1660 Kessler Boulevard, East Drive Indianapolis, IN 46220 317-251-9489 www.northminster-indy.org Welcome to worship at Northminster! Thank you for worshipping with us today. If you are visiting with us this morning we hope you feel the presence of God and the hospitality of this congregation. If you have any questions about our church please ask one of the pastors or a greeting host wearing a red Ask Me badge. SERVICE FOR THE LORD S DAY FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT December 23, 2018 TRUST * = Those who are able, please stand. Congregation responds in bold. CENTERING THOUGHT Trust the vision, Trust the promise, so they may be received with joy. For there is still a vision; there is still a promise: The day of the Lord quickly approaches We watch. We wait. We trust. For the vision and the promise will come. Katherine Hawker (adapted)
APPROACHING GOD Please silence your cell phone before worship begins. WELCOME Teri Thomas INTROIT Lo, how a Rose e er blooming M. Praetorius (1571-1621) (The text may be found in Glory to God Hymn No. 129) CALL TO WORSHIP (9:00) John and Marty Brooks (11:00) Crook Family People of God, today we hear the story of an angel appearing in a dream. Joseph was a righteous man who heard God s message. Because of Joseph s deep faith, he trusted in God s steadfast love. Our trust is in our God forever; the Lord is our strength and our might; we will not be afraid. As our Advent journey draws to a close, We declare our trust in the God of our salvation The One who comes to us as Immanuel, God with us. (four candles are lighted) In our Advent worship, in our Advent living, we trust in your unwavering love for us and for all creation. Come, Lord Jesus! Let us worship God. *HYMN NO. 88 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel VENI EMMANUEL Stanza 1 All Stanza 2 Higher Voices Stanza 3 Lower Voices Stanza 4 All Stanza 5 Choir Stanza 6 Higher Voices Stanza 7 - All
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION Ruth Chadwick Moore Holy God, we trust in your promise that the Christ child will be born; yet we confess our impatience. We trust the angels will sing; yet we confess we are tone-deaf. We trust the manger will receive the traveling family; yet we confess we are still not prepared. We trust the shepherds to lead us to the new-born king; yet we confess we re not quite ready to worship him. Forgive us, great God. Open our hearts to prepare him room: the One who is coming to save us all even Jesus Christ, our Lord. *SILENCE FOR PERSONAL PRAYER AND REFLECTION *DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. The Lord will be your everlasting light and your God will be your glory. Hear and believe the news that is good: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Alleluia! Amen! * GLORIA GLORIA Glo---ria, in excelsis Deo, Glo---ria, in excelsis Deo. *SHARING THE PEACE The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. And also with you. (Worshipers may greet one another with words of Christ s peace.)
LISTENING FOR GOD S WORD CHILDREN S TIME Children may be excused for Church School at this time. ANTHEM There is no rose Paul Hillier (b. 1949) There is no rose of such virtue as is the rose that bare Jesu. There is no rose of such virtue as is the rose that bare Jesu. Alleluia. For in this rose contained was heaven and earth in little space. Resmiranda. There is no rose of such virtue as is the rose that bare Jesu. By that rose we may well see that he is God in persons three. Pariforma. The angels sungen the shepherds to. Gloria in excelsis. Gaudeamus. Leave we all this worldly mirth, and follow we this joyful birth. Transeamus. PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION LESSON Matthew 1: 18-25 (Pg. 1) The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. SERMON Trust Teri Thomas SILENCE FOR REFLECTION RESPONDING TO GOD S WORD
*HYMN NO.104 O Lord, How Shall I Meet You VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN
THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM (9:00) Jonah Taylor Fox Parents Cameron and Shelby Fox Elder Dale Theobald PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. OFFERING (Please sign the pew pad and pass it to your neighbor.) OFFERTORY Shepherd s Carol Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911) *DOXOLOGY Christ to thee, with God the Father W ZLOBIE LEZY Christ to thee with God the Father, and O Holy Ghost to thee, hymn and chant and high thanksgiving, and unwearied praises be: honor, glory and dominion, and eternal victory, evermore and evermore. Amen! Amen! * PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
GOING FORTH *HYMN NO. 139 That Boy-Child of Mary BLANTYRE *CHARGE Our God is the One who comes to us in a burning bush, in an angel s song, as a newborn child. Our God is the One who cannot be found locked in the church, not even in the sanctuary.
Our God will be born where god will be born when God is ready, God will come even to a strange place like a stable in Bethlehem. Watch and wait for you know not when God comes. We watch we wait that we might be found whenever and wherever God comes to us. * BLESSING POSTLUDE Improvisation on VENI EMMANUEL Marko Petričić MUSIC IN WORSHIP Paul Hillier studied the music of Arvo Pärt, which informed his own style of composition - that is: reflective, simple, and minimalist. This approach compliments the gentle awe in the text There is no rose. Refrains will be repeated often, but sometimes with slightly different voicing or at different dynamic volumes. Michael Praetorius was a German composer, organist, and music theorist. He harmonized this familiar setting of Lo how a rose in 1609, and that it is still the most recognized arrangement of the tune today shows how effective its beauty is. A composer for Christian courts, Praetorius' music is said to have improved the relationship between Protestants and Catholics of the time. Acolyte in worship today is Eva Ellington.
Christmas at Northminster Monday, December 24, Christmas Eve We celebrate the birth of a baby in Bethlehem. 4:00 pm Children and youth choirs will lead us in worship for all generations. 7:00 pm A quiet, candlelight communion service. 10:30 pm A musical prelude will begin the 11:00 pm candelight service. Childcare available for the 7pm and 10:30pm services. What s Next? Sunday Worship December 30 Christmas continues as we celebrate the 1 st Sunday of Christmas. We remain with Matthew s version of the Christ story and sing some of the carols we missed earlier.
Mission and Outreach Christmas Joy Offering Each year during the Advent and Christmas season, we turn our eyes to Bethlehem and celebrate the wondrous gift of Jesus Christ, our Savior. By giving to the Christmas Joy Offering, you honor this gift by providing assistance to current and retired church workers in their time of need and developing our future leaders at Presbyterianrelated schools and colleges equipping communities of color. The offering envelopes are in members pledge boxes or an envelope can be found in pew racks or on information tables. The offering will be received on Christmas Eve. Events and Education Advent Study-Explore the Advent Scriptures TODAY, 10am Youth Group -- December 30, New Year s Eve Eve, 5:30pm Caregivers Support Group January 7, 6pm and January 9, 1pm Health Support Group January 14, 7pm Book of the Month January 20, 12:15pm Everything Happens for a Reason Christian Doctrine Wednesday evening study begins January 23 NorthStars Camino de Compostella January 25, 10am. Sound & Spirit Connla January 25, 7pm NEW TIME: 3B Exercise Monday and Thursday at 2:30pm (will not meet on December 24 or 31) For more information, check out our website (northminster-indy.org). To give by text message on a smartphone, text the amount you would like to give to 317-316-3009. Our online giving system, ShelbyNext, will then prompt you through a one-time set up for giving.
Teri L. Thomas Pastor Ruth Chadwick Moore Associate Pastor Maureen Wilson Director of Education and Youth Ministries John M. Wright Director, Music Ministries Marko Petričić Music Associate/Organist Denise Harrington Senior Ministry Consultant Doug Johnson Acting Choir Director MINISTRY Carol McDonald Parish Associate Carol Campbell John Reed Tony Dzwonar Stephen Ministry Leaders Donald R. Durrett Associate Pastor Emeritus Lori Schlabach Church Business Adminstrator Susan Glant Nancy J. Sala Adminstrative Assistants Tim McElroy Lead Custodian