Christmas Day. december 25, 2016

Transcription

1 Christmas Day december 25, 2016

2 Faith Presbyterian Church Presbyterian Church in America 620 South Shirley, Tacoma, Washington Ministers: Robert S. Rayburn, Richard H. DeMass, Steven A. Nicoletti Christmas Day December 25, 2016 Upon entering the sanctuary please maintain silence for the sake of the congregation s preparation for worship, and please make sure electronic devices are off or using silent mode. Prelude While By My Sheep...Gordon Young ( ) Beside Thy Cradle Here I Stand... Johann Sebastian Bach ( ) O Jesus So Sweet...J.S. Bach Welcome and Announcements +Silent Prayer The Child that was ere world s begun (...We need but walk a little way, We need but see a latch undone...) The Child that played with moon and sun Is playing with a little hay. --from G. K. Chesterton The Wise Men Call to Worship *Hymn of Praise to Jesus Christ Hark! The Herald Angels Sing No Confession of Sin Silent Prayer Corporate Prayer Almighty and all Holy Father; we confess ourselves unworthy of your unspeakable Gift. We have not loved you as we ought; nor have we always been loving to one another; kindhearted, forgiving one another; even as you, for Christ s sake, have forgiven us. We have lived in selfishness and worldly pride, and the good gifts you have bestowed upon us, we have not used to relieve the burdens of others. Pardon and blot out our offenses, we beg you. O merciful Father, who in compassion for your sinful children did send Your Son Jesus Christ to be the Savior of the world: Grant us grace to feel and to lament our share in the evil which made it needful for Him to suffer and to die for our salvation. Help us by self-denial, prayer, and meditation to prepare our hearts for deeper penitence and a better life. And give us a true longing to be free from sin, through the deliverance wrought by Jesus Christ our only Redeemer. Amen.

3 Assurance of Pardon The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV) *Confession of Faith Q. What does it mean that he was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary? A. That the eternal Son of God, who is and remains true and eternal God, took to himself, through the working of the Holy Spirit, from the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary, a truly human nature so that he might become David s true descendant, like his brothers in every way except for sin. Heidelberg Catechism No. 35 *Hymn of Faith in Jesus Christ What Child Is This No. 213 Worship of God with Tithes and Offerings In the Bleak Mid-Winter (Based on a Holst carol... Gordon Young *Hymn Infant Holy, Infant Lowly No. 216 *Congregational Petitions and the Lord s Prayer Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in 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. Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV) Scripture Lesson John 1:1-14 (ESV p. 886) Sermon The Second Mystery The Lord s Supper The general order of communion will be back to front, with the balcony coming first. As the minister begins to serve those distributing the elements, that is your signal to come forward. However, individuals may commune at any time during the distribution of the elements. Wine will be found in the outside tray, grape juice in the inside tray. If you need to be served in your pew, please notify an elder or deacon. Gluten free bread is available upon request. You are welcome to participate in the Lord s Supper if you are a baptized Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, and a faithful member or adherent of this or some other congregation, recognized as belonging to the fellowship of Christian believers. If this does not describe you, we are glad you are here and commend to you this prayer for your use during the time of the Lord s Supper. My Father, I could never have sought my happiness in your love, unless you had first loved me. Your Spirit has encouraged me by grace to seek you, has made known to me your reconciliation in Jesus, has taught me to believe it, has helped me to take you for my God and portion. May he grant me to grow in the knowledge and experience of your love, and walk in it all the way to glory. Blessed forever be your fatherly affection, which chose me to be one of your children by faith in Jesus: I

4 thank you for giving me the desire to live as such. In Jesus, my brother, I have my new birth, every restraining power, every renewing grace. It is by your Spirit I call you Father, believe in you, love you; strengthen me inwardly for every purpose of my Christian life; let the Spirit continually reveal to me my interest in Christ, and open to me the riches of your love in him. Amen. What sweeter music can we bring Than a carol, for to sing The birth of this our heavenly King? Awake the voice! Awake the string! Dark and dull night, fly hence away, And give the honour to this day That sees December turned to May. Why does the chilling winter s morn Smile, like a field beset with corn? Or smell like a meadow newly shorn Thus on the sudden? Come and see The cause, why things thus fragrant be: Tis he is born, whose quickening birth Gives life and lustre, public mirth, To heaven and the underearth. We see him come, and know him ours, Who, with his sunshine and his showers, Turns the patient ground to flowers. The darling of the world is come, And fit it is, we find a room To welcome him. The nobler part of all the house here, is the heart, Which we will give him; and bequeath This holly, and this ivy wreath, To do him honour; who s our King, And Lord of all this revelling. What sweeter music can we bring Than a carol, for to sing The birth of this our heavenly King. Robert Herrick ( )/John Rutter Hymn All Praise to Thee, Eternal Lord No. 219 Reading of Scripture Luke 2:1-7, 8-14, (ESV p. 857) *Hymn O Come, All Ye Faithful No. 208 *Benediction

5 +Silent Prayer Welcome, all wonders in one sight! Eternity shut in a span. Summer in winter. Day in night. Heaven in earth, and God in man! Great little one! Whose all-embracing birth Lifts earth to heaven, stoops heaven to earth. -- In the Holy Nativity of Our Lord Richard Crashaw, 1648 Ding Dong Ding! Ding-a Dong-a Ding! Up! good Christen folk, and listen How the merry church-bells ring, And from steeple bid good people Come adore the newborn King: Tell the story how from glory God came down at Christmastide, Bringing gladness, chasing sadness, Show ring blessings far and wide. Born of mother, blest o er other, Ex Maria Virgine (from the Virgin Mary), In a stable ( tis no fable), Christus natus hodie (Christ is born today). G. R. Woodward/tune from Piae Cantiones, 1582 Postlude *Congregation standing +The congregation is invited to kneel CCLI License # Sunday December 25 Christmas Day Morning Worship No Evening Service Today Welcome & Announcement Elders Jim Price Ryan Gross Congregational Petitions Leaders Mike Lee Dave Halinen Nursery Schedule Ali Nichols & Hilary Kvale Jennifer & Christina Sullivan Church Library Elizabeth Jimmink & 9:40 10:45 am

6 Building Monitors Scott Bennett Monday December 26 - Church Office Closed Tuesday December 27 - Ladies Bible Study on Break Resumes January 3 rd Wednesday December 28 - Prayer Meeting, 7:00 pm, Sanctuary, Nathaniel Gutierrez speaking, What if I say that the church is the world s priest? Creation is dumb, but the church is to find a mouth for it. It is the church s high privilege to pray with acceptance. The door of grace is always open for her petitions, and they never return empty-handed. The veil was rent for her, the blood was sprinkled upon the altar for her, God constantly invites her to ask what she wills. Will she refuse the privilege which angels might envy her? --Charles Spurgeon - Jr. High Youth Group 7:00 8:30 pm - Sr. High Youth Group 7:00 8:30 pm - No Choristers rehearsal Thursday December 29 - Tea & Talk /Knitting Friendships, WIC Room 117 1:00 3:00 pm Sunday January 1 Morning Worship Sunday School Choir Rehearsal Evening Service Welcome & Announcement Elders Phil German Jerry Savage Congregational Petitions Leaders Ned St. John Andrew Lee & 9:45 am 4:45 pm 6:00 pm Nursery Schedule Forthcoming Coffee/Tea Hosts Need schedule from Margo/Terri Mary Moseley & Melinda Gauley Patsi Arkin Robert & Kathryn Schuster Church Library Megan & Marilyn Schlaudraff Building Monitors Colin James John Comis Prep for 11:00 Service 9:40 10:45 am 6:00 pm

7 Upcoming Events For details please see Information/Events on the web site. January 2 Church Office Closed January 3 Ladies Bible Study Resumes January 6 Game Zone Party January 9 Better English on Sixth Resumes January 19 Women in the Church Bunco Party January 22 Sanctity of Human Life Sunday January 25 Annual Meeting & Dinner January Youth Group Snow Retreat This Morning Pilgrim Bible Church, a congregation of like-minded believers with whom we have had a happy relationship through the years cannot use its ordinary facility for worship this morning. As a result, they will be having their Christmas worship in DeSoto Hall during the 11:00 a.m. hour. There will be no Sunday School and no coffee and tea service this morning. Annual Ministerial Relief Widows Fund Offering These gifts assist widows of PCA pastors and missionaries by providing for their basic necessities of life: a place to live, food, medicine, and healthcare. If you wish to donate please note Widows Fund on the offering envelope. Game Zone Alert Commence 2017 properly with food, fun, and fellowship on Friday, January the 6 th between 2:30 pm and 10:30 pm in DeSoto Hall. Our theme this year is Narnia (movies will be playing); our food theme is from our mother land, England. Look forward to a team game with questions derived from C.S. Lewis Narnia series. Are you up for the challenge and entertainment?! Come one, come all! 2016 Bible Reading Plan Available Craig DesJardins 2017 Bible reading plan is available in the narthex and also on the Faith Presbyterian Church website: faithtacoma.org. Click on the Information tab, then Bible Reading for a calendar or a printable single sheet reading plan for your Bible. Church Budget The Budget Committee will be meeting to discuss the financial plan for If you have any comments or issues, please contact Doug Lawty, Derek Whaley or the church office by Friday, January 6 th. The Joint Officers will meet on Thursday, January 19 th to approve the budget. The Annual Meeting will be held Wednesday, January 25 th with dinner beginning at 6:00 pm in DeSoto Hall followed by the meeting at 7:00 pm in the sanctuary. Choristers Rehearsals Now Underway Each Wednesday Choristers meet each Wednesday evening, 7:00 to 8:15, under Melissa McMillan s direction. To register your treble-voiced child (ages 7 +), sign up at the FPCMusic table in the narthex. Choristers next sing in morning worship on Sunday, January 1st. Young Musicians: ACM Recital Competition Saturday, April 1, 2017 Young musicians and their parents are invited to benefit from a generous purse of scholarship awards for continuing music education. Registration is now open online, acmusicians.org. For

8 Christian students, ages 8 19, actively involved in a Christian church and currently taking music lessons on piano, woodwind, strings, and brass. Cash prizes total nearly $2,500. Dr. Yelena Balabanova will serve as the primary adjudicator. Men of Faith, Morning Prayer Meetings There are opportunities to meet with fellow Men of Faith for prayer each week: Wednesday mornings with Phil Perkins: We meet at Starbucks in Old Town Tacoma, 2112 North 30th at 6:00 am. This meeting, which originated six years ago has continuously focused on the Psalms. Thursday morning with Thom Wilson at 6:30 am at the church. Join us in reading and digesting Richard Hannula s Heralds of the Reformation as we pray for our concerns and the world around us. A Reminder about Parking As a courtesy to our neighbors, please do not park on the south side of South 8th Street, on South Winnifred Street behind the church, or where the curb is painted yellow. Thank you. Nursing Mothers In addition to the nursery rooms, Room #117 the Women in the Church room, is open and available for your convenience during all Worship Services. The service can be seen and heard in the WIC room. Meals on Wheels The purpose of Meals on Wheels is to provide meals for those families needing extra help due to illness, death in the family, or the arrival of newborns. If you know of a need, please contact Kathy Haass, Alisha Bennett or the church office. More participants are needed. If you would like to serve in this ministry (usually no more than one or two times per year) please contact Kathy or Alisha to be added to the roster. Thank you! Women to Women Ministry There is a ministry of mentoring by women to women here at Faith. If you would like to meet with a woman for this purpose, you may contact Debbie Mellott and she will put you in touch with one of the women providing this ministry. Hearing Assistance If you would like a device to help with hearing the worship service, please see a Deacon. On the Cover Albrecht Altdorfer, The Adoration of the Magi, oil on wood, c.1535