Greenwood Forest Baptist Church The Second Sunday of Advent Chiming of the Hour Processional Hymn 79 (v. 3 & 4) GREENWOOD FOREST BAPTIST CHURCH The Worship of God The Second Sunday of Advent December 9, 2018 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Welcome to Worship Rev. Lauren Efird Leader: The Lord be with you People: And also with you. Passing of the Peace Lighting the Candle of Peace Rev. Efird Courtney Bartels Preparation for Worship Come, Lord Jesus The Modern Post Praise Team Come, Lord Jesus, come! Come, Lord Jesus, come! Come again to claim your own; come to reap what you have sown. All creation weeps and groans for you. It's to you that we belong; it's to you we lift our song. How our spirits look and long for you. Like a thief in dead of night, come, our everlasting light. Let your brilliance shame the brightest day With your voice like endless seas. Wielding swords and stars and keys, bring the nations to their knees, we pray. Sunday, December 9, 2018 11:00 am For though fitful is our flame, you're from age to age the same. Jesus, faithful is your name, and true So until the sun does rise, till your trumpets rend the skies, Help us keep our restless eyes on you.
Call to Worship (Based on Luke 1:68-79) Rev. Wesley Spears-Newsome Presentation of the Offering Transcendent God OLD 100TH Leader: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, People: For God has looked favorably on the people and redeemed them. Leader: God has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of David, People: As was spoken through the mouth of the holy prophets of old, Leader: That the people would be saved from their enemies People: And from the hand of all who hate them. Leader: Thus God has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, People: And has remembered the holy covenant, Leader: The oath that was sworn to our ancestor Abraham, People: To grant that we, being rescued, might serve the Lord without fear. Leader: This child will be called the prophet of the Most High; People: For he will go before God to prepare the way of the Lord, Leader: To give knowledge of salvation to God s people by the forgiveness of sins. People: By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, Leader: To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, People: To guide our feet into the way of peace. Invocation Hymn 98 Offertory Prayer Rev. Spears-Newsome Hail to the Lord s Anointed Leanne Glasgow Offertory Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding arr. Archer Transcendent God, we bless your name, Incarnate Christ, the risen one, The Spirit with us, Immanent, The Source, the Word, the Breath of life! Amen. Prayers of the People and Lord s Prayer We affirm each prayer with the following response: Leader: Lord, in your mercy... People: Hear our prayer. We conclude the Prayers of the People with the Lord s 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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Rev. Stephen Stacks Scripture Reading Malachi 3:1-4 Rev. Robin Hardison We affirm the reading of Scripture with the following response: Reader: The word of God for us, the people of God. People: Thanks be to God.
During the following hymn, children (ages first grade and younger) are invited to go to Children s Time. Parents may pick up their children in the Children s Wing after worship. Sermon Make God s Paths Straight Rev. Efird Hymn 95 Prepare the Royal Highway Hymn 89 Comfort, Comfort Ye My People Benediction Rev. Efird Scripture Reading Luke 3:1-14 Kadeisha Bonsu We affirm the reading of Scripture with the following response: Reader: The word of God for us, the people of God. People: Thanks be to God. Anthem Come Now, O Prince of Peace Lee Geonyong Postlude Please stand as you are able. The Deacon of the Day is Leanne Glasgow, Chair of the Worship Ministry. Today s acolyte is Naomi Gomi. The cover art is based on a liturgical banner by John Stuart. Hearing assistance devices are available at the back of the sanctuary. Come now, O Prince of Peace; make us one body. Come, O Lord Jesus; reconcile your people. Come now, O God of love; make us one body. Come, O Lord Jesus; reconcile your people. Come now and set us free, O God, our Savior. Come, O Lord Jesus; reconcile all nations. Come, hope of unity; make us one body. Come, O Lord Jesus; reconcile all nations.
Prayer Concerns Jim Allen, Gilles Bikindou, Betty Coggins, Linda Crider, Sally Glasgow (Scot Glasgow s mother), Jane Grizzard, Wilton Short (Jennifer Whaley s father), Iris Thomas, Caden Thompson (Michelle Hudson s friend), and Jim Webster (Emma Webster s son) Our partner church, Ebenezer Baptist, Cuba, and our brothers and sisters of the Oromo Evangelical Lutheran Mission Focus on Finance 2018/2019 Budget (MDP + MSP) $913,634 Amount of Budget supported through Stewardship Giving $830,186 (excludes cell tower and GFCC receipts) Week 14 of 52 (December 2) Week 14 YTD Total Giving $16,670 $206,803 Less Designated Giving $ 550 $ 10,508 Actual Stewardship Giving $16,120 $196,295 Stewardship Giving needed to fully subscribe budget $20,081 $228,024 Over (Under) $(3,961) $(31,729) Announcements and Upcoming Events Staff Love Offering This Advent we are collecting a Staff Love Offering as an expression of our gratitude for the hard-work, leadership, and faithful service Lauren, Stephen, Wes, Kadeisha, Karen, Randy, and Helen have given our church family throughout the year. The last day to turn in your contribution for the Staff Love Offering is next Sunday, December 16. Please give your gift to Annette King or Megan Jarrell, or place it in the envelope in your Faith Formation class. Please make checks payable to Megan Jarrell (Deacon Chair). December Second Wednesday Missions Kids December 12 If you took one of the heart slips from the Children s Ministry bulletin board for items for the Children s Ministry "Birthday Party for Jesus, please bring your items to the box outside the church office no later than tomorrow, December 10. There are a few unclaimed hearts if you would like one. We are so grateful for your donations! Second Wednesday Meal and Program December 12 This Wednesday, Rev. Stacks will take us through an exploration of everyone's favorite book of the Bible Leviticus! Leviticus has been widely abused and misunderstood by Christians. If you've ever wondered what to make of Leviticus, come out to the Second Wednesday program at 6:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall! Senior Adult Dinner December 14 Senior Adults who have reservations for the dinner on Friday, December 14 are reminded to bring hats or gloves for children or adults that will be distributed to the homeless and impoverished. There is no need to wrap the donations. Stock Donations Year-End Tax Reminder If you plan to make a stock donation to the church this year, please do so immediately as it takes several weeks for transfers to be processed. The donation must be in the account by Monday, December 31 to receive credit for 2018.
Sanctuary Dedication Anniversary Celebration December 16 In December of 1978, Greenwood Forest dedicated our incredible Sanctuary. For the past forty years, this profound space has shaped us in the heights and depths of our lives together as the people of God. Next Sunday, December 16, 2018, we will celebrate the 40th anniversary of worshipping in this Sanctuary during our 11am service. This will be a special time of gratitude and praise for all that God has done for us in this place in the past 40 years. The service will feature hymns from the service in 1978 alongside a performance of John Rutter's breathtaking Gloria with organ, brass, and percussion. Plan to be here for this special occasion and invite anyone and everyone who might like to celebrate what this place has meant over the years. Service of Lament December 19 We hope that everyone will come to share the burdens of those grieving in our community by surrounding them during the Service of Lament on Wednesday, December 19 at 6 pm. Lament is a communal act that we should not allow our brothers and sisters to do alone. Therefore, we strongly encourage all to attend, whether or not you personally are dealing with loss. Neighborhood Blitz The Outreach Committee is sponsoring a Neighborhood Blitz. During December proudly post your GFBC yard sign and invite your neighbors to worship. Need a sign? Pick one up in the narthex or at one of the sanctuary exits. Backpack Buddies Ministry Needs The Backpack Buddies Ministry needs more grocery bags! Please donate doublebagged sets of grocery bags to the Backpack Buddy boxes in front of the church office. In addition, the packing group that meets the first Wednesday night at 7 pm could use some more people to help pack. If interested, please email Judy Vacarro at judyvaccaro@gmail.com. Art for Conversation at Coffee Hour The Discipleship Committee is placing a piece of art created by a GFBC member in the Narthex to generate reflection and conversation during coffee hour. Be sure to make your way to the Narthex at 10:30 to enjoy a cup of coffee and/or connect with other GFBC folks before worship! The GFBC family will gather together to celebrate the Christmas season with our annual breakfast. This event has become a wonderful time in the life of our church as we gather together to share a meal on the final Sunday before Christmas. Mark your calendars now for the annual GFBC Christmas Breakfast that will occur on Sunday, December 23, at 9:00 am in the Fellowship Hall. There will be no Faith Formation on this day. Please plan to bring your favorite casseroles or sides such as pastries, fruits, etc. to share. Coffee and juices will be provided. Then join us afterwards for worship at the Service of Lessons and Carols in the sanctuary at 11 am. You are encouraged to invite guests and friends to both the breakfast and the service to follow. It will be a great time of fellowship and worship for everyone!
110 SE Maynard Road Cary, NC 27511-4599 Church Office: 919-467-0481 Fax: 919-467-0556 Website: gfbccary.org Email: info@gfbccary.org Leadership Rev. Lauren Efird, Senior Pastor Rev. Stephen Stacks, Associate Pastor of Worship and Faith Formation Rev. Wesley Spears-Newsome, Associate Pastor of Community and Youth Ministry Kadeisha Bonsu, Director of Children s Ministry Helen Bishop, Organist Dr. Luther Brewer, Pastor Emeritus All Who Serve This Church