Welcome To Worship At East Brentwood Presbyterian Church Sunday, December 2, 2018 10:00 a.m. 1st Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 2, 2018 The congregation is asked to use the time of the pre-service music as a period of silent prayer and preparation. Thought before Worship This year is the 200th anniversary of the debut of "Silent Night, Holy Night." Something mystical occurs as we light our candles and sing the hope of "all is calm, all is bright" peace and light for the world. This worship service today, and during the season of Advent, celebrates the carol's message and highlight its call for our lives that can guide us all year long. We Gather to Worship God Threshold Threshold describes the intentional practice of hospitality and a time of centering as the community lights the Advent Wreath and joins in prayer and musical response during the season of Advent. Threshold Song It was the night when Hope was born And just as now the world was torn But all was calm, and all was bright The star above gave out its light Dear people all around the world Let us unite and we will show How Hope can change us, How Hope can help us grow. [spoken by the congregation] Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child Holy Infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace
Lighting of the Advent Wreath Spoken Response of the People: Fill us with your peace and light, make the world so calm and bright. So let your Hope shine in the night And let your life burn warm and bright This Hope we give the world is balm And in this truth, we find our calm *Opening Hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel #88 Passing of the Peace Time with the Children Congregation: God go with you. Children: God be with you here. Response Prayer for Illumination [sung response] Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. We Proclaim God s Word Scripture Jeremiah 33:14-16 The Word of the Lord. Luke 21:25-36 Thanks be to God. Special Music A Song in the Air By Larry Shackley Sermon Calm and Bright; An Advent Series The Rev. John Hilley Uncovering Time of Reflection Anthem Prayer Eucharist and Offerings of the People The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We Respond to God s Love Let us Rejoice, Christ Is Born By Mary McDonald (choir)
We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise! [sung to the chorus of Christ be our Light refrain] You are the Light. You are our God, piercing the dark night. Bless d are the ones, shining their lights, now in your name! Spoken: And so we offer ourselves in union with Christ s offering of salvation: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. #314 Longing for Light, We Wait in Darkness 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 [night]. Christ be our light! Shine in your church gathered today. Closing Prayer 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. Closing Hymn #100, vs 1,1,4 My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout Announcements *Charge and Benediction Spoken: Go with God into this day May the Spirit guide your way Offer [love] to all you greet Like Christ, see God in all you meet. It s the season of the year we come to celebrate In all our ways, from different paths we come to be Yet when we look around us we see division everywhere Even friends and family can t seem to agree There are empty chairs for some around the table now Loved ones gone, others just can t find their way But we lift our hopeful eyes with open hearts and soul and mind In whatever way we know you and however we might pray
Postlude * Please rise in body or spirit. We need a silent night in here. We need your presence to be near. Give us the hope we need and the peace we seek. We need a silent night in here. Give us the hope we need and the peace we seek. We need a silent night, we need a silent night, we need a silent night in here. About Today s Service & Activities Today s Worship Leaders: John Hilley, Nate Strasser, Lindsey Hinds Brown, Liz Beatty, Erin Morrow, Candlelighters; Andy, Kristy, Evan & Eleanor Brown. Communion; Lavona & Clyde Russell. Worship design, leader parts, and liturgy Marcia McFee, www.worshipdesignstudio.com. Used with permission. Words and music for We Need a Silent Night Marsha Jean Moors-Charles. Arrangement by Chuck Bell. Used with permission. Giving Manger: The Manger plays such an iconic role in the nativity story. This Advent help us prepare the manger for the arrive of baby Jesus by placing a piece of straw in the manger each Sunday to represent an act of kindness or service you have performed during the week. This reflection is not just for children! Members and visitors of all ages are called to present their gifts of love to the infant king each Sunday in Advent. Praise and Prayers As a caring congregation of faith, we ask you to remember the following people in your prayers: Laura Litchfield; The Reiersen family at the death of Kristofer Reiersen. If you have a prayer request or celebration you would like to share, please contact Kristine Vasilevskis atteam5v@att.net or (615) 403-5713. Announcements Ladies Event: Bring 2 dozen cookies AND a $5 funny gift to exchange. (Nibbles to share also welcome!) Saturday, Dec 8,10am-12pm. Host: Amethyst Kurbegov s, 9575 Hampton Reserve Dr. RSVP/Questions: 719-306-4647. Congregational Meeting: The Session has called a congregational meeting immediately following the 10 am worship service on December 10 th hear a report from the Nominating Committee regarding nominees to serve as a Ruling Elder. New to EBPC? Should you desire to formally join the church, the Session is available December 9 to receive your request to join or contact Liz Beatty (aybeatty@comcast.net) or Pr. John Hilley (jhilley@ebpctn.org). Opportunity to Be a Blessing: In September, during our Neighborhood series, brothers and sisters of the Iglesia Nueva Vida, our Presbytery's New Church Development gathered with us at
EBPC for. As we move toward the celebration of God's great gift to us in the birth of Jesus, we have a chance to share with our friends at Nueva Vida.by the table in the narthex on Sunday mornings and donate one or several $25 Walmart or Kroger gift cards (or drop off a check at the table or in the office to EBPC with Nueva Vida in the note line).these will allow these families to purchase a Christmas gift for the children and to have a special Christmas meal or a holiday week with less worries about food. Lavona Russell (615-476-7840, lavona.russell@gmail.com, Thank you to all who donated to College Grove Food pantry to help feed hungry families at Thanksgiving. You blessed them with turkeys and canned goods to feed families. EBPC s Newsletter: Are you receiving our new EBPC Children's Ministry Connection E-Newsletter? Contact Lindsey Hinds-Brown @ lhindsbrown@ebpctn.org you want to be added to the email! Welcome to East Brentwood To Our Members: East Brentwood gladly welcomes first-time and returning visitors. By introducing yourself and sharing a warm greeting, you express the hospitality of our congregation. Please share a smile and welcoming word to those around you. To Our Guests: We offer education and fellowship opportunities in the mornings and evenings for children, youth and adults. Please see the calendar of events for dates and times. Be sure to complete a yellow contact card if you wish to receive future communications from EBPC. East Brentwood Presbyterian Church is a community church made up of a loving, welcoming family of believers in honest conversation with God. We seek to emulate the ministry of Jesus through compassionate service, with stimulating and relevant exploration of God s Word, and by sharing that Word and God s many blessings with our neighbors in Middle Tennessee and around the world. This Advent & Christmas Calm and Bright: 200 years of Silent Night December 9 @ 10 a.m., Peace December 16 @ 10 a.m., Love December 16 @ 5:30 p.m. Gift of Music December 23 @ 10 a.m., Hope December 24 - Christmas Eve, Calm & Bright A Family Focused Christmas Eve service in our Barn (3:30pm); Candlelight Communion Service (5pm) December 30 @ 10 a.m., He is born Christmas Eve in the Barn: A Living Nativity: This Christmas Eve, join EBPC families in the barn at 3:30pm for a special family-focused service. Children of all ages will have the opportunity to dress as figures from the nativity story, help retell the story of the birth of Jesus, and sing carols celebrating the birth of our Savior. What better way to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas than to hear the story from the mouths of babes? Children wishing to participate are invited to arrive at 3:20 to choose their costume. Hot chocolate, warm cider, and Christmas cookies will be served following the service. We hope you will join us for this special service.