Welcome to the TRINITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL PARISH OF CASTINE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Castine, Maine December 2, 2018
Order of Worship TRINITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL PARISH OF CASTINE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Castine, Maine Advent I December 2, 2018 9:30 am Pastor: Rev. Tim Hall Interim Musician: Barbara Fenlason Deacon: Ray Nualla Lector: Paula Dunfee Ministers: All Members GATHERING AS A COMMUNITY OF FAITH We welcome you to worship in this special place, and hope that you feel free to greet your friends and neighbors as you arrive. Please let the playing of the organ prelude signal a settling time of quiet and meditation as we prepare ourselves for the Word of God. PRELUDE Once in Royal David's City D. Cherwien GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS INTERLUDE/ACOLYTE CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsively) Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might and come to save us! Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved. *OPENING HYMN Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus P 103 2
PRAYER OF INVOCATION (Unison) God of Hope, be with us today we pray. Surround us with your Holy Spirit and hold us up to the light of your love. Grant us the comfort that comes from hearing your Holy Word, and the assurance that comes from offering you our praise. For in knowing you and serving you, we have all that we need. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison) Gracious God, we live in your Word, but our lives are tied to a culture of human limitations and frailty. And in that culture, we enter a season that often calls us to excess to want more, to envy more, and to desire more than we need or can afford. And so, we ask for both your forgiveness and your blessings. Forgive our shallow ways and lift us to fulfillment in you. Forgive us our earthly desires and lead us to contentment in your love. Release us from our feelings of guilt and restore our hope as we await the great gift of your son. Hear our prayers, O Lord. ASSURANCE OF PARDON A moment for silent prayer *GLORIA PATRI (Unison) P 513 Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. HEARING THE WORD Acts Jeremiah 33:14-16 Psalm Psalm 25:1-10 3
Epistle 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 Congregational Response O Come, O Come, Emmanuel First Verse P 110 O come, O come Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel! Gospel Luke 21:25-36 THE CHURCH AT PRAYER Celebrations & Concerns Pastoral Prayer Silent Prayer Lord s Prayer (Unison) 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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. 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 OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS INVITATION TO OFFERING Offertory In the Bleak Midwinter TCP Choir Cranham 4
*Doxology (Unison) P 515 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, you heavenly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. *Prayer of Dedication (Unison) God of earth and sky, you grant to us gifts too numerous to list. And so we humbly offer to you our gifts in return. May this offering be used to the purposes you seek in us, that your name and your will and your love be known throughout the earth, and that we might turn to you knowing the name of Christ. Amen. SERMON Sprouting Hope Rev. Tim Hall *HYMN Bread of the World, in Mercy Broken P 283 SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION INVITATION CONSECRATION OFFERING OF THE BREAD AND CUP PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING (Unison) God of earth and sky, you grant to us gifts too numerous to list. And so, we humbly offer to you our gifts in return. May this offering be used to the purposes you seek in us, that your name and your will and your love be known throughout the earth, and that we might turn to you knowing the name of Christ. Amen. GOING FORTH INTO THE WORLD *CLOSING HYMN Now Thank We All Our God P 29 5
*BENEDICTION POSTLUDE Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus E. Broughton Please remain seated to enjoy the Postlude. Notes: (NC) New Century Hymnal (black) (P) Pilgrim Hymnal (blue) *All who are able, please stand Certain prayers and responses in this bulletin have been adapted and reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion. Copyright 2014. Psalm 25 vv. 1-10 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness sake, O LORD! 6
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees. ANNOUNCEMENTS German Christmas Horn Concert Remembering Hessians at Fort George in Castine To honor these German troops at Fort George, a concert of 18 th century horn music will take place at TCP on Monday, December 3 at 3:00 p.m. The concert is free of charge, although donations will be cheerfully accepted. A reception will follow featuring German Christmas cookies and nonalcoholic Glühwein. Greening of the Church Join us Saturday, December 8 at 8:00 am as we put up the tree, string the lights, hang the ornaments and lay out the garland. It's a special time of fun and tradition, and many hands add to the spirit of the season. Hope to see you there! On the Calendar Remember, you can always check our calendar online at http://www.tcpoc.org/calendar.html Mon Dec 3 German Christmas Horn Concert 3:00 pm Tue Dec 4 Bible Study 9:00 am TEC Thu Dec 6 Holly Berry Set-up, 9:00 - noon Emerson Hall Fri Dec 7 HOLLY BERRY FAIR 4:00-7:00 pm Emerson Hall Sat Dec 8 Greening of the Church 8:00 am Sat Dec 8 Castine Christmas Choir Rehearsal 2:30 pm UUC Sun Dec 9 TCP Choir Rehearsal 8:45 am 7
Sun Dec 9 Sunday Worship (Advent II) 9:30 am Mon Dec 10 Castine Christmas 7:00 pm UU Church Tue Dec 11 Bible Study 9:00 am TEC Tue Dec 11 Shawl Knitting Ministry 1:00 pm Fri Dec 14 No Neighbor Left Behind Meal 2:00 pm Sun Dec 16 TCP Choir Rehearsal 8:45 am Sun Dec 16 Sunday Worship (Advent III) 9:30 am Sun Dec 16 Christmas Coffee Hour 10:45 am LaTour Street Tue Dec 18 Bible Study 9:00 am TEC Sun Dec 23 TCP Choir Rehearsal 8:45 am Sun Dec 23 Sunday Worship (Advent IV) 9:30 am Mon Dec 24 Candlelight Christmas Eve Service 5:00 pm Tue Dec 25 CHRISTMAS DAY On Our Prayer Lists In the work of our church, we continue to pray for the sick and afflicted in our congregation and throughout our community: Annie Lee Reed, Lance Burton, Harry Kaiserian, Jeannie and Rob Cass, Thomas Spurling, and Wendy Knickerbocker Be sure to check out our Continuing Prayers list in the church vestry for the names of friends and members needing long-term care, prayer, and support. If you know of someone who should be added to our prayer list, please let Pastor Tim know. 8