W elcome to Roland Park Presbyterian Church. W e re glad you re here!

Transcription

1 We are all strangers in a strange land, longing for home, but not quite knowing what or where home is. We glimpse it sometimes in our dreams, or as we turn a corner, and suddenly there is a strange, sweet familiarity that vanishes almost as soon as it comes. ~ Madeleine L'Engle December 16, 2018 The Third Sunday of Advent W elcome to Roland Park Presbyterian Church. W e re glad you re here!

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3 THE SERVICE OF THE LORD S DAY The Third Sunday of Advent December 16, :30 AM CENTERING OURSELVES FOR WORSHIP Prelude We welcome our guest musicians today: Luke Spence & Ben Lostocco, trumpet; Josh Thompson, horn; Nathan Reynolds, trombone; Bryan Woodward, bass trombone Carol Fest Chancel Choir, Brass & Organ Voluntary on an Old French Carol arr. James H. Laster arr. J. Spong Hodie Christus natus est Chancel Soloists, Brass and Organ Giovanni Gabrieli Today Christ is born. Today the Savior appeared. Today on Earth the Angels sing. Archangels rejoice. Today the righteous rejoice, saying, Glory to God in the highest. Peace on earth and goodwill to all people. Words of Welcome Thank you for joining us today. We hope that today s service will be meaningful for you. Welcome cards are located in the pews. Please feel free to fill one out and place it in the offering plate later in the service. *CALL TO WORSHIP God, who created the heavens and stretched them out, And gives breath to the people on earth, God has called us in righteousness, God has taken us by the hand and kept us. See, the former things have come to pass, And new things are springing forth. *HYMN #88 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel VENI EMMANUEL All sing verses 1, 6 & 7 arr. Willcocks & Collister Men sing verse 3; Women sing verse 5 (Do not sing verses 2 & 4)

4 PRAYER OF CONFESSION God of promise and hope, we fall short of all that you have created us to be. We often fail to trust in your promises of deliverance and hope. Walk with us in the time of Advent, so that through our journey our trust and faith may be renewed. Amen. ASSURANCE OF GOD S LOVE Time for Silent Reflection Let us proclaim the good news of God s love to one another: God loves us and refuses to give up on us. Because of God s persistence we are made new again and again. Thanks be to God. Amen. *GLORIA *PASSING THE PEACE TIME FOR ALL GOD S CHILDREN HYMN #91 (seated) Come, Come Emmanuel COME, COME EMMANUEL PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING

5 GOD S STORY Isaiah 42: 1-9 Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them. One: All: For the Word of God in Scripture, For the Word of God among us, For the Word of God within us, Thanks be to God.

6 LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES Isaiah the prophet spoke truth to the nations. He yearned for the Lord s good word to proclaim freedom for prisoners stuck in darkness. (light candle 1) We still yearn, but yearning leads to hope. We light this candle as a sign that this hope never ends. (light candle 2) We light this candle, trusting God s peace will come. (light candle 3) The third, the flame of love, points to God s infinite compassion the promise of God-with-us, the one to fill our lives with the love of Christ for his friends. MESSAGE IN MUSIC Christmas Cantata Chancel Choir, Brass & Organ Daniel Pinkham I. Quem vidistis pastores? (Shepherds tell us the story) Whom did you see, shepherds, say, tell us: who has appeared on earth? The new-born we saw and choirs of angels praising the Lord, alleluia! II. III. O magnum mysterium (O great mystery) O great mystery and wonderful sacrament, that animals should see the newborn Lord lying in a manger! O blessed is the Virgin, whose womb was worthy to bear Christ the Lord. Alleluia! Gloria in excelsis Deo (Glory to God in the highest) Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and goodwill to all people. O be joyful in the Lord, all you nations. Serve the Lord with gladness. Serve him all of you. Come into his presence with singing, and with joy and exultation. Know that the Lord is God and that he is strong and mighty. He has created us, and not we ourselves. Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and goodwill to all people. Alleluia! *HYMN #129 Lo, How a Rose E er Blooming ES IST EIN ROS

7 PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE During the prayer there will be a time for you to give voice to your own prayers, after which the leader will say, Lord, in your mercy, or Lord, we give thanks, and the entire congregation responds, Hear our prayer. OFFERING Offertory The First Noel THE FIRST NOWELL Chancel Handbell Choir arr. Jason Krug *Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen. *Prayer of Dedication *HYMN #106 Prepare the Way, O Zion BEREDEN VÄG FÖR HERRAN Arr. Hopson & Collister *CHARGE AND BLESSING POSTLUDE Christmas Joy Dan Miller

8 Our Christmas Flowers are dedicated to the Glory of God and In loving memory of George Tasker by the Abraham Family In honor of RPPC by the Bartlett family In loving memory of Dr. and Mrs. W. Kennedy Waller by Jean Waller Brune In loving memory of my parents, Edward and Allene Bush, by Elaine Cochran In loving memory of Nanni Luci Friedman by the Friedman family In loving memory of Dr. Rodney S. Billett, Rev. and Mrs. Carroll O. R. Fritze and Mrs. Vaughan Ayers by the Fritze family In honor of Mrs. Ruth L. Billett by the Fritze Grandchildren and Greatgrandchildren In honor of Austin & Claire Evans and Maddie & Andrew Cochran by Darlene and Austin George In loving memory of our parents and Neil Tiebout by Sharon and Chuck Halm In loving memory of my grandparents by Amy Lutzky In loving memory of Marjorie and Herbert Lyall, Agnes Lyall by Patricia and James Lyall In loving memory of Rodney S. Miller by Andy Miller, Erin Wilk and Maverick Miller In honor of our extended families by Elayne, Michael, Dan, Alex & Benny Wolfgang In honor of Jen Ronald by Barrie and Richard Sigler In honor of John and Nancy Taylor by their grandchildren: Becca, Daniel, Allison, Carly and Travis In honor of Hannah Tennies by Christine Tennies In loving memory of our parents by George and Mary Ellen Thomsen In loving memory of my parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Kreyer, and my sister by Adrienne Toland

9 Our Christmas Music is dedicated to the Glory of God and In honor of the choir by the Abraham family In honor of the RPPC Music Program by Jane Bartlett In honor of the RPPC church choirs by Jean Waller Brune In honor of my husband, John Cochran, by Elaine Cochran In loving memory of my parents, Norman & Barbara Collister by Phillip & Greg Collister-Murray In loving memory of family by Jennie Lee and Hobie Fowlkes In loving memory of Gammy Margaret Alonzo by the Friedman Family In loving memory of Margaret E. Fritze by Scott and Jill Fritze In honor of Elaine Cochran & Mary Agnes Evans by Darlene and Austin George In honor of Laura Halm by her parents, Sharon and Chuck Halm In loving memory of Richard and Raeburn Hosier by Katie Hosier In honor of those who make music so special at RPPC by Katherine and Dave Hurst In loving memory of Claybourn & Anna Langlotz by Clay Langlotz In loving memory of Layda Gallo by Amy Lutzky In loving memory of Eleanor Morse, Louise Elliott, and Mary Louise Liston by Patricia and James Lyall In loving memory of Dorothy and Michael Matava by Kathy Matava In loving memory of Mary and Jim McCabe, the Norris, White and Andreae families by the McCabe family In honor of our incredible parents, Sally & Neil McCabe, by Catherine and William McCabe In honor of Kim Gardner by Andy Miller, Erin Wilk and Maverick Miller In honor of Mark & Amy Hanna by Janice and Kent Moore In loving memory of Margaret and Lew Beck, the Gothe family and Marie Patron by the Patron family

10 In honor of our grandchildren, Erin, Anna, Grace, Alex, Faith and Kat, by Howard and Ginny Rutherford In honor of the WOW Committee by Barrie and Richard Sigler In loving memory of Nana & Papa Tall by George W. Tall IV In loving memory of Joe Day by Christine & Hannah Tennies In honor of Margaret Budd & Nancy Holder by George and Mary Ellen Thomsen In loving memory of my husband, William Toland, by Adrienne Toland In loving memory of Stewart Mackay Wolff by Suzanne Wolff

11 SUNDAY, December 23, AM Education for All Ages 10:30 AM Worship Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25 Message: Grounded HEAD USHER: Christine Tennies LITURGIST: Neil McCabe IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TODAY: We look to our Lord for strength and healing. We look to each other to see our Lord in action. We remember all those in harm s way, those recovering from natural disasters, refugees and people in conflict, and facing new challenges. Among our church family: Darryl Fritze (Wayne Fritze s brother), Paula Belt, Darlene George, Courtney Sieck, the sister and niece of Holden McAleer and their family, J. Gary and Jean Glover, the friends and loved ones of Jim and Loretta Sailors (father and mother of Bill Sailors), Joan Buttner, Kent Moore, Claudia Neely Tiebout, and David & Danny Guillaume along with the staff and children of Kay Papa Nou & Unity House.

12 ROLAN D P ARK P RESBYTERIAN CH URCH Phone// Fax// office@rolandparkchurch.org ~ Roland Avenue, Baltimore, MD Office Hours: Monday Thursday 9 AM - 2:30 PM, Friday 9 AM - Noon Church Staff Mark W. Hanna, Pastor Phillip Collister-Murray, Director of Music Esther Lee, Organist Shayla Redfearn, Director of Christian Education Jennifer Ronald, Office and Communications Manager Caroline Mapp, Bookkeeper Tony Mason, Custodian pastor@rolandparkchurch.org pcollister@towson.edu estherlee1010@gmail.com dce@rolandparkchurch.org office@rolandparkchurch.org bookkeeper@rolandparkchurch.org custodian@rolandparkchurch.org Board of Session Board of Deacons Jean Brune (2021*) Tiffany Abraham (2021**) Jackie Capecci (2019*) David Bauer (2019*) Laura Cochran (2020*) Beth Bishop (2020**) Julie Evans (2021*) Carol Bishop (2020*) Phoebe Evans Letocha (2021*) Mary Carey (2019**) Amy Lutzky (2019*) Sarah Finlayson (2021*) Jim Lyall (2021**) Connie Gardiner (2020*) Neil McAslan (2019*) Clay Langlotz (2020*) Neil McCabe (2019*) Daniel Martin-Minnich (2019*) Andy Miller (2020*) Kathy Matava (2019*) Ginny Rutherford (2020*), Clerk Holden McAleer (2021*) Mark W. Hanna, Moderator Bill Olsen (2021**) Matt Bay, Treasurer Youth Deacons Audrey Hanna, Nathan Letocha, * indicates 1st term, ** 2nd term Zach Lutzky & Annelise Olsen An inclusive and welcoming congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Presbytery of Baltimore.