the first sunday of advent

Transcription

1 the first sunday of advent december 3, 2017 faith presbyterian church presbyterian church in america Ministers: Robert S. Rayburn Richard H. DeMass Steven A. Nicoletti 620 South Shirley Tacoma, Washington

2 First Sunday of Advent December 3, 2017 Upon entering the sanctuary please maintain silence for the sake of the congregation s preparation for worship, and please make sure electronic devices are off or using silent mode. Prelude All Glory Be to God on High (Allein Gott in Der Hoh)...G. P. Telemann ( ) All glory be to God on high, Who hath our race befriended! To us no harm shall now come high; The feud at last is ended; God showeth His goodwill toward men, And peace shall dwell on earth again; Oh, thank Him for His goodness. --Nikolaus von Hofe, 1526 (Decius, 1539?), Tr. by Catherine Winkworth Welcome and Announcements +Silent Prayer This is the Month, and this the happy morn Wherein the Son of Heav n s eternal King, Of wedded Maid, and Virgin Mother born, Our great redemption from above did bring; For so the holy sages once did sing, That he our deadly forfeit should release, And with his Father work us a perpetual peace. --John Milton, On the Morning of Christ s Nativity Call to Worship Holy, holy Lord God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. J. S. Bach/arr. A. Frackenpohl *Hymn of Praise to God O Come, All Ye Faithful No Confession of Sin Silent Prayer Corporate Prayer Almighty and all Holy Father; we confess ourselves unworthy of your unspeakable Gift. We have not loved you as we ought; nor have we always been loving to one another; kindhearted, forgiving one another; even as you, for Christ s sake, have forgiven us. We have lived in selfishness and worldly pride, and the good gifts you have bestowed upon us, we have not

3 used to relieve the burdens of others. Pardon and blot out our offenses, we beg you. O merciful Father, who in compassion for your sinful children did send Your Son Jesus Christ to be the Savior of the world: Grant us grace to feel and to lament our share in the evil which made it needful for Him to suffer and to die for our salvation. Help us by self-denial, prayer, and meditation to prepare our hearts for deeper penitence and a better life. And give us a true longing to be free from sin, through the deliverance wrought by Jesus Christ our only Redeemer. Amen. Assurance of Pardon She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21 (ESV) *Confession of Faith Q. What does it mean that he was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary? A. That the eternal Son of God, who is and remains true and eternal God, took to himself, through the working of the Holy Spirit, from the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary, a truly human nature so that he might become David s true descendant, like his brothers in every way except for sin. Heidelberg Catechism No. 35 *Hymn of Faith in Jesus Christ Thou Who Wast Rich beyond All Splendor No. 230 Worship of God with Tithes and Offerings Fugato in G...J. S. Bach ( ) All things are thine: no gift have we, Lord of all gifts, to offer thee, And hence with grateful hearts today, Thine own before thy feet we lay. Amen. *Congregational Petitions and the Lord s Prayer Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in 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. Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV) Scripture Lesson John 3:16 (ESV p. 888) Sermon Cur Deus Homo Offering for the Deacons Fund Variations to Adeste..Raynor Taylor ( ) The Lord s Supper The general order of communion will be back to front, with the balcony coming first. As the minister begins to serve those distributing the elements, that is your signal to come forward.

4 However, individuals may commune at any time during the distribution of the elements. Wine will be found in the outside tray, grape juice in the inside tray. If you need to be served in your pew, please notify an elder or deacon. Gluten free bread is available upon request. You are welcome to participate in the Lord s Supper if you are a baptized Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, and a faithful member or adherent of this or some other congregation, recognized as belonging to the fellowship of Christian believers. If this does not describe you, we are glad you are here and commend to you this prayer for your use during the time of the Lord s Supper. Lord Jesus, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever before believed, but through you I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank you for paying my debt, bearing my punishment on the cross, and offering forgiveness and new life. Knowing that you have been raised from the dead, I turn from my sins and receive you as Savior and Lord. Amen. Let all mortal flesh keep silence, And with fear and trembling stand; Ponder nothing earthly minded, For with blessing in his hand Christ our God to earth descendeth, Our full homage to demand. King of kings, yet born of Mary, As of old on earth He stood, Lord of lords in human vesture, In the Body and the Blood He will give to all the faithful His own Self for heavenly food. Rank on rank the host of heaven Spreads its vanguard on the way, As the Light of light descendeth From the realms of endless day, That the powers of hell may vanish As the darkness clears away. At His feet the six-winged seraph; Cherubim with sleepless eye, Veil their faces to the Presence, As with ceaseless voice they cry, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Lord most High! G. Holst Hymn All Praise to Thee, Eternal Lord No. 219 Reading of Scripture John 1:1-5, (ESV p. 886)

5 *Hymn Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates! No. 198 *Benediction +Silent Prayer Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever. Amen. Postlude *Congregation standing +The congregation is invited to kneel CCLI License # Peace be to you and grace from him Who freed us from our sins, Who loved us all and shed his blood that we might saved be. Sing holy, holy to our Lord, The Lord Almighty God, Who was and is and is to come; sing holy, holy, Lord! Rejoice in heaven, all ye that dwell therein, Rejoice on earth, ye saints below, For Christ is coming, is coming soon! Even so, Lord Jesus, quickly come, And night shall be no more; They need no light nor lamp nor sun, for Christ will be their All! Paul Manz First Sunday of Advent December 3 Morning Worship Sunday School Choir Rehearsal ACM Vivaldi s Gloria Presentation & 9:45 am 4:45 pm

6 Welcome & Announcement Elders Phil German Jim Price Congregational Petitions Leaders Phil Perkins Micah Tamminga Nursery Schedule Mandie, Victoria & Julia Lenzo Leanne Van Gilder & Dana Isenberger Erika Skrivan & Bonnie McCoy No nursery provided, Vivaldi s Gloria performance 9:45 am Coffee/Tea Hosts Zach & Katie Raines Tina LeFebvre Tamara Woodard Prep for 11:00 Service Church Library Felicity Matsuda Building Monitors Ken Kvale Steve O Ban 9:40 10:45 am Monday December 4 - Better English on Sixth 6:50 8:30 pm Tuesday December 5 - Ladies Bible Study, WIC Room 117 9:30 am 12:00 pm - Samson Society, Pastor Rayburn s Office 7:00 8:00 pm Wednesday December 6 - Prayer Meeting, 7:00 pm, Sanctuary, One way to get comfort is to plead the promise of God in prayer, show Him His handwriting; God is tender of His Word. --Thomas Manton - ESL Writing Class, Room 302 5:45 6:30 pm - Sr. High Youth Group, DeSoto Hall 7:00 8:30 pm - Jr. High Youth Group, Room 301 7:00 8:30 pm - Choristers, Choir Room 7:00 8:15 pm Thursday December 7 - Mothers Encouragement Group, WIC Room 117 9:30 am 12:00 pm - Tea & Talk/Knitting Friendships, WIC Room 117 1:00 3:00 pm - Covenant High School Open House

7 - Deacon Meeting, Conference Room 7:00 pm - Covenant High School Concert & Art Show 7:30 pm Friday December 8 - Covenant High School Concert & Art Show 7:30 pm Second Sunday of Advent December 10 Morning Worship Sunday School Choir Rehearsal Evening Service Welcome & Announcement Elders Steve Jack Peter Chiou Congregational Petitions Leaders Derek Whaley John Pappuleas Nursery Schedule Dolly & Ruth Larson Rachel Moore & Noel Sukhia Savannah Jackson & Sadie Hanks Jane Lewellen & Sandy Milton Coffee/Tea Hosts Doug & Janie Davey Kelly Family Jim & Janie Irwin Church Library Brandon Welch Building Monitors Scott Bennett Nathan Sukhia & 9:45 am 4:45 pm 9:45 am Prep for 11:00 Service 9:40 10:45 am Upcoming Events For details please see Information/Events on the web site. December 16 Sunday School Program Practice December 17 Sunday School Christmas Program December 24 Regular Morning Worship, 4:00 & 11:00 pm Christmas Eve Services December 27 No Prayer Meeting This Evening: Special Choral Event to Begin Advent The ACM Festival Choir will present Gloria, that superb choral masterwork by Antonio Vivaldi, this evening at 6:00 p.m. Soloists: Margaret Eby and Melissa McMillan. Accompanists: Maddie Lee, piano; Anna Hastings, piano; Nicolas Roberts, cello; Wendy Cushner, oboe. Director: Ron Bechtel. An offering will be taken for the Alliance of Christian Musicians to defray the cost of their preparing the concert.

8 Evening Prelude Begins at 5:30 p.m. Beautiful music enlivens our spirits and adds to our Sabbath joy. Each Sunday evening prior to the worship service, musicians begin to play or sing. This evening Benjamin Mellott, violin, Abraham Sullivan, piano, and Nicolas Roberts, cello, will present a medley of carols. Young Adult Christmas Extravaganza Calling all young adults over the age of 18! The College & Career Christmas party will take place on Saturday, December 16th at 6:30 PM at the St. John home (address in the church directory). We will warm up with wassail, carol in the neighborhood for about an hour and then return to the St. John domicile for Christmas treats, a white elephant exchange, and games. If caroling isn t your thing, feel free to come around 8 PM. Bring warm clothes, a baked treat, and a wrapped gift (<$10). If you have questions, contact either Nate and Rachael Shelden, or Emma and Abby St. John. Please RSVP on the C&C Facebook page. Faith Presbyterian Church Advent Devotional The Faith Presbyterian Church Advent Family Devotions Booklet is available in the Narthex today. You may also access the devotional online at our church website. Click on the Information tab, then Bible Reading and Advent Family Devotions. Covenant High School - Open House, December 7th Student recruitment for the school year is underway. Covenant High School hosts an Open House for prospective students, 8th grade and up, and their parents this Thursday, December 7th, at. Guests will meet faculty, students, alumni and parents, enjoy refreshments and visit classrooms. The art show and choir concert will follow. For more information or to request an invitation, contact Mrs. Cindy Dille at the high school office: Website: chstacoma.org Lost and Found Please check the lost & found at the bottom of the stairs in the old narthex. Anything left after Christmas Eve on Sunday, December 24 th will be given away. Thank you. Sacred Road Christmas If you did not have the opportunity to donate a gift for the Hope Fellowship Christmas celebration, you may still donate in the form of cash or check. Place donations in the box in the narthex or give them to Sean or Margo Kelly or to Phil or Evelyn German. Make checks payable to Sacred Road Ministries. The deadline to donate is today. As always, donations may be made anytime via the Sacred Road website: Sunday School Seminar: State of the (Dis)Union Over the past few years, racial reconciliation has grown in importance for our denomination s leaders; visible in the colorful discussion around the 2016 General Assembly s statement on historical racism. This class is an orientation around issues of race, racism, and reconciliation in society, evangelicalism, and the PCA. We will be meeting in the conference room on the first floor beginning December 10th. Homework (media clips, short articles, documentaries) will be a vital component for discussion, and as a seminar-style class, discussion will be encouraged. Space is limited; RSVP to Daniel Murphree. On the Cover Albrecht Durer Woodcut, The Visitation (The Life of the Virgin), c. 1503

9 Adult Sunday School All Adult and High School Sunday School Classes will meet in the sanctuary today. Choristers Rehearsals Underway Choristers meet each Wednesday evening, 7:00 to 8:15, under Melissa McMillan s direction. To register your treble-voiced child (ages 7 +), contact Melissa. An Experiment in Streaming Our Services Through the end of this year the and services will be live-streamed. In other words, one can go to the church s website (faithtacoma.org), hit the Live! button and view the service as it takes place. Obviously, this is an advantage to those who might not otherwise be able to be present with us. We have already had individuals both out of state and out of the country take advantage of this opportunity. Questions remain, however, and the service is not free; so we will re-evaluate at the end of the year. Questions or comments may be addressed to the church office, Mr. Lawty or one of the elders. Men of Faith, Morning Prayer Meetings & Devotions There are opportunities to meet with fellow Men of Faith for prayer and devotions each week: Wednesday mornings with Phil Perkins: We meet at Old Town Anthem coffee shop at 2312 N. 30th St., Tacoma. This group meets at 6 am for Bible reading and prayer. After several years we continue to focus solely on the Psalms which serve as a life guide. One of the ancient church fathers, Athanasius wrote, Whatever your particular need or trouble, from this same book (the Psalms) you can select a form of words to fit it, so that you...learn the way to remedy your ill. Thursday mornings with Thom Wilson, 6:30 am at the church. Join us in studying through the books of Ezra and Nehemiah as we pray for our concerns and the world around us. Please note that we are on a break and will resume meeting on December 21. College & Career Community Groups College & Career is a young adult ministry of Faith Presbyterian Church. The goal is to provide opportunities for young adults 18 and older, whether single or married, to do life together throughout the week and form deep Christian friendships. C&C Community Groups are weekly small groups that meet in a home for dinner and fellowship. We currently have two established groups: one that meets on Tuesday at Caleb and Tamala Bestvater s home at 7 pm and one that meets on Thursday at Nate and Rachael Shelden s home at 6:30 pm. For more details, or if you re interested in joining a C&C Community Group, please contact one of us and we ll help you get connected! A Reminder about Parking As a courtesy to our neighbors, please do not park on the south side of South 8th Street, on South Winnifred Street behind the church, or where the curb is painted yellow. Nursing Mothers In addition to the nursery rooms, Room #117 the Women in the Church room, is open and available for your convenience during all Worship Services. The service can be seen and heard in the WIC room. Hearing Assistance If you would like a device to help with hearing the worship service, please see a Deacon.