A SERVICE OF PREPARATION FOR CHRIST S COMING In Verse, Spoken and Sung December 3, 2017, 6:00 p.m.

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2 A SERVICE OF PREPARATION FOR CHRIST S COMING In Verse, Spoken and Sung December 3, 2017, 6:00 p.m. Sanctuary Gathering Music (Eric Nanz, guitar; Alana Nanz, piano) Welcome Prophecy Isaiah 9 Leader: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. People: Those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined. Leader: For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; People: Authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Leader: Wonderful Counselor, People: Mighty God, Leader: Everlasting Father, People: Prince of Peace! *Hymn by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow I heard the bells on Christmas Day, their old familiar carols play, And wild and sweet the words repeat of peace on earth, good will to men! And thought how, as the day had come, the belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along the unbroken song of peace on earth, good will to men! Yet in despair I bowed my head; There is no peace on earth, I said; For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men. Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men. In Search of Our Kneeling Places by Ann Weems Gus Bahruth In each heart lies a Bethlehem, An inn where we must ultimately answer whether there is room or not. When we are Bethlehem-bound we experience our own advent in his. When we are Bethlehem-bound we can no longer look the other way conveniently not seeing stars, not hearing angel voices. We can no longer excuse ourselves by busily tending our sheep or our kingdoms.

3 This Advent let s go to Bethlehem And see this thing that the Lord has made known to us. In the midst of shopping sprees let s ponder in our hearts the Gift of Gifts. Through the tinsel let s look for the gold of the Christmas Star. In the excitement and confusion, in the merry chaos let s listen for the brush of angels wings. This Advent let s go to Bethlehem and find our kneeling places. The Light of Advent Isaiah 58 & 60 Marylee Grace Mann Your light shall break forth like the dawn and your healing shall spring up quickly. The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you by night; But the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. And so we light this first candle of Advent, to proclaim that God always sends light into our darkness. Hymn (seated) Love Has Come No. 110 (Eric Nanz, guitar; Alana Nanz, piano) What Kind of Messiah Are You? What kind of Messiah does everyone want? What sort of Savior will do? Before we say vows and get dunked in the font, what kind of Messiah are you? Will you stop us from worry and calm us from fear? Free us from debt and fatigue? Will you help our team win it all next year? Will you put us on top of the league? Will you heal our diseases with mystical magic so we live to one hundred and two? Will you make it all better when things turn out tragic, what kind of Messiah are you? Will you find me a nice home and get me a job? Will you save me a good place to park? Will you keep me healthy even though I m a slob? Will you find me my keys in the dark?

4 But you came not to be our personal valet, You came to save both many and few. You came to this world because we re so broken, You came as Messiah, that s true. So walk with us now the journey we take, Your presence is what we most need. Unlike false messiahs who words are all fake, it s your life that has been our great creed. Chapel Choir An Advent Carol Jody W. Lindh Prayer (unison) Holy Creator of Trees, bless with your abundant grace this our Christmas tree as a symbol of life. May its evergreen branches be a sign of your never-fading promises. May its lights and chrismons call us to decorate with love our home and our world. May your gifts of Hope and Love surround this tree signifying Christ s presence in our lives. May Joy and Peace come and nest in its branches and in our hearts. Amen. Hymn (seated) German Carol Thy leaves are so unchanging; Thy leaves are so unchanging; Not only green when summer's here, But also when 'tis cold and drear. Thy leaves are so unchanging! Thy candles shine so brightly! Thy candles shine so brightly! From base to summit, gay and bright, There's only splendor for the sight. Thy candles shine so brightly!

5 How richly God has decked thee! How richly God has decked thee! Thou bidst us true and faithful be, And trust in God unchangingly. How richly God has decked thee!" The Mystic s Christmas by John Greenleaf Whittier Dr. DeYoe The God We Hardly Knew (unison) by Oscar Romero No one can celebrate a genuine Christmas without being truly poor. The self-sufficient, the proud, those who, because they have everything, look down on others, those who have no need even of God for them there will be no Christmas. Only the poor, the hungry, those who need someone to come on their behalf, will have that someone. That someone is God. Emmanuel. God-with-us. Without poverty of spirit there can be no abundance of God. Hymn (seated) Born in the Night, Mary s Child No. 158 (Eric Nanz, guitar; Alana Nanz, piano) A Christmas Lesson by Tom Krause Welcome Christmas! Fa who for-aze! Dah who dor-aze! Welcome Christmas, Come this way! Dr. DeYoe by Dr. Seuss Fa who for-aze! Dah who dor-aze! Welcome Christmas, Christmas Day. Welcome, Welcome, Fa who rah-moose Welcome, Welcome, Dah who dah-moose Christmas Day is in our grasp So long as we have hands to clasp. Fa who for-aze! Dah who dor-aze! Welcome Christmas, bring your cheer Fa who for-aze! Dah who dor-aze! Welcome all who s far and near

6 Christmas day will always be, just so long as we have we. Welcome Christmas while we stand Heart to heart and hand in hand. Hymn (seated) O Little Town of Bethlehem No. 121 First Coming by Madelaine L Engle Brooke Castner He did not wait till the world was ready, till men and nations were at peace. He came when the Heavens were unsteady, and prisoners cried out for release. He did not wait for the perfect time. He came when the need was deep and great. He dined with sinners in all their grime, turned water into wine. He did not wait till hearts were pure. In joy he came to a tarnished world of sin and doubt. To a world like ours, of anguished shame he came, and his Light would not go out. He came to a world which did not mesh, to heal its tangles, shield its scorn. In the mystery of the Word made Flesh the Maker of the stars was born. We cannot wait till the world is sane to raise our songs with joyful voice, for to share our grief, to touch our pain, He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice. *Hymn Hark the Herald Angels Sing No. 119 * The Work of Christmas Begins Corbie Bishop When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with the flocks, then the work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal those broken in spirit, to feed the hungry, to release the oppressed, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among all peoples, to make a little music with the heart And to radiate the Light of Christ, every day, in every way, in all that we do and in all that we say. Then the work of Christmas begins.

7 Christmas Season at Covenant Each Sunday, 10:00 am: Worship Service in the Sanctuary. Sunday, December 3, 9 am: Alternative Giving Market in the courtyard. Sunday, December 3, 6 pm: Hanging of the Greens and Wassail Party in the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall; a Covenant tradition. Sunday, December 10, 11:30 am: Covenant Christmas Reception, in the courtyard following worship. All are invited! Sunday, December 10, 1:30 pm: Christmas Caroling by Chapel Choir and Youth. Friday, December 15, 7:30 pm: Annual Christmas Concert in Sanctuary. Sunday, December 17, 9 am: Birthday Party for Jesus Fellowship Hall; all are invited. Sunday, December 24, Worship Services: 10:00 am Morning Worship Service, Sanctuary 5:00 pm Family Christmas Eve Service, Sanctuary. 7:30 pm Candlelight Service, Sanctuary.

8 Welcome Visitors! We are glad you joined us this evening as we begin the season Advent. Advent symbolizes the coming of Christ, and the hope and anticipation that comes with celebrating his birth and presence in our life. You are invited to participate in all of the activities which we offer. Sunday activities include Sunday School at 9:00 a.m. for all ages with worship at 10:00 a.m. Thanks and appreciation to the all the volunteers, Presbyterian Women and others who worked to create and arrange the beautiful Christmas decorations adorning the sanctuary, Fellowship Hall and other areas of the church campus to spread the joy of Christmas at Covenant! All are invited to join in the Wassail Party in Fellowship Hal following this service. Participating in the service this Evening. Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Jeffrey DeYoe Director of Music/Organist Dr. Warren Apple Director of Chapel Choir Maria Bahruth Chapel Choir Ariana Arias, Victor Arias, Ashlynne Eckinrode, Addison Herman, Colton Herman, Haven Kaserman, Marylee Grace Mann, Jacob McCue, Katrina Ruby Acolyte Corbie Bishop Guitar Eric Nanz Piano Alana Nanz 2439 McGregor Blvd, Ft. Myers, FL Phone: Website: covpcfm.com