ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Perkasie, Pennsylvania Rev. Scott Andrew Hutchinson, Pastor Phone (215) 257-2880 www.standrewsucc.org Fax (215) 257-8050 9:00 AM Sunday School 10:15 AM Worship Service 3 rd Sunday of Advent December 16, 2018 Liturgist: Vi Burg --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prelude (A time of quiet preparation and anticipation) *Call to Worship Minister: The joy of the season is upon us. The time is almost here. People: We have come to praise the Lord! Minister: We are here to sing praises to God, the Holy One, in whom we place our trust. People: God opens our eyes and lifts us up! Minister: Let us praise God, People: who reigns forever! *Processional Hymn People, Look East #161 *Prayer of Invocation Minister: We gather, O God, in this worship space mindful of your presence. We are here to rejoice! We prepare to welcome your glory! Help us to give full expression to the joy you promise. Please, bless us all in everything we give this hour. Amen (Please be seated) Lighting of the Advent Candle Minister: We move from one task to another, from one responsibility to another. The holidays may wear us out with worries about family relationships, about money, about presents! People: We are scattered and busy about so many things. Minister: We call out in our fatigue. People: Where is your joy, O God? Where is your gift of presence in our lives? Minister: We remind ourselves of Paul s ancient advice: Celebrate God all day..revel in God! Help everyone see that the Master is about to arrive! Don t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It is wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. -Philippians 4:4-7 The Message Minister: Let us light the third candle of Advent, the candle of Joy. In its light let us turn our worries into prayers for God to be present to us right now, as we prepare for the coming of Christ. Let this candle shine in our hearts all week long to remind us to pray and praise and place Christ at the center of this season. Christ Be Our Light vs. 3 Longing for food, many are hungry. Longing for water many still thirst. Make us your bread, broken for others, Shared until all are fed. Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the dark-ness. Christ, be our light! Shine in your church gathered to-day. Children s Sermon Witnessing Steward Tom Tabar The Gospel Luke 3:7-18 (NT. p. 60) The Epistle Philippians 4:4-7 (NT p. 198) *Hymn Rejoice in the Lord, Always #650 Sermon Let Your Gentleness Be Known to Everyone Sr. Choir Anthem Emmanuel Shackley Call to Offering Minister: The scriptures tell us that God will turn things around, that there will be new life in dry places. There will be a strengthening of fearful hearts. There will be joy. We have this opportunity to participate with God in turning things around in this world. To do so we will share of the gifts God has placed in our hands. *Offertory Response All: We give thee but Thine own, What-e er the gift may be. All that we have is Thine alone, A trust, O Lord, from Thee. Amen *Prayer of Dedication All: We present to you, O God, our gifts. May they be dedicated to making your difference in the lives of all people, especially where hope is scarce. May our gifts be a reminder, to those they bless, of your deep love. Amen. Welcoming of Our New Member Molli Weiner (insert) Koinonia Time (koy-nohn-ee -ah): community; communion; fellowship; intimacy (please date, sign, and pass the pew pad to your neighbors) Offering of Prayer Concerns Prayers for the People
Lord s Prayer All: Our God, who is our Creator and Redeemer, Holy is Your name. Empower us in building a community devoted to Your way of being, which is the way of life, hope, and wholeness. Provide us, we pray, with enough to meet our needs, and forgive us our debts, our sins, our stumbling, for we are committed to forgiving in like manner. Help us to avoid the temptation to deny your way of love, and deliver us from our participation in evil. For it is Your power we acknowledge, now and always. Amen Prayer Response (sung response) Hear our prayer O Lord, Hear our prayer O Lord, Hear our prayer O Lord, and grant us thy peace. Amen *Commission & Benediction *Recessional Hymn Hark, the Glad Sound (insert) *Three Fold Amen *Postlude
ORDER FOR RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS INTRODUCTION Pastor: We invite to come forward those who wish to unite with us in this household of faith. Hear the words of Jesus: I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me, and I in them, bear much fruit. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified in this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love. You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last Friends, Jesus Christ has chosen you. He has called you, together with us, into the church. Now he has led you to this time and place to unite with us in the love, ministries, and blessings of this congregation. We are a community that nurtures discipleship. A disciple is one who trusts God s promises and commits their life to following the ways of Jesus. AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Pastor: Let us, together with these brothers and sisters in Christ, reaffirm our faith. ALL: We believe in God: Our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. We pledge to follow our Lord Jesus Christ, to be continually shaped in the image of our Creator, and to receive the breath of the Holy Spirit as that which makes us truly alive! PLEDGE OF PARTICIPATION Pastor: Do you promise to participate in the life and missions of this family of God s people, sharing regularly in the worship of God and enlisting in the work of this local church as it serves God in this community and the world? New Members: We promise, with the help of God! WELCOME People: We welcome you into the common life of this church. We promise our friendship and prayers as we share the hopes and labors of the church of Jesus Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit may we continue to grow in the knowledge and love of God, and bear witness to our Risen Savior! PRAYER Hymn: Bless Be The Tie That Binds (v. 1) Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above.
Consider Giving to The Christmas Fund December 16, 2018 It s All About...Boundaries 2019 Lay Boundary Training Boundary Training is not just for Pastors. it also pertains to church members! Learn about the boundaries that should exist within the church, child clearances, mandatory reporting and more! Our joy at Christmas is a response to God's promise of new life through the birth of Jesus. It is a joy we are called to share widely, through our witness and gifts, both to loved ones and to distant neighbors. "It wasn t easy picking up the telephone to share with you my present situation. In fact, it was one of the most humiliating experiences of my life although it reminded me that grace still happens. Sometimes we as clergy persons lose sight of God s grace when the negative stuff comes into our lives." " thanks so much for sharing your time and ministry with me. Your most gracious gift is appreciated more than words can say as I continue to live in the 'meantime.'" Saturday, January 26th 9:00 am 12:00 noon @ Church of the Good Shepherd 35 W. Philadelphia Ave., Boyertown Register at: https://pseclaybound.eventbrite.com Registration: $20.00 Important.Financial Note! The PSEC will close books for 2018 as of close of business on January 15, 2019. All OCWM contributions and pass-throughs for 2018 must be received by our office by the close of business on Tuesday, January 15, 2019 in order to be counted as a 2018 contribution. These eloquent words are from a pastor who is the recipient of the caring and concern of those who contribute to the Christmas Fund Offering. You have the opportunity to be a part of this ministry that cares for the active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ through your participation in this year's Christmas Fund Offering. Your gift to the Christmas Fund will not only assist pastors like the one above, but also provide for the Supplementation of Small Annuities, Supplementation of Health Premiums, Emergency Grants, and Christmas Thank You Gift Checks next December to lower-income retirees. Your gifts are needed more than ever to help the growing number of retirees whose low-income annuities make it difficult to meet increasing living costs. This is your opportunity to participate in God's promise of renewal by enabling this ministry of compassion and care.