Covenant Presbyterian Church

Transcription

1 Covenant Presbyterian Church 8:15 am Austin, Texas December 10, 2017 Second 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 SECOND CANDLE OF ADVENT Leader: Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. A voice cries out: People: In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Leader: Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; People: The uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Leader: Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together; All: For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. *HYMN OF PRAISE Lift Up Your Heads, O Mighty Gates Hymn 176 PRAYER OF CONFESSION (silent confession ) We confess, O Lord, that our lives are like the Christmas rush a strange mixture of the influences of Christ and the secular world. We call him the Lord of our lives, and yet we often compromise with the gods of our culture. We do not intend to be unfaithful to you. But life is often so complicated and the easy way so attractive. Yet our peace with the world leaves us at enmity with you, and our hearts are restless. Forgive us; renew us; make us strong; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. RESPONSE O Little Town of Bethlehem Hymn 180 (stanza 4) O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel. ASSURANCE OF GOD S GRACE AND PARDON

2 * Those who are able, please stand *RESPONSE TO OUR FORGIVENESS Gloria Patri (Glory Be to the Father) Hymn 734 MINISTRY OF THE WORD SCRIPTURE Isaiah 26: 1-6 New Testament, 569 SERMON Peace Thomas Daniel RESPONSE TO THE WORD *HYMN OF RESPONSE Blessed Be the God of Israel Hymn 158 COMMUNION LITURGY INVITATION PRAYER OF INTERCESSION AND CONSECRATION SHARING OF THE BREAD AND CUP PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND 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. *PARTING HYMN Once in Royal David s City Hymn 183 *BLESSING (stanzas 1 and 4) Once in royal David s city stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed: Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child. And our eyes at last shall see him, through his own redeeming love; For that child, so dear and gentle, is our Lord in heaven above: And he leads his children on to the place where he has gone. *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).

3 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 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 9:30 and 11:05, Jon Wasson at 8:15 and 11:00 Lay Liturgists Marilyn Adams at 8:15; Bretna Hackert at 9:30; Julie Bou at 11:00 Lighting the Candle of Advent: Jean and Dennis Brender Tom Brown and John Schmidt, pianists Daniel Izquierdo preaching at 11:30 at Iglesia Presbiteriana Reformada en Luyanó (our sister church in Cuba) Thomas Daniel preaching at 11:05 in the Contemporary Worship Service The flowers in the sanctuary are given to the glory of God by Marty and Dick Castleberry in honor of their 65 th wedding anniversary on December 27 th. The flowers in the sanctuary are given to the glory of God by Helen Turnquist, Karen Hall, John and Kathy Turnquist, and Mary Helen and Tom Mitchell, in celebration of the 100th birthday of husband and father Carl Turnquist on December 14. Encouraging one another to follow Jesus wherever we live, work, and play. 8:15 WORSHIP WILL BE HELD IN FE 100 ON DECEMBER 17. PLEDGE CARDS For your prayerful consideration pledge cards are still available on the tables in the narthex. You may also make your pledges online at covenant.org/pledge. GRACENOTES VOCAL ENSEMBLE AND PRO MUSICA HANDBELL CHOIR CHRISTMAS CONCERT TODAY 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. For more information, contact Kathryn Sedberry at ksedberry@covenant.org. JOURNEY AND CHILDREN S CHOIRS CHRISTMAS CONCERT - Covenant s Children s Choirs and Journey Youth Choir will present our Christmas Concert on Wednesday, December 13 at 6:30 PM in the Sanctuary. We invite you and your family and friends to join us as we offer wonderful music that reflects these young peoples love for our Savior and the hope that is present in our hearts during this Advent season. SANCTUARY CHOIR CHRISTMAS On Sunday, December 17, at the 9:30 and 11:00 worship services

4 our Sanctuary Choir, soloists and chamber orchestra will present Antonio Vivaldi s Gloria, a sparkling, joyful baroque classic focused on the theme of Joy. Dan Forrest s See Amid the Winter Snow and a choral setting of Bach s famous Air on a G String will be among the shorter works and congregational carols also presented. 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. Prayers of sympathy and support: Family and friends of Meghan Still on her death on November 29. Memorial service will be December 11 in Huntsville, AL. Prayers for recently hospitalized: Tana Taylor, Matt Loessin, Marty Castleberry. Prayers for: Teagan Black, Matt Blitch, Jim Clayton, Caroline Booth, Shirley Finney, Nancy Prideaux, Avery Claire Palm, Don Coordt, Kristen Johnson Franklin, Joanne Myers, Nancy Spencer, George McDonald, 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, 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: Samaritan Counseling and Thais and Doug Kilday. 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. Recycling containers for this publication are available in the Narthex.

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