PINE GROVE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Transcription

1 PINE GROVE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH Sunday, December 17, 2017 The Third Sunday in Advent The Rt. Reverend Samuel Lawrence Green, Sr., Presiding Prelate Mrs. Phyllis N. Green, Episcopal Supervisor Reverend Dr. M. Charmaine Ragin Merrick, Presiding Elder =============== Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., Servant Pastor Reverend Sylinda P. Jamison, Itinerant Elder Reverend Stepheny Pratt, Itinerant Deacon Preaching, Teaching, Reaching Loving Our Neighbor, Loving God

2 ORDER OF SERVICE Sunday, December 17, 2017, 9:45 a.m. PRELUDE...Organist INVOCATION LIGHTING OF CANDLES.. Acolytes PROCESSIONAL Pine Grove AME Church Choir, Clergy LIGHTING ADVENT CANDLE.Sisters Pearl Mitchell and Joan Huell DOXOLOGY...Hymn #647 Praise God from Whom Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. CALL TO WORSHIP Minister: I was glad when they said to me, Let us go into the house of the Lord! Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem! People: For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. Minister: Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good. People: Those that be planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God. Minister: Blessed are they that dwell in thy house. Lord, I have loved thou habitation, the place where thy honor dwelleth. People: For the Lord is in his Holy Temple; let all the earth keep silence before him. Minister: Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer. Unison: O sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things! Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth, sing praises.

3 HYMN OF PRAISE..Pine Grove AME Church Choir, Congregation 1. 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 host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!" Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King! Hark! the Herald Angels Sing # Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Risen 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! Amen. 2. Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come, Off spring 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! MORNING PRAYER... Brother Elton Spain PRAYER RESPONSE..Pine Grove AME Church Choir CHORAL SELECTION...Pine Grove AME Church Choir

4 SCRIPTURE LESSON First Lesson... I Thessalonians 5: Sister Valarie Collins The Gospel.John 1:6-8, Sister Vickie Capers APOSTLES CREED (Please Stand) I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. The third day He arose from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty: from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the universal church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sin, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen. HYMN.... Choir and Congregation From All That Dwell Below the Skies #69 From all that dwell below the skies, Let the Creator's praise arise; Let the Redeemer's name be sung. Through every land by every tongue. SUMMARY OF THE DECALOGUE Minister: And he said to him, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets. GLORIA PATRI Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

5 PASTOR S WORD.....Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr. Servant Pastor, Pine Grove AME Church OFFERTORY Tithes/Missions/Offerings/Special Gifts OFFERTORY PRAYER OFFERTORY RESPONSE. Hymn #644 All Things Come of Thee All things come of Thee, O Lord; and of Thine own have we given Thee. Amen. SERMONIC SELECTION.Pine Grove AME Church Choir SERMON..... Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr. Servant Pastor, Pine Grove AME Church Good Tidings of Great Joy Luke 2:8-12; 16 INVITATION TO CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP/ALTAR CALL EXTINGUISHING OF THE CANDLES DOXOLOGY...Hymn #647 Praise God from Whom BENEDICTION Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

6 The Sermon Title: Good Tidings of Great Joy The Sermon Text: Luke 2:8-12; 16

7 REMEMBERING IN PRAYER Members Sick and Recovering Sister Herteline Lowman, NHC Healthcare, 2993 Sunset Blvd., West Columbia, SC Sister Mable Guider, 5135 Farrow Rd., Columbia, SC (home) Sister Betty Lark, 137 Chinquapin Circle, Columbia, SC (home) Sister Charlie Mae Foust, 211 Rhett Rd., Columbia, SC (home) Brother Frank & Sister Lula Cade, 1821 Hi Sierra Dr., Columbia, SC (home) Brother Chatmond Byas, 412 Friarsgate Blvd, Irmo, SC (home) Sister Brenda Graham, 928 Piney Woods Rd, Columbia, SC (home) Sister Georgella Foust, 129 Steward Rd., Columbia, SC (home) Sister Aileen Rickenbacker, 1221 Greenville Circle, Columbia, SC (home) Sister Vernessa Thomas, 504 Nottingham Rd., Columbia, SC (home) Recovering Family of Members Mrs. Julia Wilson (Mother of Sister Patricia Witherspoon) Mr. Kelly Rose (Father of Sister Vernessa Thomas) Mrs. Evelyn Payne & Mr. Kristoffer Moore (Great-aunt & Son of Sister Patricia Chapman) Mr. James Morgan, Sr. (Father of Brother James Morgan, Jr.) Mrs. Rhunette Crawford (Mother of Sister Joan Huell)

8 This Week at Pine Grove Sunday, December 17, 2017 After Service: Pine Grove AME Church Christmas Fellowship sponsored by the Pine Grove Class Leaders (Fellowship Hall) After Service: Parents meet with the team of the Young Men of Distinction (YMOD) Monday, December 18, :30 p.m. Praise Dance Rehearsal (Sanctuary) Tuesday, December 19, :00 p.m. On-Line Prayer: , PIN: Wednesday, December 20, :00 p.m. Mid-Day Prayer (Church School Area A) 7:00 p.m. Advent Worship (Sanctuary) Thursday, December 21, :00 p.m. Pine Grove AME Church Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary) Friday, December 22, :30 p.m. Senior Bible Study (Cancelled until further notice) Saturday, December 23, :00 a.m. New Generation/Ollie Washington Angel Band Choir Rehearsal 10:00 a.m. WMS Meeting (Church School Assembly Area) Sunday, December 24, :00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Candle Light Prayer (Sanctuary)

9 Pine Grove and Community Upcoming Events CANDLE LIGHT PRAYER: You are invited to visit the sanctuary on December 24, 2017, Christmas Eve, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. You may come in to pray in your own way. The sanctuary will be softly lit with candles and seasonal music will be playing softly. THE PINE GROVE CLASS LEADERS cordially invite you to Pine Grove AME Church Christmas Fellowship in the Fletcher Bouknight Fellowship Hall immediately following this morning's worship service. YOUNG MEN OF DISTINCTION (YMOD): Cliff Mintz and the team of the Young Men of Distinction (YMOD) would like to meet with all parents of any/all young men between the ages of AND the young men themselves for a brief meeting immediately after church on Sunday, December 17, The meeting will be used to share the plans of the mentoring program as well as to garner interest from all who attend. Any and all questions are welcome and will be answered at the meeting. If you have any questions in the interim or know that you will not be able to make the meeting, please contact Cliff Mintz at or at mrcrmintz@gmail.com LAY ORATORICAL CONTEST: We are seeking high school seniors to participate in our local 2018 Lay Oratorical Contest. This year s topic is "African Methodist Episcopal Young Adults: AME Young Adults Embracing Our Rich Heritage While Transforming the Church to the Next Level. The scriptural reference is Philippians 3: If you are a high school senior, please contact Niovia Davis or Bob Gardner.

10 ANNOUNCEMENTS: Announcements are read on the Announcement Commercial every Sunday morning and are placed in the worship guide. Deadline for submitting announcements which are to be read during the Announcement Commercial is Tuesday of each week. Deadline for submitting announcements which are placed in the worship guide is Wednesday of each week. No announcements will be made from the podium on Sunday unless they have been approved by the pastor. ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CARD EXCHANGE: The Pine Grove Christmas Post Office is open, and this is the final week to bring your Christmas cards. Please place your Christmas cards in the drop box located in the narthex by the Christmas tree. All Christmas cards will be distributed by December 24, You may stop by after church service or any time during the week to pick up your Christmas cards. If you have any questions, see Sis. Ella Davis, Sis. Deborah Davis or Sis Geraldine Morgan. POINSETTIAS FOR CHRISTMAS: Please bring a pot of red poinsettia to be placed at the chancel rail starting on the Second Sunday, December 10, Your poinsettia may be in honor of a loved one. The pot should have a bottom pan to keep the water from leaking on the carpet. Sister Patricia Chapman will ensure that the flowers are watered as needed.

11 JOY: THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT By: Carlene Lenore Douglas LEADER: Today is the Third Sunday of Advent and our focus is JOY. We live in joyful anticipation of the second coming of Jesus Christ, remembering that even now in His presence there is fullness of joy. We receive His gift of joy as a reminder that beyond this temporary life which sometimes yields sorrow, there comes a time when, as the prophet Isaiah says, There will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy. We have the privilege here and now to live a life of joy with dancing and praising and laughing and singing, even as we await the promised eternal joy. Let joy fill our hearts in this season of Advent, as we share it with others and bring them to the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. The three candles are lit. LET US PRAY TOGETHER: God of Joy, we bask today in Your splendor and majesty. We humble ourselves before You to draw from your well of joy. Refill those places in our hearts where joy is fading or missing. O loving Father, we repent for those times when we withheld sharing Your joy with the sad, lonely, and depressed. Let Your light shine in them to remove the shadows that darken their spirits. O King who is to come, illuminate us all and restore us with the joy of Your salvation, the JOY that only You can give! Amen and Amen.

12 COLLEGE STUDENTS WELCOME HOME Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., Servant Pastor, , Pine Grove AME Church, 120 Steward Road Columbia, South Carolina , pinegroveame.org