Welcome in the Name of Christ ST. ANDREW S UNITED CHURCH

Transcription

1 Welcome in the Name of Christ ST. ANDREW S UNITED CHURCH 46 Dupont Avenue West Chateauguay QC J6J 1G3 Telephone: (450) Minister: Rev. K. Alice McAlpine Organist & Choir Director: Doreen Gilbert Bangs Worship Service 10:30 a.m. December 13, 2015 To greet you~ Elder: Stewards: 3rd of Advent ~ White Gift Service Llewellyn Hall Joanne Goodfellow & Cliff Henderson Announcements ~ GOD S PEOPLE GATHER Gathering song: Lord, we come to worship you, Drawn by Your inviting light, Come to praise You and rejoice, For Your gift of Love divine, Born to earth a little child, Born for us the Christ of God. (tune VU#81)

2 Call to Worship ~ -2- Leader: In this Advent season we recall that when God's Anointed One comes, People: the desert will rejoice, and flowers will bloom in the wasteland. Leader: When God's Promised One comes, People: tired hands will receive new strength, and fearful ones will find fresh courage. Leader: When God's Chosen One comes, People: the lame will leap and dance; the blind will see. Leader: When God's Long Awaited One comes, People: the grieving and sorrowing will be forever free. *Singing: Good Christian friends, rejoice With heart and soul and voice! News! News! Give ye heed to what we say: Jesus Christ is born today; Ox and ass before him bow, And he is in the manger now. Christ is born today! Christ is born today! Good Christian friends, rejoice With heart and soul and voice! Now ye hear of endless bliss: Joy! Joy! Jesus Christ was born for this! He hath opened heaven's door, And we are blest forever more. Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this! Good Christian friends, rejoice With heart and soul and voice! Now ye need not fear the grave: Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save! Calls you one and calls you all To gain his everlasting hall. Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save! Prayer & Lord s Prayer ~ God of Advent Promise, we gather this day to hear Your promises of peace and righteousness. We praise You for the hope and possibilities of this sacred season. As we anticipate the celebration of Christ's birth and His coming again, may our preparation be faith-filled and joyous. In the name of the Holy One, we pray.

3 -3- Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heav n. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Advent Candle Lighting Ceremony Voice 1: We know that God is always with us. All: We are not alone; we live in God s world. Voice 2: This Advent we celebrate the never-ending joy Emmanuel brings. Voice 1: As we wait, we remember God s promise that All: those who go forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bearing sheaves of grain. Voice 1: We light this candle as a shining example of God s gift of joy, and as a reminder that even as we wait for Emmanuel, God is always with us. All: We are not alone. Voice 2: Thanks be to God. SONG: Plant joy into our lives As we song songs of praise. And through the cold may joy survive To bloom on Christmas Day. (tune, 602 VU) CAST Howie Berry Jonathan Bergeron Nativity Members Mary Nancy Bergeron Joseph Serge Bergeron DRAMATIC PRESENTATION: All I Want for Christmas...Is Jesus Wise Men #1 Matthew Bergeron / #2 Sean Levy Shepherd Elizabeth Bergeron Angel Les Sorg Grandmothers Debbie Murray & Sharon Smith

4 -4- Narrator Opening ~ Richard Fortier Howie Berry s Opening ~ Jonathan Bergeron Who are These People? Howie Berry: Jonathan Bergeron Parents: Manda Bauer, Sarah Kenna, Tanya Miller, Leigh Stephens Children: Lee Robertson, Ella & Jake, Grayson Leavy, Grace & Ben Zimmerman Where s the Baby? Howie Berry: Jonathan Bergeron Teacher: Valeta Layne Children: Jason Blume, Lee Robertson, Cailey Dumont, Lisa-Ellen Homer CHOIR SINGS ~ Something s About to Happen Innkeeper: Edward Zimmerman Children: Cailley, Luke, Laura, Lisa-Ellen, Lee, Jason CONGREGATION SINGS: VU#64 O Little Town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by; Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight For Christ is born of Mary; and gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love. O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God the King, and Peace to men on earth. How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts the blessed gift of heaven. No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in. 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 Lord Emmanuel.

5 -5- Narrator Richard Fortier Heavenly Customers Jonathan Bergeron Karen, Manda, Lisa Ellen, Les Sorg, Cassidy Star of the Street Jonathan Bergeron, Keith Motton Bathrobes and Shepherds Elizabeth & Luke & Laura Bergeron, William Homer CONGREGATION SINGS: VU#75 Vs 1-4 While shepherds watched their flocks by night All seated on the ground the angel of the Lord came down, And glory shone around. "Fear not," said he, for mighty dread Had seized their troubled mind; "Glad tidings of great joy I bring To you and humankind. "To you in David's town this day Is born of David's line A Savior who is Christ the Lord; And this shall be the sign: "The heavenly Babe uou there shall find To human view displayed, All meanly wrapped in swaddling bands, And in a manger laid." Perfume, Jewelry and Pets Sarah Bergeron, Victoria King, Cassidy Dumont, Matthew Bergeron CHOIR ANTHEM: Riding Out Across the Desert

6 -6- Narrator Richard Fortier Robbers in Howie Berry s Store! Andrew Ford, Jordan King, Luke Bergeron, William Homer, Serge, Nancy & Jonathan Bergeron God s Grandmas! Sarah Bergeron, Karen Snair, Manda, Lisa-Ellen, CONGREGATION SINGING: Still, still, still: the night is calm and still. The Christchild in his crib lies sleeping, Angels round him watch are keeping. Still, still, still: the night is calm and still. Sleep, sleep, sleep: sweet Jesus, softly sleep, While Mary sings and gently holds you, Safely in her arms enfolds you. Sleep, sleep, sleep: sweet Jesus softly sleep. Joy, joy, joy: glad tidings of great joy! For through God s holy incarnation Christ is born for our salvation. Joy, joy, joy; glad tidings of great joy! VU#47 It s All about the Baby! Jonathan, Nancy, Serge, Elizabeth, & Matthew Bergeron & Les Sorg Nativity Set Speaks! Joseph, Mary, Shepherd, Wiseman, Angel Conclusion Narrator

7 -7- CONGREGATION SINGING: Go, Tell It On The Mountain, Over the hills and everywhere; Go, Tell It On The Mountain That Jesus Christ is born. While shepherds kept their watching O er silent flocks by night, Behold, throughout the heavens, There shone a holy light. R The shepherds feared and trembled When lo, above the earth Rang out the angel chorus That hailed our Saviour's birth! R Down in a lowly manger The humble Christ was born, And God send us salvation That blessed Christmas morn. R VU#43 Presentation of ourselves & gifts to God Doxology: Then haste we to show Him The praises we owe Him; Our service He ne er can despise; Whose love is able to show us that stable, Where softly in manger He lies. VU#68 (chorus only) Offertory Prayer: We cannot begin to repay Your for our blessings, Lord; but we can offer ourselves to be used to you as conduits of Your love and concern. We thank You for this privilege and responsibility. Amen *We Come to Prayer Singing: Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying Lord, send Your Spirit in this place; Lord, listen to Your children praying, Send us love, send us power, send us grace! VU#400

8 We bring our prayers to God ~ Singing: Joy to the World Joy to the world! The Lord is come: Let earth receive her King! Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, And heaven, and heaven and nature sing. Joy to the earth! The Saviour reigns: Let all their songs employ, While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground: He comes to make his blessings flow Far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found. He rules the earth with truth and grace, And make the nations prove The glories of his righteousness And wonders of his love, and wonders of his love, And wonders, wonders of his love. Benediction ~ Choral benediction: May the holy Christmas bring you Gifts of love and joy untold, May its spirit hover near you, Bringing peace, the gift of gold. May the Christ-child s holy birthday, Loving tho ts to all impart; May the blessing of his presence, Grant to all a happy heart. Announcements: -8- VU#59 Beautify our Sanctuary during the Advent Season by bringing in a poinsettia dedicated to the memory of a loved one. Your gesture would be much appreciated. THE WEEK AHEAD Wednesday Delivery of Baskets 7:00 pm Choir Practice Friday 8:00 pm AA Meeting