Visiting? Welcome questions Let s Get Acquainted Childcare How to Connect firstpres1847 Wi-Fi johncalvin Announcements church office will be closed

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1 First Sunday of Christmas Sunday, December 30, 2018

2 Visiting? Welcome to First Presbyterian Church! Whether you re visiting from out of town or new to the area, we are glad you are here. If you have any questions about our church, please ask our greeters and ushers (the folks who handed you a bulletin), or visit our website If you would like to know more about our church, fill out a Let s Get Acquainted card and place it in the offering plate during worship. Childcare is available for children (infant-3) in the nursery (Room 109) from 9:15-11:45 a.m.. Preschool-aged children (3-7) meet in the Joy Makers class during the Sunday School hour (Room 201). During worship we welcome children from this age group to come forward for the Children s Message and then return to their classroom for Worship and Play. All children are welcome to stay throughout worship. In order for our staff and volunteers to care for your children, please fill out a children s ministry sticker for you and your child. Stickers are in the narthex, the Commons, or the nursery. How to Connect Come to worship we re here every week! Fill out a Let s Get Acquainted card and place it in the offering plate to receive information about the church. Ask to join our newsletter list (signup available through the website) to keep up with church events. Contact the office to join a Dinner Group and meet new friends outside the church. Have a meal on us immediately following worship on the second Sunday of the month. Visit concerts, lectures, and other events hosted by the church. Ask about upcoming mission or fellowship opportunities. Come to church early and visit Sunday School (9:15 a.m. every Sunday). Join the church! (Indicate you would like to join on a Let s Get Acquainted Card or speak with the Pastor following worship.) Find the most current contact information on our members in the church directory. It can be found on our website ( under the fellowship tab. The password is firstpres1847. Wi-Fi Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the church. There are two options available: First Pres Guest 2.4 and First Pres Guest 5. Although these will connect to the same network, 2.4 has more strength while 5 has more range. The location of the device will influence which one will automatically connect. The password for the guest network is johncalvin Announcements The church office will be closed through January 1. Morning Prayers and Bible Study will resume Monday, January 7. Normal office hours will resume on Wednesday, January 2. After the Christmas festivities are over and the thrill of the New Year has passed, our Church Guild will meet at on January 9 to take down the greens and pack up the holiday decorations. Any and all help is greatly appreciated! The youth are holding a service project in January called Operation Warm. They are accepting donations of hats, gloves, and blankets between January All donated items will be delivered to the City of Refuge.

3 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2018 PRELUDE Prelude on The Holly and the Ivy H. Sumsion ( ) WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS THE PEACE The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. THE GREETING At the sound of the bells, please prepare your heart and mind for worship. INTROIT Ding Dong! Merrily on High *CALL TO WORSHIP My eyes have seen your salvation, Which you prepared in the presence of all peoples, A light for revelation to the Gentiles, And glory to your people Israel. Arr. C. Wood ( ) Introit: Ding dong! Merrily on high in heav n the bells are ringing: Ding dong! Verily the sky is riven with angels singing. Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! The Call to Worship is from Luke 2 *UNISON PRAYER OF INVOCATION Almighty God, you have filled us with the light of the Word, who became flesh and lived among us. Let the light of faith shine in our worship and work, our prayer and praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. *HYMN 147 The First Nowell Stanzas 1-4 The First Nowell PRAYER OF CONFESSION (A time of silent prayer and meditation.) God of grace and truth, In Jesus Christ you came among us as a light shining in darkness. We confess that we have not welcomed the light, or trusted good news to be good. We have closed our eyes to glory in our midst expecting little, hoping for less. Forgive our doubt, and renew our hope, so that we may receive the fullness of your grace, living in the way of Christ, our Lord. Amen. *Where you see this notation, please rise in body or in spirit.

4 ASSURANCE OF PARDON Friends, believe the good news of the gospel. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God. *RESPONSE OF PRAISE The First Nowell The First Nowell Then let us all with one accord sing praises to our heavenly Lord, that hath made heaven and earth of naught, and with his blood our life he bought. Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, born is the King of Israel. THE CHILDREN S MESSAGE (At this point in the service, we invite preschool-aged children to follow their teachers to the second floor elementary classroom in the Martin House for Worship and Play. ) LITANY OF PARTING Congregation: God be with you there. Children: God be with you here. CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Jesus Loves Me! William B. Bradbury Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so; Little ones to Him belong; they are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so. PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION SCRIPTURE LESSON 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 NRSV Anthem: Torches, torches, run with torches all the way to Bethlehem! Christ is born and now lies sleeping; come and sing your song to him! Ah, roro, my baby, roro, my love; sleep you well, my heart s own darling, while we sing you our Roro. Sing, my friends, and make you merry, joy and mirth and joy again; Lo, he lives, the King of heaven, now and evermore. Amen. 18 Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy wearing a linen ephod. 19 His mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, May the LORD repay you with children by this woman for the gift that she made to the LORD ; and then they would return to their home. 26 Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and with the people. ANTHEM Torches This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. J. Joubert (b. 1927)

5 SCRIPTURE LESSON Luke 2:41-52 NRSV 41 Now every year his parents find went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. 43 When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44 Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety. 49 He said to them, Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father s house? 50 But they did not understand what he said to them. 51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. SERMON Lost Parents *HYMN 159 O Sing a Song of Bethlehem Rev. Will Scott Kingsfold *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. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer.

6 THE LORD S PRAYER 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; 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 Interlude on the Coventry Carol *DOXOLOGY Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. W. Webber ( ) Old 100th *PRAYER OF DEDICATION *HYMN 134 Joy to the World Antioch *CHARGE AND BENEDICTION *CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE God Be with You Till We Meet Again God be with you till we meet again; By His counsels guide, uphold you, With His sheep securely fold you; God be with you till we meet again. POSTLUDE Chorale Prelude on In dulci jubilo (Fantasia), BWV 729 Traditional J.S. Bach ( ) Today s music is reprinted with permision from OneLicense.net. A

7 Volunteer Schedule Worship Date Children Monthly Lay Readers 12/30 1/6 Annelle Scott Date Children s Church 12/30 Jeff & Leanna Granillo Communion (January 6) Ushers Roger & Peggy Rollins Dave Robinson & Jodi Johnson Open/ Close Larry & Sharon Cooper Steve & Carol Houston Nursery (Asst.) Emma Lively Flowers The Flower Team Jeane Jones Joy Makers Will not meet Congregational Care Prep Becky Jolly January Carin Mosteller Servers February Jodi Johnson Sound Board Jeff Granillo Jeff Granillo Deposit Kim Epps TBD Fourth Sunday Fellowship Refreshments Nathalie Sanders Becky Jolly PRAYERS For Charlie Carmichael, while he is being treated for throat cancer; For Kelly Allgood, as she undergoes treatment; For Greg George, as he undergoes treatment for kidney disease; For Carl Rollins, brother of Roger Rollins, as he stays at Dalton Place; For Rev. Susan Reggin, as she undergoes treatment for cancer; For First Presbyterian Church of Cohutta; For Laurie White, Fran Lewis sister, with thanksgiving that the immunotherapy continues to fight her cancer; For Sanford Dover; For Martha Patton, sister of Patricia Rivers, as she recovers from a stroke in Atlanta; For Dick Lowrey, as he deals with Multiple Systems Atrophy, an atypical form of Parkinson s Disease; For Meccia Little, cousin of Jim and Susan Bisson, in her battle with brain cancer; For Johnnie Bakkum at Summit Place, Beaufort, South Carolina; For Natalie Raygor during her Master of Divinity program; For Sally Wester at home; For caregivers; For aging parents. Upcoming Events December 24-January 1 Church Office Closed Tuesday, January 1 Grateful Heart AA Mtg 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 2 Choir Rehearsal 6:30-8:00 p.m. Sunday, January 6 Sunday School 9:15 a.m. Fellowship Worship 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 7 Morning Prayers 9:30 a.m. Bible Study Missions Team Meeting 5:30 p.m. Connections Team Mtg 5:30 p.m. Elder Evaluations 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 8 Grateful Heart AA Mtg 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 9 Take Down the Greens Worship Team Mtg 5:00 p.m. Sunday, January 13 Sunday School 9:15 a.m. Fellowship Worship 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 14 Morning Prayers 9:30 a.m. Bible Study

8 Contact FPC Phone: Rev. Will Scott, Pastor: Trent Whisenant, Director of Music: Erin Witt, Office Manager: Mailing Address: PO Box 489 Dalton, Georgia 30722