FIRST UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 695 E. Calvin Street Fayetteville, AR 72703 * Please stand as you are able. www.fupcfay.org 479-442-4411 December 17, 2017, 8:30 a.m. GATHERING PRELUDE Six Variants on Es ist ein Ros entsprungen Gerald Near Jeannie Lee, organist WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS (Please sign the Friendship Pad and pass it to others.) Carol Van Scyoc ADVENT SERVICE OF PREPARATION Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob; Whose hope is in the Lord, their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; The Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow. The Lord will reign forever! *CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE The Child is King (sing three times) Rev. Jan Butin John Seagard, S. Michael Shuman ADVENT PRAYER LITANY (congregation seated) Lord, you are great and abundant in power. Your understanding is beyond measure. You lift up the downtrodden and lay the wicked low. You take pleasure in those who fear you; those who hope in your steadfast love. O Lord, our hope is in you! In this Christmas season, may we rejoice in that hope, be patient in suffering, and persevere in prayer. As we light these Advent candles, may we resolve never to repay evil for evil, but to take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. Instead of cynically trying to overcome evil by evil, may your Spirit fill us with the grace to overcome evil with good. *HYMN MEDLEY 123 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (verses 1 and 4) 119 Hark the Herald Angel Sing (verse 1) *PASSING OF THE PEACE The peace of Christ be with you! And also with you. PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD CHILDREN S SONG Oh, Come, Little Children Oh, come, little children, come one and come all, Oh come, to the manger in Bethlehem s stall. Sing glory to God in the heavens above And thank Him for Jesus, the gift of his love. J.A.P. Schultz
TIME WITH CHILDREN Kristi Button PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION SCRIPTURE READINGS Lamentations 3:1-3, 17-26 1 I am one who has seen affliction under the rod of God s wrath; 2 he has driven and brought me into darkness without any light; 3 against me alone he turns his hand, again and again, all day long. 17 My soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is; 18 so I say, Gone is my glory, and all that I had hoped for from the Lord. 19 The thought of my affliction and my homelessness is wormwood and gall! 20 My soul continually thinks of it SERMON and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him. 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. 26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. 21 Hope in the Midst of Suffering Rev. Phil Butin RESPONSE TO THE WORD *AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Hebrews 10:19S-25) Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS OFFERTORY *CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE *PRAYER OF DEDICATION Gift of Love Advent Doxology Music Ministry Interns
INVITATION TO THE LORD S TABLE GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. 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. It is truly right and our greatest joy...singing: (Hymn 559) Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest! Great is the mystery of faith: (Hymn 560) Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us...now and forever. (Hymn 561) Amen, amen, amen. BREAKING OF THE BREAD AND SHARING OF THE CUP (Please pause to allow those who are gluten-free to come forward first.) THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD S PRAYER God, in your grace You hear our prayers. 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. *HYMN 773 *BENEDICTION *CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE 105 POSTLUDE SENDING Heaven Shall Not Wait People, Look East People, look east. The time is near of the crowning of the year. Make your house fair as you are able; trim the hearth and set the table. People, look east and sing today: Love, the Guest, is on the way. Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying Paul Manz Called to be a light on the hill, we boldly proclaim and serve Christ, the Hope of our changing world.
12:00 p.m. Congregational Meeting to Elect Officers Sanctuary 4:00 p.m. Bells Rehearsal Sanctuary 4:00 p.m. Christian Education Committee Calvin 201 5:00 p.m. United Presbyterian Youth Christmas Party Lower Witherspoon 6:00 p.m. Session and Deacon Christmas Party at the Moore's home Tues., Dec. 19 12:45 p.m. First School Commission Calvin 201 4:30 p.m. Butterfield Trail Village Worship and Communion BTV Chapel 6:30 p.m. Fellow"Shape" Yoga Fellowship Hall Wed., Dec. 20 6:30 a.m. Men's Breakfast Village Inn 7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal Choir Room 7:00 p.m. United Presbyterian Youth Small Group Witherspoon Thurs., Dec. 21 11:30 a.m. Presbyterian Women's Circle 5 Luncheon Mermaid's Fri., Dec. 22 10:00 a.m. Hooks and Needles Upper Witherspoon WE WELCOME YOU TO WORSHIP! Ushers and greeters are happy to help with questions. Professional childcare is provided for children ages five and under in Lower Calvin from 8:30 a.m. 12:15 p.m. We have a special Time with Children in worship each week, after, children may go to childcare or are welcome to stay for the entire service. CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FOR ALL AGES will resume after the holidays on January 7. A BRIEF CONGREGATIONAL MEETING will be held today at 12:00 p.m., following worship to elect officers. CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING: Today we receive the Christmas Joy Gift Offering which provides assistance to pastors in need who have spent their lives in the service of the church, and also racial ethnic schools and colleges of the Presbyterian Church (USA). TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO CONTRIBUTE THROUGH THE HELPING HANDS WREATH. This provides Christmas for families within FUPC. Checks in any amount are welcome. THE HAT AND MITTEN TREE is located in the Fellowship Hall. These gifts will be given to children in Fayetteville Public Schools. PLEASE JOIN US FOR CHRISTMAS BRUNCH THIS MORNING AT 9:30 A.M. in the Fellowship Hall as we come together with family, friends, and neighbors to celebrate the season. Children will break away at 10:15 p.m. with Kristi Button in Upper Witherspoon for a special Birthday Party for Jesus. THE SESSION AND DEACONS APPRECIATION CHRISTMAS DINNER is this evening at 6:00 p.m. at the home of James and Mary Ellen Moore (601-3287) for all current officers and those who begin service in 2018 and all spouses. THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN YOUTH CHRISTMAS PARTY IS FINALLY HERE! Please join us at the home of the Christiansen s from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Bring a white elephant gift for a gift exchange and wear funky socks to enter in the Christmas sock contest. We can t wait to see you! Contact Brianne (712-240-3122) for more information. POINSETTIA DEDICATIONS AND DONATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED. These poinsettias adorn the Sanctuary through January 6. If you would like to honor or remember a loved one in this beautiful way, please contact the Church Office (442-4411 or officemanager@fupcfay.org) or fill out the poinsettia forms and envelopes that are available on the tall table in the Narthex and place them with your gift in the offering. All dedications will be listed on an insert in the Christmas Eve bulletin. WE WILL HAVE ONE SERVICE WITH HOLY COMMUNION ON CHRISTMAS EVE MORNING AT 11:00 A.M.
ON NEW YEAR S EVE WE WILL HAVE ONE SERVICE AT 11:00 A.M. THE CHURCH OFFICE HOURS ARE Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The Church Office will be closed on December 25 and 26 for Christmas and on January 1 for New Year s Day. A NEW ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION STUDY, YOU ARE WHAT YOU LOVE, WILL BEGIN JANUARY 7. We will begin a thoughtful and practical exploration of an issue Calvin powerfully raises ( How can we focus our desires on what matters most to God? ) with a series on You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit. We will be using a book by the same title by James K. A. Smith, a professor at Calvin College. Ten hardback copies are available in the Church Office for $13 each.