Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy...

Transcription

1

2 Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy.... By tradition on the Third Sunday of Advent the pink candle is lit. This speaks of JOY with the news about Messiah. Joy is not happiness. It is deeper, not subject to the winds of change and the shift in circumstances. It is the settled conviction of life and heart that rises from certainty that all I need for my life is assured to me. My horizon is bright with certain promise and the deepest longings of my heart are satisfied. It does not mean that we must ignore the brokenness of the present world or pretend that the world and the devil do not exist. It means we are certain of the outcome and that the Savior of the world has conquered sin and death. For all who have put trust in him we can never be separated from his grave and eternal favor. Today in worship allow your faith to be informed, to grow and to blossom into great joy that Christ is born for you. Bill Douglas, Pastor WELCOME VISITORS We are glad to have you as our guest! As we seek to bring glory to our Father together, we welcome you to join any or all of the events and ministry activities at St. Andrews. We invite you to worship God with us, to find us as a place for encouragement and fellowship, and to become a part of this church. We invite you to tell us who you are and let us get to know you, as you get to know and become more familiar with us. The back of the program has the office phone number and addresses for the staff. God has moved you to come to worship him. We are honored that you are here.

3 Songs of Ascent December 17, 2017 Preaching: Bill Douglas Leading Worship: Mike Stewart O Come, O Come, Emmanuel O come, O come, Immanuel, and ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear. Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel Shall come to you, O Israel. O come, O come, thou Lord of might, who to thy tribes on Sinai's height In ancient times didst give the law in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain O come, O Rod of Jesse, free, thine own from Satan s tyranny; From depths of hell thy people save, and give them victory o'er the grave. Refrain O come, thou Day-spring from on high, and cheer us by thy drawing nigh; Disperse they gloomy clouds of night, and deaths dark shadows put to flight. Refrain O come, thou Key of David, come and open wide our heav nly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery. Refrain O Holy Night O, holy night, the stars are brightly shining, it is the night of our dear Savior s birth! Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared, and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn! Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices! O, night divine, O, night when Christ was born! Humbly, He lay Creator, come as creature, born on the floor of a hay-scattered stall. True Son of God, yet bearing human feature, he entered earth to reverse Adam s fall. In towering grace, He laid aside His glory and in our place, was sacrificed for sin. Fall on your knees! O, hear the Gospel story! O night, divine, O night when Christ was born! Come then to Him who lies within a manger, with joyful shepherd, proclaim Him as Lord. Let not the Promised Son remain a stranger; in reverent worship, make Christ your Adored. Eternal life is theirs who would receive Him; with grace and peace, their lives He will adorn. Fall on your knees! Receive the gift of Heaven! O night, divine, O night when Christ was born! O night, O holy night when Christ was born!

4 The Church s One Foundation The Church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord, She is His new creation by water and the Word. From heaven He came and sought her to be His holy bride; With His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died. Elect from every nation, yet one o er all the earth; Her charter of salvation, one Lord, one faith, one birth; One holy Name she blesses, partakes one holy food, And to one hope she presses, with every grace endued. Mid toil and tribulation, and tumult of her war, She waits the consummation of peace forevermore; 'Til, with the vision glorious, her longing eyes are blessed, And the great Church victorious shall be the Church at rest. Yet she on earth hath union with God the Three in One, And mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won. O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we Like them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with Thee. Call to Worship You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; The mountains and hills will burst into song before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thorn bush will grow the pine tree, And instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, Which will not be destroyed." The Lord be with you And also with you.

5 Prayers of Invocation Hymn #218 Angels, From The Realms of Glory Angels, from the realms of glory, wing your flight o er all the earth; Ye who sang creation s story, now proclaim Messiah s birth: Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King. Shepherds in the fields abiding, watching o er your flocks by night, God with man is now residing, yonder shines the infant light. Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King. Sages leave your contemplations, brighter visions beam afar; Seek the great Desire of nations; ye have seen his natal star: Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King. Saints before the altar bending, watching long in hope and fear, Suddenly the Lord, descending, in his temple shall appear: Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King. All creation, join in praising God the Father, Spirit, Son; Evermore your voices raising to th eternal Three in One: Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King. Prayers of Confession Third Advent Candle Annie Simpson, Gracie Scott, Drew Hammond, Dan Gwaltney

6 Confession of Faith Westminster Larger Catechism Q 41: Why was our Mediator called Jesus? Our Mediator was called Jesus, because he saveth his people from their sins. Q 42: Why was our Mediator called Christ? Our Mediator was called Christ, because he was anointed with the Holy Ghost above measure, and so set apart, and fully furnished with all authority and ability, to execute the offices of prophet, priest, and king of his church, in the estate both of his humiliation and exaltation. Q 43: What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer? A. Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation. Hymn #214 Angels, We Have Heard On High Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o er the plains, And the mountains in reply echo back their joyous strains. Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo. Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? Say what may the tidings be, which inspire your heav nly song? Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo. Come to Bethlehem and see him whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo.

7 The First Noel Women: The first Noel the angels did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay; Men: In fields where they lay keeping their sheep, On a cold winter s night that was so deep. All: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel! Men: They lookéd up and saw a star, Shining in the east beyond them far; Women: And to the earth it gave great light, And so it continued both day and night. All: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel! All: Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heavenly Lord That hath made heav n and earth of nought, And with His blood mankind hath bought: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel! Offering (At this time, the Pre K4 and Kindergarten children are invited to meet their leaders at the back of the sanctuary for Children s Church.) Scripture Lesson Ephesians 1: In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

8 Sermon Hymn # 203 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!" Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th' angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem." Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!" Christ, by highest heav'n adored: Christ, the everlasting Lord; Late in time behold him come, Offspring of the favored one. Veil'd in flesh, the Godhead see; Hail, th'incarnate Deity: Pleased, as man, with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel! Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!" Benediction Nunc Dimittis Hymn # 203 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing Hail! the heav'n born Prince of peace! Hail! the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in his wings Mild he lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die: Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"

9 Ephesians 1:11-14 Lord command what you will but give what you command. Augustine of Hippo A.D. 400 The exacting commands in Eph 4-6 are rooted in the necessity of the provisions in Eph 1-3. In order to put away our old practices we need a resource greater than our fears and our anger. We can speak truth in love because there is no need to maintain our own defenses. We can practice submission to one another because we have God. We can die to our self-demands today because God has given us eternal life An inheritance that is guaranteed. What my soul needs the most is sure and imperishable. Past tense and predestined according the purposes of God. Sealed by the Spirit as down payment. An inheritance that comes through believing the truth of the gospel of salvation. The story of the gospel. The promises of the gospel. An inheritance that is not just the benefits of Christ but Christ himself.

10 Carl & Anne Hopp Doris & Wayne Keene Ashley & Ryan Foster Susan & Jim Jackson Marie& Larry King Barb & Bill Brouwer Cheryl & David Smith Phil, Dorothy, Cullen, & Joseph Bryant Pilar & Clark Cobb Danelle & DR McNew Brooke & Bill Douglas Ruth & Philip Russell Harl & Lois Keene Joe & Wini Fain Libby Fain Dennis Whitford Susannah Joy Jackson Mrs. Lillian Hamilton Mr. & Mrs. Dimon King Peter Louters Albert Brouwer Alice Murawski (Honor Of) Melford Murawski Charles & Nancy Smith Clinton & Dot Early Jim & Rachel Skalitzky Howell Cobb Children & Grandchildren (Honor Of) Marlon Harris William C. Douglas SR. Anne McMillan Douglas Paul Markey Riherd

11 A N N O U N C E M E N T S Advent Schedule Worship Services begin at 10:30. There will be no Sunday School until 1/7/2017. Christmas Eve Service A Christmas Eve service will be held on Sunday, December 24 at 5:30 P.M. Nursery will be provided. Church Life There will be a New Year s Eve breakfast before the service on 12/31/2017. Please join us at 9:45am in the Narthex for breakfast and fellowship as we give thanks for a new year. End of the Year Giving If you would like to make a donation to St. Andrews that will be reflected on your 2017 giving statement, please have it to the office by noon on Friday, December 29th. Women's Retreat This year, the retreat will be held at St. Andrews. Reserve the dates - February 23th -24th! St. Andrews Family and Friends are invited join us for Our Annual Christmas Pageant Performed by the Children s Ministry T O N I G H T at 5:30 PM A small reception of cookies and punch will follow the performance

12 Monthly Calendar For St. Andrews D E C E M B E R 17, Sun Children s Christmas Pageant (5:30pm) 18, Mon Moms in Prayer 22, Fri Women's Early Morning Study, Pursuit of God by Tozer 24, Sun Christmas Eve Service (5:30pm) 25, Mon MERRY CHRISTMAS!! 31, Sun Church Life Fellowship (refreshments at 9:40am in the Narthex) J A N U A R Y 1, Mon HAPPY NEW YEAR! 5, Fri Women's Early Morning Study, Pursuit of God by Tozer 7, Sun Sunday School Resumes (9:30am) Normal Worship Schedule Resumes (10:45am) 8, Mon Youth, College Football National Championship at SAPC Moms in Prayer 11, Thu Titus 2 at Paula Anderson s House (7:00pm) If you have questions regarding any event, please contact the church office

13 Calendar of the Month Ushers: Brad Brooks, Warner Kennon, Jr., Bill Buck, Sydney Brasseaux Deacons: Allen Whitley, Dan Gwaltney Greeters: December 17: Allen Whitley & Dan Gwaltney December 24: Billy & Janet Whitley December 31: Allen Whitley & DR McNew Children s Church: December 17: Bess Kendrick-Holmes & Sydney Brasseaux & Grace Johnson December 24: Alison Ross & Blake Schoonover December 31: Diane McGowan & Aracelis Williams Nursery Volunteers: December 17: Harry & Lydia Westcott December 24: Ellen Brooks December 31: Caitlin Ballard & Alison Ross COVENANT FAMILY NEEDS Expectant Mothers Meredith Gehman, Mary Lou Cantrell, Danelle McNew, Elise Jones, Heather Cannon Pursuing Adoption Mason & Shannon Cloy Pursuing Foster Care Matt & Katherine Maxey St. Andrews Missionaries Mission to North America (MNA) Chaplain Ministries St Andrews Ministries Worship Ministry Team Please pray for those in our church family who are recovering from surgeries, accidents, cancer treatments, and other illnesses: Dorothy Bryant Jackson Family Libby Dahlin Marnie Reynolds SamKilleffer Please pray for service members and families from our church family who are deployed or moving to new duty stations in the coming days and weeks.

14 MISSIONARIES AND MINISTRIES SUPPORTED BY ST. ANDREWS Bethany Christian Services (Columbus, GA) Covenant Theological Seminary (St. Louis, Missouri) House of Mercy (Columbus, GA) International Friendship Ministries (Columbus, GA) InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Paul and Margaret Tokunaga Mission to North America (MNA) Chaplain Ministries Chaplain Dr. Mike Stewart (Medical Center, Columbus, GA) Mission to the World (MTW) David and Erin Pervis (Ukraine) Johan and Stephanie van der Westhuizen (Chile) Gary and Tammy Elliott (Bulgaria) Pete & Ruth Mitchell (France) Pioneers Tom and Iris Lowder Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) Auburn University (Wes and Nancy Simmons) Mercer University (Elliott and Carrie Everitt) University of GA (Justin and Elizabeth Clement) University of South Alabama (Jacob and Leigh Zoller) Valley Rescue Mission (Columbus, GA) Young Life Greater Columbus, GA Slate and Lindsay Fluker Elders of St. Andrews 2018 Andy Dickens Dimon Kendrick-Holmes AJ Morris 2019 Bill Brouwer Matt Maxey 2020 Chris Schuster Greg Johnston John Mitchell Deacons of St. Andrews 2018 David Clickner Dan Gwaltney Dale Pope 2019 DR McNew Josh Schuster Allen Whitley 2020 Morgan Kimball Bill Shirley Ben Wallace

15 The Purpose of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church: We exist to glorify and enjoy God as His called-out people: Who are called together to worship God, To be instructed in the Scriptures, To be conformed to God s truth, To reach out into our world with the news of the gospel.

16