December 2, 2018 First Sunday of Advent

Transcription

1 We are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. GATHERING Please use the Narthex for conversation, gathering and visiting, so that the Sanctuary may be used for quiet reflection and preparing for worship. Let us prepare our hearts and minds for worship. We must wait for the greatest, most profound, most gentle things in life. (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, ) PRELUDE O Come, O Come Emmanuel Arr. Lloyd Larson LIGHTING THE CANDLE OF HOPE The gospel of John speaks of Christ as the true light coming into the world. In commemoration of that coming, we light candles for the four weeks leading to Christmas and reflect on the coming of Christ. It is significant that the church has always used that language the coming of Christ because it speaks to a deep truth. Christ is coming. Christ is always coming, always entering a troubled world, a wounded heart. And so we light the first candle, the candle of hope, and dare to express our longing for peace, healing, and the well-being of all creation. RESPONSE Creator of the Stars of Night Plainsong, Mode IV *CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 25:1-10; Luke 21:25-36) In what remains undone, In what defeats us, In what has yet to grow In all these things, We wait for you. Gayton Road Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Ministers: Every Believer Pastor: Jonathan Kruschwitz December 2, 2018 First Sunday of Advent By surrendering control, By looking for what is not here, By dreaming In these ways, We wait for you. *OPENING HYMN 125 Come, O Long Expected Jesus HYFRYDOL *OPENING PRAYER (Luke 21:25-36) Urgent God, Breaking through the static To speak to our hearts: Disarm our love of control And shake the silent heavens To reveal your dawning glory, Judging all in the light of love. Through Jesus Christ, the one who is to come. Amen. As part of the one body of Christ, we welcome all to the Lord s Table as God has welcomed us. Until the seed bears its fruit, Until night gives way to day, Until the kingdom comes Until then, We wait for you. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

2 ANTHEM Soon and Very Soon Rollo A. Dillworth SCRIPTURE Luke 21:25-36 CHILDREN S MESSAGE PRAYER OF THE PEOPLE THE LORD S PRAYER (SPOKEN) SCRIPTURE Psalm 25:1-10 SERMON It Takes Time *HYMN OF AFFIRMATION (INSERT) I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light HOUSTON During this song, all are welcome to come forward to become members of Gayton Road Christian Church by transfer of membership or baptism. Deacons gather in the back of the sanctuary to prepare for the offering. OFFERING INVITATION (Jeremiah 33:14-16; Luke 21:25-6) OFFERTORY O Come, O Come Emmanuel Charles Callahan *DOXOLOGY 46 Praise God OLD HUNDREDTH *OFFERING BLESSING (Psalm 25:1-10) Merciful God, Patient and loving: Soften our willful hearts And make us friends of time, So that our gifts and our lives Might bear a hope that abides Even amid difficulty. Through Jesus Christ, Whose coming we await. Amen. CONFESSION (Psalm 25:1-10) Lord, you are faithful. Christ, you keep company with the humble. Lord, your kingdom takes time. When we do not trust in your presence: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. When we do not see you in the face of the needful: Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. When we are impatient and do not care for the small things: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

3 WORDS OF ASSURANCE (Psalm 25:1-10) THE PEACE The peace of Christ takes time. The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. INVITATION TO THE TABLE (Psalm 25:1-10) COMMUNION HYMN 403 In Remembrance of Me RED (Elders and Deacons gather in the back of the Sanctuary to prepare to serve) Communion is celebrated each Sunday. As a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregation, we practice an open table where all are invited to the table. There is no barrier that prevents participation in the Lord s Supper. Please come forward to take communion. Take a piece of bread and dip it into the cup. If you are unable to come forward, communion will be brought to you. The communion bread is gluten free. PRAYERS OF THE ELDERS WORDS OF INSTITUTION COMMUNION *CLOSING HYMN 700 O Day of God, Draw Nigh ST. MICHAEL *BENEDICTION (Psalm 25:1-10) May God whose love is saving, Christ whose presence is steadfast, And Spirit whose nurture is slow Make us friends of time And full of hope. Amen. *RESPONSE O Little Town of Bethlehem ST. LOUIS O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our God, Emmanuel. POSTLUDE Once He Came in Blessing Paul Manz *Please stand if able. As a courtesy to other worshippers, please silence phones. Bibles (electronic or book) are most welcome! Acknowledgments: Advent Candle Lighting adapted from Jeanyne Slettom, accessed November 27, 2017; Opening Prayer from Steven Shakespeare, Prayers for an Inclusive Church (New York: Church Publishing, 2009), ebook loc. 452.

4 Scheduled to serve today: Pastor... Jonathan Kruschwitz Director of Music..... Jack Fox Intern... Emily Croxford Advent Candle Team... Jeff Wilber, Mark Clements,... Radek Larew, and Kathy Habib Lay Leader... E. J. Wingo Children s Message... Teresa Campbell Elders... Carl Schluter and Teresa Campbell Deacons... Kathy Habib, Bill Malla,... Alexa McFarlane, and Radek Larew Nursery... Darrah Davis Welcome to Worship: Whether you are a member, friend or visiting with us today, may God bless you during worship this morning. You ARE welcome and we re very blessed that you are worshiping with us today! Communion is celebrated each Sunday. GRCC NEWS AND OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES Advent Devotionals: The season has begun! Please be sure to stop by the basket in the Narthex to pick up a devotional for daily reading and reflection in this Advent season. Blessing Warriors Christmas Outreach: This Christmas season, we are partnering with Rhonda Sneed and the Blessing Warriors to share our love and support with the homeless in our city. We are contributing the following items: hot chocolate packets, noodle cups which need only hot water, insulated gloves, thick scarves, thick blankets, portable radios and flashlights (with batteries). Monetary donations are also welcome. Please bring all donations to the card table in the narthex. If you would like to make your donation in memory or honor of a friend or family, there will be forms in the narthex that you may fill out. Christmas Caroling: Calling all ages! Join our children and youth next Sunday, December 9, after worship as we go caroling to our church family and area nursing homes. Before caroling, we will take the youth and children to lunch (someplace simple and cheap), so please send about $5 with your child that day for lunch. Transportation will be provided. We plan to be back at church around 4 pm.

5 Christmas Pageant: Please join us on December 11 at 6:30 pm for A Small Dinner and Celebration of the Season with a presentation of the story of Christmas featuring the talents of our congregation. Hope to see you there. BYOP: Bring Your Own Poinsettia: If you wish to have a poinsettia in the sanctuary in honor or in memory of a loved one, or for no reason at all, you are invited to Bring Your Own Poinsettia. It can be fresh or artificial, any color, any size. Bring it to the sanctuary on December 23. There will be spots identified at the front of the sanctuary where the poinsettia may be placed. You may clip a small card to the plant dedicating it to your loved one. Christmas Fellowship Gatherings (All Are Welcome!): John Schuler invites all congregants to his annual Christmas Party, December 15, 7 pm, at 8704 Lawndell Road, Henrico VA Please bring a quart (or up to a gallon!) of your favorite traditional family holiday drink or cookies or other favorite family holiday treat. The McFarlanes invite the church family to a Christmas Open House on Saturday, December 22, at 2 pm, at the McFarlane home located at Rutgers Drive, Richmond, VA Light appetizers and finger foods will be served. The church continues to collect used eyeglasses and hearing aids to help children learn and parents maintain their jobs; tab tops from drink cans, soup cans, & cat/dog food cans, etc. to support Ronald McDonald house; and box tops found on cereal boxes, soup cans, Kleenex, etc. to support our educational system. The collection boxes are in our narthex. From Where I Sit: Faith is an experience. As a community of faith, we share our faith experiences to encourage and inspire each other, and to learn about the ways that God is moving among our community and our world. As Gayton Road is a church that celebrates the diversity of the body of Christ and welcomes each voice to the congregation, we invite you to write and share an experience of your own, however great or small. Please send any entries to grccdoc@verizon.net. These will be shared with the church through . Lectionary Scripture Jeremiah 33:14-16 Psalm 25: Thessalonians 3:9-13 Luke 21:25-36

6 CALENDAR TODAY Sunday 9:45 am 11 am Elders Meeting (after Worship) THIS WEEK 12/4 Symphony Manor Memory Care 10:30 am 12/5 Choir 7 pm COMING UP 12/9 Caroling (after Worship) 12/11 Children and Youth Christmas 6:30 pm 12/12 Girl 6 pm Choir 7 pm 12/15 Piano 12 4 pm (Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall) Christmas 7 pm (at the Schuler Home) 12/16 AA Holiday Gathering (Afternoon in the Fellowship Hall) 12/19 Choir Jack s (Time TBA) 12/22 Christmas Open 2 pm (at the McFarlane Home) 12/23 Bring Your Own Poinsettia (for Worship) 12/24 Christmas Eve 7 pm

7 LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER Our GRCC family: Mollie Caiella, Stuart Wilkinson, Ivan and Julie Round, Tom and Candice Nguyen, and Marion Paitsel. Those who are unable to worship with us on a regular basis: Jim Harris, Stuart Wilkinson, Anna Lee Werner, June & Bubba Galbraith, and Marion Paitsel. Friends of GRCC: Carol Sharp, mother of Julie Round Lillie May Slaven, grandmother of Julie Round Joan & Doug Borden, parents of Jeremy Borden Valerie McCarry, sister of Jeremy Borden Don Campbell, father of Cliff Campbell Keel Family (esp. Hunter), friends of June and Bubba Galbraith Donna Bell, sister-in-law of Barbara Chapman The Allen Family, friends of Barbara Chapman Ken and Liz Carpenter and family, friends of Anne Waring Joe Butler, father of Carrie Wingo Andy Hrabovsky, friend of the Wingo family Linda Albimino, sister of Debbie Cook Dale Garrett, cousin of Debbie Cook Elizabeth Reich, sister of Kathy Moran Amanda Stiverson, family of Debbie Cook Kathleen McGinnis, mother of Rob McGinnis Gene and Loretta Thompson, friends of Lu Roberts Barbara Pietschman and family, friends of the Wingo family Sandy Row, friend of the Wingo family Family of Cherie Holberg, friends of Daniela Larew Lillian Stewart, aunt of Debbie Cook Bernadette McCabe, friend of Carl Schluter Don, friend of Amanda Carlton During the month of December, please be in prayer for these Mission Personnel of the Global Ministries for our church. Dec 2-8: Nikotemo Sopepa, Fiji Dec 9-15: Mary Kathryn Ball, Ecuador Dec 16-22: Larry and Deborah Colvin, Ghana Dec 23-29: Eleazar Fernandez, Philippines Dec 30-Jan 5: Phyllis Byrd, Kenya For more information and weekly prayers for these specific areas please visit Together with other churches in Richmond this December, we pray for the families of metropolitan Richmond. For the week of December 2, 2018: We pray for singleparent families, adoptive families, foster families, and for households that are communities of friends; for elderly persons living in their own homes, in retirement communities, and in nursing institutions. ( People listed in bold added this week. Please or call the church with updates.

8 Gayton Road Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Ridgefield Parkway Henrico, VA (804) Pastor: Jonathan Kruschwitz Phone: Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 11am-3pm Director of Music: Phone: Jack Fox (home) Intern: Emily Croxford Phone: Elder Chair: Debbie Cook Phone: GAYTON ROAD CHRISTIAN CHURCH Where everybody is welcome Gayton Road Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a family of friendly, accepting, God-centered people. With our come-as-you-are attitude and non-judgmental philosophy, we believe we are called to love and care for one another and share the Good News of God s love and grace with the community through our words and actions.