Share the light of CHRISTMAS. Week 4 of Advent December 23, AM Worship

Transcription

1 Share the light of CHRISTMAS Week 4 of Advent December 23, AM Worship

2 Sunday Sunday Worship Times Worship Times 8 AM, 9 AM & 11 AM 10 AM Sunday School Rev. Kevin J. Long, Pastor klong@sewickleypresby.org Rev. Sarah R. Bird Associate Pastor sbird@sewickleypresby.org Rev. Dr. Stewart Lawrence Parish Associate jeanstewl@gmail.com Dave Breit Media Engineer dbreit@sewickleypresby.org Mike Creamer Director of Youth Ministries mcreamer@sewickleypresby.org R. Craig Dobbins Director of Music Ministries cdobbins@sewickleypresby.org Jeremy Fisher Associate Director of Music Ministries jfi sher@sewickleypresby.org Brian Mack Director of Children s Ministries bmack@sewickleypresby.org Elizabeth Szuba Youth Program Coordinator eszuba@sewickleypresby.org Church Office M-F 9 AM - 5 PM Visit our website for a complete list of SPC staff members. LIVING GROWING SERVING Together Welcome Join us for coffee in the Robinson Room, before and after worship. Childcare Children are always welcome to attend worship with their families. However, if you would like to take advantage of our nursery you are invited to do so. Our nursery is located on the 2 nd fl oor. Parents are also welcome to care for infant children in the Robing Room, which is located down the stairs near the sound booth at the back of the sanctuary. Large Print Bibles & Hearing Devices If you would like a large print Bible and/or a hearing device, please contact an Usher. Prayer Requests Please write any prayer requests on the pew prayer cards and place them in the offering plates. The pastors read and pray for these requests. Any requests marked public will be shared with weekly prayer groups. Handicap Accessibility A wheelchair lift is available for your convenience. Follow the sidewalk that curves around to the back of the building from Grant St. for easiest access. A ramp is accessible from the Grant Street driveway near the Sanctuary. An elevator is available on the Main level. Please access it by using the wheelchair lift or the ramp. A secondary lift is available to reach the Mezzanine level. Take the elevator to the basement. The lift is to the left of the elevator. Photography We request that photography not be taken during worship. Worship Service Streaming at 9 & 11 AM If you are unable to attend worship, visit our website on Sunday morning to listen to the service via your computer, tablet or smartphone. Sermon on CD The 11 AM sermon is available on CD by request from the church office. You may also fi nd a recording online at Service Recording, Print & Social Media Our Sunday morning services are live-streamed to the internet and recorded for future playback. Also, we regularly use print and social media to communicate. By entering our building and participating in our services or events, you are consenting to your voice, image, and likeness being used by SPC at our discretion. Please visit our website to view our Print & Social Media Policy.

3 Order of Worship The beginning of the prelude is a call to silent preparation for the worship of God. 3 Prelude Partita on Valet Will Ich Dir Geben Paul Manz (The tune may be found at Hymns 104 and 196 in Glory to God.) Lighting of the Fourth Advent Candle The Dietrich Family * Hymn 104 O Lord, How Shall I Meet You Valet Will Ich Dir Geben * Corporate Prayer of Confession O promised Christ, we are a world at war; our peace depends on your coming. We are a broken people; our pardon depends on your coming. We are full of good intentions, but weak at keeping promises; our only hope of doing God s will is that you should come and help us do it. Lord Christ, Word made flesh, our world waits for your peace, for your pardon, and for your grace. So, come, Lord Jesus. Come to us in the silence and hear the confessions of our hearts in the name of Christ. * Silent Prayer of Confession * Assurance of Pardon One: Many: Friends, this is the Good News of the Gospel. In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God. * Gloria Patri (Hymn 581) Welcome and Announcements At the end of each pew is a Friendship Pad. Please indicate your presence by signing it and passing it along the row. Members, make a point to greet visitors sitting near you. Children s Conversation Children from age 3 to grade 3 are invited to take part in our Young Children and Worship program in Studio B on the mezzanine level. Anthem The Angel Gabriel Basque carol Chancel Choir arr. David Schelat The angel Gabriel from heaven came. His wings as drifted snow. His eyes as fl ame. All hail, he said, O lowly maiden Mary. Most highly favored lady, Gloria! For now, a blessed mother you shall be. All generations praise continually. Your son shall be Emmanuel by seers foretold. Most highly favored lady, Gloria!

4 Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head. To me be as it pleases God, she said. My soul shall laud and magnify God s holy name. Most highly favored lady, Gloria! Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ was born in Bethlehem all on a Christmas morn. And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say: Most highly favored lady, Gloria! Prayer for Illumination Ann Strong Scripture Reading Genesis 17:15-21; 18:1, 9-15 God said to Abraham, As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her. Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said to himself, Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child? And Abraham said to God, O that Ishmael might live in your sight! God said, No, but your wife Sarah shall bear you a son, and you shall name him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. As for Ishmael, I have heard you; I will bless him and make him fruitful and exceedingly numerous; he shall be the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this season next year. The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. They said to him, Where is your wife Sarah? And he said, There, in the tent. Then one said, I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son. And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure? The Lord said to Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh, and say, Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old? Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son. But Sarah denied, saying, I did not laugh ; for she was afraid. He said, Oh yes, you did laugh. One: Many: The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Sermon Harbingers of the Savior: Isaac Rev. Sarah R. Bird * Affirmation of Faith Apostles Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. * Hymn 100 My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout Star of the County Down (We will receive the 4 th Sunday Hunger Offering during the singing of this hymn. The offering is meant to be sacrifi cial, above our regular giving. Please come forward as clergy place a basket before the Communion table and place your gift there. All proceeds will go the food pantry at the Sewickley Community Center.)

5 Offering (See announcement pages for ways to give.) Offertory You Say Lauren Daigle, Jason Ingram, Maddie Braksick, soloist and Paul Mabury I keep fi ghting voices in my mind that say I m not enough.... every single lie that tells me I will never measure up Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low? Remind me once again just who I am, because I need to know. (Chorus): You say I am loved when I can t feel a thing. You say I am strong when I think I am weak. You say I am held when I am falling short. When I don t belong, You say I am yours. And I believe, I believe what You say of me. The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me. In You I fi nd my worth. In You I fi nd my identity. (Chorus) Taking all I have and now I m laying it at Your feet. You have every failure, God. You ll have every victory. (Chorus). * Doxology (Hymn 606) Old Hundredth Prayers of the People and the Lord s Prayer ( and forgive us our debts... ) Choral Response My Soul Gives Glory to My God Morning Song (Early American folk hymn) (The text and tune may be found at Hymn 99, stanza 1 in Glory to God.) * Hymn 106 Prepare the Way, O Zion Bereden Väg för Herran * Benediction Postlude Bereden Väg főr Herran Swedish folk hymn setting by Michael Burkhardt (The tune may be found at Hymn 106 in Glory to God.) * Those who are comfortably able may stand. Thank you: Ushers: Bob Bagans, Beth Genter, Beth Johnson, and Becky Senior. Sound Personnel: Dave Breit. Childcare Workers: Morna Murray, Jamie Petro, Chelsea Safran, and Colleen Sipes.

6 Coming Up ADVENT & CHRISTMAS Christmas Breakfast Today 10 AM Robinson Room Instead of Sunday School, join your church family for breakfast! We ll enjoy a continental breakfast while we fellowship and sing some of our favorite Christmas songs. Kids will have a chance to create a Christmas craft too! Church-Wide Christmas Caroling Today 6:30 PM Meet at the Faith House All ages and musical abilities are encouraged to help spread holiday cheer as we walk to 316 Beaver, Linden Place, Union Aid Apartments, and other locations singing Christmas carols! Afterwards, we ll gather for hot cocoa & cookies in the Faith House. Christmas Eve Candlelight Services December 24 5, 8, and 10 PM Sanctuary Experience a beautiful worship service celebrating the birth of our Savior around candlelight, music, and sermon by our pastor, Rev. Kevin Long. Childcare available for 5 & 8 PM services. End of Year Worship Service December AM Sanctuary End the year worshiping together! Rev. Graham Standish will be our guest preacher. There will not be Sunday School on this day. YEAR-END GIFTS If you would like to make a year-end gift to SPC, please do so by December 31, at 11 AM. Give gifts to Laura Mikush in the church office, in the offering plate, or you may give on our website under the Give tab. Thank you. THANK YOU -- Thank you to everyone who helped with our Christmas Food Basket collection and distribution. We were able to deliver 90 baskets this year to help give local families a warmer Christmas. It takes a huge, joint effort, and our congregation always knows how to come together to make it happen. 3 Ways to Give ONLINE sewickleypresby.org/give CHECK / CASH Make checks payable to SPC TEXT Text: / Message: giveatspc

7 SPC THIS WEEK Sunday, 23 December 2018 Fourth Sunday of Advent 8:00 AM Worship Communion Service, CH 9:00 AM Worship Service, SANC 10:00 AM Christmas Breakfast, RR 11:00 AM Worship Service, SANC 12:15 PM Christmas Eve Handbell Ringers Rehearsal, HR 1:45 PM Christmas Eve Instrumentalists Rehearsal, SAN 6:30 PM Christmas Caroling, FH-HL Friday, 28 December 2018 Saturday, 29 December :00 AM AA Meeting, AH 10:00 AM Al-Anon, LIB Sunday, 30 December 2018 Rev. Dr. Graham Standish will be preaching. 10:00 AM Worship Service, SANC Monday, 24 December 2018 Christmas Eve Church office closes at noon. 5:00 PM Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, SANC 8:00 PM Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, SANC 10:00 PM Christmas Eve Communion Candlelight Service, SANC Tuesday, 25 December 2018 Christmas Day Church office is closed. Wednesday, 26 December 2018 Church office is closed. 7:30 PM AA Meeting, LIB Thursday, 27 December :00 PM Narcotics Anonymous, DR 7:15 PM AA Meeting, WI 7:30 PM Nar-Anon Meeting, AH ROOM CODES Main Church Building AH CA CH CR DR HR Ansby Hall Campbell Room Chapel Choir Room Dining Room Handbell Room LIB RR SANC SR WI Library Robinson Room Sanctuary Session Room Willets Room Faith House: FH HL TR MR KI SP High School Lounge Trevor s Room Middle School Room Kitchen Sun Porch 2A 2B 2C OF WR 2 nd Floor Room A 2 nd Floor Room B 2 nd Floor Room C 2 nd Floor Office 2 nd Floor Workroom PRAYER CORNER Please be praying for the following individuals & their families: Prayers for Comfort For Bob Mikush on the death of his uncle; for the family of Gerry Armstrong, who died recently. Prayers for Healing Hal Bonnett, James Carson (father of Wayne Carson), Jim Darby, Dorothy Dean, June and Barry Dietrich (parents of Dwight Dietrich), Betty Gilliland (mother of Suzie Gilliland), Suzie Gilliland, Ginny Gladstone, Eddie Groll (grandson of Eva Grollová, Czech mission partner), Winni Hayward, David Henderson, Anne Kelley, Gaylord Larsen, Mary Murphy, Dorothy Nichols (mother of Sandy Cooper), Karen Safran, Joanna Sarsfi eld, Nancy Lewis Siler (aunt of Beth Whiteman), Mary Swan (mother of David Swan), Pat Szuba (mother of Mike and Tom Szuba), Sally Thompson, Skooter Van Kirk (son of Jane Van Kirk), Kay Wiegand, and Roger Wiegand. Prayers for Mission Partners Community Youth Worker, Floyd Faulkner.

8 Please be praying for the following individuals & their families: Prayers for Comfort To the family of Rev. Al Schartner, who died recently. Prayers for Healing Mathilda Benson (mother of Lew Benson), Hal Bonnett, Susan Dobbins, Betty Gilliland (mother of Suzie Gilliland), Suzie Gilliland, Chris Hayward, David Henderson, Anne Kelley, Virginia Monaghan (mother of Carol Weir), Mary Murphy, Camdyn Russell (cousin of Rev. Kevin Long), Karen Safran, Joanna Sarsfi eld, Renee Shutak (sister of Debbie Cain), Nancy Lewis Siler (aunt of Beth Whiteman), Betsy Stein, Mary Swan (mother of David Swan), Pat Szuba (mother of Mike and Tom Szuba), Sally Thompson, Skooter Van Kirk (son of Jane Van Kirk), Amanda Walters (mother of Aileen Happe), Claire Wear (daughter-in-law of Jim Wear) and Kay Wiegand. Prayers for Protection Torrence Taylor (son of Morna Murray), who is serving in the Army overseas. Prayers for Mission Partners Center for Hope.