Covenant Presbyterian Church

Transcription

1 Covenant Presbyterian Church 8:15 am Austin, Texas December 3, 2017 First Sunday of Advent WELCOME PREPARATION Please sign the friendship register at this time and pass it down the row, then return it to its original position, noting the names of those worshiping with you. At the conclusion of the service, take time to greet one another in the name of Christ. PASSING OF THE PEACE Since God has welcomed us in Jesus Christ, let us welcome one another by sharing a sign of Christ s peace. PRELUDE PRAISING GOD *CALL TO WORSHIP AND LIGHTING OF THE FIRST CANDLE OF ADVENT based on Psalm 130: 5-7 Leaders: I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word I hope. My soul waits for the Lord, more than those who watch for the morning. Leaders: O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love; With the Lord there is plenteous redemption! Leaders: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. *HYMN OF PRAISE Prepare the Way, O Zion Hymn 152 PRAYER OF CONFESSION (silent confession ) We confess, our Father, that we are given more to action than to reflection. We do not ponder over the meaning of life. And we do not wonder about the mystery of the coming Christ. We are too busy living our own story to ask about its plot. And we are too familiar with the story of the birth of Jesus to seek its deeper meaning and significance. So we tend to skim along the surface of both life and faith. Grant us deliverance from the tyranny of trivia, O Lord, and liberate us from absolutism of activity. Forgive us for preferring to be busy rather than thoughtful. And give us the wisdom to wonder, the mentality to marvel, that we may be amazed at the love you give and surprised by the difference it makes in our lives. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. ASSURANCE OF GOD S GRACE AND PARDON *RESPONSE TO OUR FORGIVENESS Gloria Patri (Glory Be to the Father) Hymn 734

2 * Those who are able, please stand MINISTRY OF THE WORD HYMN OF PREPARATION O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Hymn 154 SCRIPTURE Isaiah 9:2-7 Old Testament, page 555 SERMON Hope Thomas Daniel RESPONSE TO THE WORD *HYMN OF RESPONSE Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus Hymn 153 (stanza 1) COMMUNION LITURGY INVITATION PRAYER OF INTERCESSION AND CONSECRATION SHARING OF THE BREAD AND CUP PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND THE LORD S PRAYER *PARTING HYMN Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus Hymn 153 (stanza 2) Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king, Born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone; By thine all sufficient merit raise us to thy glorious throne. *BLESSING *POSTLUDE WHY DO WE LIGHT CANDLES ON AN ADVENT WREATH? In the ancient world, various peoples lit fires to mark the turning of the light into winter s season and to pray for the return of the light. The church has Christianized that practice in the lighting of the Advent wreath. To us, these candles are signs of the growing light of Christ who is coming again in all fullness into the darkness of our world. Until the dawning of that Great Day, we watch and wait in the Holy Spirit for Christ s coming into the darkness of our world lighting candles of hope, peace, joy and love, and remembering the promises of God with prayer. (Office of Theology and Worship Presbyterian Church (USA)) The symbolism of the Advent wreath is beautiful. The wreath is made of various evergreens, signifying continuous life. The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God and the everlasting life found in Christ. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent. Three candles are purple (hope, peace and love) and one is rose (joy). The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday, because the faithful have arrived at the midpoint of Advent, when their preparation is now half over and they are close to Christmas. The white candle in the center of the wreath

3 is the Christ Candle and is lit on Christmas Eve. The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding Christ s first coming into the world and the anticipation of His second coming. Assisting in Worship Jill Williams at 8:15 and 11:00; Jon Wasson at 9:30 and 11:05 Lay Liturgists Alice Sessi at 8:15, Kathryn Sedberry at 9:30, and Cindy Young at 11:00 Lighting the Candle of Advent: Alice and Tony Sessi Tom Brown and John Schmidt, pianists Daniel Izquierdo preaching at 11:30 at Iglesia Presbiteriana Reformada en Luyanó (our sister church in Cuba) Michelle Verrill preaching at 11:05 in the Contemporary Worship Service The flowers in the sanctuary are given to the glory of God by Don Davis and family in loving memory of Avis Jane Davis. Encouraging one another to follow Jesus wherever we live, work, and play. JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM AND CAROL SING Wednesday, December 6. From 5:30 7:30 pm in Eaton Hall, step back in time to explore the extraordinary events surrounding Jesus birth. Activities for all ages. In the Marketplace make bread and dye cloth, sample farmer s market exotic fruits and nuts. Visit and care for animals in the stable. The All-Church carol sing will begin in the Sanctuary at 6:40 pm. GRACENOTES VOCAL ENSEMBLE AND PRO MUSICA HANDBELL CHOIR CHRISTMAS CONCERT Sunday, December 10, 4:00 pm in the Sanctuary. Come join us for a warm, beautiful evening of music including a wide range of styles, traditional carols, a jazzy Go Tell It on the Mountain, and The Shepherd s Chorus from Amahl and the Night Visitors, among others. Tom Brown and the choir will be joined by Covenant instrumentalists, Laura Pitner, Lauren Maunder, Tammy Linn and John Schmidt. ADVENT DEVOTIONAL Prepare your heart for Christmas with devotionals written by Covenant members and staff. Available in the narthex and online at covenant.org/advent2017. This will also be our Daily Devotional during the season. Sign up at covenant.org/dailydevo. For more information, contact Kathryn Sedberry at ksedberry@covenant.org ADVENT SILENT RETREAT December 9, 9:30 am 1pm at Cedarbrake Retreat Center in Belton. Extended time for individuals to seek to be alone with the Lord to listen, rest and be transformed by God s spirit. Space available for up to 50 participants, ages 16 and up. Cost is $10. Contact Kay Austin at kaustin@covenant.org PLEDGE CARDS For your prayerful consideration during this Stewardship season,

4 pledge cards are available on the tables in the narthex. You may also make your pledges online at covenant.org/pledge. For more information about events at Covenant, please see Covenant Matters. NEW TO COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH? Welcome! We are thankful you have chosen to worship with us today! Please introduce yourself by signing the red welcome booklet in each pew. Find out more about our community at the turquoise table on the patio following the service. Our prayer is that Covenant becomes your second family. We want you to feel comfortable here and hope that we can help you find ways to grow in your faith. For more information about Covenant s many groups, programs and events, contact Amy Skaggs at askaggs@covenant.org. Amy is eager to meet and discuss ways of connecting. You can also find out more by visiting our website at covenant.org. Four services of worship are offered each Sunday 8:15 a.m. (a traditional communion service), 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. (traditional services) and 11:05 a.m. (contemporary service). A shuttle service carries worshipers from the parking lot at the Texan Eye Center at 5717 Balcones Drive at Northland Drive, two blocks west of campus. Shuttle service runs from 7:55 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. COVENANT PRAYS Prayers of celebration and joy: Calvin Arthur Bell, born November 18. Parents are Whitney and Andrew Bell. Grandparents are Lynn and Wendell Bell. Margery Gigi Colette Breunig, born November 17. Parents are Melissa and Rob Breunig. George Hartman Staples, born October 26. Parents are Jennifer and John Staples. Grandparents are Janna and Jack Nash. Axten Ezra Streu, born October 26. Parents are Jess and Billy Streu. Prayers of sympathy and support: Sarah and William Ott, family and friends, on the death of Sarah s sister, Martha Phillips, on November 12. Sha and Mike Klatt, family and friends, on the death of their sister-in-law, Debi Newton, on November 10. Cherrylynn and Ethan Burris, family and friends, on the death of Ethan s grandfather, Bob Sternberger, on November 8. Prayers for recently hospitalized: Tana Taylor, Teagan Black, Matt Blitch. Prayers for: Nancy Prideaux, Avery Claire Palm, Don Coordt, Kristen Johnson Franklin, Joanne Myers, Nancy Spencer, George McDonald, Marv Hackert, Maureen Gerke, Mary Carruth, Bob Stokes, Pat Kinsey, Beth Lewis, Jacob Rodehaver, Ed Preston, Ann Glass, Marvin Cressman, Bridget Lonseth, David Phinney, Betty Andrews, T.J. Chapman, Kathy Shook, Meghan Still, Erin Young, Denise Myers, Riley Furlong. Prayers for people serving in our country s armed forces: Lt. Will Beckham, USAF 2LT Gonzalo Hernando, USMC 1st Lt. Katherine Ashton, USA Pvt. Jessica Choe, USA 2LT Ben Smith, USN LCDR Bryan Gunkel, USA Col. Janet Riley, USAF Lt. Katy Deiters, USAF A1C Taylor Cotham, USA Maj. Seth Pruett, USA Capt. Matt Irwin, USN LCDR Austin Wade Latour, USAF Lt. Col. Joseph Chennault, USA SFC Kevin Guy. Prayers requested by our sister church, Iglesia Presbiteriana Reformada en Luyanó, in Havana Cuba Especialmente oraciones de gracias y alabanza para Pupito. Para los hermanos de Austin Covenant que nos visitaron en Noviembre. Gracias a Dios por nuestros pastores Daniel Izquierdo, Thomas Daniel, Jill Williams y Padre Juan Wasson. Prayers requested by the Mission Committee: Foundation for the Homeless/IHN, and Don Davis at InterVarsity and Campus Crusade for Christ. Prayers requested by the Session: Praise and gratitude for the 2018 pledges made to date, and discernment for those still contemplating their financial support for Covenant next year. Although prayer requests will be removed from this listing after three weeks, please contact Kay Austin in the church office, , or kaustin@covenant.org, if prayer continues to be requested.

5 Recycling containers for this publication are available in the Narthex.