Greenwood Forest Baptist Church The First Sunday of Advent. Sunday, December 2, :00 am

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1 Greenwood Forest Baptist Church The First Sunday of Advent Chiming of the Hour GREENWOOD FOREST BAPTIST CHURCH The Worship of God The First Sunday of Advent December 2, 2018 Processional Hymn 79 (v. 1 & 2) Welcome to Worship O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Rev. Lauren Efird Leader: The Lord be with you People: And also with you. Passing of the Peace Rev. Efird Preparation for Worship Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers arr. Manz Lighting the Candle of Hope Leon and Martha Smith Sunday, December 2, :00 am Call to Worship (Psalm 25:1-9) Kadeisha Bonsu Leader: To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. People: O my God, in you I trust; Leader: Do not let me be put to shame; People: Do not let my enemies exult over me. Leader: Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame: People: Let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Leader: Make me to know your ways, O Lord; People: Teach me your paths. Leader: Lead me in your truth, and teach me, People: For you are the God of my salvation; I wait for you. Leader: Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, People: And of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Leader: Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; People: According to your steadfast love remember me, O Lord! Leader: Good and upright is the Lord; People: Therefore God instructs sinners in the way. Leader: God leads the humble in what is right, People: And teaches the humble in the way.

2 Invocation Hymn 100 (v. 1 & 4) Kadeisha Bonsu Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending Scripture Reading Jeremiah 33:14-16 Leanne Glasgow We affirm the reading of Scripture with the following response: Offertory Prayer Alice Price Offertory Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying arr. Wold Presentation of the Offering Transcendent God OLD 100TH Transcendent God, we bless your name, Incarnate Christ, the risen one, The Spirit with us, Immanent, The Source, the Word, the Breath of life! Amen. Reader: The word of God for us, the people of God. People: Thanks be to God. During the following hymn, children (ages first grade and younger) are invited to go to Children s Time. Parents may pick up their children in the Children s Wing after worship. Hymn 81 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Scripture Reading Luke 21:25-36 Rev. Wesley Spears-Newsome Prayers of the People and Lord s Prayer We affirm each prayer with the following response: Leader: Lord, in your mercy... People: Hear our prayer. We conclude the Prayers of the People with the Lord s Prayer: Rev. Stephen Stacks We affirm the reading of Scripture with the following response: Reader: The word of God for us, the people of God. People: Thanks be to God. Anthem My Lord, What a Morning arr. Hall Johnson Susan Meador, Soprano 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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. My Lord, what a morning, My Lord, what a morning, Oh! My Lord, what a morning When the stars being to fall. You ll hear the trumpet sound To wake the nations underground, Looking to my God s right hand When the stars begin to fall. You ll hear the sinners moan To see the righteous marching home, Looking to my God s right hand When the stars begin to fall.

3 Sermon Raise Your Heads Rev. Efird Hymn 99 View the Present Through the Promise The Celebration of Communion Here at Greenwood Forest, we practice Communion by the ancient method of intinction. All are invited to come down the aisle to receive the elements. During Communion, a Minister or a Lay Leader will serve the elements from one of four stations in the sanctuary, two at the front and two at the back. You will be ushered toward one of the stations depending on where you are seated in the sanctuary. Please come in a mode of reception. You will be given a piece of bread that you dip in the cup and then partake. You may respond to receiving the elements by saying Amen or Thanks be to God. If you are unable to visit one of the stations, a server will bring the elements to you at your seat. If you do not wish to receive the elements, you are encouraged to come receive a blessing simply indicate this desire verbally or by crossing your arms over your chest. A gluten-free bread option is available upon request. We hope you will join us at the table of the Lord where all are welcome. Benediction Postlude Please stand as you are able. The Deacon of the Day is Alice Price, Chair of the Properties Ministry. Today s acolyte is Ivy Nuss. The cover art is based on a liturgical banner by John Stuart. Hearing assistance devices are available at the back of the sanctuary. Rev. Efird Prayer of Confession Merciful God, we confess that we have not always loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be obedient disciples. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we ve not loved our neighbors, and we ve not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us for what we have done and for what we ve left undone, and free us for joyful obedience through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Mystery of Faith Leader: Together we proclaim the mystery of faith. People: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

4 Prayer Concerns Jim Allen, Gilles Bikindou, Jane Grizzard, Frances Jones, Gladys Lawing (Martha Soyars mother), Wilton Short (Jennifer Whaley s father), Iris Thomas, and Jim Webster (Emma Webster s son) Our partner church, Ebenezer Baptist, Cuba, and our brothers and sisters of the Oromo Evangelical Lutheran Mission Focus on Finance 2018/2019 Budget (MDP + MSP) $913,634 Amount of Budget supported through Stewardship Giving $830,186 (excludes cell tower and GFCC receipts) Week 13 of 52 (November 25) Week 13 YTD Total Giving $15,369 $190,134 Less Designated Giving $ 230 $ 9,958 Actual Stewardship Giving $15,139 $180,176 Stewardship Giving needed to fully subscribe budget $16,816 $207,943 Over (Under) $(1,677) $(27,767) Announcements and Upcoming Events December Second Wednesday Mission Kids December 12 The children's program for the December Second Wednesday will include a "Birthday Party for Jesus. Our missions activity will be making birthday-party-ina-box kits for Dorcas Ministries. These boxes, given to families with young children, provide them a chance to have a birthday celebration. Donations are needed. Please take one of the slips posted on the Children s Ministry bulletin board (outside the church office on the Faith Formation hallway) and return the listed item with the slip attached. Staff Love Offering At GFBC, we have an Advent tradition of collecting a love offering for our staff. The offering is distributed to the staff as an expression of our gratitude for their hard work, dedication, leadership, and faithful service to our church throughout the year. If you would like to contribute to this offering, please give your contribution to Annette King, Megan Jarrell, or any member of the deacon board or you can place your gift in an envelope provided in your Faith Formation class. Donations will be collected November 18 through December 16. Please make checks payable to Megan Jarrell. If you have any questions please contact Annette or Megan. Neighborhood Blitz The Outreach Committee is sponsoring a Neighborhood Blitz. During December proudly post your GFBC yard sign and invite your neighbors to worship. Need a sign? Pick one up in the narthex or at one of the sanctuary exits. Backpack Buddies Ministry Needs The Backpack Buddies Ministry needs more grocery bags! Please donate doublebagged sets of grocery bags to the Backpack Buddy box outside the church office. In addition, the packing group that meets the first Wednesday night at 7 pm could use some more people to help pack. If interested, please Judy Vacarro at judyvaccaro@gmail.com. Christmas Gifts for our Neighbors If you signed up to support our neighbors with Christmas gifts and needs, be on the lookout for an from Wes with details about the family you are sponsoring.

5 Opportunity for Senior Adults The Congregational Care Ministry is offering assistance to those on Medicare through the Seniors Health Insurance Program (SHIIP). Church member, Don Beal, a certified SHIIP counselor, is concluding the private sessions he has been leading for those who would like assistance in reviewing their current plans. The final opportunities are this Tuesday and Thursday, December 4 and 6 at 1:30 and 2:45 both days. Call the church office at for an appointment. Sanctuary Dedication Anniversary Celebration December 16 In December of 1978, Greenwood Forest worshipped for the first time in our incredible Sanctuary. For the past forty years, this profound space has shaped us in the heights and depths of our lives together as the people of God. On December 16, 2018, we will celebrate the 40th anniversary of worshipping in this Sanctuary during our 11am service. This will be a special time of gratitude and praise for all that God has done for us in this place in the past 40 years. The service will feature hymns from the service in 1978 alongside a performance of John Rutter's breathtaking Gloria with organ, brass, and percussion. Plan to be here for this special occasion and invite anyone and everyone who might like to celebrate what this place has meant over the years. Art for Conversation at Coffee Hour Starting today, the Discipleship Committee is placing a piece of art created by a GFBC member in the Narthex to generate reflection and conversation during coffee hour. Be sure to make your way to the Narthex at 10:30 to enjoy a cup of coffee and/or connect with other GFBC folks before worship! Cary Community Messiah 2018 December 2 The 48th Annual Cary Community Choir Messiah performance will be tonight, Sunday, December 2 from 7:30 to 9:30 pm at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Cary. Many GFBC folks are instrumental in making this wonderful musical tradition happen every year. Come enjoy the performance and get in the Advent spirit! Cary Youth Voices Concert December 7 You are invited to attend the Cary Youth Voices winter concert entitled How Can I Keep from Singing? on Friday, December 7 at 7 pm in our Sanctuary. The concert will feature a collection of songs that capture the joyful energy of the holiday season and will feature singers accompanied by piano, violin, chimes, and percussion. The event is free. Second Wednesday Community Meal December 12, 2018 at 5:30 pm GFBC Fellowship Hall Here s how you sign-up for the December Second Wednesday community meal! We encourage you to both sign-up and prepay online at the following address: If you are unable to sign-up online, please complete this form and either place it in the offering plate or turn it in at the church office. You can also call the church office at All reservations must be made no later than noon, this Friday, December 7. Name # of Adult Servings ($8) # of Vegetarian ($7) # of Children Servings ($5) Menu for December 12, 2018 Hamburgers Mac and Cheese Green Beans Vegetarian Option: Black Bean Burgers Kids Option: Hot Dogs Dessert: Brownie and Cookie Tray

6 As is our custom, the GFBC family will gather together to celebrate the Christmas season with our annual breakfast. This event has become a wonderful time in the life of our church as we gather together to share a meal on the final Sunday before Christmas. Mark your calendars now for the annual GFBC Christmas Breakfast that will occur on Sunday, December 23, at 9:00 am in the Fellowship Hall. There will be no Faith Formation on this day. Please plan to bring your favorite casseroles or sides such as pastries, fruits, etc. to share. Coffee and juices will be provided. Then join us afterwards for worship at the Service of Lessons and Carols in the sanctuary at 11 am. You are encouraged to invite guests and friends to both the breakfast and the service to follow. It will be a great time of fellowship and worship for everyone!

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