Service of Worship Reign of Christ Sunday November 25, :00 a.m.

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1 Service of Worship Reign of Christ Sunday November 25, :00 a.m. Westminster Presbyterian Church extends an enthusiastic welcome, in Christ s name, to all who would worship here or join us in fellowship. We affirm that there can be no exclusion within the body of Christ. We invite all children of God to join us as disciples of Christ and participate fully in the life of our congregation. PASTORAL STAFF: CHURCH EDUCATOR: CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR: MUSIC STAFF: Gregory K. Jones, Head of Staff Anne R. Ledbetter, Associate Pastor Jill Getty, Pastoral Care Assistant Susan Moseley Debbie Brown Paul Fleckenstein, Organist/Director of Music Mary Beth Davis, Director of Music for Children, Youth and Handbells Section Leaders/Soloists: Diana Milburn, Sharon Babcock, Justin Gonzalez, Jerry Polman 1502 West 13 th Street Wilmington, DE

2 This Morning at Westminster 8:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m. The Holy Toast Café, in Classroom 6, offers free coffee and fellowship. Breakfast items are available for one dollar per item. Deacon Team of the Month Marcia Carle, Peggy Carroll, Teresa Lunardi, Steve Stallone, Keith Pierce, Fred Carspecken 8:45 a.m. 12:15 p.m. Nursery for babies and toddlers 9:00 9:55 a.m. Worship with choir and organ in Sanctuary After TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN, if you wish, your children may leave the Sanctuary and go to: Godly Care An unique opportunity for children ages 2-4 to get to know God through stories, crafts, songs and prayers. Class meets in the Preschool Suite Classroom A. Godly Play Children in Kindergarten through 2nd grade gather in the Ruth Christie Room to learn the language of God s people through sacred space, stories, parables and liturgical actions. You may pick up your children in the Preschool Suite Classoom C. Hebrew Scouts Children in grades 2 and 3 gather in Preschool Suite Classroom B. They will become Hebrew Scouts, experiencing the stories of the Israelite people. You may pick up your children in the Preschool Suite Classroom C. Pathfinders Children in grades 4 and 5 meet downstairs in Classroom 2. They will explore the radical way of Jesus through the stories of his teaching and healing. You may pick up your children in the Preschool Suite Classroom C. 10:10 a.m. Education for All Ages Preschool Sunday School Preschool Suite Sunshine Choir for Grades K 2 Classroom 7 D.R.U.M. for Grades 3 6 Youth Music Room Middle Schoolers on the Move - Grades 6-8 Classroom 1 Mozambique Church Build: Review and Images See page 8 Advent Workshop See page 8 11:15 a.m. noon Living Mosaics worship in Rodney Chapel. Children are always welcome in worship. Childcare in Preschool Suite Classroom C. Later Today 1:00 p.m. Family Promise Ministry Downstairs 4:30 p.m. Youth Ensemble Youth Music Room 5:15 p.m. 180 Dinner and Rehearsal Community Hall, Cl. 6 and Grace Hall 6:00 p.m. Clean But Not Straight NA Club Room 8:00 p.m. AA Club Room 2

3 WORSHIP NOTES The flowers in the sanctuary today are given to the glory of God and in honor of Jeanne Checkel by the Christian Education Committee. The members of the CE Committee wish to express our love and deep gratitude to Jeanne for her many years of faithful ministry as the Director of the Under Six Department. Sanctuary Flowers - Consider giving the flowers for Sunday worship to remember or honor loved ones or to celebrate an event, while expressing praise and thanksgiving to God. Please contact Linda Watson during business hours at or lwatson@ycst.com. An available date is December 30. In December, the Lord s Supper will be served on Christmas Eve at the 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. services. All children who leave the sanctuary after Time with Children MUST have a completed yellow security label on their back. This policy is for your child s protection. Thank you for your help. Are you wearing a nametag? Whether you are a long-time member or new to the church, wearing a nametag provides others the opportunity to meet you, greet you by name, and for you to become more familiar with others at church. You will find nametags and markers in baskets at all major entrances. Worship Resources You may obtain large print hymnals and hearing devices from any usher. Worship bags for children ages 3-6 include a children s bulletin designed for them. Also, children s bulletins for ages 7-12 are available from the ushers. CONGREGATIONAL CARE AND PRAYER Please remember in your prayers: Those recently hospitalized: Pauline Mason, Jane Palmer, and Virginia Reichert. Westminster s homebound family who can no longer attend worship with us by sending a card, saying a prayer, or visiting. This week we ask you to remember Mildred Johnston and Edie Lennox, both of Methodist Country House, 4830 Kennett Pike HC, Wilmington, DE Our brothers and sisters in worldwide ministry in Guatemala, Congo, Central Africa, Mozambique and Israel/Palestine. Westminster s Covenant Prayer Group prays weekly for specific needs of the faith community. Anyone may submit a prayer request by leaving a confidential message on , ext. 335, or filling out a prayer request card (in the pew pocket) and placing it in the offering plate. Afghanistan often seems far away, and we may neglect to realize that Americans, as well as Afghans and members of coalition forces, continue to die. As Christians, we are called to pray for the spreading of peace and justice and an end to violence. If someone in your family is serving in the military, please let us know, so that we may include that person on our prayer list. Contact Colleen Falasco: ext. 131, or cfalasco@wpc.org. This week we pray for Those known to the WPC Community presently serving in Afghanistan: Brendan Bowen, Kyle Rowe, Ann Exline Starr, Dr. Karin E. Thomas The families of those from the U.S. who have died recently: Christopher Raible, age 40, of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania Bradley Atwell, age 27, of Kokomo, Indiana Those who have returned from service, possibly suffering from wounds or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, whose scars may by deep and long-lasting. 3

4 ORDER OF WORSHIP PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP As swimmers dare to lie face to the sky and water bears them, as hawks rest upon air and air sustains them, so would I learn to attain freefall, and float into Creator Spirit's deep embrace, knowing no effort earns that all-surrounding grace. Denise Levertov, The Avowal WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS ORGAN PRELUDE Nun danket alle Gott J. S. Bach (Now thank we all our God) CALL TO WORSHIP God of the past who has fathered and mothered us, we are here to thank you. God of the future who is always ahead of us, we are here to trust you. God of the present here in the midst of us, we are here to praise you. God of the life within us and beyond us, we rejoice in your glorious love. CHORAL INTROIT John Ness Beck Fear not, O Land, rejoice and be glad; be not afraid, ye beasts of the field, for the pastures shall be green, and the trees shall bear fruit, and the fig and the vine yield their harvest. People of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, Who gives you good food, and sends down the rain. The threshing floors shall be heaped with grain, the wine vats shall overflow, and you shall eat your fill, and praise the name of the Lord your God, and you shall know that I am present, that I and no other am the Lord your God. Rejoice and be glad! *HYMN NO. 559 We Gather Together KREMSER At the asterisk (*), please stand as you are able. 4

5 PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Lord of the morning, You come to us in sunshine and in shower enlightening our minds and refreshing our souls. You whisper in our hearts words of grace and inspiration stirring us to lives that are bold and generous. We give you thanks for the gift of life and the blessings of each day may we use our precious time wisely. Amen. TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN Anne Ledbetter Children through Grade 5 may leave for Godly Care, Godly Play, Hebrew Scouts and Pathfinders, or they may remain in worship. SCRIPTURE LESSON Colossians 3:12-17 New Testament, page 178 Dave Mathé, Lay Reader ANTHEM Because You Are God s Chosen Ones G. Alan Smith Westminster Choir Because you are God s chosen ones, because you are kept in his care: Clothe yourselves with mercy and kindness, humility, meekness and prayer. Bear with one another, forgive one another, forgive as the Lord forgives you. Over all these put on garments of love which will make your life over anew. Christ s peace must reign in you; Christ s word ordain in you; Christ s love remain in your hearts. Thanks be to God, and to Him give all praises; Pledge all to Him, who to new life upraises. By wisdom made perfect, instruct one another; Sing hymns to the Lord from your hearts. In all speech and action give thanks unto God, who to you all his blessings imparts. SERMON Gratitude Greg Jones *HYMN NO. 553 For the Fruit of All Creation EAST ACKLAM OFFERING During the offering, please sign your name and pass the red folder to the person next to you. As folders are returned to the center aisle, note the names of fellow worshippers on your pew. ORGAN OFFERTORY Thanksgiving Richard Purvis PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE LORD S PRAYER (page 16 in The Presbyterian Hymnal, using debts and debtors ) 5

6 *HYMN God, Your Blessings Overflow! DIX God, your blessings overflow! What can we begin to say? How can we begin to show, All our gratitude this day? God, we join to worship you, Giving thanks for all you do. Thank you for the life you give, For each friend and family, For the land in which we live, For your love that sets us free. Thank you, God, for daily bread, And for feasts of joy you spread. So we join in thanks this day, So your gifts we freely share, So we follow Christ the Way, Loving, serving everywhere. Spirit, may our lives express, All our daily thankfulness. Text: 1998 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. Used with permission. BENEDICTION CHORAL POSTLUDE Now thank we all our God, With heart, and hands, and voices, Who wondrous things hath done, In Whom His world rejoices; Who from our mother s arms Hath bless d us on our way With countless gifts of love, And still is ours today. J. S. Bach GOING FORTH If you are visiting with us and wish to learn more about our church, we invite you to meet today s ambassadors, Don and Ellie Furry, following the service. Our ambassadors enjoy sharing information about our many programs for children, youth and adults. Sermon Series Dr. Jones is preaching a sermon series on the profound changes taking place in the Christian Church in North America. From September 30 to December 9, Dr. Jones is preaching on what it means to follow Jesus by highlighting essential characteristics of the Christian life. They are: September 30 Loving Others November 11 Empathy October 14 Generosity November 25 Gratitude October 21 Service December 9 Doing Justice November 4 Loving Ourselves 6

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8 ANNUAL ADVENT WORKSHOP FOR ALL AGES This Morning 10:10 11:00 a.m. in Community Hall Join us for a morning of alternative celebrations, crafts, and gifts. The Advent Workshop is a unique opportunity for all of us at Westminster to temporarily shut out the stress and blaring messages of our consumer culture and to remember again the One who comes bringing hope, joy, love and peace. Regular 10:TEN classes do not meet this morning. Childcare is available in the Nursery only. MOZAMBIQUE CHURCH BUILD: Review and Images This Morning 10:10 a.m. in Grace Hall The six WPC volunteers who journeyed to Mozambique this past summer will have a panel discussion of their experience, and show slides from their trip. If you are not attending the Advent Workshop, then stop in Grace Hall and learn more about this amazing adventure and the church Westminster helped build in southern Africa! 8