Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Asheville, North Carolina

Transcription

1 Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Asheville, North Carolina November 29, :30 am A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes - and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad picture of Advent. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Prelude O Come, O Come Emmanuel Wilbur Held Advent Candle Lighting Isaiah 2:5 Max & Harrison Ungert Music Leaders: Collen Hartbarger, Isabel Parker, and Luke Shealy

2 * Call to Worship To you, O Lord, we lift our souls, longing for you to come once again into our lives. Surely, the Lord is our Salvation. In you, O Lord, we would trust that goodness, wonder, and grace are drawing near. Surely, the Lord is our Hope. With you, O Lord, we would walk your paths of righteousness and justice. Surely, the Lord is our Way. * Hymn 82 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus HYFRYDOL * Call to Reconciliation * Prayer of Confession Almighty God, you warn us to read the signs for the coming of your glory in the sun, the moon, the stars, the roaring of the seas and the waves, the distress among the nations. We have seen it all before. Nothing seems to change. Help us live with courage in this age of ambiguity where wars are fought for peace and freedoms are stripped in the name of liberty. Forgive our lapse of focus, our sense that nothing ever really changes. Teach us to wait with patience, that we may be ready as our redeemer draws near. Amen. * Assurance of Forgiveness This is the good news we have to declare: God leads us out of the shadows to walk in the light of Christ. This is the word we have heard: our faithful God forgives us and raises us to new life. Thanks be to God. Amen. * Response Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. * Passing of the Peace The Peace of Christ be with you. And also with you!

3 Prayer for Illumination Old Testament Jeremiah 33:14-16 The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God! Anthem Comfort, Comfort John Ferguson Gospel Reading Luke 21:20-28 The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God! Sermon Living In the Depths Kristy Farber Silent Meditation * Hymn 88 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel VENI EMMANUEL (Stanzas 1-4 & 7) Our Life Together (Please sign the Friendship Pad located in your pew) Offering Prayer of Dedication Offertory Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Chuck Marohnic * Doxology

4 Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Invitation to The Table Prayer of Thanksgiving The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give God thanks and praise! 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 The Bread And The Cup Please come forward by the middle aisle, beginning with the front pews. Take a piece of bread, dip it in the cup. Return to your pew by the outside aisles. You may be served in your pew if you do not wish to come forward. * Hymn 357 The Days Are Surely Coming LLANGLOFFAN * Charge and Benediction Postlude Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers Paul Manz (For some, the Voluntary serves as festive music to accompany their going back out into the world. Others prefer to remain seated and listen. Please be mindful of these different needs as you depart. Thank you!) *Please Stand in Body or Spirit Wait for the Lord, by Jacques Berthier. (c) 1991 GIA Publications Les Presses Taize. Used by Permission. Copyright license Onelicense.net A We gather to worship God who is larger than all our imagination! We encourage all persons to sing the gender nouns and pronouns they prefer in referring to God. Thank You! Head Usher: Sarah Merrill

5 Our Life Together Grow Special Adult Education Offering December 6 & 13 9:15 AM A-Frame Room Emmanuel & the Ecosystem, Jeanne Coffin Jeanne Coffin, a biologist with a background in community development and conservation, is offering a two-week class. She will be bringing her journey as a Christian in environmental science to the table as we explore our role as people of God in the ecosystems of which we are a part, and what that means for our health and the health of the world. Join us for a nerdy and faithful advent discussion about how we live into Christ s presence in and hope for our broken world. Advent Event and Potluck December PM Our Advent Event this year is designed for the entire congregation. After dinner, there will be stations inviting us to engage the season in a myriad of ways: making advent candle creations to take home, singing and discussing Advent hymns, decorating cookies, making cards for our at-home members, creating a group art project, or reading quietly in a set apart devotional space. Bring a dish to share (NO desserts please). If you can help set up and/or with clean up, please hgast@gcpcusa.org. Longest Night Service December 20 7 PM Sanctuary On the longest night of the year, we are particularly mindful of all among us who are grieving or struggling this Advent and Christmas, and we set aside time to come together before God in the midst of that pain. All are welcome to gather for prayerful worship of Jesus, the light of the world, who is with us even in the darkness. Christmas Eve Worship Service December 24 5:00 & 9:00 PM Sanctuary 5:00 PM Family Service 9:00 PM Candlelight Communion Service of Lessons & Carols 2016 Winter Women s Memoir Series Mondays 6:15 PM Library Join us for a series of book talks focusing on memoirs written by people of faith. Jan. 11 Stories of My Life Katherine Patterson Feb. 15 The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance Elna Baker Mar. 14 Breathing Space: A Spiritual Journey in the South Bronx Heidi Neumark Women s Spiritual Retreat February 4 7, 2016 Folly Beach, SC $140 Get ready!!! Our 7th annual women's retreat registration begins NOW! This getaway is designed as a weekend of contemplation and togetherness for women ages 25-50ish. Our focus this year is Spiritual Practices for Ordinary Life. Early Bird registration ($10 off) ends on December 6 th. Weekly Wednesday Bible Study Conference Room 11 AM Join Kristy, Samantha and Rebecca as we study 1 Samuel. No preparation needed, just come ready to open scripture and discuss.

6 Youth News There will be NO youth group today. Please note: the registration deadline for Nashville trip is Monday, November 30th. Brief Rehearsal to Lead Advent Worship Sunday, November, 29 11:45-12:15 (meet in sanctuary after worship) Let's get ready to worship!!! This Advent season, the youth have been asked to open each of the Sunday worship services. We are looking for singers, readers, and candle lighters. If you are interested in participating in one of these ways for Advent, please come to a brief 30 minute rehearsal after worship this Sunday. It will be quick and a lot of fun! *If you cannot attend, but want to participate, please contact Samantha. Youth Mission Education Trip to Nashville!!! Friday, January 15 Monday, January 18 (MLK Jr. Weekend) Time to sign up! This winter, we are thrilled to be traveling from Asheville to Nashville. We will be hosted by the Center for Student Missions. We will learn about poverty in the city, do service together, and consider how our faith calls us to make a difference. The cost is $195 and scholarships are available as needed. Please contact Nancy, nquick@gcpcusa.org, to register and submit your $50 deposit by Nov. 30th. Serve Reclaiming Christmas (reclaim: to recover; to claim back; to convert to a more usable form) Do the excess, stress, and expense of the Christmas holiday seem far removed from the simple, sacred birth of Jesus? Reclaiming Christmas is a way to honor the Christ Child by directly supporting those for whom he showed special concern. Please look for our Reclaiming Christmas Station in the narthex beginning today. The People s Pilgrimage World leaders will gather in Paris for the UN Climate Talks, Nov 30 Dec 11. Show your support for commitments from global powers to fight climate change by attending two events: Light Up the Night: A Vigil for the Paris Climate Talks Sunday Nov PM Grove Park on Charlotte Street across from St. Mary s Episcopal (Contact palmtree747@gmail.com) People s Pilgrimage for the Paris Climate Talks Sunday, Dec. 6 2 PM Meet for a 2-mile walk at the Carrier Park Pavilion on Amboy Road (creationcare@mountaintrue.org or For more information, contact Susan Presson at or 4pressons@gmail.com. Tour of Homeward Bound Saturday, December 5 11 AM - 12 PM Want to know more about the affordable housing crisis and issues affecting the homeless in our city? Please join the Serve Committee on a tour of A-Hope, Asheville's only day shelter and a program of Homeward Bound. Please RSVP to Britt Allen (itsbrittallen@gmail.com or ) by Wednesday, December 2. Room in the Inn December Our next RITI is coming up! If you would like to participate next month, please contact Susan Presson ( ) or Nan Clarke ( ). Sign-up is available after church today in the narthex.

7 Care Prayer List [We are happy to pray for anyone who is in need. Concerns will stay on this list for a month unless we hear otherwise. Please keep us updated.] Jerusalem Church congregation; Linda Albin (Les & Susan Stradley's friend); JoDell Hawthorne (Donna Robertson's cousin); Frances Buchanan (Brian Buchanan's mother); Dorothy LaRue Sloane (Donna Robertson's cousin); Natalie DeVito (Karen Rohls' daughter); Tricia & Steve Minnick (Mary Lou Nash's friends); Susie Moore (Ray Kisiah s sister); Lindsae Becker (Tyler Ander s friend); Brenda Taylor (Florence Riedesel s cousin); Bob McMillan (Ashley Park s father); Ian Craig (Mary Craig s son); George Dowdle (Karen Rohls friend); Sophia Anderson (Ginnie Stevens granddaughter); Joyce Fox (Ginnie Stevens sister); Pam Morrell (Penny Ponder s daughter); Pierre Griffin (who was a student of some of our members); Rita DiGiantomasso (Karen Rohls sister); Heath & Peggy Rada (Moderator of the PCUSA General Assembly); Barrett & Ali Payne (Received by Presbytery as a Candidate for Ministry); Mark & Heather Merritt (Commissioned to Columbia Seminary); Emma, Savannah and Summer; Richard Simons; Jack & Betty Smith; Mimi Aldridge; Mary Ellen Horne; Susan Stradley; Virginia Bradley; Lois and Donald Dossey; Hettie Lou Garland; Sarah Harwell; Lisette de Groot Our sympathy and support are extended to John Legerton and family following the death of his mother, Emmy Lou Capps Legerton, on Monday. Please keep them in your prayers. Presbyterian Women s Annual Christmas Candle Light Dinner Monday, December 7 6 PM Fellowship Hall All women of the church are cordially invited for fellowship, dinner and entertainment. Sign up in the narthex after church. Cost is $15, which goes to support Days for Girls International. Childcare is provided. Next Sunday s Education for All Ages 9:15 AM Pressure Points Library This class explores thorny issues that challenge us in the 21 st century church. Currently, Pressure Points is using a video series from Living the Questions entitled, The Jesus Fatwah: Love Your Muslim Neighbor as Yourself. Bible Study Sunroom Over the course of this year, we will be diving into scripture as we study a book of the Bible together. We read a passage, have a lively discussion about it, and then move on as time allows. No preparation needed, just show up. A different member of the GCPC staff facilitates our study each week. See you there!! This fall we are studying the gospel of Mark. Journeys Jerusalem Room The Journeys class discusses and analyzes everything from scriptural texts, to historical expressions of faith, to current writings, with the goal of better understanding our own contemporary faith and the actions to which it calls us. CHILDREN & YOUTH EDUCATION [Contact Heather or Samantha] Preschool: Advent 1 Elementary: Advent 1

8 Middle School & Senior Highs Get ready for an unforgettable Sunday morning! Rev. Amy Cantrell will be visiting to speak about Be Loved house and poverty here in Asheville. It is sure to be a meaningful time and we will share delicious bagels together. See you there! Next Sunday, December 6, 2015 Worship Service at 8:30 & 10:30 AM Education Hour at 9:15 AM Sermon: Less Tweaking by Kristy Farber Scripture: Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-18 CALENDAR November Sunday 29 8:30 AM Worship 9:15 AM Education hour 10:30 AM Worship December Tuesday 1 9:00 AM Prayer Group 6:00 PM VRQ dinner Wednesday 2 11:00 AM Bible study 6:00 PM Handbell choir 7:00 PM Chancel choir Saturday 5 11:00 AM Prayer Shawl Ministry luncheon Sunday 6 8:30 AM Worship 9:15 AM Education hour 10:30 AM Worship 4:00 PM Children s choirs 5:00 PM Advent event & potluck