The Order for the Worship of God The Lord s Day December 16, 2018 The Third Sunday in Advent 10:15 a.m.

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1 The Order for the Worship of God The Lord s Day December 16, 2018 The Third Sunday in Advent 10:15 a.m. Welcome to St. Petersburg Presbyterian Church If you are with us for the first time, we are glad you are here! Please complete the guest card found in the pew rack, and place it in the offering basket at the conclusion of the service. Join us for refreshments and conversation afterwards in the fellowship hall. We look forward to meeting you. Advent Reflection Could it be true, this Bethlehem story of a Creator descending to be born on one small planet? If so, it is a story like no other. Little wonder a choir of angels broke out in spontaneous song, disturbing not only a few shepherds, but the entire universe. Philip Yancey, The Jesus I Never Knew Infinite and yet an infant. Eternal and yet born of a woman. Almighty, and yet nursing at a woman s breast. Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother s arms. Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter s despised son. Charles Haddon Spurgeon WE ENTER GOD S PRESENCE WITH THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE The Welcome and Announcements Pastor David Harding The Passing of the Peace Because God has made peace with us by the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ, let us greet and welcome one another with his peace. The Call to Worship God from Psalm 126 Phil Boddie, ruling elder Leader: The Lord has done great things for us! And we are filled with joy! All: Our God has turned our weeping into singing, our tears into songs of joy! Leader: Let us worship the Lord our God who has come to be our ransom! All: He has done great things for us! And we are filled with joy! Praise the Lord! 1

2 We Come, O Christ, to You Words by Margaret Clarkson; Music by John Darwall We come, O Christ, to you, true Son of God and man, By whom all things consist, in whom all life began: In you alone we live and move, and have our being in your love. You are the Way to God, your blood our ransom paid; In you we face our Judge and Maker unafraid. Before the throne absolved we stand, your love has met your law s demand. You are the living Truth! All wisdom dwells in you, The Source of every skill, the One Eternal True! O great I AM! In you we rest, sure answer to our every quest. You only are true Life, to know you is to live The more abundant life that earth can never give: O risen Lord! We live in you: in us each day your life renew! We worship you, Lord Christ, our Savior and our King, To you our youth and strength adoringly we bring: So fill our hearts, that all may view your life in us, and turn to you. The Prayer of Adoration and Invocation 2

3 WE CONFESS TOGETHER WHAT WE BELIEVE Unison Reading from Matthew 1:18-24 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us). Come, Behold the Wondrous Mystery Matt Boswell, Michael Bleecker, Matt Papa 2013 Come behold the wondrous mystery in the dawning of the King. He the theme of heaven s praises robed in frail humanity. In our longing, in our darkness, now the light of life has come. Look to Christ, who condescended took on flesh to ransom us. Come behold the wondrous mystery; He the perfect Son of Man. In His living, in His suffering never trace nor stain of sin. See the true and better Adam come to save the hell-bound man. Christ the great and sure fulfillment of the law; in Him we stand. Come behold the wondrous mystery; Christ the Lord upon the tree. In the stead of ruined sinners hangs the Lamb in victory. See the price of our redemption; see the Father s plan unfold. Bringing many sons to glory, grace unmeasured, love untold. Come behold the wondrous mystery; slain by death the God of life. But no grave could e er restrain Him; praise the Lord; He is alive! What a foretaste of deliverance; how unwavering our hope. Christ in power resurrected as we will be when he comes. What a foretaste of deliverance; how unwavering our hope. Christ in power resurrected as we will be when he comes. 3

4 WE REPENT OF OUR SINS AND RECEIVE GOD S MERCY The Call to Confession Galatians 3:1-3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? The Public Confession of Sin Heavenly Father, we long to recapture the wonder of Christmas. You showed the world your splendor in the coming of your Son, the mystery of God becoming man to make us new. Yet, our sins have corrupted us. Instead of being peaceful we are anxious; Instead of being joyful we are irritable; In place of wonder we are bored; In place of hope we are fearful. In our unbelief we have become impoverished, pursuing our identity and security in what this world offers, when only you can truly satisfy us. Because Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, we ask you to forgive us, heal us, correct us; then open our mouths, that we, like the angels and shepherds on that first Christmas day, may tell others of your transforming grace and love through Jesus Christ. Amen. Silent Prayers of Confession The Promise of God s Forgiveness in the Gospel of His Son 1 Peter 1:17-19 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. Leader: Hear and believe the good news of the gospel: Jesus Christ is our righteousness. In him, we are ransomed, healed, restored, and forgiven! People: Praise God from Whom all blessings flow! 4

5 Man of Sorrows Philip Bliss, 1875 Man of Sorrows! what a name for the Son of God, who came Ruined sinners to reclaim: Hallelujah! What a Savior! Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned he stood, Sealed my pardon with his blood: Hallelujah! What a Savior! Guilty, vile, and helpless, we; spotless Lamb of God was he; Full atonement! Can it be? Hallelujah! What a Savior! Lifted up was he to die, It is finished! was his cry; Now in heav n exalted high: Hallelujah! What a Savior! When he comes, our glorious King, all his ransomed home to bring, Then anew this song we ll sing: Hallelujah! What a Savior! Parents with children up to age 4 are welcome to take them to the nursery for the remainder of the service. 5

6 WE HEAR GOD SPEAK IN HIS WORD The Sermon Why Is There Christmas? Because Jesus Gave His Life as a Ransom for Many Matthew 20:17-28 (pg. 825 in the pew Bible) Dr. David Harding 17And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18 See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day. 20Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, What do you want? She said to him, Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom. 22 Jesus answered, You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink? They said to him, We are able. 23 He said to them, You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father. 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. The Big Idea: The eternal Son of God did not humble himself and take on our frail humanity for the purpose of being served by us, but in order that he might serve us in the most costly and lavish of ways. He did this by giving his life as a ransom for sinners. This is the meaning of Christmas and of all reality! 6

7 Sermon Notes Jesus Came Not to Be Served, but to Serve (28) Jesus Serves by Giving His Life as a Ransom for Many (28) Jesus death was not accidental, but intentional Jesus death was a ransom From what does Jesus death release us? Who are the many for whom Jesus died? 7

8 The Prayers of God s People WE COMMUNE WITH JESUS CHRIST AT HIS TABLE OF GRACE The Invitation to the Lord s Table The Session (elders) of St. Petersburg Presbyterian Church welcomes to the Lord s Table all baptized persons who are repenting of their sins and trusting in the finished work of Jesus Christ for salvation, and are members in good standing of a congregation that proclaims the gospel. Pastor: All: Jesus said, Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my load is light. (Matthew 11:28-29) From east and west, from north and south, people will come and take their places at the banquet in the kingdom of God (Luke 13:29) The Words of Institution The Giving and Receiving of the Bread and the Cup Please wait until all have been served, so we may eat and drink together. The cup trays contain wine on the inner rings and grape juice on the outer ring. The Prayer of Thanksgiving Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us. We praise you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, we praise and thank you for the great salvation you have planned and accomplished for us in your Son, Jesus Christ. Please give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 8

9 WE RESPOND TO GOD S GRACE WITH SACRIFICIAL GENEROSITY Worshiping God through Our Financial Offerings We respond to God s lavish grace in Jesus Christ by giving our money joyfully and sacrificially for the spread of the gospel in our city and around the world. Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven Henry Lyte, 1834 Praise, my soul, the King of heaven; to his feet your tribute bring. Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, evermore his praises sing. Alleluia, alleluia! Praise the everlasting King! Praise him for his grace and favor to his people in distress. Praise him, still the same forever, slow to chide, and swift to bless. Alleluia, alleluia! Glorious in his faithfulness! Father-like he tends and spares us; all our hopes and fears he knows. In his hands he gently bears us, rescues us from all our foes. Alleluia, alleluia! Widely as his mercy flows! Angels, help us to adore him; you behold him face to face. Sun and moon, bow down before him, all who dwell in time and space. Alleluia, alleluia! Praise with us the God of grace! WE ARE SENT INTO THE WORLD TO MAKE DISCIPLES The Benediction 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. The Dismissal Now, let us go from here in the power of the gospel to love and serve others for the glory of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. All: Thanks be to God! Please remain for refreshments and conversation in the fellowship hall. All music used by permission through Christian Copyright Licensing International, #

10 ANNOUNCEMENTS Missionary Prayer Focus of the Month We are praying this month for Esaie and Natacha Etienne, our MTW missionaries in Gonaives, Haiti. Esaie pastors the Trinity Presbyterian Church, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in October, and helps lead the Christian Academy of Dociné, a school for students from preschool to 11th grade. Pray for these ministries and the church planting efforts of the Presbytery in Haiti, that the gospel would run with great power there amid much poverty and suffering. Contact Esaie and Natacha at: esaieeteienne26@gmail.com. Progressive Christmas Dinner Tonight Join us tonight for our annual Progressive Christmas dinner. We will enjoy meals together at various homes (5:30 p.m.), and then meet for dessert and Christmas carols at Terry and Lynn Tanner s (7:30 p.m.). If you haven t signed up and want to come, please let Lynn Harding know. Thanks! Christmas Eve 5:30 Our Christmas Eve service will be on Monday, December 24, at 5:30 p.m. This is a great opportunity to bring an unbelieving friend and share with them the meaning and hope of Christmas. Christmas Eve Fellowship at the Harding s Please join us after the Christmas Eve service for a bowl of Sante Fe Soup and good fellowship at the Harding s, 1541 Eden Isle Blvd. NE. James Club Meeting The James Club is a Christ-centered outreach ministry for those struggling with alcohol and drug addictions. It meets on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 in the fellowship hall, with a prayer meeting from 7:00-7:15 in the high school room. For more information, contact Kyle Krueger at kkrueger@bloomberg.net. Game Day and Prayer Time This Friday Come and enjoy some fun together at Game Day this Friday, December 21, from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. in the church fellowship hall. We ll pray together from 12:30-1:00. A meal will be provided. Please bring an ornament to exchange. If you have any questions, please call Jess Anderson at (813) Membership Matters Seminar, January If you are interested in becoming a member of SPPC, or want to learn more about the Christian faith and the ministries of our church, then join us for Membership Matters. This is a weekend seminar, Friday evening (dinner included) and Saturday morning (continental breakfast). Please register online at the church website, nurture/membership matters, or by contacting Michele Hurm at m.hurm@stpetepca.org or

11 THIS WEEK AT SPPC Sunday (December 16) 8:30 a.m. Congregational Prayer meets in adult classroom off fellowship hall 9:00 a.m. Sunday school classes for children, youth and adults 10:15 a.m. Corporate Worship 11:30 a.m. Refreshments in the fellowship hall 12:00 p.m. Session and Diaconate meetings 5:30 p.m. Progressive Dinner at various homes, followed by dessert and Christmas carols at the Tanner s. Monday (Office closed) Tuesday 7:00 p.m. James Club Prayer meets in the senior high classroom. 7:30 p.m. James Club a gospel-centered ministry for those struggling with alcohol and drug addictions. Meets in the fellowship hall. Friday 7:00 a.m. Men s Bible Study meets in fellowship hall 10:00 a.m. Game Day One Year Community Bible Reading Calendar Monday, Dec 17 Nahum 1-3 Revelation 13 Tuesday, Dec 18 Habakkuk 1-3 Revelation 14 Wednesday, Dec 19 Zephaniah 1-3 Revelation 15 Thursday, Dec 20 Haggai 1-2; Zechariah 1 Revelation 16 Friday, Dec 21 Zechariah 2-4 Revelation 17 Saturday, Dec 22 Psalm

12 Contact Information MINISTRY LEADERSHIP Elders (The Session) Rev. David Harding, Pastor Phil Boddie Steve Curtiss Deacons (The Diaconate) Bob Burkham Mike Eldridge Chad Martin Dave Shadle Administrative Assistant Michele Hurm Children and Youth Derik Jenkins Christian Education Steve Curtiss Community Groups David Massey Facilities Bob Burkham Mike Eldridge Homeless Outreach Kyle Krueger Hospitality Barbara Burkham Men s Ministry David Harding Mercy Ministry Bob Burkham Dave Shadle Missions Phil and Carolyn Boddie Sunday Operations Chad Martin Ushers/Greeters Mike Eldridge Women s Ministry Cheryl Massey SUPPORTED MISSIONARIES & AGENCIES Esaie and Natacha Etienne Mission to the World Port-au-Prince, Haiti Susan Newkirk Mission to the World Cape Town, S. Africa David and Erin Pervis Mission to the World Kiev, Ukraine Bill and Pam Schweitzer Mission to the World Gateshead, England Marcelo and Claudia Carvalho WEC Brazil Amazon, Brazil Andrew and Meghan Newman Reformed University Fellowship USF, Tampa Lindsey Harding Reformed University Fellowship Auburn University K-Life St. Petersburg New Hearts Outreach Tampa New Life Solutions (Pregnancy Center) St. Petersburg 12