the third sunday of advent

Transcription

1 the third sunday of advent december 16, 2018 faith presbyterian church presbyterian church in america Ministers: Robert S. Rayburn Steven A. Nicoletti 620 South Shirley Tacoma, Washington

2 Third Sunday of Advent December 16, 2018 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 Fantasia on O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Gene Clarke (b. 1948) Welcome and Announcements +Silent Prayer See how from far upon the Eastern road The Star-led Wizards haste with odors sweet: O run, prevent them with thy humble ode, And lay it lowly at his blessed feet; Have thou the honor first, thy Lord to greet, And join thy voice unto the Angel Choir, From out his secret Altar toucht with hallow d fire. --John Milton, On the Morning of Christ s Nativity Call to Worship *Hymn of Praise to God Joy to the World! The Lord Is Come No. 195 (Psalm 98) +Confession of Sin Silent Prayer Corporate Prayer Our soul is like a house, small for you to enter, but we pray that you will enlarge it. It is in ruins, but we ask you to remake it. It contains much that you will not be pleased to see; this we know and do not hide. But, to whom can we cry except to you? Forgive us, O Lord. Cleanse us from our sins, O Lord, and our secret sins. What wretches we are! In your mercy, Lord our God, tell us what you are to us. Say to my soul, I am your salvation (Ps. 35:3). Come, O Lord, and stir our hearts. Call us back to yourself. Kindle your fire in us and carry us away. Be our fire and our sweetness. Let us love you and hasten to your side. In Jesus name, Amen. [Adapted from Augustine s Confessions, I, v-vi; VIII, iv]

3 Assurance of Pardon For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV) *Hymn of Faith in Jesus Christ Once in Royal David s City No. 225 Worship of God with Tithes and Offerings In Dulci Jubilo.. German melody, 14 th Century *Hymn As with Gladness Men of Old No. 226 *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 Luke 2:1-20 (ESV p. 857) Sermon The People in the Christmas History 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. 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. Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth, and the life. Grant that I might be undaunted by the cost of following you as I consider the reasons for doing so.

4 Please guide me, teach me, and open to me the reality of who you are. Give me an understanding of you that is coherent, convincing, and that leads to the life that you promise. Amen. Child of the manger, child of the cross, All of our gain for all of Your loss. Bethlehem looks to Golgotha s tree, Born that You might die for me. Lully, lullay, Slumber my child, my Savior. He who created the stars and the sea Now cannot lift up His head. Look at His hands so tiny and soft, One day they will be pierced at Calvary. Craig Courtney Hymn While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks No. 222 Reading of Scripture Luke 1:26-33, (pp ) *Hymn Good Christian Men, Rejoice No. 207 *Benediction +Silent Prayer Raise up your mighty power, O Lord, and come; and, because we are hindered and bound by our sins, let your plentiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be honor and glory, one God, now and for ever. Amen. O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, thou Day-Spring come and cheer Our spirits by thine advent here; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

5 O come, thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. Gregorian Chant/Arranged by Alice Parker and Robert Shaw Postlude Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Felix Mendelssohn, arr. Harold DeCou ( ) *Congregation standing +The congregation is invited to kneel CCLI License # Third Sunday of Advent December 16 Morning Worship Sunday School Choir Rehearsal Sunday School Christmas Program Welcome & Announcement Elders Jerry Savage Ryan Gross Congregational Petitions Leaders Craig Jimmink Chad Isenberger Nursery Schedule Hannah Lawty & Emma St. John Carol Pribyl & Dana Isenberger Bonnie McCoy & Ali Nichols No Nursery for Christmas Program Coffee/Tea Hosts Jim & Stacey Sheridan Tina LeFebvre Tamara Woodard Church Library Elizabeth Jimmink & 9:45 am 4:45 pm 6:00 pm 9:45 am 6:00 pm Prep for 11:00 Service 9:40 10:45 am

6 Building Monitors Ken Rowan Kyle Proctor 6:00 pm Tuesday December 18 - No Women s Bible Study, Room 117 Resumes January 8 - Women s Bible Study, Home of Beth James 12:00 2:00 pm - Samson Society, Pastor Rayburn s Office 7:00 8:00 pm Wednesday December 19 - Prayer Meeting, 7:00 8:00 pm, sanctuary, Ah! How often, Christians, hath God kissed you at the beginning of prayer, and spoken peace to you in the midst of prayer and filled you with joy and assurance upon the close of prayer! --Thomas Brooks - Sr. High Youth Group, DeSoto Hall 7:00 8:30 pm - Jr. High Youth Group, Room 301 7:00 8:30 pm - Choristers (ages 5-9), Choir Room Not meeting this evening - Choristers (ages 10-14), Choir Room 7:00 7:45 pm - Adult Choir Practice, Sanctuary 8:00 pm Fourth Sunday of Advent December 23 Morning Worship & Fellowship & Refreshments, DeSoto Hall 9:45 am & following 11:00 Worship No Evening Service Welcome & Announcement Elders Mark Aown Steve Jack Congregational Petitions Leaders John-Michael Kvale Isaac Dye Nursery Schedule Emily Downie & Tina LeFebvre Elizabeth Simpson & Clara Hemmings Coffee/Tea Hosts Zach & Katie Raines Joseph & Mary Matthiessen Jim & Shari Roland Church Library Megan & Marilyn Schlaudraff Building Monitors Steve Smith Prep for 11:00 Service 9:40 10:45 am

7 Upcoming Events For details please see Information/Events on the web site. December 24 Christmas Eve Candlelight Services 4:00 & 11:00 pm December 24/25 Church Office Closed December 26 No Prayer Meeting, Youth Groups or Choristers December 31 Game Zone January 1 Church Office Closed January 5 C3 Ministry Training This Evening The Sunday School Christmas Program is this evening. The prelude will begin at 5:40 p.m., and the program will begin at 6:00 p.m. Parents of children participating in the program, please accompany your children to their classrooms at 5:45 p.m. to prepare for the program. Student actors please head downstairs to room 101. Parents of younger children, please collect your children from the front of the sanctuary at the conclusion of the program. Church Budget Plan for 2019 The Budget Committee will be meeting to discuss the financial plan for If you have any comments please contact Doug Lawty, Don Mellott or Colin James by Friday, December 28 th. Game Zone alert! Bring in the New Year on December 31 st from 3:00 pm until 2:00 am the next morning (or anytime in between) by fellowshipping and/or playing games in the Desoto Hall. Come one, come all! Lost and Found Please check the lost & found at the bottom of the stairs in the old narthex. Anything left after Christmas Eve will be given away. Next C3 Ministries Training-- Saturday, January 5; 8:30 11 am C3 Ministries (Comfort and care, in community) equips and empowers us the congregation of Faith Presbyterian to be the instruments of God s care and comfort for our brethren and our community in a variety of settings and circumstances. C3 Ministries preparation will emphasize these practical ways to give care and comfort: Building Relationships Entering into Grief Understanding Poverty Recognizing Status (race, foreigner, etc.) If you d like to participate in this ministry, contact: Andrew or Sandy Milton

8 Fellowship & Refreshments December 23 rd We will not meet for Sunday School on December 23rd. Instead, we will have fellowship and refreshments in DeSoto Hall during that hour and again after the 11:00 service. Adult Sunday School The Women of Faith Class I (Room 117) Martyrs and Missionaries and the Persecuted Church: In this Sunday School class we are reading stories and books about past and current missionaries and persecuted Christians around the world. We want to be aware of the plight of the persecuted church of today and to pray for them regularly. The Women of Faith Class II (Covenant High School Office) We are studying together the book Union with Christ by Rankin Wilbourne. The Word of Faith Class (South Side of DeSoto Hall) Due to Sunday School program practice in the sanctuary today, Elder Mike Pfefferle continues his fascinating and very valuable introduction to early Christianity in the South Side of DeSoto Hall. Foundations Class (Room 301) Pastor Rayburn continues his Foundations class particularly for folks new to Faith Presbyterian, new to the Reformed Church or new to the faith. High School Sunday School (North Side of DeSoto Hall) Pastor Nicoletti and the high school class continue the second unit of their ongoing study of Dante s Divine Comedy: Dante s Purgatorio: An Allegorical Study of Repentance. Better English on Sixth ESL Sunday School (Room 304) Kathy Lewis facilitates the Better English class where individual American partners help each international who wishes to read or discuss material at an appropriate level of English. Please contact Kathy or Jonathan Nichols if you would like to become a partner or assist Better English on Sixth in any way. 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 Book of Acts as we pray for our concerns and the world around us. On the Cover: Albrecht Dürer Woodcut, Adoration of the Shepherds (The Life of the Virgin), c. 1503

9 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 have one group that meets on Thursdays at Nate and Rachel Shelden s home at 6:30, and another group that meets on Tuesdays at Isaac and Elsie Dye s home at 6:30. 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. Also, please save the spots next to the building marked reserved for our elderly and those with mobility limitations. 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.