at Altadena Valley Presbyterian Church

Transcription

1 at Altadena Valley Presbyterian Church LARGE PRINT BULLETIN

2 Welcome We welcome you and hope you are blessed as we magnify and worship God today. Please sign the pew register so we can know of your visit and have an opportunity to get to know you. If today is your first time visiting our church, consider picking up a visitor brochure and gift in the the back of the sanctuary. If you have questions about a sermon or anything related to the Bible or Christianity, consider joining our pastor in the Library (room across the hallway from the piano side entrance to the Sanctuary) during the Sunday School hour starting on January 8, 2017.

3 WORSHIP SERVICE DECEMBER 18, 2016 Fourth Sunday of Advent PRELUDE WORSHIP ENSEMBLE What Child is This? What child is this, who laid to rest, on Mary s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing: Haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary. Why lies he in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christian, fear; for sinners here the silent Word is pleading. Nail, spear, shall pierce him through; the cross be borne for me, for you: Hail, hail the Word made flesh, the babe, the son of Mary. So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh; come, peasant, king, to own him; The King of kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone him. Raise, raise the song on high, the virgin sings her lullaby: Joy, joy for Christ is born, the babe, the son of Mary. THE LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE MATTHEW 2:1-12 8:30 a.m. Service: Hunter, Jackie, Emily, Catherine & John Boggs 11:00 a.m. Service: Matt, Elise, & Andrew Kilgore WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Members and Visitors please register your attendance on the Attendance Register. 1

4 CALL TO WORSHIP BASED ON LUKE 1:46-50 (Leader) Our souls magnify the Lord! (Congregation) Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior! The Mighty One has done great things for us! Holy is God s name! Let us worship God. (All) For God is our Maker and our Redeemer; from generation to generation God gives mercy. INVOCATION THE WELCOME OF GOD SONGS OF PRAISE Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee Joyful, joyful, we adore you, God of glory, Lord of light; Angels lifting praise before you sing throughout this holy night. In a manger lies a baby, Child of Mary, Son of God. Voices joined in joyful chorus, praise you for your gift of love. All your works declare your glory; all creation joins to sing. Praise resounds as earth rejoices in the birth of Christ the King. Shepherds kneel before the Infant. trumpets sound and anthems raise As with joy our hearts are lifted, joined in wonder, love, and praise. 2

5 Jesus Messiah He became sin, who knew no sin that we might become his righteousness. He humbled himself and carried the cross; love so amazing, love so amazing. Jesus Messiah, Name above all names, Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel. The Rescue for sinners, the Ransom from heaven; Jesus Messiah, Lord of all. His body, the bread; his blood, the wine; broken and poured out all for love. The whole earth trembled and the veil was torn; love so amazing, love so amazing. Jesus Messiah, Name above all names, Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel. The Rescue for sinners, the Ransom from heaven; Jesus Messiah, Lord of all. All our hope is in you. All our hope is in you All the glory to you, God, the Light of the world. Jesus Messiah, Name above all names, Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel. The Rescue for sinners, the Ransom from heaven; Jesus Messiah, Lord of all. Words and Music by Daniel Carson, Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, and Jesse Reeves. CORPORATE PRAYER OF CONFESSION Holy God, you sent a star to guide the Magi to the child Jesus. We confess that often we have not followed the light of your Word. We have not searched for signs of your love in the world or trusted your good news to be good. We have failed to praise your Son s birth and refused his peace on earth. We have expected little and hoped for less. Forgive our doubt and renew in us all fine desires, that we may watch and wait and once more hear the glad story of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Lord. In his name we pray. Amen. Worship Sourcebook E

6 SILENT CONFESSION SONG OF RESPONSE (11:00 a.m. Service) Silent Night Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin mother and child. Holy infant, so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace. (Praise Team only on verses 1-3) Silent night! Holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight! Glories stream from heaven afar, Heavenly hosts sing alleluia; Christ, the Savior, is born! Christ, the Savior, is born! Silent night! Holy night! Son of God, love s pure light Radiant beams from thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth. (Congregation join in singing on verse 4) Silent night! Holy night! Wondrous star, lend thy light; With the angels let us sing Alleluia to our King ; Christ, the Savior, is born! Christ, the Savior, is born! ASSURANCE OF PARDON Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Thanks be to God! Worship Sourcebook D Based on Zephaniah 3:14-18, NRSV. 4

7 HYMN OF RESPONSE The First Noel The first Noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; In fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold winter s night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel. They looked up and saw a star shining in the east, beyond them far, And to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued both day and night. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel. And by the light of that same star, the wise men came from country far; To seek for a King was their intent, and to follow the star wherever it went. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel. PASTORAL PRAYER Children ages 4 - K5 may be dismissed to Worship Center at this time. SCRIPTURE READING MATTHEW 1:1-6 (Pew Bible, page 807) 1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king. 5

8 SERMON THE MOTHERS OF JESUS REV. BRAD ALLISON It is unusual for genealogies of this era to include the names of women. Matthew s genealogy names four women explicitly and a fifth, Bathsheba, is referred to as the wife of Uriah instead of by name. The reference to Bathsheba in this way gives us a hint into the mind of the Spirit in including these women. Uriah was a Hittite, a Gentile people from north of Israel. The first three women named were also Gentiles. All five of these women also had some kind of sexual uncleanness hanging over them. Tamar and Rahab prostituted themselves, while Bathsheba committed adultery. Though Mary and Ruth were sexually pure, Mary suffered the accusations of sexual impurity due to her pregnancy during her betrothal. Ruth was a Moabitess, a nation that arose as a result of Lot s incestuous relationship with his daughter. We re going to look more carefully at the first three women named, from whom we learn about the grace of God to Gentiles and to outsiders. I. Tamar the Canaanite II. Rahab from Jericho III. Ruth the Moabitess 6

9 GIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS CELEBRATION OF THE LORD S SUPPER (Gluten-free bread is available in the Welcome Center. As the elements are passed, feel free to state the following words to the person next to you in the pew: Bread This is Christ s body, given for you. Juice This is Christ s blood, shed for the forgiveness of your sins. ) Your Grace Finds Me It s there in the newborn cry, there in the light of every sunrise, there in the shadows of this life: your great grace. It s there on the mountain top, there in the everyday and the mundane, there in the sorrow and the dancing: your great grace, O such grace. From the creation to the cross, there from the cross into eternity, your grace finds me. Yes, your grace finds me. It s there on a wedding day, there in the weeping by the graveside, there in the very breath we breathe: your great grace. The same for the rich and poor, the same for the saint and for the sinner, enough for this whole wide world: your great grace, O such grace. From the creation to the cross, there from the cross into eternity, your grace finds me. Yes, your grace finds me. There in the darkest night of the soul, there in the sweetest songs of victory, your grace finds me. Yes, your grace finds me. So I m breathing in your grace and breathing out your praise. I m breathing in your grace. Forever I ll be breathing in your grace and breathing out your praise. I m breathing in your grace. Forever God. Words and Music by Jonas Myrin & Matt Redman. HYMN OF RESPONSE #226 As with Gladness Men of Old BLESSING OF GOD S PEOPLE POSTLUDE Words and Music used by permission. All rights reserved. CCLI #

10 8 Announcements OUR MISSIONARY OF THE WEEK is Craig Branch, who serves with Search Ministries in Birmingham, Alabama. His ministry involves speaking, training, and evangelism as he equips believers and local churches to engage non-believers in thoughtful theological conversations. FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT This morning we light the candle to remind us that the birth of Jesus represents the dawn of redeeming grace for us all. May we follow the example of the wise men with joyful and exuberant worship of Jesus, our Redeemer. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. UPCOMING EVENTS: DECEMBER SUNDAY SCHOOL We are combining all of our adult, youth, and children s Sunday School classes in December for some special programming. Today, December 18 is our annual Christmas pageant. There will be no Sunday school on December 25 or January 1. We will have only one worship service on December 25 and January 1. WTW WOMEN S RETREAT REGISTRATION is underway. The retreat will be Friday-Saturday, January 20-21, at Children s Harbor Lodge on Lake Martin. Cost is $65 (partial scholarships are available) and covers meals and lodging. Come enjoy time in God s word and fellowship with your sisters. Pick up a brochure in the Parlor or Welcome Center to register. For more information visit the website. WEDNESDAY AVPC resume on Jan. 4 with a few changes -- reservations will not be needed and we will not be charging a fee for dinner. Instead, we will have a Donations Accepted jar. We trust that many will give out of their abundance, but no one will be required to give and no accounts will be maintained. If you are not currently in a small group and would like to join one, sign-up on the website. WTW BIBLE STUDY RESUMES Ladies, we will continue our study of the book of Romans with Lesson 11. Join us at the Wednesday morning group (beginning January 11), 9:00-11:00 a.m., in the Parlor, with free childcare, Sunday evening group (beginning January 8), 5:00-7:00 p.m., in the Parlor Basement, or the Monday afternoon group (beginning January 9), 3:00-5:00 p.m., at Wendy Allison s home. Study guides must be pre-ordered, contact Melanie Richards ( ) ADULT MISSIONS TRIP Are you planning your summer vacation? You might want to consider joining our summer adult missions trip Costa Rica. The dates are July 22-29, and we will be working with our missionaries there, Rodney and Jana Davila, on some construction projects they are planning. Our team will be limited to 10 people. Contact our trip leaders, Ed Wofford (edwofford@gmail.com) or Michael MacCaughelty (Michael@avpc.org) if interested. Rodney and Jana will be here for our missions conference in February and we will have more information in the coming weeks. 12/11/16 Receipts Year-To-Date Receipts Year-To-Date Requirements Over (Under) Budget General Fund $34,162 $1,075,647 $1,021,375 $54,272 Faith Promise $9,092 $270,446 $272,961 ($2,515)

11 Calendar SUNDAY (DECEMBER 18)* 8:30 a.m. Worship Service Brad preaching 9:45 a.m. Joint Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship Service Brad preaching TUESDAY 7:00 p.m. Session Meeting WEDNESDAY 6:30 a.m. Theophilus Circle Prayer Group FRIDAY 9:00 a.m. Church Office Closed SATURDAY 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service SUNDAY (DECEMBER 25) 11:00 a.m. Worship Service Anthony preaching *Celebration of Lord s Supper Christmas at Altadena Valley DEC 24 DEC 25 JAN 1 Christmas Eve Candlelight Services There will be Christmas Eve services at 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Childcare will be provided through age three for both services. 11:00 a.m. Worship Service only and no Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship Service only and no Sunday School THE DEADLINE FOR YEAR-END GIVING is Saturday, December 31. All funds need to be in or postmarked by December 31. Please note that the church office will be closed on Friday, December 30. If you intend to make a stock donation, please be sure to coordinate with our bookkeeper, Jimmie Campbell, as soon as possible. 9

12 ELDERS Paul Barber John Burgess Michael Chick Jerry Dyson Tim English Ken Francis Bob Ketchum Jonathan Kipp Cal Martin Karl Poythress DEACONS Tucker Alley Woody Armstrong Zac Campbell John Franklin Billy Jackson Steve Klose Scott Lavendol Tom McCallum George McCurdy Mike Oaks Darren Popwell Charlie Stephens Ed Wofford Danny Wachs STAFF Bradford E. Allison, Senior Pastor Stephen Whitner, Associate Pastor Worship Michael MacCaughelty, Assistant Pastor Outreach Anthony Brogan, Assistant Pastor Youth Betty Carter, Children s Director Dawn Cwynar, Girls Discipleship ALTADENA VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PCA 4660 Caldwell Mill Road Birmingham, Alabama