The First Sunday after Christmas Service of Worship Sunday, December 30, 2018 Locust Valley First Church of God Established 1852 In the love of Christ, we welcome you to worship today. We are glad that you have decided to join us and hope that you will return. May those who are weary or sorrowful find comfort; may the unhappy and the troubled find joy and peace; and may we all find the sense of God s Presence in this holy place. This bulletin contains the order of worship for today s service. Restrooms are located at the back of the church near the parking lot. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to ask or share!
We Gather to Worship The organ prelude accompanies the lighting of the altar candles and the pealing of the church bell, calling everyone to gather for worship. Call to Worship Spoken Responsively Psalm 147: 12-20 Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion; For God has strengthened the bars of your gates and blessed your children within you. God has established peace on your borders and satisfies you with the finest wheat. God s command is sent out to the earth, and the word of the Lord runs very swiftly. God gives snow like wool and scatters frost like ashes. God scatters hail like bread crumbs; who can stand against the cold of the Lord? God s word is sent forth and melts them; God s storm winds blow, and the waters flow. God s word is declared to Jacob, God s statutes and judgements to Israel. The Lord has not done so to any other nation; to them God s judgements have not been revealed. Halleluiah! The Prayer of the Day Prayed in Unison Almighty God, you wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature. In your mercy, let us share the divine life of Jesus Christ who came to share our humanity, and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. *Hymn of Praise Angels We Have Heard on High [p. 278] *The Peace We greet one another in the Peace of Christ
Prayer of Confession Prayed in Unison God of grace and truth, in Jesus Christ you cam among us as light shining in darkness. We confess that we have not welcomed the light, or trusted good news to be good. We have closed our eyes to glory in our midst, expecting little, and hoping for less. Forgive our doubt, and renew our hope, so that we may receive the fullness of your grace, and live in the truth of Christ the Lord. Amen. The Prayers of the People The congregation may offer their praises or petitions to be remembered in prayer. Announcements of the Church Offertory / *Sung Response The Doxology [815] Hymn of the Day O Little Town of Bethlehem [p. 250] Scripture Lesson Exodus 14: 10-20 The Sermon Closing the 2018 Door Pastoral Prayer *Sending Hymn Another Year is Dawning [p. 811] *The Benediction We Depart to Love and Serve The chimes repeat the last hymn as the acolyte extinguishes the altar candles, followed by the postlude. *Please stand as you able.
Scripture Lesson and Sermon Outline Exodus 14: 10-20 As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back, and there were the Egyptians advancing on them. In great fear the Israelites cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the very thing we told you in Egypt, Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness. But Moses said to the people, Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still. Then the Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. But you lift your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the Israelites may go into the sea on dry ground. Then I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and so, I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots, and his chariot drivers. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained glory for myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his chariot drivers. The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so, the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night. Sermon Outline: Enemies that pursue us! F, I, F, P, G, Old S God is our rear guard! S the door on the past
Watch out for life s double meanings! God is the God of the G as well as the B. God is the God of the P as well as the F. Let us do two things as we close this year 2018! Let us S the door on 2018! Let us O the door on 2019!
This Week s Announcements: Advent Collection Boxes Our Advent and Christmas Collection concludes today. Thank you for your contributions! Thank You! We extend our sincere appreciation to everyone for making our Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve such a wonderful worship and fellowship experience. Thank you to everyone who read the lessons, provided music for the service, and brought items for our reception afterwards. Epiphany We will celebrate the Incarnation and the arrival of the Magi with a special service of worship next Sunday, January 6, 2019 at 9:00 am. This Epiphany Sunday Service will include the celebration of Holy Communion. Church Council Meeting The Church Council will meet next Sunday, January 6, 2018 at 1:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Locust Valley First Church of God Welcoming everyone into the family of Christ, worshiping in spirit and in truth, and working to serve one another in God s Gospel message of unconditional love. Pastor Richard Frederick (717) 414-6583 rafvdf@gmail.com Learn more about Locust Valley Church www.locustvalleyfcog.org If you do not wish to keep this bulletin, please dispose of it in the recycling bin provided in the vestibule.