WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1420 West Moss Avenue Peoria, Illinois 61606 THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT 2 December 2018 Ten O clock GATHERING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE RISEN CHRIST THE PREPARATION Sleepers, Awake, A Voice Is Sounding Flor Peeters WELCOME AND CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH FAMILY THE HAND BELLS A Festive Ring Barbara Kinyon LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE Anna Bussian Reader:... Today we light the candle of hope, because with the coming of this light there is hope. All: Risen Christ, Light of the world, shine in our lives and shine among us now. *CALL TO WORSHIP One: People of faith, prepare for the coming reign of Christ! All: As we gather to pray and sing and listen, a spirit of anticipation and hope fills us. One: The days are surely coming, says Our God, when justice and righteousness will prevail. All: May our worship illuminate our hearts and minds, freeing us to respond joyfully to God s call in the days to come. *HYMN IN PROCESSION 1 *CALL TO CONFESSION Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus Stuttgart *PRAYER OF CONFESSION (praying together) God of Hope, We have forgotten how to hope for miracles; we have ignored the promise of your kingdom; we get distracted by all the busyness of this season. Forgive us, God. Grant us the simple wonder of the shepherds, the intelligent courage of the Magi, and the patient faith of Mary and Joseph, that we may journey with them to Bethlehem and find the good news of a child born for us. *TIME OF SILENCE AND PERSONAL CONFESSION *all who are able may stand
*KYRIE *ASSURANCE OF PARDON *ADVENT RESPONSE Veni Emmanuel 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! HEARING THE WORD PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION SCRIPTURE READINGS Old Testament: Jeremiah 33:14-16 p. 738 NRSV The Psalter (Hymnal 178) Psalm 25 Genevan 25 SERMON Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 Gospel: Luke 21:25-36 p. 204 NRSV p. 85 NRSV The Rev. Denise Clark-Jones RESPONDING TO THE WORD *AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Reading together) The Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen
*PASSING OF THE PEACE THE OFFERING OF TITHES AND GIFTS THE OFFERTORY O Jesus, Grant Me Hope and Comfort Johann Franck O Jesus, grant me hope and comfort; O let me ne er in sorrow pine, My heart and soul, yea, all my being, O Jesus, trust alone in Thee. Thou Prince of Peace, Thou Pearl from heaven, True God, true Man, My Morning Star! O come, Thou precious Sun most radiant, Thy beams illumine my heart and soul. O Jesus, with Thy advent quiet My restless soul and anxious mind. In true humility I welcome Thee, Jesus Christ, my Joy divine. My thoughts, desires, and all my longings I dedicate, O Christ, to Thee. O come, Thou precious Sun most radiant, Thy beams illumine my heart and soul. *DOXOLOGY Old Hundredth Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise him all creatures here below, Praise him above ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. *PRAYER OF DEDICATION (please be seated at the end of the prayer) SEALING THE WORD At the time of the DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS, worshipers may come forward, down the center aisle, to receive bread and then dip their bread in a chalice. Those who are unable to come down the aisle, or who prefer to receive in the pew, will be served bread and an individual cup by an elder who will be walking around the sanctuary to serve those who remain seated. Christians of any age or church affiliation are welcome at Christ s table, where Christ himself is the host. HYMN 515 Now to Your Table Spread Love Unknown INVITATION One: The Lord be with you. All: And also with you. One: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them to the Lord. One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
COMMUNION PRAYER SANCTUS COMMUNION PRAYER and MEMORIAL ACCLAMATIONS THE CONSECRATION THE LORD S PRAYER [praying together] 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. These are holy things, to keep us holy. Gifts of God for the people of God. Let us keep the feast. DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS COMMUNION MUSIC Jesu, Joy of Man s Desiring Johann Sebastian Bach Jesu, joy of man s desiring, Holy wisdom joy most bright. Drawn by thee our souls aspiring soar to uncreated light. Word of God our flesh that fashioned, with the fire of life impassioned. Striving still to truth unknown, Soaring, dying round thy throne
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER BEARING THE WORD INTO THE WORLD *HYMN 15 Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers Llangloffan *CHARGE AND BENEDICTION *CHORAL BENEDICTION *POSTLUDE LEADING IN WORSHIP TODAY The Rev. Denise Clark-Jones, Pastor Jan Leonard, Liturgist Anna Bussian, Lighting the Advent Candle Thomas Clark-Jones, Organist-Choirmaster The Choir of Westminster Church The Hand Bells of Westminster NEXT SUNDAY, our annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols will be held at four in the afternoon. The reading of the Nativity Narrative from the King James Bible is accompanied by congregational carols and choral carols by Peter Warlock, John Taverner, Michael Head, John Rutter and others. Join us for this charming and moving service which, for many, is the real start of the Christmas celebration. Both the Choir and Hand Bells have been working on this service for many months and are ready to share the beauty of Christmas with you. Following the service, a festive Christmas dinner will be held in the Fellowship Hall. All are cordially invited to join us. Sign up for the dinner in the Narthex this morning so we can plan accordingly. THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY, we will again present A JAZZ CHRISTMAS with David Hoffman and his friends from the Central Illinois Jazz community. The service features readings of contemporary Christmas poetry and the Christmas story from the scriptures. This is a joyous shout of Hallelujah for the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Come and join us, and bring lots of your friends. OUR CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT COMMUNION will be held on December 24 at four in the afternoon. Come and mark the birth of our Savior in song, scripture, prayers, homily, candle lighting and the celebration of the Lord s Supper. OPEN HANDS, OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS