Westminster. Presbyterian Church. A Telling Presence in the City. 4th Sunday of Advent, December 23, 2018

Transcription

1 Westminster Presbyterian Church A Telling Presence in the City 4th Sunday of Advent, December 23, 2018 Mary with Child, by Beth Hart-Andersen stained glass We enter this church not as strangers, but as children of God.

2 Welcome to Westminster We are grateful for your presence and invite you to participate in our worship, mission, and programs. Large-print hymnals, hearing assistance devices, and Hearing Loop information available from ushers. If you are new to Westminster Parking On Sundays, if you are able to walk, please park at Orchestra Hall to leave space in the underground parking for visitors, families with young children, and those who have walking difficulties. At Orchestra Hall, take a ticket as you enter; get a parking voucher at Westminster; use the ticket and voucher to exit. Westminster underground parking is accessed from Alice Rainville Place between Marquette and Nicollet, and there is a drop off area on Marquette Ave. Nursery Care is available for infants through age 3 during worship. Coffee Hour Join us for fair trade coffee and refreshments after worship in the Commons. Education for all ages, Sundays at 9:15 am Resumes Jan 6. Interested in membership? To learn more, visit westminstermpls.org/membership or contact Rev. Meghan Gage-Finn, mgage-finn@wpc-mpls.org, or Janice Teliczan, jteliczan@wpc-mpls.org. The next new member class is January 13. If you seek to deepen your involvement Faith in Action Get involved in serving and seeking justice. Contact Rev. Alanna Simone Tyler, atyler@wpc-mpls.org. Families, Youth, and Children Connect with children s choirs, parent offerings, and special events. Contact Rev. Matthew Johnson, mjohnson@wpc-mpls.org. For youth activities, contact Jim Cochrane, jcochrane@wpc-mpls.org. Fellowship Enjoy fellowship with other members of the church. Contact Rev. Sarah Brouwer, sbrouwer@wpc-mpls.org. Other worship and prayer opportunities Prayer Companions Sundays, 11:30 am, Prayer Rm Gathered at Five, Sundays, 5 pm, Westminster Hall Centering Prayer Wednesdays, noon, Bates Rm The Clearing Wednesdays, 6 pm, Westminster Hall Quiet Worship 3rd Saturday of the month, 9 am, Bushnell Rm Westminster Cares Births, Adoptions, Baptisms Contact Janice Teliczan, jteliczan@wpc-mpls.org. For Pastoral Care Notify Deb Wagner of hospitalization, illness, death, or prayer requests, dwagner@wpc-mpls.org. Blood Pressure Screenings 3rd Sunday, 9-10:30 am, Bushnell Rm; 10:30-noon, Bates Rm The Westminster Counseling Center offers pastoral counseling for individuals, couples, families, and children. Visit westminstercounseling.org or call

3 Preparing for the Word Our service begins with the Prelude, inviting us to prepare for worship. Welcome Prelude In dulci jubilo Bon Joseph écoute-moi Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella Joy to the World The People that Walked in Darkness Advent Greeting One: The Lord be with you. All: And also with you. Marcel Dupré Jean-Francois Dandrieu Christopher Uehlein Craig Philips G. F. Handel Erik Krohg, baritone; Melanie Ohnstad, organist Meghan K. Gage-Finn As the morning greeting is offered, please complete the friendship folder found in your pew, and pass it to your neighbor. *Call to Worship (from Isaiah 7) One: Look! The young woman is with child; All: she will call him Emmanuel, for God is with us. One: Let us worship God. December 23, :30 am *Processional Hymn No. 133 O Come, All Ye Faithful Lighting the Advent Candles Sonja, Dan, Owen, and Aubrey Dziekciowski Sung Response Hymn No. 347 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (vs. 4) Advent Prayer (Unison) David Shinn God of grace, your eternal Word took flesh among us when Mary placed her life at the service of your will. Prepare our hearts for his coming again; keep us steadfast in hope and faithful in service, that we may receive the coming of his kingdom for the sake of Jesus Christ, the ruler of all, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. * Please stand as you are able.

4 Anthem Glory to God Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. Randall Thompson Listening for the Word A Time with Children There is no Children s Church today. Children are invited to remain in worship. Sung Response No. 116 The Snow Lay on the Ground Prayer for Illumination Before the reading of scripture we pray that God will illumine our understanding. Readings from Holy Scripture Micah 5:2-5a (OT p. 818) Matthew 1:18-25 (NT p. 1) One: This is the Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. Rodney Allen Schwartz Sarah Brouwer Meditation What Is His Name? Timothy Hart-Andersen Responding to the Word *Hymn No. 110 Love Has Come Pastoral Prayer and the Lord s Prayer Matthew Johnson 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.

5 Offertory Sentences Having heard the Word, we now respond in gratitude by giving. Please place your offering in the plate, give via the tithe.ly app, or use the I give to Westminster card in recognition of your contributions made online or in another way. Offertory Anthem Gabriel s Message arr. David Willcocks The angel Gabriel from heaven came, his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame; All hail, said he, thou lowly maiden Mary, most highly favoured lady, Gloria! For know a blessed Mother thou shalt be, all generations laud and honour thee, thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold, most highly favoured lady, Gloria! Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head, To me be as it pleaseth God, she said, my soul shall laud and magnify his holy Name. Most highly favoured lady, Gloria! Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born in Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn, and Christian folk throughout the world will ever say Most highly favoured lady, Gloria! Prayer of Dedication for the Offering Received *Hymn No. 134 Joy to the World *Charge and Benediction The people respond with Amen. *Passing of the Peace Since the earliest days of the Christian Church, worshippers have greeted each other with a sign of peace. All are invited to offer a verbal greeting, such as: Peace be with you. One: The peace of Christ be with you. All: And also with you. Postlude In dulci jubilo J. S. Bach Call to Congregational Meeting, December 30, 2018, A meeting of the Congregation of Westminster Presbyterian Church will be held Sunday, December 30, 2018, during the 10:30 am worship service in the sanctuary of the church, 1200 Marquette Ave., Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the purpose of filling a vacancy on the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee elected earlier to seek a new Associate Pastor for Faith Formation. Signed, Vincent A. Thomas, Clerk of Session

6 This Sunday 10:15-11:30 am Nursery care, infants to age 3 9:15 am Adult Choir; Virtues & Values 10:30 am Worship Service, Sanctuary 11:30 am Prayer Companions, Prayer Rm; Christmas pageant rehearsal, Fellowship Hall 5 pm Gathered at Five, Westminster Hall 6 pm FEAST Westminster Gallery A Gospel Nativity. Contact Dr. Rodney Allen Schwartz, rschwartz@wpc-mpls.org. Coming Up Congregational Care Contact Deb Wagner, or dwagner@wpc-mpls.org unless noted. Magnet Senior Center is on break and resumes programming on Jan 7. Questions? Contact Angelique Kingsbury, akingsbury@ wpc-mpls.org. Grief Support Group, Saturdays, 9:30 am, Hennepin Ave UMC, Dec 29: Open session. More info, or mplsgriefsupport. org. Educational Ministries Contact Carmel Tinnes, ctinnes@wpc-mpls. org unless noted. Sun Adult Ed resumes Jan 6 with the All- Church Book Read, Safe from the Sea. Wed Adult Ed resumes Jan 9. Faith in Action Contact Alanna Simone Tyler, atyler@wpcmpls.org unless noted. Social Justice Forum resumes on Jan 6. Families, Youth & Children Contact Matt Johnson, mjohnson@wpcmpls.org unless noted. Church School, Children s Church, Family Matters resume Jan 6. Wed programming resumes Jan 9. Educational Ministries Living the Faith in the 21st Century, Wed, 5:30 pm, Resumes Jan 9. Questions? Contact Chad Quaintance, Fellowship Contact Sarah Brouwer, sbrouwer@wpcmpls.org unless noted. Meisel Scholars Contact Meghan Gage-Finn, or mgage-finn@wpc-mpls.org. Calling all Meisel Scholar Alums! Today we will attend Gathered at Five and then head over to Brit s to socialize and reconnect! Meisel Scholars 30th Anniversary Celebration, Jan 6, 11:30 am, Westminster Hall, All are invited to gather for lunch and conversation and to hear about the future of the Meisel Scholars Program!

7 Music The Westminster Choir will resume rehearsals on Jan 2, 6:30-8:30pm. January is a wonderful time to join the choir! If you have any questions or would like to sit in on a rehearsal, contact Amanda Weber, aweber@ wpc-mpls.org. Global Choir rehearses on Sun, Jan 6, 11:30 am, Choir Room (2nd floor). For a change of pace, we will sing at Gathered at Five on Sun, Jan 13, 5 pm. Questions? Contact Barbara Prince, bprince@wpc-mpls.org. New Members Contact Meghan Gage-Finn, or mgage-finn@wpc-mpls.org. Interested in membership at Westminster? There is a new member class on Jan 13, 11:30 am, over lunch in the Meisel Rm. Worship Gathered at Five, Sundays, 5 pm, Casual service, Westminster Hall. Note: Gathered at Five will not gather on Sun, Dec 30. The Clearing, Wednesdays, 6 pm, resumes Jan 6. Comtemplative service, Westminster Hall Christmas Eve Worship Pageant, 4 pm Candlelight Services, 8 & 10 pm Tim Hart-Andersen preaching Prelude begins 30 minutes before the 8 & 10 pm services. Sun, Dec 30, 10:30 am only Theological Education Sunday We celebrate Theological Education Sunday with Madeline Hart-Andersen preaching. Madeline is a senior at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and under care of Westminster and the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, in preparation for ordination. Ross Sutter, Cheryl Paschke, Marya Hart will share gifts of Scandinavian music. On Sun, Jan 6 we return to two worship services, 8:30 & 10:30 am. Communion will be served at both services. Promise of Justice, Promise to Give If you haven t already done so, please help create justice in the world with an online pledge of support for Westminster s 2019 ministries. Help God s abundant love come alive!

8 Today s Worship Leadership Rev. Dr. Timothy Hart-Andersen, Senior Pastor Rev. Meghan K. Gage-Finn, Executive Associate Pastor Rev. Sarah Brouwer, Associate Pastor, Congregational Life Rev. Matthew Johnson, Interim Associate Pastor, Families, Youth, and Children Rev. David Shinn, Associate Pastor, Congregational Care Dr. Melanie Ohnstad, Minister of Music and the Arts/Organist Dr. Amanda Weber, Interim Director of Choral Ministries The Westminster Choir Erik Krohg, baritone Dr. Rodney Allen Schwartz, Director, Westminster Gallery & Archive Sonja, Dan, Owen, and Aubrey Dziekciowski, Advent candle lighters For full Westminster staff listing and contact information, please visit westminstermpls.org. Westminster Affiliated Boards Westminster Camp Ajawah, ajawah.org Westminster Counseling Center, westminstercounseling.org Westminster Town Hall Forum, westminsterforum.org Daily Phone Devotions Westminster Presbyterian Church 1200 Marquette Avenue Minneapolis westminstermpls.org facebook.com/westminstermpls twitter.com/westminstermpls instagram.com/westminstermpls December 23...Luke 1: Isaiah 9: Luke 2: Hebrews 1: Samuel 2:18-20, Psalm Colossians 3: Luke 2:41-52