The Service of Worship Third Sunday of Advent December 16, :00 a.m.

Transcription

1 The Service of Worship Third Sunday of Advent December 16, :00 a.m. Chiming of the Hour Greetings and Welcome The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you. Opening Voluntary Sing We Now of Christmas arr. Kevin McChesney Concerns and Celebrations of the Church Fellowship Registration Please pass the fellowship pad found at the end of the row, record information, and return the pad to its starting point. Then please remove sheet and place in the offering plate when it is passed. Lighting of the Advent Candle Fraley family Hymn #102 Savior of the Nations, Come (v.1) NUN KOMM, DER HEIDEN HEILAND Call to Worship Savior of the nations, come; virgin s son, make here your home. Marvel now, O heaven and earth, that the Lord chose such a birth. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. The world says, Worry, and we say, Rejoice.! The news says, Fear, and we say, Rejoice. The world says, Be happy, And the church says, Be faithful. As we light our third Advent candle, We pray for hope, peace, and joy. Come now, O child of Mary. Come now, O Prince of Joy. *Hymn #82 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus HYFRYDOL *Prayer of Confession Cathy Taylor God of all Creation: you call us to prepare your Way in the world, working for peace and goodwill for all. You set forth the power of humility through your vulnerable presence in the world among us as a child. You show yourself to us in that simple love of parent for child. You reveal your powerful grace for us in the wondrous work of the child. Yet we must confess that we are sometimes obstacles to your grace. We overly complicate Jesus Way with our religion. We see

2 humility as weakness. We prey upon the vulnerable. We question the wonderful. Forgive us, O Lord, when we so fail. Call us to true repentance, and through the power of your grace renew within us a longing for peace on earth and goodwill toward all for disciples of the child we would be. Hear now our silent prayers of confession... *Period of Silent Prayer In our Savior s name we pray. Amen. *Assurance of Pardon Cathy Taylor Hear the good news from Isaiah 40:1-2: Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned We praise God for the gift of grace! We strive to practice the Grace of God in our daily lives. *Congregational Response #132 Good Christian Friends, Rejoice (v. 3) IN DULCI JUBILO Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; now ye need not fear the grave: Jesus Christ was born to save! Calls you one and calls you all to gain the everlasting hall. Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save! First Lesson Isaiah 61:1-4 pew Bible, OT, page 650 The Word of the Lord. large print, OT, page 691 Thanks be to God. Anthem What Strangers Are These? A Time for Young Disciples arr. Dan Forrest Kathleen Williams All children are invited to the front. Parents are welcome to come with younger children. Ages four through six are invited to participate in Godly Play in Room 113 following A Time for Young Disciples. Second Lesson John 1:1-5, 10-14, 16 pew Bible, NT, page 86 The Word of the Lord. large print, NT, page 91 Thanks be to God. Sermon Believing in the Glory Dave McNeilly Invitation to Discipleship To speak with someone about becoming a Christian, church membership, or a special prayer need, please go to the parlor following this service. The parlor is to the right of the fellowship hall. *Affirmation of Faith Apostles Creed (ecumenical) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

3 I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. *Hymn #92 While We Are Waiting, Come WAITING (Cason) Prayers of the People and the Lord s Prayer (using sins and sin) 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 sins, as we forgive those who sin against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen. The Offering Offertory Lo, How a Rose E er Blooming ES IST EIN ROS *Doxology with Alleluias LASST UNS ERFREUEN Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise Christ all people here below; Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise Holy Spirit evermore, Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! *The Prayer of Dedication *Hymn #116 The Snow Lay on the Ground VENITE ADOREMUS *Benediction *Benediction Response Prepare the Way, O Zion (verse 1) BEREDEN VÄG FÖR HERRAN Prepare the way, O Zion, your Christ is drawing near! Let every hill and valley a level way appear. Greet One who comes in glory, foretold in sacred story. O blest is Christ who came in God s most holy name. *Postlude Toccata on Hyfrydol arr. Matthew F. Walicke * Please rise either in body or spirit. Bold print indicates congregational participation. Worship Leaders Dave McNeilly, Interim Pastor Amanda Hines, Associate Pastor Cathy Taylor, Liturgist Karrie Rushing, Director of Music

4 Brad Collier, Organist Lynne Marks, flute Kate Oliphant, guitar Elizabeth Ables, Director of Youth Bell Choir Mid-High Bell Choir Our Congregation in Ministry Christmas Eve Services: We will have Christmas Eve Services on December 24th at 5:00 pm, 8:00 pm, and 11:00 pm. We will have one service on December 30 at 11:00 a.m. There will be no Sunday School on 12/23 or 12/30. Christmas Eve Offering: This year s Christmas Eve Offering will go to the JOY Soup Kitchen. Please mail your donation, marked Christmas Eve Offering, to the church or bring it to one of our Christmas Eve services. Thank you for giving generously this Christmas season. Contributions: Don t forget to turn in your 2018 contributions no later than 12:00 noon on December 28 or make sure they are postmarked by 12/31 in order to be counted for this year. Please notify Teresa Savage of any stock transfers. Call or Teresa (teresa@fpcgreenville.org or ). Church office will be closed December 24-26, and December 31-January 1. Angel Tree: Thank you for supporting our Angel Tree for Winterville Manor. We will take the gifts over today at 3 pm. Our tree is now a mitten tree, so please fill it with hats, gloves, scarves, etc. for those in need. Alternative Christmas Gifts: Check the Welcome Center for Alternative Christmas giving options, including Honor cards for the Community Crossroads Center. Each card has a $5 minimum donation. Make your check payable to FPC with Honor Card in the memo line. Youth Christmas Mission Project: All items for the families we are helping are due today so that Brian and the youth can deliver the food to the families later this week. Please be sure to label the items for Youth Christmas Mission project and refrigerate items if needed. Contact Brian Dilday with questions, Montreat: Any current 4th-12th grader who is interested in attending Montreat Worship & Music Week 2 (June 22-29), see Karrie Rushing for a brochure & registration form. Forms and deposits for Week 2 are due by December 30. Any adult interested in attending Week 1 (June 15-22) may register through the website: presbymusic.org/montreat. Let Karrie know when you ve registered so we can make additional reservations for housing if necessary. Age Venturers: Please sign up by December 30 for the Age Venturers trip to the Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield. We will leave the church at 8am on January 8th for a Heritage Tour of Ava s homestead, school and gravesite led by a museum guide. Cost is $20 for tour and transportation. Sign up and pay in the church office. Ushers: Ushers are needed for the Christmas Eve services at 5pm, 8pm, and 11pm. Sign up in the Welcome Center or contact Jim Worden at jworden@vidanthealth.com. Blood Drive: FPC will host a Blood Drive on Sunday, January 13, 2019, 9:30 am-1:30pm. Please visit redcrossblood.org and enter Firstpres to schedule an appointment. Please lift in prayer: Our Congregation Cares Church Family Betsy Baggett, John Brookbank, Martha Coffman, Vickie Coleman, Thelma Flye, Ben Lattin, Margaret

5 Leinweber, Joyce Lewis, Gerald McGowan, Anna Ogle, Linda Parham, Derek Perry, Ron Sessoms Jr., Judy St. John, Joe Sullivan, Dallas Taylor, Sarah Whitehurst, Fred Wood Family and Friends: Kristina Basnight (daughter-in-law of Shelley Basnight) Todd Cahoon (friend of Earlene Hite) Scott Groot (father-in-law of Matt Steele) Angie Harrell (friend of Ed & Carol Scull) Anne Lanier (friend of Jeri Jackson) Katherine Lasecki (friend of Debbie Hahn) Frances Maness (sister of Betty Bailey) Pat McArthur (mother of Michelle Money) Jeff Mitchell (friend of Barbara Thomson) Sheila Nasea North (sister of Melissa Nasea) Jim Person (stepfather of David Webb) Arthur Reinders (father of Debra Mizelle) Ray Stallings (cousin of Betty Tart) Nan Vinson (friend of Mary Beth Pugh) Military personnel and families; our national, state and local leaders and people called our enemies. We are a Stephen Ministry congregation. For information, contact Sandra Ward, Bill Lehman, or Jim Young.