The Service of Worship Fourth Sunday of Advent December 23, 2018-11:00 a.m. Chiming of the Hour Greetings and Welcome The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you. Pastor Nominating Committee Update Opening Voluntary Come Now, O Prince of Peace O-SO-SO Concerns and Celebrations of the Church Fellowship Registration Please pass the fellowship pad found at the end of the row, record information, and return the pad to its starting point. Then please remove sheet and place in the offering plate when it is passed. Lighting of the Advent Candle Bowers & West families Hymn #102 Savior of the Nations, Come (v.1) NUN KOMM, DER HEIDEN HEILAND Call to Worship Savior of the nations, come; virgin s son, make here your home. Marvel now, O heaven and earth, that the Lord chose such a birth. Isaiah spoke to a people called chosen, to a tribe called Israel, with a light of hope. Gabriel came to a town called Nazareth, to a girl called Mary, with a light of joy. Mary went to a place called Bethlehem, to a stable called a nursery, with a light of love. As we light our fourth Advent candle, we rejoice with Mary, for Love has flesh. Come now, O Child of Mary. Come now, O Prince of Love. *Hymn #88 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (verses 1, 5, 6, & 7) VENI EMMANUEL *Prayer of Confession Karen Kay Living God, You beckon us to wake from our sleep: to open our eyes to the goodness of your reign, the injustice of our world, and the gap in between. You call us to follow in the path of your love. Forgive us, O God, when we choose the easy way. Forgive us, O God, when we choose the selfish way, the fast way, the successful way, the nice way, the friendly way, the comfortable way. Convict us, awaken us, empower us, and enliven us to follow the Way of justice and love. Hear now our silent prayers of confession...
*Period of Silent Prayer In our Savior s name we pray. Amen. *Assurance of Pardon Karen Kay Hear the good news: In Christ you are forgiven, your sins have been redeemed. We can declare with confidence: we are forgiven. *Congregational Response #132 Good Christian Friends, Rejoice (v. 3) IN DULCI JUBILO Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; now ye need not fear the grave: Jesus Christ was born to save! Calls you one and calls you all to gain the everlasting hall. Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save! First Lesson Psalm 80:1-7 pew Bible, OT, page 511 The Word of the Lord. large print, OT, page 540 Thanks be to God. Anthem No Wind at the Window COLUMCILLE A Time for Young Disciples Lisa Burgwyn All children are invited to the front. Parents are welcome to come with younger children. Ages four through six are invited to participate in Godly Play in Room 113 following A Time for Young Disciples. Second Lesson Luke 1:39-55 pew Bible, NT, page 53 The Word of the Lord. large print, NT, page 57 Thanks be to God. Sermon When Love Takes Over Amanda Hines Invitation to Discipleship To speak with someone about becoming a Christian, church membership, or a special prayer need, please go to the parlor following this service. The parlor is to the right of the fellowship hall. *Affirmation of Faith Apostles Creed (ecumenical) 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. *Hymn #100 My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN
Prayers of the People and the Lord s Prayer (using sins and sin) 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 sins, as we forgive those who sin 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 Offertory Blest Be the God of Israel MERLE S TUNE *Doxology with Alleluias LASST UNS ERFREUEN Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise Christ all people here below; Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise Holy Spirit evermore, Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! *The Prayer of Dedication *Hymn #121 O Little Town of Bethlehem ST. LOUIS *Benediction *Benediction Response Prepare the Way, O Zion (verse 1) BEREDEN VÄG FÖR HERRAN Prepare the way, O Zion, your Christ is drawing near! Let every hill and valley a level way appear. Greet One who comes in glory, foretold in sacred story. O blest is Christ who came in God s most holy name. *Postlude While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks * Please rise either in body or spirit. Bold print indicates congregational participation. CHRISTMAS Worship Leaders Dave McNeilly, Interim Pastor Amanda Hines, Associate Pastor Karen Kay, Liturgist Karrie Rushing, Director of Music Brad Collier, Organist Wilma Shackelford, flute Paul Shackelford, bass Our Congregation in Ministry
Christmas Eve Services: We will have Christmas Eve Services on December 24 at 5:00 pm, 8:00 pm, and 11:00 pm. We will have one service on December 30 at 11:00 a.m. There will be no Sunday School on 12/30. Christmas Eve Offering: This year s Christmas Eve Offering will go to the JOY Soup Kitchen. Please mail your donation, marked Christmas Eve Offering, to the church or bring it to one of our Christmas Eve services. Thank you for giving generously this Christmas season. Contributions: Don t forget to turn in your 2018 contributions no later than 12:00 noon on December 28 or make sure they are postmarked by 12/31 in order to be counted for this year. Please notify Teresa Savage of any stock transfers. Call or email Teresa (teresa@fpcgreenville.org or 758-1901). Church office will be closed December 24-26, and December 31-January 1. Montreat: Any current 4th-12th grader who is interested in attending Montreat Worship & Music Week 2 (June 22-29), see Karrie Rushing for a brochure & registration form. Forms and deposits for Week 2 are due by December 30. Any adult interested in attending Week 1 (June 15-22) may register through the website: presbymusic.org/montreat. Let Karrie know when you ve registered so we can make additional reservations for housing if necessary. Age Venturers: Please sign up by December 30 for the Age Venturers trip to the Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield. We will leave the church at 8am on January 8th for a Heritage Tour of Ava s homestead, school and gravesite led by a museum guide. Cost is $20 for tour and transportation. Sign up and pay in the church office. Ushers: Ushers and communion servers are needed for the Christmas Eve services. Check the Welcome Center table for the signup sheet or contact Jim Worden at jworden@vidanthealth.com if you can help. Blood Drive: FPC will host a Blood Drive on Sunday, January 13, 2019, 9:30 am-1:30pm. Please visit redcrossblood.org and enter Firstpres to schedule an appointment. Volunteers are needed to help check in donors and serve as snack table hosts. Please contact Georganne Perry at georganneperry@yahoo.com. Fabulous Friday: We will be having a Lock In in Friday, December 28th. Please arrive at 7pm; pickup will be Saturday at 8:30am. Bring snacks or drinks to share. There is no cost. Contact Brian Dilday at 252-367-1914. PNC: The Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) was formed by this Congregation with the mission to find and call FPC's new Senior Pastor and Head of Staff. Below you will find the contact information for each member of the committee. The PNC asks and hopes that any member of the Congregation who has thoughts, input, or questions pertaining to our search, will call or email at least one, or all, of us. The PNC wants to hear from you! Rob Ables 252-414-5755 robert.ables@gmail.com Carol Cutler 252-717-7462 poolinit@suddenlink.com Alisa Fraley 252-412-8486 alisafraley@me.com Karen Kay 252-717-8212 karen.kay@suddenlink.net Debra Mizelle 252-531-7338 dmizelle@boice-willis.com Derek Perry 252-916-8886 derekperry@allstate.com Michael Scull 252-341-8655 scullm16@students.ecu.edu Ray Spears 864-978-2441 rayspears@live.com David Webb 646-306-0485 nycdavidwebb@gmail.com Please lift in prayer: Our Congregation Cares Church Family Betsy Baggett, Martha Coffman, Thelma Flye, Jean Klein, Ben Lattin, Margaret Leinweber, Joyce
Lewis, Gerald McGowan, Anna Ogle, Linda Parham, Ron Sessoms Sr., Judy St. John, Joe Sullivan, Dallas Taylor, Sarah Whitehurst, Fred Wood Family and Friends: Franki Anderson (friend of several FPC members) Kristina Basnight (daughter-in-law of Shelley Basnight) Scott Groot (father-in-law of Matt Steele) Angie Harrell (friend of Ed & Carol Scull) Anne Lanier (friend of Jeri Jackson) Katherine Lasecki (friend of Debbie Hahn) Frances Maness (sister of Betty Bailey) Pat McArthur (mother of Michelle Money) Jeff Mitchell (friend of Barbara Thomson) Sheila Nasea North (sister of Melissa Nasea) Jim Person (stepfather of David Webb) Arthur Reinders (father of Debra Mizelle) Ray Stallings (cousin of Betty Tart) Nan Vinson (friend of Mary Beth Pugh) Military personnel and families; our national, state and local leaders and people called our enemies. We are a Stephen Ministry congregation. For information, contact Sandra Ward, Bill Lehman, or Jim Young. Condolences: FPC extends Christian sympathy to Jerome Dixon in the death of his mother, Dorothy Rutledge Dixon, who died December 14, 2018.