Third Sunday of Advent. Worship Services. December 17, :30 and 11 a.m. 6:30 p.m.

Transcription

1 Third Sunday of Advent Worship Services December 17, :30 and 11 a.m. 6:30 p.m. 1

2 Welcome We are very glad to have you worshiping our gracious God with us today. To Our Guests, We especially welcome you today! More information about our church is available on our website at firstpresaugusta.org. You can also visit our welcome desk in the Welcome Center, located directly behind the sanctuary. Spiritual Care If you would like to speak to someone about what it means to know Jesus Christ or you have any spiritual need or question, please use one of the prayer cards in the pew rack to contact one of our pastors. Our church elders are also available to speak with you. An elder and his wife will be standing next to the pastor following the service to talk or pray with you. Children s Check-in We are committed to the highest level of protection possible for the children placed in our care on Sundays and at all church events. For this reason, we require parents of newborns through fifth grade children to check in their children before they go to the nursery, Sunday School, Catechism, Children s Church or any other children s activity. Kiosks are available in the Narthex and in the Children s Lobby. The process is quick and easy, and volunteers are available to assist you. Children s Worship We offer a specially designed program for children in pre-k through fourth grade during the morning services. Leaders will escort children from the sanctuary to their classrooms during the hymn of preparation. Parents are welcome to accompany them to observe where to pick them up after the service. Children in pre-k through second grade remain in their classrooms until they are picked up by a parent. Nursery Nurseries are provided for infants and toddlers during the worship services and Sunday School. We provide a Mother/Infant Room (room 160) located in the Ebenezer Building behind the sanctuary, and the Geneva Room is designated as a cry room for parents with fussy children. Both rooms are equipped with live video feed of the worship services. Ushers are available to direct you. Additional Seating Please see ushers for additional overflow seating. The Advent Wreath Celebration Each Sunday during the Advent season we light a candle in our morning services and read the corresponding Scripture to focus our attention on Jesus and glorify him. We use three purple candles representing Hope, Love and Peace, and a pink candle representing the Joy that is ours because of Christ s coming into the world and into our hearts and lives. The white candle in the center of the wreath is lit on Christmas Eve and represents the birth of Jesus. This tradition, dating back to A.D. 600, reminds us that the center of the Church and the center of our Christmas celebration is Christ Jesus. As stewards of God s resources, we try not to print an excess of bulletins. We invite you to bring this bulletin with you when you return for the evening service. 2

3 The Morning Services Theme: Good News of Great Joy for All People The Prelude Carol Rhapsody... Richard Purvis *Welcome and Announcements... Rev. John Franks The Meditation Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head... arr. John J. Niles Melissa Schultz, solo Jesus, Jesus, rest your head, you have got a manger bed; All the evil folk on earth sleep in feathers at their birth. Have you heard about our Jesus? Have you heard about his fate? How his mother went to that stable on that Christmas Eve so late? Winds were blowing, cows were lowing, stars were glowing. To that manger came then wise men, bringing things from hin and yon, For the mother and the father and the blessed little Son. Milkmaids left their fields and flocks and sat beside the ass and ox. Words and Music: Appalachian Folk Song arr. John J. Niles 1944 G. Schirmer, Inc. The Call to Worship Let Sinners rejoice For their Savior is born Let the just rejoice, For their Justifier is born. Let the sick and infirm rejoice, For their Great Physician is born. Let the captives rejoice, For their Redeemer is born. Let slaves rejoice, For their Master is born. Let free men rejoice, For their Liberator is born. Let All Christians rejoice, For Jesus Christ is born. The Lord be with you. And with your spirit. Let us worship God! * Ushers may seat worshipers at this time. Indicates the congregation standing. 3

4 * The Hymn of Praise While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks...Christams (Verses 1, 2, 3, 4, 6) Nahum Tate, 1700 George Frederick Handel, Siroe, 1728 Arranged: Lowell Mason,

5 The Invocation (Please lift hands) The Lighting of the Advent Candle Love 8:30 a.m... The Wilkie Family Mary Ann and Justin; Henry, Madelyn, James, Josephine, King 11 a.m...the Hawkins Family Vanessa and Marcus; Kayla, Sydney, Chelsey The Advent Response Silent Night! Holy Night!...Stille Nacht (Sung by all) Silent night, holy night! Son of God love s pure light. Radiant beams from thy holy face With dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus Lord, at thy birth Jesus Lord, at thy birth The Personal Confession of Sin Indicates the congregation standing. Please kneel if able to do so. 5

6 The Corporate Confession of Sin God of grace and truth, in Jesus Christ, you came among us as light shining in darkness. We confess that we have not welcomed your great light, or trusted good news to be good. We continue to walk in darkness. We have failed to be your agents of peace on earth. We have resisted your mighty rule in our lives. We have been reluctant to glorify and praise you for becoming God with us. We have closed our eyes to your glory in our midst, expecting little, and hoping for less. Forgive our doubt, and renew our hope; cause us to receive your light and share your light, so that we may receive the fullness of your grace, and bring glory to Christ the Lord. Amen. The Assurance of Pardoning Grace... from Micah 5:2-5 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace. The Pastoral Prayer 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. 6

7 **The Offering (Please take a moment to sign the attendance register.) The Offertory One Small Child... David Meece, arr. Molly Ijames Words and Music: David Meece arr. Molly Ijames 1971 Word Music Melissa Schultz, solo One small child in a land of a thousand, one small dream of a Savior tonight, One small hand reaching out to the starlight, one small city of life. One king bringing his gold and riches, one king ruling an army of might; One king kneeling with incense and candlelight, one King bringing us life. See him lying, a cradle beneath him; see him smiling in the stall. See his mother praising his Father; see his tiny eyelids fall. See the shepherds kneeling before him, see the kings on bended knee; See his mother praising his Father, see the Blessed Infant sleep! * The Peace The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you. Children in pre-k through fourth grade exit for Catechism classes at this time. **Online giving is available at firstpresaugusta.org. 7

8 The Hymn of Preparation See Amid the Winter s Snow...Oxford Tune (All Verses) Words: Edward Caswall, 1851 Music: John Goss,

9 The New.Testament Lesson... Luke 2:8-20 page 1591 in the pew Bible The Response This is the Word of God, Thanks be to you, O God. Sermon The Voice of the Angels and Shepherds:... Rev. Scotty Smith The Joy of Living in God s Permanent, Unwavering Favor The Joy of Living in God s Favor Luke 2:8-14 The Need for Joy The Nature of Joy The Nemesis of Joy The Basis for Living in God s Favor Through the finished work of Jesus We receive a peace that passes understanding because Jesus took a judgment beyond all imagining. We enjoy the fullness of God s grace because Jesus took the totality of our disgrace. But God s favor doesn t just consist of the absence of our guilt, but also the presence of Jesus righteousness. (2 Corinthians 5:17) The Implications of Living in God s Favor God doesn t love us to the degree we are like Christ, but to the degree we are in Christ, which is 100 percent. If you are in Christ, God loves you as much as he loves Jesus, and there s nothing you can do about it. Let us marinate in it, live from the riches of God s favor; and serve our neighbors, neighborhood, and the nations, with joy. The Silent Prayers of God s People Sermons are available on the church website at firstpresaugusta.org/resources/sermons. 9

10 The Hymn of Preparation On Christmas Night All Christians Sing... Sussex Carol (Verses 1-3 before the Lord s Supper, Verse 4 after the Lord s Supper) Traditional English carol Arranged: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1919 The Lord s Supper The Prayer of Great Thanksgiving The Benediction (Please lift hands) (Please be seated following the benediction) The Postlude Joy to the World... arr. Michael Dell Dr. John L. Wilson, Director of Music and Arts 10

11 The Evening Service Jazz Prelude God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen The Shorter Catechism, Question 54: Q. What does the third commandment require? A. The third commandment requires the holy and reverent use of God s names, titles, qualities, regulations, word, and works. Call to Worship and Invocation... Rev. John Franks 11

12 Song Joy to the World Mike Murphy, Assistant Director of Music and Arts 12

13 Song What Child Is This? 13

14 Song God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen 14

15 Evening Prayers Offering Offertory Once in Royal David s City...Alexander, Gauntlett, Phillips, Gullahorn 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 He came down to earth from heaven Who is God and Lord of all And his shelter was a stable And his cradle was a stall With the poor and meek and lowly Lived on earth our Savior holy For he is our childhood s pattern Day by day like us he grew He was little weak and helpless Tears and smiles like us he knew And he feels for our sadness And he shares our gladness too 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 Words by Cecil Alexander, 1848 Music by Henry Gauntlett, 1849 Arranged by Jill Phillips and Andy Gullahorn 2010 St. Jerome Music 15

16 Song Noel 16

17 Sermon The Voices of Patriarchs, Kings, and Women:... Rev. Scotty Smith The Joy of God s Tenacious, Irrepressible Grace Matthew 1:1-18 page 1496 in the pew Bible Through Matthew s genealogy, we see God s covenant faithfulness. God is the great promise Maker and Keeper. Gen 12:2-3; Gen 13:15-16; Gen 17:6-7; Gen 22: To whom are such grand promises made? The Voices of Patriarchs, Kings and Women The Patriarchs The patriarchs aren t presented in Scripture primarily as moral heroes. Abraham A coward who, to spare his own neck, twice said that his wife, Sarah, was his sister, and who tried to fulfill a promise God made by having an affair with Hagar and giving birth to Ishmael. Isaac A copy-cat coward, who followed his dad s bad example and, out of fear, said his wife, Rebecca, was just his sister. Jacob A deceiver who lied about his identity to gain a blessing from his dad, Isaac. The Kings Matthew selectively presents a list of Israel s rulers, alternating between godly and wicked kings. Godly kings gave birth to sons who became wicked kings, and wicked kings had sons who became godly kings! Rehoboam (bad king) gave birth to Abijah (good king). Abijah (good) gave birth to Asa (bad king). Asa (bad) gave birth to Jehoshaphat (good king). Jehoshaphat (good) gave birth to Joram (bad king), and the broken family continued. The Women Tamar Judah s daughter-in-law, a Canaanite who pretended to be a prostitute so she could seduce Judah and have children by him. (Genesis 38) Rahab A Gentile prostitute from Jericho who protected two of the spies Moses sent into Canaan ( Joshua 2) Ruth A Moabitess who married Boaz and became the grandmother of King David. (Ruth 3-4). Moabites were not to be allowed into the congregation of Israel to the 10th generation (Deuteronomy 23:3) Bathsheba Uriah s wife, with whom King David committed adultery. (2 Samuel 11:1-27) Mary A teenager, pregnant out of wedlock What is the intended message? There is no pattern of righteousness in the lineage of Jesus. Adulterers, heroes, prostitutes, Gentiles are all found. There is no ground for boasting in this family tree. Broken people need a perfect Savior. None of us is beyond either the need or reach of grace. 17

18 Song O Come, O Come Emmanuel The Benediction (Please lift hands) CCLI License Number

19 Mike Hearon Interim Senior Pastor ext John Franks Associate Pastor, Family Nurture and Worship ext Pastoral Staff John Barrett Executive Pastor ext Mike Phillips Associate Pastor ext Jim Knight Pastoral Associate, Pastoral Care Robert Vasholz Pastoral Certification Church Directors Louise Coleman Director of Children s Ministry lcoleman@firstpresaugusta.org, ext Vonnie Eidson Director of Communication veidson@firstpresaugusta.org, ext Vanessa Hawkins Director of Women s Ministry vhawkins@firstpresaugusta.org, ext 8842 DT House Director of Youth Ministry dthouse@firstpresaugusta.org, ext Mike Murphy Assistant Director of Music and Arts mmurphy@firstpresaugusta.org Ministry Directors Chris White Director of Ministry Operations cwhite@firstpresaugusta.org, ext John L. Wilson Director of Music and Arts jwilson@firstpresaugusta.org, ext Outreach Directors Drew Epting Regional Director of Campus Outreach drew.epting@campusoutreach.org, ext Rick Keuroglian Director of Young Professionals Executive Director of City Hope Alliance rkeuroglian@firstpresaugusta.org, George Lazari Director of Medical Campus Outreach Augusta george@mcoaugusta.org, ext Clark Newton Regional Director of Medical Campus Outreach clark@mcoaugusta.org, ext Luke Niday Shalom Project Director lniday@firstpresaugusta.org, ext Stephen Pittman Director of Hope for Augusta stephen@hopeforaugusta.org Cameron Anderson, Youth Intern canderson@firstpresaugusta.org, ext Elizabeth Barone, Children s Ministry Administrative Assistant ebarone@firstpresaugusta.org, ext Sarah Boudet, Youth Intern sboudet@firstpresaugusta.org, ext Bonnie Bowles, Bookkeeper bbowles@firstpresaugusta.org, ext Beth Carson, Main Office/Discipleship Asst. bcarson@firstpresaugusta.org, ext Beth Cave, Children s Ministry Preschool Coordinator bcave@firstpresaugusta.org, ext Daniel Cirincione, COA Financial Director daniel.cirincione@campusoutreach.org Sarah Graybeal, Hope for Augusta Director, Arrow Insitute of Art sarah@hopeforaugusta.org Lesley Hamm, Discipleship Coordinator lhamm@firstpresaugusta.org, ext Jonathan Harper Pastoral Intern and Missions Associate jharper@firstpresaugusta.org, ext Ministry Staff Rachel Hyatt, Graphic Designer rhyatt@firstpresaugusta.org, ext David Jones, MCO Resource Director david@mcoaugusta.org, ext Sandy Lanclos, Event Coordinator and Assistant to Director of Operations slanclos@firstpresaugusta.org, ext Chandler Machemehl, Youth Intern cmachemehl@firstpresaugusta.org, ext Ellen McGaha, CO Office Manager ellen.mcgaha@campusoutreach.org, ext Kaitlyn McNair, MCO Women s Director kaitlyn@mcoaugusta.org, ext Mary-Clayton Murphy, Youth Intern mcmurphy@firstpresaugusta.org, 8849 Lee Myers, Information Technology and Audio Visual Coordinator lmyers@firstpresaugusta.org, ext Alissa Preston, Worship, Family Nurture and Youth Administrative Assistant apreston@firstpresaugusta.org, ext Jess Romer, Ministry Assistant jromer@firstpresaugusta.org, ext Mike Rosser, Hope for Augusta Walton Oaks Coordinator mrosser@hopeforaugusta.org, Mallory Sides, Canterbury Choir Director msides@firstpresaugusta.org Kelly Tabb, Children s Ministry Nursery Coordinator ktabb@firstpresaugusta.org, ext Gregory Trent, Maintenance Coordinator gtrent@firstpresaugusta.org, ext Pam Turley Finance and Accounting Manager pturley@firstpresaugusta.org, ext Candyn Turman, Hope for Augusta Associate Director candyn@hopeforaugusta.org, Hannah Westfall, CO Events Coordinator hannah.westfall@campusoutreach.org Krissy Wilkins, Children s Ministry Elementary Coordinator kwilkins@firstpresaugusta.org, ext Steven Zhang, CO Creative Director steven.zhang@campusoutreach.org

20 Adult Sunday School Classes A guide to navigating our campus is available in the Welcome Center, and ushers are available to help direct newcomers and guests. Class Class Description Location College In college or of college age Room 211 MCO Health care students Murphy Hall Young Professionals For those in their 20s and 30s, single or married Baker House Young Married Young married couples Harmony Hall Student Families Parents of elementary high school students Letchford Hall Cornerstone Parents of college students and older St. Andrew s Hall Covenanters Empty-Nesters Room 114 Trinity Those with grandchildren and older Eve Room Officer Training Officer Candidates and their Wives Room 201 Greeters These elders are greeting you during the month of December: 8:30 a.m. Gary Beaudreau, Matt Willis, Ashley Paulk, Bruce Van Peursem, David Whitcomb, Dan Boone 11 a.m. Ron Jeffcoat, Gene Betts, Steve Hubbard, Billy English, Tom Harley, Dale Martin 6:30 p.m. Gary Beaudreau, Matt Willis, Ashley Paulk, Bruce Van Peursem, David Whitcomb, Jim Carroll Active Elders Matt Aitken Downtown Parish Billy English Pleasant Home Parish* Steve Lutz Belair Parish Ron Skenes Belair Parish* John Barrett Masters Parish* Jim Grayson Brynwood Parish Dale Martin Westminster Parish* Bruce Van Peursem River Parish Gene Betts Lake Forest Parish* David Haburchak Savannah Rapids Parish Bill McCartney Forest Hills Parish* Mike Watts Savannah Rapids Parish* Dan Boone Downtown Parish Mike Harris National Parish* Jerry Miller Wheeler Parish Jeremy Wells Lake Forest Parish Sylvester Brown Grovetown Parish* Ed Hartmann Wheeler Parish* Byron Morris River Parish* Jeff Westergreen Wheeler Parish Robert Campbell Wheeler Parish Steve Hubbard Downtown Parish* Ashley Paulk Wheeler Parish David Whitcomb Martintown Parish* Jim Carroll Stevens Creek Parish* Ron Jeffcoat Lakeside Parish* Allen Pelletier River Parish Skip Wiggins Brynwood Parish* Cliff Eckles Savannah Rapids Parish Gerald Killian Palmetto Parish* Jim Scarbrough Brynwood Parish Matt Willis Evans Parish* * Parish Elder All active officers are listed at firstpresaugusta.org/officers. 20