First Presbyterian Church 2230 Hariet St. Port Charlotte, FL Worship 10:00 a.m. (941)

Transcription

1 First Presbyterian Church 2230 Hariet St. Port Charlotte, FL Worship 10:00 a.m. (941) Rev. Terri Jo Crego December 30, 2018 Welcome to All We are delighted that you are here today and hope you have a meaningful worship experience. If you are worshipping with us for the first time, we extend a special welcome! Your presence is important to us, so we encourage you to fill out the Welcome Card and place it in the offering plate. Also, if you have a prayer need, please complete one of the Prayer Cards and place it in the offering plate or hand it to an usher. It will be our privilege to pray for you.

2 *Please Stand, if able Welcome to First Presbyterian Church Preparation for Worship: As you enter the Sanctuary, please prepare your hearts and minds for worship and silence your mobile devices. The beginning of the prelude is a call to silent, personal preparation for the worship of God. May our worship open our hearts to God s love, our eyes to God s beauty, our minds to God s truth, and our will to God s service. Chimes GATHERING AROUND THE WORD Greetings The grace of the Lord, Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you. Let us prepare our hearts and minds for worship. Prelude Gesu Bambino Pastorale by Pietro A. Yon Welcome and Announcements Call to Worship Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come into His presence with singing. Know that the LORD is God. It is He that made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the LORD is good; His steadfast love endures forever and His faithfulness to all generations. Introit Chancel Choir In Bethlehem a Babe Was Born by Barbara Mayes

3 Opening Prayer Eternal God, by the birth of Jesus Christ, You gave Yourself to the world. Grant that, being born in our hearts, He will save us from all our sins, and restore within us the image and likeness of our Creator, to whom we give everlasting praise and glory without end. Amen. * Passing the Peace of Christ * Opening Carol O Come, All Ye Faithful, verses 1, 3, 5 Insert Time with Children and Youth Carol He Is Born Insert Invitation to Confession Prayer of Confession Most Merciful God, we confess that we often fail to love with all we have and are, often because we do not fully understand what loving means, often because we are afraid of risking ourselves. By our silence or with the ill-considered word, we erect barriers of division. Through selfishness or lack of sympathy, we have stifled generosity and left little time for others. Lord, we ask Your forgiveness. Come, Holy Spirit, fill this moment, and free us from the bondage of sin. Guide us in the coming year to be all that You would have us to be. Assurance of Pardon (Silent Prayer of Confession) Good Christian friends, rejoice! There is no need to fear condemnation or death, for Jesus Christ was born to save. Believe the Good News: Through our Lord Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God! * Carol of Reconciliation Good Christian Friends Rejoice, verses 2, 3 Blue Hymnal #28

4 PROCLAIMING THE WORD Litany of the People and the Lord s Prayer Anthem Infant Holy, Infant Lowly Insert Chancel Choir by Kris Krunk Old Testament Scripture Reading Micah 5:2-5a p. 865 Carol O Little Town of Bethlehem, verses 3,4 Blue Hymnal #44 Epistle Reading Colossians 3:12-17 p. 201 Carol Angels from the Realms of Glory Blue Hymnal #22 Prayer for Illumination Carol of Preparation What Child Is This? Blue Hymnal #53 Gospel Reading Luke 2:22-39 p. 58 This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Meditation The Gift That Keeps on Giving Rev. Deborah Phelps

5 * Carol of Affirmation RESPONDING TO THE WORD Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Blue Hymnal #30 * Affirmation of Faith and Covenant Renewal Insert Lord God Almighty, we believe You are the one True God, Father and Creator of all that is good, and we believe You sent Your one and only Son, Jesus Christ, incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, to be our salvation. We believe in the Holy Spirit, sent to be the Counselor, Comforter, and Guide of every believer. We affirm that Christ instituted the New Covenant, ratified in heaven, as He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. We believe that He is the head of the Church on earth. Therefore, we pray that as we move into a new year, we will put behind us all regrets of the past and look with trust in You, O Lord, for the future. We covenant anew to be willing servants to that which You call us. We covenant anew to be wholly Thine, to seek that which is pleasing to You, to learn more of Your Word, to worship in spirit and truth. And we covenant anew to be people of faith, hope, and love, living peaceable lives of mercy and grace and generosity. May our lives bring glory and honor to You. We pray in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, One God now and forever in covenant. Amen. Presentation of Tithes and Offering Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine by Raymond H. Haan * Congregational Response Doxology Blue Hymnal #592 * Carol of Dedication Joy to the World! Blue Hymnal #40 BEARING AND FOLLOWING THE WORD INTO THE WORLD * Charge and Benediction * Postlude

6 PRAYER LIST High School Barbara Graduate Allcroft, Recognition Bernadine and Tom Allesee, Betty Brooks, Andy Buell, Tanner Braun, Louise Amina Carpenter, Lee and Bernice Taylor Summers Cunningham, Jan Doczy, Arline Fitzmaurice, John Gamble, Carol (Joyce) and Bob Hostutler, Psalm Reading Bessie Keller, Ed Kruse, Razona Ledford, Sue Littrell, Ann March, Psalm Juliette 139:1-6, McClelland, Dottie Messick, Drs. Leslie and Cynthia Morgan, AudreyAnn Parent, Mavis Powell, Leila Rohlehr, Lesley This is Shane, the Word Carol of Stacy, the Lord. and Charlotte Taylor. Thanks be to God. If you would like to be added or removed from this list, call the church office at (941) MEMBERSHIP If you would like to join our church family, we encourage you to call the Church office at (941) to speak with Rev. Terri Jo Crego. New members are welcomed by Profession of Faith, Reaffirmation of Faith, Letter of Transfer, or as an Affiliate Member, if you wish to retain your membership in another congregation. INTERCESSORY PRAYER If you would like to have intercessory prayer for yourself or for others, come to the Chapel following the service. The Chapel is located on the left side of the Narthex as you exit the Sanctuary.

7 Calendar of Events SUNDAY, December 30 Sunday School for all ages Coffee and Fellowship Worship Service Coffee and Fellowship 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. MONDAY, December 31 Office Closes at Noon TUESDAY, January 1 Office Closed Food Pantry WEDNESDAY, January 2 Peace Piecers Table Games Choir Rehearsal THURSDAY, January 3 Mah-jongg FRIDAY, January 4 Office Closed First Friday Fellowship 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 12:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. SATURDAY, January 5 Office Closed

8 The Mission of First Presbyterian Church of Port Charlotte is to reflect God s light and love, empowering Christ-like living. Ministry Staff Rev. Terri Jo Crego, Pastor Betty Smith, Financial Secretary Janet Hart, Church Secretary Scott Austin, Facilities Manager Christy Blue, Choir Director Judy Prier, Organist pastor@fpcpc.com bsmith@fpcpc.com pastorsecretary@fpcpc.com scottaustin0557@gmail.com pianoplayinggal@yahoo.com judyprier@comcast.net Session Class of 2018: John Gamble, Nancy Sharpless, Ron Smith Class of 2019: Joan Barry, Rebekah Baird, Richard Lund Class of 2020: Sandy Asaro, Lynn Webster, Elaine Woods Deacons Class of 2018: Dottie Gamble, Pauline Paquin, Laverne Sinkia, Gay Sorensen, Donald Whitmarsh Class of 2019: Andy Buell, Clarence Diersing Class of 2020: Judi Anderson, Norma Campbell Trustees Richard Lund, President Ron Smith, Vice President Ambrose Woods, Treasurer Sandy Asaro, Secretary Class of 2018: Clarence Diersing, Member at Large Class of 2019: Bob Hull, Member at Large

9 ANNOUNCEMENTS December 30, 2018 Thank you to Rev. Deborah Phelps, who is filling in for Pastor Terri Jo this morning, and to Elaine Woods, who is serving as liturgist today. FIRST FRIDAY FELLOWSHIP Friday, January 4 th 5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. Meet Outside at the Turquoise Tables Meet at the Turquoise Tables on the front lawn for a time of casual fellowship. Come relax with friends for a little bit of unstructured time to "just" be together. Bring your beach/lawn chair and sit a spell with new and old friends. See you at the Turquoise Tables! A NOTE OF THANKS A heartfelt thank you to all of you for the many Get Well Cards you have sent to me. Most of all, I thank you for your prayers which are healing me. With love, Janet (Nelson) MODELING GENEROSITY THROUGH OUR OFFERING There are many practices we do well in the church which model faithfulness for our younger folks in the church. We worship side by side. We pray side by side. We fellowship together side by side. And we serve side by side. Children and youth learn a lot from "us" as we model Christian living. Modeling generosity is an important practice of Christian living. We give, because God has given to us. We give generously, whether weekly, monthly, or through special offerings and donations. Sometimes we pass the plate on by us, knowing we have given through the office or mail. Each week as the offering plate is passed, we encourage you to either place your pledged offering in the plate or to give an extra dollar bill (or what you are able) in the plate so that young eyes that are watching will learn generosity through our practices. Please remember FPCPC in your wills and trusts.