Clare Fannon (11:00 a.m.) * Charge and Benediction

Transcription

1 December 10, 2017 Second Sunday of Advent 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Gathering (Leader, People) The Lord be with you. And also with you. Our help comes in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. All praise, honor, and glory be unto God, now and forevermore. This is the day which the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Prelude Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland BWV 659 J. S. Bach (Now Come, Savior of the Nations) Call to Worship (Leader, People) Jesus says: I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! God has promised us a new creation Where righteousness will be at home. Let us worship God. Lighting of the Advent Candle of Peace * Hymn No. 88 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (vs. 1, 2, 4, 7) The Schaub Family (9:00 a.m.) Clare Fannon (11:00 a.m.) * Call to Confession * Prayer of Confession (Unison) God our Maker, we confess that we are not ready to meet you. You call us to repent, but we turn away from you. You wait patiently for us, but we fail to watch and wait for you. Forgive us, God of grace. Embrace us with tender mercy so that we may be at one with you when all your glory is revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Silent Prayer) Let the whole church say Amen! * Kyrie * Assurance of Pardon (Leader, People) Friends, believe in the good news In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Rest in the assurance of God s grace, and be at peace. Amen. * Gloria Patri Hymn No. 581 Prayer for Illumination First Reading Isaiah 40:1-11 OT page 667 Psalm 85 Karina Sweeney, Mezzo-Soprano Second Reading Mark 1:1-8 NT page 34 Anthem O Come, O Come Emmanuel Julian Wachner Sermon Good News, Finally Rev. Sam Massengill * Hymn No. 96 On Jordan s Bank the Baptist s Cry Prayers of the People The Lord s Prayer Offering our Gifts to God (Please sign and pass the Friendship Pad) Offertory Benedixisti (Psalm 85:1-2) Joseph Rheinberger *Doxology Hymn No. 606 *Prayer of Dedication and Thanksgiving * Hymn No. 106 Prepare the Way, O Zion * Charge and Benediction SENDING Postlude Toccata on Veni Emmanuel Andrew Carter We invite you to remain seated for the final act of worship, the postlude. The pastors look forward to greeting you following worship. In the Pulpit: Rev. Sam Massengill Assisting: Rev. Laura Ferguson Lynn Domasinsky * Please stand as you are able

2 Our Staff Rev. Sam Massengill, Pastor, Rev. Laura Ferguson, Associate Pastor, Jason Moore, Director of Music, Colleen Rimel, Business Office Manager, Hehsun Chun-Smith, Organist, Eileen Honea, Office Administrator, Dan Stevens, Custodian, Contact Information Office: or Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9 am to 4 pm Webpage address: Christmas Eve Services Sunday, December 24, 2017 One Worship Service Only 10:00 a.m. Worship / No Sunday School Sunday, December 24, :30 p.m. Family Service with children leading 5:00 p.m. Family Service with children leading 7:00 p.m. Traditional Candlelight Service 9:00 p.m. Traditional Candlelight Service 11:00 p.m. Candlelight Communion Service Sunday, December 31, 2017 One Worship Service Only 10:00 a.m. Worship / No Sunday School

3 Wreaths Across America Ceremony: On Saturday, December 16 at NOON, we will participate in Wreaths Across America with hundreds of cemeteries across our nation honoring the Veterans buried in our cemetery. These Veterans participated in six wars: the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War II and the Korean Conflict. The veterans buried in our cemetery total 46. There is ample parking in the Eagle Road lot behind the Cemetery. YOUTH NEWS Christmas Luminaries: Our NPC Youth Group is selling luminary kits to raise funds for their upcoming mission trips to VA. The cost per kit is $15.00 per household and includes 15 luminaries (15 bags, candles and sand) for the frontage of your property. Forms are available in Ettenger Hall or on our church website and may be returned to Newtown Presbyterian Church, or your youth group representative TODAY, December 10 th. All kits will be available for pick up at church starting Sunday, December 17 th. Please contact Pastor Laura with any questions. Sunday, December 10 th at 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Tis the Season to Rock an Ugly Sweater! Wear your funkiest holiday clothing or sweaters and join us for our youth group holiday party! We'll all gather at the church at 5:00 p.m. for an ugly sweater contest and some Christmas Karaoke followed by dinner. Then the high school youth will head out for dessert on their own, while the Jr. High play some reindeer games at the church. Bring something sweet to share for dessert and a pink elephant gift to exchange. Gifts should not be more than $10.00 and should be new, wrapped gifts. Project Angel Tree Gift Sorting Night! Sunday, December 17 th, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Every year, the youth lend a hand sorting and organizing the hundreds of donated gifts the community provides to needy families in our area. Come and help us as we participate in this wonderful holiday mission project! After we're done, we'll have pizza together and celebrate a job well done. Sunday, December 10, :00 a.m. Worship (Sanctuary) 9:00 a.m. Worship (Sanctuary) 10:00 a.m. Fellowship Hour (Ettenger Hall) 10:00 a.m. Nominating Committee (206) 10:05 a.m. Children s Choir Rehearsal (201) 11:00 a.m. Worship (Sanctuary) 3:00 p.m. Christmas Pageant (Youth Hall) 5:00 p.m. Youth Groups Week of December 11-16, 2017 Monday 11:00 a.m. Bible Study (MR) Tuesday 8:00 a.m. Men s Bible Study (EH) 10:30 a.m. Staff Meeting (PO) 12:00 Noon NEWSLETTER DEADLINE 6:00 p.m. Women s AA (B1) 7:00 p.m. Preschool Committee (RR) 7:15 p.m. Deacons (EH) Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Yoga (EH) 7:00 p.m. Trustees (RR) 7:30 p.m. AA (B1) 7:30 p.m. Flying Solo (211) Thursday 6:00 p.m. Women s AA (B1) 7:30 p.m. Mindfulness (211) 8:00 p.m. Chancel Choir (Sanctuary) Saturday Noon Wreaths Across America (HC) NO YOUTH GROUP - DECEMBER 24 th or DECEMBER 31 st 2018 Offering envelopes are waiting for you in Ettenger Hall. Please pick them up today!

4 The chancel flowers are given by Jeanne and Bill Nagel in loving memory and honor of America s sons and daughters who did not return. Ushers: 8:00 and 9:00 a.m., Team B - Kenneth Kitsch Jr., Captain, Dwight Davis, Ginny Francksen, Brian Lucotch, Cooper Roe-Lipsky, Doug Welles 11:00 a.m., Team C - Harry Labold, Captain; Dave Archibald, Judy Archibald, Michael Korn, Kevin Kruse, Tom Marte, Dave Rolewicz, Peggy Rowlett Welcome Desk: If you are visiting Newtown Presbyterian Church, please stop by our Welcome Desk, which is located in the parlor next to the pulpit. You will find information about our church and Membership Committee representative, Linda Edmiston, to answer any questions. We look forward to meeting you. Coffee Hour: All are welcome for light refreshments in Ettenger Hall each Sunday after the 9:00 a.m. service. Come meet and greet your fellow NPC members and guests. Worship Bags: Worship bags are available for children in Kindergarten to Third grade. Please return the bags at the conclusion of the service so they can be replenished for reuse. See Janet Eshleman or an usher to get a bag. Stewardship Update: To date we have received 200 pledges for a total of $485,984. The goal for the operating budget for the 2018 church year is $583,000, this represents 83% of our goal. If you have sent in your pledge or have pledged on-line, we thank you very much, however, if you have not yet made your pledge we ask you to prayerfully consider doing so in the coming days. Additional pledge cards are found in the pews. You are encouraged to pledge on-line at newtownpres.org, click the button in the upper left corner of the web page or scroll down to quick links. Follow the prompts to set up an account (if your address is not found, please call Eileen in the office). Mindfulness: Deb Cyb will be leading an evening adult class the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in room 211. You will learn some techniques for mindful breathing, mindful listening and mindful seeing. The techniques are not just about stress reduction and relaxation. Mindfulness is a skill that can increase your ability to focus and concentrate. Neuroscience has proven how mindfulness practices can change brain structures and enhance our overall well-being. Next meeting: December 14. No meeting December 28, and the normal schedule resumes on January 11, Children and Families Advent Calendars are here: Be sure to pick up an Advent Calendar (one per family) in the Reception Room after worship today. There are calendars for children as well as adult families with readings included for each day in Advent. Please see Pastor Laura or Janet Eshleman if you have any questions. Hat and Mitten Tree: Please bring a hat and/or mittens for a child (infant to 18) and put it on the tree outside Ettenger Hall. These items will be given to Aiding Our Children. Please bring your donations to the church NEXT Sunday, December 17. Angel Tree: The Angels on the tree right outside our sanctuary and in the back of the church represent the wishes of people who are living in the Lower Bucks Homeless Shelter and people in the Aiding Our Neighbors program. These are truly the needy as many of them barely get by on what little money they make working and government subsidies, if any. So be an Angel and take an Angel and help someone this Christmas less fortunate. All Angels must be returned to the church NEXT Sunday, December 17, please wrap and securely attached the Angel to the outside. Children s Christmas Play: Join us as our children present The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Christmas Cantata: We will celebrate Christmas with our annual Christmas Cantata next Sunday, December 17 at the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. worship services. Please mark your calendar and bring your friends and family to this moving annual NPC tradition. Yoga will continue on the following Wednesdays: 12/13 and 12/20, 6:30 7:30, Ettenger Hall. Drop-ins are always welcome for $15. Students $10. Please bring a yoga mat, beach towel and water (exercise blocks and a strap are helpful). Proceeds benefit the ongoing restoration of the Historic Church cemetery. Contact Shelda Thorburn with any questions at Greeting Card Basket: A basket holding all kinds of greeting cards for anyone to take is in Ettenger Hall. They are organized by type. Feel free to look through the cards and help yourself whenever you wish! There are a lot of Christmas cards in the basket. Please save your used Christmas Cards and bring them to the church office. We will use them to make angels for our Angel Tree next year. Thank you. Thanksgiving Meals: Thank you!! The Deacons would like to thank all those who were able to donate to the Thanksgiving Family Meals outreach this year. The cost for a complete family meal remained $35.00, and was again covered completely by your generosity. We were able to donate 110 meals through your prayerful donations and added some Halloween treats as well. The Thanksgiving Family Meals were very gratefully received by Tabor Services in Doylestown, Christ Home in Warminster, Aid for Friends in Yardley, a few of our Food Pantry families, several families from the Benjamin Rush Elementary School, and to the Back Stretch Ministries (distributed by Mission Possible).

5 Christmas Memorials This year, Christmas Memorial donations will benefit our food pantry, music ministry, or flower fund. Please check which ministry you would like to support. Donation may be made in any amount. Checks should be made payable to the Newtown Presbyterian Church and write which fund you prefer on the memo line. Order forms must be received in the church office TODAY Sunday, December 10 for inclusion in the Christmas Memorial list. Food Pantry $ Music Ministry $ Flower Fund $ Name(s) Circle one of the following: In Loving Memory of or In Honor of Please print clearly so the names appear correctly. By: The flowers used to decorate the sanctuary are distributed to shut-ins within the church community. If you would like to personally deliver a flower to a particular shut-in, please indicate that person on the space below. Or, if you choose, you may take your flower after the 11:00 p.m. Christmas Eve worship service. I will deliver a flower to: