The Lord s Day. Matthew 11:28-29

Transcription

1 The Lord s Day 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 will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29

2 Welcome to Arden Presbyterian Church. We hope your time in worship with us is a blessing and help to you. Please fill out the Friendship Register form so that we have a record of your attendance. For all first-time visitors, there is a gift at the Welcome Center in the Narthex. Please drop by and see us! THIS WEEK S CALENDAR Sunday, December 9 9:30 AM Sunday School 10:45 AM Worship Service 12:00 PM Youth Christmas Choir Rehearsal, Choir Room 12:15 PM Call to Prayer, Chapel 12:30 PM Youth Christmas Party at the Cain s 4:00 PM Handbell Rehearsal, Sanctuary Wednesday, December 12 6:15 PM Sanctuary Choir Practice, Choir Room 6:15 PM Youth Group 6:30 PM Men s Bible Study, Conference Room Thursday, December 13 6:30 AM Gathering of Men for Prayer and Study, Conference Room 10:00 AM Angel Tree Gift Preparations, Room 8, Lower Level Sanctuary 3:00 PM Hands of Faith, Conference Room Saturday, December 15 9:00 AM Angel Tree Distribution, Youth Room 9:00 AM Sounds of Christmas Rehearsal, Sanctuary Sunday, December 16 9:30 AM Sunday School 10:45 AM Worship Service 6:30 PM Sounds of Christmas Concert 7:30 PM Sounds of Christmas Reception Wednesday, December 19 6:15 PM Sanctuary Choir Practice, Choir Room 6:15 PM Youth Group 6:30 PM Men s Bible Study, Conference Room Thursday, December 20 6:30 AM Gathering of Men for Prayer and Study, Conference Room 5:30 PM Monthly Deacon s Meeting, 5th Grade Classroom/ Fellowship Hall 6:30 PM Stated Session Meeting, Fellowship Room Sunday, December 23 9:30 AM Christmas Brunch 10:45 AM Worship Service 2

3 Prelude Welcome Anthem Rev. Gabe Malloy (Please sign the Friendship Register form and pass it to your neighbor.) Children s Choir How Far Is It To Bethlehem? How far is it to Bethlehem? Not very far. Shall we find the stable room lit by a star? Can we see the little child, is he within? If we lift the wooden latch may we go in? May we stroke the creatures there, oxen or sheep? May we peek like them and see Jesus asleep? If we touch his tiny hand will he awake? Will he know we ve come so far just for his sake? Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay Close by me forever, and love me, I pray; Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, And fit us for heaven to live with thee there. F.A. Chesterton and J.T. McFarland 16th century English Melody Arr. David W. Music 2014 Choristers Guild Greeting of One Another Advent Reading Sean & Amy Wamsley 3

4 GOD CALLS US TO WORSHIP HIM Call to Worship Minister: ALL: Exalt the Lord our God, for the Lord our God is holy! Rev. Craig Sheppard For the Lord God bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 99:9; 84:11 Hymn of Adoration Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus No. 196 Prayer of Invocation (concluding with 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the Songs of Praise Sing We the Song of Emmanuel Sing we the song of Emmanuel; This the Christ who was long foretold. Lo, in the shadows of Bethlehem, Promise of dawn now our eyes behold. God Most High in a manger laid; Lift your voices and now proclaim: Great and glorious, love has come to us! Join now with the hosts of heaven! 4

5 Come we to welcome Emmanuel; King who came with no crown or throne. Helpless he lay, the invincible, Maker of Mary, now Mary s son. Oh, what wisdom to save us all, Shepherds, sages, before him fall. Grace and majesty, what humility; Come on bended knee, adore him. Go spread the news of Emmanuel; Joy and peace for the weary heart. Lift up your heads, for your King has come; Sing for the light overwhelms the dark. Glory shining for all to see, Hope alive, let the gospel ring. God has made a way, he will have the praise; Tell the world his name is Jesus. Matt Boswell, Matt Papa and Stuart Townend 2015 Getty Music Songs 2016 Messenger Hymns Holy God, in love, became Perfect man to bear my blame. On the cross he took my sin. By his death I live again. The Gospel Song Text: Drew Jones Music: Bob Kauflin 2002 Sovereign Grace Praise 5

6 Corporate Confession of Faith Minister: Is Jesus, the Son of God, truly and fully divine? ALL: Rev. Malloy The Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, is truly the eternal God, of one substance and equal with the Father. In the fullness of time he took on himself the nature of man, with all the essential qualities and ordinary frailties of man except that he was sinless. These two complete, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in the one person of Jesus. The person Jesus is truly God and truly man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and man. Adapted from Westminster Confession of Faith 8.2 Corporate Confession of Sin GOD GRACIOUSLY RENEWS OUR HEARTS Heavenly Father, we need a Savior, not just because of our sin but also because of actual sin, which we have individually and corporately committed against you. Be merciful and forgive our sin. Cleanse our unrighteousness. Thank you for providing us our perfect savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Pour Your Spirit upon us with renewing grace. Silent Confession of Sin 6

7 Pastoral Prayer & Assurance of Pardon We...rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:11 The Presentation of His Tithes and Our Offerings (Children s pew bags are available at the Welcome Center. Following the prayer, children 4 yrs. Kindergarten are dismissed for Children s Church meeting downstairs in Room 3.) Offertory Sanctuary Choir O Come, Emmanuel O come, O come! O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine Advent here, And drive away the shades of night, and pierce the clouds and bring us light! Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Desire of nations, bind all people in one heart and mind; Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease, and fill the world with heaven s peace. O rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, O come! Latin, trans. J. M. Neale; H. S. Coffin Arr. Elaine Hagenberg 2016 Beckenhorst Press, Inc. 7

8 GOD RENEWS OUR MINDS Sermon Advent in John 1: The Life and Light of Men John 1:4-13 (Pew Bible Page 886) Rev. Sheppard 8

9 Advent in John 1: The Life and Light of Men John 1:4-13 I. Jesus the Light A. B. C. II. Jesus the Life III. Application 9

10 Hymn of Response O Little Town of Bethlehem No. 201 The Lord s Benediction GOD BLESSES US AND SENDS US The Church s Response Doxology No. 731 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav nly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen. Text: Thomas Ken Music: Genevan Psalter, 1551, alt. Public Domain Postlude Elders will be available after the service at the front of the sanctuary for prayer and encouragement. 10

11 ANNOUNCEMENTS Christmas was made more special for 33 children and 14 families as you graciously provided and delivered gifts, food, and the Gospel message in the name of incarcerated parents this week. Thank you for showing the love of Jesus through your Angel Tree participation. Our HOLIDAY Medical Missions Outreach at ABCCM Medical is Monday, December 10th! Come and serve at ABCCM Doctor s Medical Clinic from 5:00-8:00pm. (155 Livingston Street) Medical and Non-medical volunteers are needed. Contact Lisa Ladd at lisaladd@gmail.com or if you are interested in being a part of this great ministry. Singers/Musicians: Contact Jim Sherar (jrs4trees@gmail.com) if you are interested in singing carols or playing Christmas music in the waiting room. Our desire is to give hope and healing through our faith in Christ to those in our community who are sick, uninsured, and in need. Please be sure to invite your friends and neighbors to our Sounds of Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 6:30 pm. featuring our Children's, Youth, Sanctuary, and Handbell Choirs as well as our Orchestra. Childcare will be provided (infants to 2 years) and a Reception will follow in the Multipurpose room. Posters and postcard invitations are available at the Welcome Center. Please see the following link for our Reception Sign-Up Genius to see what you can bring!

12 Would you like to contribute to APC while saving money on income taxes? If you are 70 or older, you can give a qualified charitable gift directly to APC from your IRA without adding a penny to your taxable income! You pay no taxes on the gift more resources are used to fund ministries at APC versus paying taxes to the government The gift can count toward your annual required minimum distribution without increasing your taxable income These contributions can save money on income taxes even if you don t itemize. Please contact Dan Berger in the church office (Monday through Wednesday) with any specific questions on how to make a qualified charitable distribution from your IRA! 13

13 FINANCIAL UPDATE: December Financial Update as of 12/3/18 12/2/2018 General Fund Offering: $36,254 Nov. Giving YTD Giving YTD Expense YTD Difference General Fund $36,254 $1,095,657 $1,061,781 $33,876 Mercy Fund $145 $22,790 $22,880 ($90) Faith Promise $4,347 $145,768 $165,794 ($20,027) Building $100 $8,925 $276 $8,649 Adult Sunday School Fall Semester 2018 All Classes begin at 9:30am. *NEW CLASS Starting November 18th* Class: The Story of the Bible How We Got it and What it Means Primary Teacher: Tom Meeks Location: Fellowship Room, Sanctuary Building, Lower Level Class: Conversations with Jesus Primary Teacher: Ken Crabb Location: Room 201/202, Multipurpose Building Class: Ephesians: Powerful Truths That Transform Every Relationship Primary Teacher: Pastor Nathan Francis Location: Room 203/204, Multipurpose Building Class: 1 st Samuel Verse by Verse Primary Teacher: Steve Jennings Location: Room 206/207, Multipurpose Building Class: Connecting the Dots of the Gospel Primary Teacher: Mike Sease Location: Room 208, Multipurpose Building Class: James Fruitful Faith, A Study for Ladies Primary Teacher: Margaret Chastain Location: Parlor, Sanctuary Building 14

14 MINISTRY STAFF Rev. Dr. Craig Sheppard Senior Pastor, Ext. 312 Rev. Dwight Basham Assoc. Pastor of Music & Pastoral Care Ext. 304 Rev. Nathan Francis Asst. Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach Ext. 309 Rev. Gabe Malloy Asst. Pastor of Youth Ext. 302 Kathy Meeks Children s Ministry Assistant Ext. 305 Jean-Marie VunCannon Director of Women s Ministries Ext. 315 Dan Berger Business Administrator Ext. 313 Linda Sease Music Ministry/Congregational Care Assistant Ext. 357 CURRENT OFFICERS Elders: Kees Auer Monty Baker John Dean Sammy Johnson David Livernois John Paschall Bill Resh Tony VunCannon Jim Wilde Steve Jennings, Clerk of Session Deacons: Tim Bartlett Mark Gould Daniel Jensen Larry Kidd Aaron Kraft Lia Castiglione Pastoral Secretary Ext

15 The flowers today are given to the Glory of God. Save these dates for All Church events: December 15: Angel Tree Delivery (9:00am) December 16: Sounds of Christmas (6:30pm) December 23: Christmas Brunch (9:30am) December 24: Christmas Eve Service (6:00pm) January 6: Congregation Informational Meeting OUR VISION The vision of Arden Presbyterian Church is to be a vibrant, Christ-centered body of Reformed believers, who are in the Word, in the church, and in the world. We seek to grow in our knowledge and love of the Word, to corporately worship our Triune God reverently and joyfully, and to lovingly communicate the gospel to a lost, yet watchful world. We strive to live out our faith through the active application of our time, talents, and resources in ministry and service to our church, our local community, and across the globe. Arden Presbyterian Church 2215 Hendersonville Road Arden, NC Children s Sunday School Classes 9:30AM-10:15AM Youth & Adult Sunday School Classes 9:30AM-10:15AM Worship Service 10:45AM-12:00PM 16