The Riverside Church. in the City of New York DECEMBER 3, 2017 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Transcription

1 The Riverside Church in the City of New York DECEMBER 3, 2017 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

2 Welcome to The Riverside Church Interdenominational Interracial International Open Affirming Welcoming Worship is at the center of the life of The Riverside Church. As you prepare yourself for Worship, we invite you to reflect quietly on these words: Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. Desmond Tutu The Liturgical Year The Riverside Church follows the liturgical calendar to mark the seasons of our life together. We are currently in the season of Advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas in which we prepare ourselves for the coming of the Christ child. Advent is signified by purple paraments and clergy stoles representing the sovereignty of Christ (except for Communion Sundays when the liturgical color is white). Each week we light a candle in the wreath on the Nave floor (mirrored in the hanging wreath above) for the four themes of Advent: hope, peace, joy (pink) and love. Healing Prayer, typically offered the first Sunday of every month immediately following Worship, is available today. Two of Riverside s ministers will be at the front of the Nave to pray for anyone who desires it. If this is your first visit: Complete a Welcome Card and place it in the offering plate as it passes. Join us for Fellowship Hour in South Hall Lobby directly after Worship. As you leave the Nave, take a right and follow the hallway past Christ Chapel. Signs and greeters are available to provide direction. You ll find fair trade coffee from Javesca Coffee, a children s play area, a greeting area to learn about membership at Riverside, and indoor seating. A church tour is offered each Sunday after Worship free of charge. Meet in the 1st balcony. Tours also take place on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. leaving from the Gift Shop. No reservations are necessary. Assistive hearing devices and large print bulletins are available upon request from an usher.

3 GATHERING We gather as a community and prepare our hearts to worship God CARILLON Meditation: Variations on Picardy Dionisio Lind, Carillonneur ORGAN Sleepers, Wake! A Voice Astounds Us Savior of the Nations, Come LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY arr. Ronald Barnes J. S. Bach Rev. Amy Butler PASSING OF THE PEACE One: The Peace of the Lord be with you. All: And also with you. PROCESSIONAL HYMN 6 Jesus Comes with Clouds Descending Helmsley CALL TO WORSHIP One: All: One: All: Rev. Debra Northern In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, Let there be light ; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. Come let us worship the God of light! INTROIT Veni Emmanuel INVOCATION Iona Community Rev. Northern All who are able, please stand

4 LISTENING We listen for the word of God through song, Scripture, and preaching LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE Victoria Anderson, Brittany Kendrick, Jocardo Ralston, Kate Sullivan ANTHEM My Lord, What a Morning! Spiritual, arr. H. Burleigh My Lord, what a morning! My Lord, what a morning, when the stars begin to fall. Done quit all my worldly ways, join that heavenly band, Oh! My Lord, what a morning! My Lord, what a morning, when the stars begin to fall. HEBREW SCRIPTURE LESSON Isaiah 64:1-9 (page 694 in the Old Testament) One: All: The Word of God for the People of God. Thanks be to God. EPISTLE LESSON 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 (page 165 in the New Testament) One: All: HYMN 340 The Word of God for the People of God. Thanks be to God. Eternal Light, Shine in My Heart GOSPEL LESSON Mark 13:24-37 (page 50 in the New Testament) One: All: This is the Gospel of Christ. Thanks be to God. Ms. Jennifer Hagedorn Mr. Derrick Jordan O Waly Waly Rev. Bertram Johnson SERMON Simple Gifts: Demand the Light What is the best gift you ve ever received? Rev. Butler All who are able, please stand

5 RESPONDING We respond to the hearing of God s word through confession, offering, passing the peace, and monthly communion HYMN Tis the Gift to be Simple 1 Refrain: Simple Gifts INVITATION TO GIVE AND SERVE OFFERTORY ANTHEM Keep Your Lamps Rev. Lynn Casteel Harper Spiritual, arr. Andre Thomas Keep your lamps trimmed and burnin, the time is drawing nigh. Children, don t get weary til your work is done. Christian journey soon be over, the time is drawing nigh. AT THE PRESENTATION: VENI EMMANUEL The congregation rises row by row as ushers pass to symbolize offering of our whole selves to God O Come, thou Wisdom from on high; And order all things far and nigh; To us the path of knowledge show; And help us in that way to go. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel. PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING & DEDICATION Rev. Harper Today we celebrate the ministry of our Board of Ushers and Greeters who provide hospitality and service to all who enter The Riverside Church. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Riverside Pastoral Staff Following each petition, we will enter into prayer together with these responses. One: All: Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer. All who are able, please stand

6 THE LORD S PRAYER Pray in the language or version of your heart. 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. 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. CHORAL AMEN INVITATION TO THE TABLE Rev. Butler GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING One: The Lord be with you. All: And with your spirit. One: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them up unto the Lord. One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All: It is right to give God thanks and praise. SANCTUS WORDS OF INSTITUTION All who are able, please stand

7 MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION CALL TO SUPPER One: The body of Christ, broken for you. All: Thanks be to God for the bread of life! One: The blood of Christ, poured out for you. All: Thanks be to God for the cup of blessing! MUSIC AT COMMUNION ORGAN Nave Savior of the Nations, Come Robert Hebble Harold Rutz CHOIR Heavenly Light Alexander Kopylov Sent from heaven, thy rays were given on great and small to shine. O light Divine! May each soul in sorrow s night see the heavenly light! Thou blessing to all creation, lead us to our salvation! All those whose feet may falter, lead unto the sacred altar! Oh shine from above, Divine Light of love! Show us the way unto our God, we pray! Thou our beacon and guide shalt be! Light Divine, we praise Thee. HYMN 14 Savior of the Nations, Come Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION God of light, you renew us at your table with the bread of life. May this food strengthen us in love, and help us to serve you in each other. We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord. Amen. BENEDICTION SENDING We are sent out into the world to love God and our neighbors All who are able, please stand

8 RECESSIONAL HYMN 17 Sleepers, Wake! A Voice Astounds Us POSTLUDE Toccata on Veni Emmanuel Wachet auf Andrew Carter Special thanks to our congregational leaders: Ms. Jennifer Hagedorn, Mr. Derrick Jordan and Latoya Wilkinson, crucifer Life of Our Community For announcements of programs and events in the church, please pick up the Life of Our Community bulletin located in the back of the pew or outside the Welcome Center. Or visit our website

9 We learn in the Bible that Jesus will come back to Earth someday and the Book of Mark has a message for us about it. Unscramble the words to find out what it is.! EB NO GURAD!! EB AELTR! OYU OD NTO NKWO HWNE TAHT ITEM. LILW EMOC.

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11 Mark 13:24-37

12 TALK WITH THE PREACHER Read Pastor Amy s blog online at talkwiththepreacher.org. Printed copies are also available in the Welcome Center/Gift Shop. Pastor Amy is available for conversations with members by appointment. Please srminister@trcnyc.org or call to arrange an appointment. CONNECT WITH RIVERSIDE S PASTORAL & PROGRAM STAFF Senior Minister s Office Rev. Dr. Amy Butler Senior Minister - abutler@trcnyc.org Rev. Michael Livingston Senior Executive Minister - mlivingston@trcnyc.org Rev. Dr. James Forbes Senior Minister Emeritus Communications Rev. Rachel Johnson Executive Minister of Communications - rjohnson@trcnyc.org Rev. Jim Keat Associate Minister of Digital Strategy & Online Engagement - jkeat@trcnyc.org Faith Formation Rev. Kevin Wright Executive Minister of Programs - kwright@trcnyc.org Ms. Amanda Meisenheimer, MDiv Associate Minister of Children and Families - mmeisenheimer@trcnyc.org Rev. Bruce Lamb Interim Associate Minister of Youth and Young Adults - blamb@trcnyc.org Music Mr. Christopher Johnson Director of Music and Organist - cjohnson@trcnyc.org Parish Care Rev. Debra Northern Minister of Parish Care - dnorthern@trcnyc.org Rev. Lynn Casteel-Harper Associate for Parish Care lharper@trcnyc.org Social Justice Rev. Bertram Johnson Minister of Justice, Advocacy & Change - bjohnson@trcnyc.org Stewardship & Development Ms. Christian Peele, MDiv Executive Minister of Institutional Advancement - cpeele@trcnyc.org Ms. Farley Lord, MDiv Associate Minister of Stewardship & Development - flord@trcnyc.org Rev. Dustin Pickett Associate Minister of Stewardship & Development - dpickett@trcnyc.org Worship & the Arts Rev. Ellen Robison Minister of Worship & the Arts - erobison@trcnyc.org Contact Us: To contact the church with general questions, call or communications@trcnyc.org. The Riverside Church is a member of the American Baptist Churches, U.S.A. and the United Church of Christ and cooperates with the Council of Churches in the City of New York, and with the New York State, National, and World Council of Churches. trcnyc.org Parking - 12/3/2017 Parking is available in the garage below the building. Present this bulletin to the attendant before 6:00 p.m. for a reduced rate of $4.00 cash or $5.00 credit card.