WORSHIP. December 17, a.m. Fourth Sunday of Advent Baptism, New Members Lessons and Carols

Transcription

1 WORSHIP December 17, a.m. Fourth Sunday of Advent Baptism, New Members Lessons and Carols PRELUDE Hodie Christus natus est WELCOME Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c ) Leader: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. LIGHTING OF THE FOURTH ADVENT CANDLE INTROIT Fanfare and Chorus Dietrich Buxtehude ( ) FIRST LESSON Isaiah 9:2-3, 6-7 Deacon Claire Gillum HYMN 133 O Come, All Ye Faithful Adeste Fideles SECOND LESSON Isaiah 11:1-10 Deacon Lauren Wright Please stand or sit. As a courtesy to others, please turn off your cell phone and no flash photography during the service.

2 TIME WITH CHILDREN BAPTISM FIONA MAY METELSKI DAUGHTER OF YURY & LAUREN METELSKI Children recess up the center aisle to Children s Worship. Pre-K goes upstairs, K-2 nd goes downstairs, and 3 rd -5 th goes to the Chapel. There are leaders for each, and children can be picked up by following the signs from the narthex. CAROL Awake, thou wintry earth Johann Sebastian Bach ( ) THIRD LESSON Luke 1:26-38 Deacon JP Tyson HYMN 129 Lo, How a Rose E er Blooming Es Ist Ein Ros FOURTH LESSON Matthew 1:18-23 Deacon Cristian Lopez CAROL Mid-Winter Bob Chilcott (b.1955) FIFTH LESSON Luke 2:8-16 Deacon Doug Deckmann HYMN 119 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Mendelssohn SIXTH LESSON Matthew 2:1-11 Deacon Catherine Nobles Johnson PRESENTATION OF NEW MEMBERS PROFESSION OF FAITH Do you believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and do you confess Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord? QUESTIONS OF COMMITMENT Do you promise to join regularly with your fellow Christians in worship on the Lord s Day? Do you promise to be faithful in reading the Bible and in prayer? Do you promise to give a fitting proportion of your time, talents, and money for the Church s work in the world? Do you promise, depending on the grace of God, to profess publicly your loyalty to Jesus Christ, to serve him in your daily work, and to walk in his ways all the days of your life?

3 QUESTION TO CONGREGATION Do you, as members of the church of Jesus Christ, promise to guide and nurture these brothers and sisters in faith, by word and deed, with love and prayer, encouraging them to know and follow Christ and to be faithful members of Christ s Church? DECLARATION, BLESSING AND WELCOME PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & 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. OFFERING (Passing of the Fellowship Books) OFFERTORY Veni Emmanuel (15 th c. Processional) arr. Gwyneth Walker (b.1947) PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING SEVENTH LESSON John 1:1-14 Deacon Mary Beth Ray HYMN 134 Joy to the World Antioch BENEDICTION (Please be seated after the Benediction.) POSTLUDE Toccata on Antioch (Lowell Mason) arr. Craig Phillips

4 WELCOME Our congregation has been welcoming members and visitors to worship on the Lord s Day since March 16, If you are visiting this morning, we extend a special welcome to you and invite you to introduce yourself to one of the pastors or speak with an usher if you have any questions. If you are looking for a church home and would like to talk with one of the pastors, please fill out the fellowship pad in the pew today or call the church office. Today's Advent candle lighting ceremony tells us to proclaim Jesus birth as the shepherds did. Those participating today are from pre-k through 2 nd grade: Barton Holmes, Asher Stroh, Elinor Supple, Lulu Campbell, Ryan Wilson, Megan Yost and George Sumner. Each year we are reminded of the many contributions of Elder Suzanne Bush to Georgetown Presbyterian Church; Suzanne composed the Advent candle lighting parts over 30 years ago, bringing us the story of Jesus coming into the world through her beautiful and inspiring words spoken by our youth for this important part of our Advent worship. Today s Music: We welcome an eight part brass ensemble to help lead our service this morning. They are: Nathan Clark, Mike Delaune, Dereck Scott, David Workman, trumpets; Brett Miller, horn; David Sisk, Josh Cullum, trombone; Willie Clark, tuba; Nate Lavy, Randy Gorman, percussion. The hymns this morning are arranged by Richard Webster, one of the foremost sacred composers and arrangers working today. The flowers in the Chancel are given by Jane Lewis In Memory of James and Betty Lewis. The baptismal wreath is dedicated to Fiona from her Glover Park family. The ushers for December are Liza Marshall (Captain), John Marshall, Emma Marshall, Cynthia Farrell Johnson, Steve Johnson, Jane Lewis, Mary Mintz, Tracy Davis, Ralph Voltmer, and Stokley Voltmer. Today after the service all are invited to welcome GPC s new members and join us in the Georgetown Room for Punch Bunch, hosted by Nick and Betsy Morrow. Assisted listening devices may be found at the back of the sanctuary. Children s Worship During the service, Children s Worship continues after Time with Children. Pre-K goes upstairs to Early Children s Worship K-2 nd grades go downstairs to Intermediate Children s Worship 3 rd -5th grades go to the Chapel for Older Children s Worship YCW children should be collected by their parents immediately after the service. All children are welcome to remain with their families in the service and age-appropriate worship bags are available in the narthex.

5 ANNOUNCEMENTS Advent and Christmas Worship Christmas Eve Worship Service December 24 at 11 a.m. Christmas Carols and Sacrament of Baptism Christmas Eve Pageant and Candlelight Service December 24 at 5 p.m. Nativity reenactment, carols, and meditation. Christmas Flowers & Fraser Fir GPC s fresh holiday tree, greens, and flowers are made possible through your contributions to the 2017 Christmas Flowers & Family Tree Fund. Flower donation envelopes are available in the pews; please submit your donation by Dec 21. Attention Christmas Pageant Cast! Pizza will be served to pageant participants today in the Colonial 12pm. Rehearsal will 12:30pm. Young Adults Christmas Caroling Please join us for Christmas Caroling with home-bound GPC members. It'll be a fun way to celebrate the season. We will meet for lunch after the service and then carpool thereafter. Join the Young Adults in the Narthex after worship today. Lunch at 12pm and Caroling from 1-3pm. The Advent Star The star shining above the pulpit was given to us by Helen H. Ringe in memory of her nephew, Robert Hopson Larcher. Helen had it made using railroad-tie spikes to symbolize the working life of Christ. -Jill Fri, Heritage Committee Save the Date for Senate Chaplain Rev. Barry Black GPC s 2018 Distinguished Guest Speaker and Preacher, Rev. Barry Black will be speaking on March 9:30am. Music for Tots Winter and spring session dates are now available on the church calendar at gtownpres.org. New classes start Jan 19. Sign Up for Prayer Chain If you would like to join our prayer chain list in the New Year, please send your name and address to prayerchain@gtownpres.org. Save the Date for Tables of Eight Good food, good fun, and great fellowship. This wonderful way of enjoying old friends and getting acquainted with the newer GPC members is open to all. The more the merrier! Please mark your calendars for the following dates: Feb 3, March 17. To sign up for both or just one of the dinners, call Judi Crowson at or her at jdcrowson@verizon.net.

6 Education Sunday School Break There will be no Sunday School for children, youth and adults on the following dates: Dec 24 and Dec 31 Christian Education in the New Year (beginning Jan 7): Adult Education 9:45 in the Washington Room - TBD Sunday Morning Bible Study The study of Romans continues 10am. Join us downstairs in the Colonial Room. All are welcome! Elementary Sunday School Countdown to the Ten Commandments! Kids will start at 10 and work back from 1 with creative stories, competitions, and as always our signature encounters with handpicked members of the congregation. One-time volunteers needed! estherwisdomva@gmail.com. Praise Stories and Confirmation 6-12 th graders who desire to confirm their faith will study weekly with mentors and Pastor Camille. For info contact Pastor Rachel at rlv@gtownpres.org. Youth 10am Youth Group/ART Sundays 5-7pm in Youth Room Jan7 - Youth Group Returns for 2018! Jan14 - No Youth Group (MLK Weekend) Jan 21 - YG and ART Jan28 - YG attends Annual Meeting + Lunch (No evening Youth Group) G town Sat/Sun Dinners Please join us second Sundays at GPC and last Saturdays at Mt. Zion UMC as we serve our neighbors in need. The next dates are Saturday, 12/30 and Sunday, 01/14. Sign up at gtownpres.org/serve Stewardship Reminders: (1) If you have not fulfilled your 2017 pledge in its entirety, please do so by Dec 31. Many of you have already done so, and we are most grateful. (2) If you have not yet made your pledge for 2018, please prayerfully do so. We would be most appreciative of a pledge increase for your 2017 pledge. If you are contemplating pledging for the first time or have just recently joined the church, we need your support of GPC s many growing and exciting programs. As you consider your 2018 pledge, please ask yourself: What would Jesus do?

7 Happy Birthday Dec 20 Meredith Ferro, Peter Robinson Dec 21 Edit Frenyo, Michael Horan, Maisie Murray Dec 22 David Jackson Dec 24 Brannan Meyers, Miley Thomas Weekly Calendar Sunday, December 17 9:45am Adult Education 9:45am Sunday School 10am Romans Bible Study 10:30am New Member Session Meeting 10:45am Nursery Opens 11am Worship Advent 4 with Sacrament of Baptism and Lessons and Carols 11:15am Children s Worship 12pm YA Lunch & Caroling 12pm Punch Bunch 12pm Pizza for Pageant Cast 12:30pm Christmas Pageant Rehearsal 4pm Yoga 5pm Youth Group/ART Christmas Party Tuesday, December 19 9am GPC Staff Meeting Wednesday, December 20 10am Romans Bible Study 7:30pm Romans Bible Study Thursday, December pm GPC Staff Christmas Lunch Sunday, December 24 10:45am Nursery Opens 11am Worship Christmas Carols and Sacrament of Baptism 11:15am Children s Worship 12pm Lunch Bunch 3:30pm Christmas Pageant Rehearsal 4pm Yoga 5pm Worship Christmas Eve Pageant and Candlelight Service Church Staff Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Camille Cook Murray ccm@gtownpres.org Associate Pastor/Education Rev. Rachel Landers Vaagenes rlv@gtownpres.org Associate Pastor/Mission Rev. Christopher Chatelaine- Samsen ccs@gtownpres.org Parish Associate Rev. Katie Francis katherinewfrancis@gmail.com Director of Music Mark Willey maw@gtownpres.org Communications Coordinator & Office Manager Latesha Kelly lmk@gtownpres.org Finance Matt Sheridan bookkeeper@gtownpres.org Contract Custodian Clifford Ford cxfnite@comcast.net Daily Readings Sunday Luke 1:26-28 Monday Ephesians 6:10-17 Tuesday Acts 3:17-4:4 Wednesday Malachi 3:16-4:6 Thursday Samuel 6:1-11 Friday Hebrews 1:5-14 Saturday Judges 13:2-24 Sunday Psalm 89:1-4 Georgetown Presbyterian Church is a founding member and supporter of the Reformed Institute of Metropolitan Washington.

8 OUR HISTORY The Georgetown Presbyterian Church began in 1760 as a small group of worshipers and organized into a church in 1780 under the eminent Stephen Bloomer Balch, Revolutionary War soldier and pupil of religious leader John Witherspoon. It was the first Presbyterian Church in what was to become modern-day Washington, DC, and is the oldest DC church of any denomination with an unbroken ministry. Until long after the national capital was established, many of Washington s baptisms, weddings and funerals were solemnized in our church. People of all denominations worshiped with us, including many leaders of the young republic. In 1782 our congregation erected the first and for many years the only Protestant church building in Georgetown. Additions were made in 1794 with Thomas Jefferson among the contributors. A rare charter, still in effect, was granted in 1806 to the Presbyterian Congregation in George Town by an act of Congress signed by President Jefferson. In 1810 our seal, with its seven stars and Bible, was given to the church by the superintendent of the Mint. In 1821, President Monroe laid the cornerstone for the beautiful Bridge Street building which was moved fifty years later to our present site, where President Grant laid the cornerstone. This is the building which we have since restored and in which we now worship. Our church pioneered in both the religious and cultural life of this community. In 1781, Dr. Balch became headmaster of the Columbian Academy to which George Washington sent his nephews and wards, and later a school for girls was founded. Dr. Balch wrote the first book published in the District of Columbia and he helped found the first public library. Out of our church and under Dr. Balch s broad-minded leadership, Episcopal, Methodist and Presbyterian churches were established in Washington and Maryland. Our church bell tolled all day when President Washington died. In our church George Washington Parke Custis, grandson of Martha Washington and father-inlaw of Robert E. Lee, delivered a speech on Napoleon s defeat. Memorial services for President William Henry Harrison were conducted here in During the Civil War, our building became a hospital for both Union and Confederate soldiers, including casualties from the Second Battle of Manassas and the Battle of Fredericksburg. In these and in other ways, this church identifies with the history of the nation it continues to serve. THE GEORGETOWN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Rev. Dr. Camille Cook Murray, Senior Pastor Rev. Rachel Landers Vaagenes, Associate Pastor for Christian Education Rev. Christopher Chatelaine-Samsen, Associate Pastor for Mission Rev. Katie Francis, Parish Associate Mark Willey, Director of Music 3115 P Street, NW, Washington, DC