig, Interim Organist Almer Harris, Maintenance Specialist Dr. Richard Ingram, Interim Director of Music Ministries Mary Jones, Publications Coordinator Cindy King, Administrative Assistant/Children s Education Assistant Reverend Eric Koenig-Reinke, Resident Minister Essie Koenig-Reinke, Youth Ministries Coordinator Dave Lett, Finance Assistant Reverend Evans McGowan, Campus Ministries Coordinator Kellie McInchak, Interim Children s Choir Director Anna Miller, Finance Manager Reverend Dorothy Parks-Piatt, Resident Minister Adrian Prundeanu, Facilities Manager Linda Robinson, Office Manager Reverend Melissa Anne Rogers, Associate Pastor Reverend Jay Sanderford, Associate Pastor Simon Suboski, Interim Youth Choir Director Sandy Talbott, Wellness Coordinator/Parish Nurse Beca Torres-Davenport, Coordinator of Children s Education and Family Ministry 1432 Washtenaw Avenue Ann Arbor, MI info@firstpresbyterian.org

THE CHURCH AT WORSHIP 5:00 and 7:00 p.m.

DECEMBER 24, 2018 SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS THE CHURCH AT WORSHIP 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Welcome to all! A special welcome to guests and newcomers. Let us know of your presence by signing the red pad which