First Presbyterian Church

Transcription

1 First Presbyterian Church December 22, :00 a.m. Savior of the Nations, Come A Service of Lessons and Carols Michael Burkhardt Readings adapted from the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

2 Savior of the Nations, Come The composer of Savior of the Nations, Come, Michael Burkhardt (b. 1957), is known for his creative hymn improvisations and his work with children. He is in frequent demand as a choral and organ clinician and leader of hymn festivals. He has served parishes in southern California and Minneapolis as Organist-Director of Music, and has served Christ College in Irvine, California as college organist and lecturer in church music and music education. His organ, choral, and handbell compositions are published by MorningStar Music Publishers. Dr. Burkhardt is currently on the faculty at Carthage College, Kenosha, Wisconsin. The life and work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer ( ) is both intriguing and inspiring to people of all denominational backgrounds. Even though he lived only 39 years, his writings, sermons, and life of faith in witness to Jesus Christ has had a monumental impact on the Church at large. Bonhoeffer spent the last two years of his life in prison. Two books of letters, written to a friend and to his fiance, have been published as Letters and Papers from Prison and Love Letters from Cell 92. One of the letters written to his parents during his first Christmas as a prisoner described how much more meaningful this season had become for him, the surroundings of the very first Christmas being very similar to his own. His letter related that when a prisoner of sin believes and knows that Christ came to suffer and die for him, he has been made part of the community of faith that breaks down all barriers, and prison walls become meaningless. In the spring of 1945, Bonhoeffer was removed from prison and was taken to Flossenburg, an extermination camp. With only three weeks remaining before American forces were to liberate Flossenburg, Bonhoeffer was executed. The tree from which he was hanged still stands and bears a plaque that reads: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a witness to Jesus Christ among his brethren. Special thanks to Ron Battle, trombone, Don Spong, and Michael Hulsey, trumpet, and Barabara Reeve, French horn, for their contribution to our music in worship today. And, as always, many thanks to Jim Allen, organ. 2

3 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH A Congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) SERVICE FOR THE LORD S DAY December 22, 2013 Fourth Sunday of Advent *Please stand, in body or in spirit. Text printed in bold italics to be read or sung in unison. Prelude Andante, J.S. Bach from Pastorale in F-Dur, BWV 590 Chiming of the Hour Welcome Introit Lost in the Night arr. Michael Burkhardt 3

4 Call to Worship and Lighting of the Advent Candles O Lord Jesus, you are Hope: Savior of the nations, come. O Lord Jesus, you are Peace: Savior of the nations, come. O Lord Jesus, you are Joy: Savior of the nations, come. O Lord Jesus, you are Love: Savior of the nations, come. O Lord Jesus, you are Emmanuel: Savior of the nations, come. Amen. Choir: Trebles: Men: Choir: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. O come, our Wisdom from on high, Who ordered all things mightily; To us the path of knowledge show, And teach us in her ways to go. O come, O come, our Lord of might, Who to your tribes on Sinai's height In ancient times gave holy law, In cloud and majesty and awe. O come, O Rod of Jesse's stem, From ev ry foe deliver them That trust your mighty power to save; Bring them in victory through the grave. O come, O 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. 4

5 Organ: O come, our Dayspring from on high, And cheer us by your drawing nigh; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight. O come, Desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of humankind; O bid our sad divisions cease, And be yourself our King of Peace. Time with the Children Sharon Youngs Children, second grade and younger, are invited to remain for the rest of the service or go to Activity Time (education building). A Woman s Passionate Song My Soul Gives Glory to My God 5

6 Celebrating Advent Savior of the Nations, Come 6

7 One Single Name 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!" Choir: Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold him come, Offspring of the virgin's womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail th' incarnate Deity, Pleased in flesh with us to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!" Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in his wings. Mild he lays his glory by, Born that we no more may die, Born to raise us from the earth, Born to give us second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!" The Turning Around of All Things Lo, How a Rose E er Blooming Choir: Lo, how a rose e'er blooming From tender stem hath sprung! Of Jesse's lineage coming, By faithful prophets sung. It came a flow'ret bright, Amid the cold of winter, When half-spent was the night. Isaiah 'twas foretold it, The Rose I have in mind, With Mary we behold it, The Virgin Mother kind. To show God's love aright, She bore for us a Savior, When half-spent was the night. This flow'r, whose fragrance tender With sweetness fills the air, Dispels with glorious splendor The darkness eve'rywhere. Enfleshed, yet very God, From sin and death he saves us, And lightens ev'ry load. 7

8 Prayers of the People - with 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. Everything Past and Everything Future He Comes to Us as One Unknown God is a God of Bearing Offering of God s Tithes and Our Gifts (including the receiving of the Christmas Joy offering) Offertory: Rejoice! Rejoice! The Savior Comes arr. Michael Burkhardt 8

9 Prayer of Dedication Prince of Peace Comfort, Comfort Now My People Comfort, comfort now my people; Tell of peace! So says our God. Comfort those who sit in darkness Mourning under sorrow s load. To God s people now proclaim That God s pardon waits for them! Tell them that their war is over; God will reign in peace forever! For the herald s voice is crying In the desert far and near, Calling us to true repentance Since the Kingdom now is here. Oh, that warning cry obey! Now prepare for God away! Let the valleys rise to meet him, And the hills bow down to greet him. Straight shall be what long was crooked, And the rougher places plain! Let your hearts be true and humble, As befits God s holy reign! For the glory of the Lord Now on earth is shed abroad, And all flesh shall see the token That God s word is never broken. Those Who Go to the Manger Charge and Benediction Congregational Response: Postlude Joy to the World Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive its King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing. Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ While fields and floods, rocks hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make his blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nations prove The glories of his righteousness, And wonders of his love, And wonders of his love, And wonders of his love. Today s flowers are given to the glory of God and in memory of John Reeve by his wife Ruth and daughter Barbara and her husband Paul Akers. 9

10 WELCOME GUESTS! We are glad you are here! You are invited to join us for refreshments in the Fellowship Hall (behind the sanctuary) following worship. If you would like to know more about First Presbyterian Church, please let us know. Talk with the pastor or give us a call ( ). Again, welcome! Things to know The nursery is located on the first floor of the Education Building. Hearing assistance units and children s bulletins are available from the ushers. Sunday worship services can be accessed online at fpcor.org. For recordings of the worship service, contact the church office. Today s Worship Volunteers Time with Children: Sharon Youngs Activity Time: Mary Keller, Anna Hoppestad Sound Guild: Sydney Murray Ushers: Anne Backus, Bill Bostick, Joe Grey, Ann Odom-Grey, Lewis Phillips, and Tammy Pietrzak Flowers: Ruth Reeve, Barbara Reeve & Paul Akers Counters: Sherith Colverson, Ann Odom-Grey Fellowship Hosts: Pat & Wayne Clark Opening and Closing: Anne Backus, Dennis Strickler Today in worship we will receive the Christmas Joy offering, one of four annual special offerings of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The offering receipts are shared equally by the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions and Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges for education. Christmas Eve services Tuesday, December 24, 4:30 and 10:30 p.m.: Both services will include the Sacrament of Communion and the traditional lighting of candles to Silent Night. The 4:30 service is planned particularly with children in mind and will include the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism for Miles Thomas Suratt, son of Sarah Strickler and Cory Suratt. Sunday school classes during the Christmas Season The Early Bird class will continue to meet in the parlor at 9:00 a.m. for coffee and conversation on the book of Ecclesiastes. All other Sunday school classes are taking a short break during the Christmas season and will resume meeting on Sunday, January 5. A note from Sharon I will have knee surgery on December 27 (at Ft. Sanders). Thank you so much for your prayers and well wishes. I anticipate that all will go very well. At this point, the plan is to be back somewhere around the middle of January. I'll be camping out in room 6 until I can navigate the steps up to the office. I'll be back leading worship on January 19. College swing dance classes Thursday, December 26 and Saturday, December 28 the college students are back in the swing of it with swing dance classes! Instruction begins at 7:00 p.m. in room 102. No previous experience necessary. Coffeehouse next Friday, January 3 at 7:00 p.m. in Rm The guitar workshop will be on hiatus through the holidays and will resume meeting Tuesday, January 14 at 6:30 p.m. 10

11 CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK December 22-29, 2013 Sun. 12/22 Fourth Sunday of Advent 9:00 a.m. Sunday School (Early Bird Class) 9:00 a.m. Choir rehearsal 10:00 a.m. Worship 11:15 a.m. Sunday school Mon. 12/23 12:00 p.m. Men s lunch (Shoney s) 6:00 p.m. Boy Scouts (Fellowship Hall) Tues. 12/24 12:15 p.m. Centering Prayer (Sanctuary) 5:30 p.m. AA (Rm. 100) Wed. 12/25 Christ is Born! Office closed Thurs. 12/26 Office closed 7:00 p.m. Swing dance class (Rm. 102) Fri. 12/27 7:30 p.m. Chinese Bible Study (Fellowship Hall) Sat. 12/28 7:00 p.m. Swing dance class (Rm. 102) Sun. 12/29 First Sunday after Christmas 9:00 a.m. Sunday School (Early Bird Class) 9:40 a.m. Choir rehearsal 10:00 a.m. Worship Celebrations this week: Birthdays 12/24 Elise Campbell 12/25 Mike Hilliard 12/27 Jean Bangham Remember those who are... in healthcare and retirement communities: Anna Kathryn Atkinson Oris Bullock Leslie Cowan Oakley Crawford Katherine Dillon Margaret Hunt Lois Lacy Ruth Reeve Homebound: Carol Coker Sandra Edwards Lillian Lafferty Dick & Kay Lord Margaret Phares Jo Rennich Looking Ahead... 12/24 Christmas Eve services 12/25 & 26 Merry Christmas! (church office closed) 12/26 & 28 Swing Dance classes 1/1/2014 Happy New Year! (church office closed) New Year s dance - college students 1/3 Coffeehouse First Presbyterian Church A PC(USA) Congregation Sharon Youngs Pastor Anna Thomas Director of Music Jim Allen Organist Meg Tonne Parish Nurse Adrienne Pyle Office Manager Bobbie Peters Nursery Omer Breeden Sexton Meghan Cadmus Nursery P.O. Box 6106 Oak Ridge, TN (865) fpcor.org Located at the corner of Lafayette and Oak Ridge Turnpike Church Office Hours: 8:30-11:30 a.m. 12:30-4:30 p.m. 11