First Presbyterian Church November 30, 2014 10:00 a.m. God s spirit, given by Christ, flows through us as living water to wash, heal, and satisfy. As a congregation we become a fountain, sharing this living water with others. Blessed with God s love and grace, we celebrate gifts of diversity. By Jesus Christ s example, we welcome, in love, all who rejoice and worship with us.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH A Congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) November 30, 2014 First Sunday of Advent *Please stand, in body or in spirit. Text printed in bold italics to be read in unison. Chiming of the Hour Welcome Prelude Introit Now the heavens start to whisper, as the veil is growing thin. Earth from slumber wakes to listen to the stirring, faint within: seed of promise, deeply planted, child to spring from Jesse's stem! Like the soil beneath the frostline, hearts grow soft to welcome him. (Hymn 94) *Call to Worship and Lighting of the Advent Wreath The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill my promise to my people. Justice and righteousness will fill the land and all will live in peace and safety. We light this first candle of Advent as a symbol of the hope we have in the promise of the Lord s coming. (all sing): Come, come Emmanuel. Come, Emmanuel. (repeat) God will fulfill God s promise to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. A righteous Branch will spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. *Hymn 83 *Call to Confession Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus *Prayer of Confession God of hope, we say that we are ready for your coming, but we aren t. We continue to leave untended the needs of others. We continue to hurry past those in pain. We continue to live in fear, as though there were no grace. Forgive us, Lord. Show us your mercy and steadfast love, and lead us in your truth, that we might walk your path and reflect your light; through Jesus Christ we pray. (time for silent confession) And let God s people say: Amen. *Assurance of Pardon *The Peace of Christ Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another. The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. And also with you. Let us share the peace of Christ with one another. 2
*Sung Response The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; God s mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning, new every morning; Great is your faithfulness, O Lord, great is your faithfulness. Anthem An Advent Prayer Pote Time with the Children Sharon Youngs Children, second grade and younger, are invited to remain for the rest of the service or go to the nursery (downstairs in the education building). First Reading Isaiah 64:1-9 Psalm 80 O Shepherd, hear and lead your flock, as lambs we crave your care; What strength on earth approaches yours, what mercies can compare? Restore, O God, your favor, the radiance of your face To lighten and reveal the gift of your redeeming grace. Our selfish prayers deserve God s wrath, our pride, a sudden burst; We have but stones to serve as bread, and tears to quell our thirst. Restore, O God Almighty, the radiance of your face To lighten and reveal the gift of your redeeming grace. God s lineage, like a vine, once spread and flourished in the land; But now the vineyard fails, the fruit lies withered in the sand. Restore, Lord God Almighty, the radiance of your face To lighten and reveal the gift of your redeeming grace. Second Reading Mark 13:24-37 Sermon Caught in the Middle Sharon Youngs *Hymn 88 Offering of God s Tithes and Our Gifts *Doxology and Prayer of Dedication The Sacrament of Holy Communion Invitation to the Lord s Table O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Great Prayer of Thanksgiving The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. It is right and a good and joyful thing always and everywhere to give thanks to you we praise you and join the never-ending hymn: 3
*Hymn 357 Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Holy are you and blessed is Jesus Christ your Son all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen. Breaking of the Bread, Pouring of the Cup Sharing of the Elements (Communion is served by intinction today. You are invited to come forward, receive a serving of bread, dip the bread into the chalice, and then eat the bread. Gluten-free bread is available upon request.) Prayer after Communion Holy One, we thank you for this meal in your name. May the nourishment we have received strengthen us in every way, so that we may be faithful in love and open to the wonders of your work in and through us, now and always. Amen. *Charge and Blessing The Days Are Surely Coming *Sung Response Angels, announce with shouts of mirth Christ who brings new life to earth. Set every peak and valley humming with the word, the Lord is coming. People, look east and sing today: Love, the Lord, is on the way. (Hymn 105) Postlude + + + + + Today s flowers are given by Camille Graves & Will Lavender to the glory of God and in honor of Esmee s birthday. 4
+ + + + + WELCOME GUESTS! We are glad you are here! You are invited to join us for refreshments in the Fellowship Hall (behind the sanctuary) following worship. If you would like to know more about First Presbyterian Church, please let us know. Talk with the pastor or give us a call (483-1318). Again, welcome! Things to know The nursery is located on the first floor of the Education Building. Hearing assistance units, large print bulletins, and children s bulletins are available from the ushers. Bulletins and sermons available at fpcor.org. For recordings of the worship service, please contact the church office. WORSHIP NOTES Today is the first Sunday of Advent, which begins a new liturgical year. The colors move from Ordinary Time green to Advent blue and purple. The season runs from today until Christmas Eve and holds time-honored traditions, such as the lighting of the Advent wreath candles and the singing of hymns that look with hope and expectation to the birth of the Christ child. Hymn 88, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, is one the oldest hymns we sing. The text comes from the Great O Antiphons sung by medieval Christians in the days before Christmas. The tune has been traced back to fifteenth-century French Franciscan nuns, and was used as a processional hymn. Text and tune were wed in 1854, using an adaption of the tune by Helmore and translation of text by Neale. Please make note: During the season of Advent we will begin worship in a slightly different order. The chiming of the hour will be at 10:00 a.m., followed by welcome/announcements, and then the prelude. This will provide us with the opportunity to use the prelude as a time for centering and preparation for worship. Music time for children in grades 3-8 meets on Sundays, 11:15-11:30, in the choir room. We are preparing music for Christmas! TODAY S WORSHIP VOLUNTEERS Liturgist: Kathy Carney-Layendecker Time with Children: Sharon Youngs Activity Time: Alex Hoppestad, Lily Child Sound Guild: Sydney Murray Ushers: Teresa Brittain, Mary Childress (greeter), Gail King (greeter), Phil King, Anna Robinson, Matt Stone, Dennis Strickler, Rebekah Young Counters: Jim Campbell, Dennis Strickler Flowers: Camille Graves & Will Lavender Fellowship hosts: Debra & Matt Stone Opening & Closing: Dan Terpstra, Jim Tonne MORGAN-SCOTT PROJECT Today is the last day to make a gift for this year s Christmas gift fund for the Morgan-Scott Project (MSP), a comprehensive program for addressing the needs of low-income families in rural Morgan and Scott counties. Please make your donation payable to First Presbyterian Church with MSP on the memo line. We will send the total amount of the donations to MSP tomorrow. DONATIONS NEEDED FOR HEADSTART The Early Headstart program at FPC has asked for donations of diapers to send home with some of their children over the Christmas break coming up in a couple weeks. Please bring in packages of size 4 or 5 diapers by Sunday, December 14 to help with this need. Thank you. i
CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK November 30-December 7, 2014 Sun. 11/30 First Sunday of Advent 9:00 a.m. Early Birds Sunday school class (room 6) 9:29 a.m. Choir rehearsal (choir room) 9:50 a.m. Called session meeting (room 6) 10:00 a.m. Worship (sanctuary) 11:15 a.m. Advent class with Sharon all ages 6:00 p.m. Evening Light service (room 102) 7:00 p.m. BYOB study Mon. 12/1 9:00 a.m. Stewardship team (room 6) 12:00 p.m. Men s lunch (Shoney s) 6:00 p.m. Boy Scouts (fellowship hall) 7:00 p.m. Social concerns meeting (room 6) Tues. 12/2 10:00 a.m. Congregational Care & Welcome (room 6) 12:15 p.m. Centering Prayer (sanctuary) 5:30 p.m. AA (room 100) 6:30 p.m. Guitar workshop (fellowship hall) Wed. 12/3 11:30 a.m. Al Anon (room 100) 6:00 p.m. Worship committee meeting (room 6) 7:00 p.m. Choir rehearsal Christian education meeting (room 100) Thurs. 12/4 Fri. 12/5 5:00 p.m. AYSO meeting (room 6) 6:00 p.m. *PYC Movie night (room 101) 7:30 p.m. Chinese Bible study (room 102) Sat. 12/6 11:00 a.m. Educational missions brunch (room 102) Sun. 12/7 Second Sunday of Advent 9:00 a.m. Early Birds Sunday school class (room 6) 9:29 a.m. Choir rehearsal (choir room) 10:00 a.m. Worship (sanctuary) 11:15 a.m. Sunday school (see next pg.) 5:00 p.m. Alpha course celebration 5:30 p.m. *PYC dinner & program (fellowship hall) Celebrations this week: Birthdays 11/30 Esmee Lavender 11/30 Ryan Tilley 12/3 Lewis Phillips 12/5 Tammy Pietrzak 12/6 Melinda Tilley Anniversaries 12/2 Bonnie & Syd Murray Remember those who are... in healthcare and retirement communities: Anna Kathryn Atkinson, Oris Bullock, Bob & Julie Clausing, Carol Coker, Leslie Cowan, Oakley Crawford, Anna George Dobbins, Lois Lacy, Dick Lord, Ruth Reeve, Gerry Slaughter, Ruth Slusher homebound: Sandra Edwards, Lillian Lafferty Looking Ahead... 12/6 Brunch for educational missions volunteers 12/7 Alpha course celebration 12/9 Service of Memory & Hope 12/14 Cider & Cookies Christmas Caroling 12/21 Lessons & Carols 12/24 Christmas Eve services 12/27 Uncensored 12/28 Evening Light & BYOB 12/29 Coffee Chat w/ Sharon *Presbyterian Youth Connection ii
SUNDAY SCHOOL ADULTS: 9:00 a.m. Early Birds Class (room 6, sanctuary building) A cup of coffee, meaningful discussion, and an in depth study of the book of Acts. Teachers: Bill Childress and Sue Byrne 11:15 a.m. The Word Became Flesh: A Study of Advent Nov. 30-Dec. 21. Taught by Sharon Youngs. Usually in room 6, but the first class (today) will be in the sanctuary and is open to all ages. The traditional Bible study class will join the Advent class. CHILDREN & YOUTH: The children and youth classes will take a break today due to the Thanksgiving holiday. All ages are invited to join the Advent class being led by Pastor Sharon in the Sanctuary. Put it on your calendar for December Uncensored - a no-holds-barred conversation on life and faith for the 40 and under crowd. Saturday, December 27 at 9:00 a.m. in room 102. Childcare provided. Biscuits, too. Coffee Chat with Sharon, Monday, December 24 at 9:30 a.m. in room 6. Come share a cup of coffee and some free-flowing conversation. YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES Presbyterian Youth Connection (PYC) meets most Sunday evenings at 5:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Next PYC movie night! This Friday, December 5, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in room 101 (note location change this time). Bring your friends for pizza, drinks, popcorn & fun! Next Sunday, December 7, the youth will meet at 5:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall for dinner and a program. Evening Light a time of prayer and music Tonight at 6:00 p.m. in room 102 Stay after Evening Light for a light potluck at 6:30 p.m. and the BYOB study (Bring Your Own Bible--and anything else that begins with a B) at 7:00 p.m. Pastor Sharon will be leading the informal conversation. Schedule 6:00 p.m. Evening Light 6:30 p.m. light potluck 7:00 p.m. BYOB study To donate flowers for worship, please sign the flower chart on the fellowship hall bulletin board. Flowers are $30 (checks payable to First Presbyterian Church). iii
LOCAL EDUCATIONAL MISSIONS BRUNCH If you have participated in any of FPC s local educational mission efforts tutoring at Roane State Community College Learning Center, packing food for Backpacks 4 Kids, or classes for FMCOR you are invited to a brunch on Saturday, December 6 at 11:00 a.m. in room 102. ALPHA COURSE CELEBRATION DINNER All participants in the first FPC Alpha course are invited to attend and invite friends, neighbors, and family members to attend a celebration dinner next Sunday, December 7 at 5:00 p.m. in room 102. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to the church office with the number of folks who will be joining you by this Thursday (483-1318 or fpcadmin@comcast.net). Please submit announcements for the Sunday bulletin to the church office by Wednesday afternoon. Newsletter submissions for The Banner should be made to Adrienne Pyle (fpcadmin@comcast.net) or Carolyn Krause (chkrause23@gmail.com) by the 15th of each month. First Presbyterian Church A PC(USA) Congregation Sharon Youngs Pastor Anna Thomas Director of Music Jim Allen Organist Meg Tonne Parish Nurse Adrienne Pyle Office Manager Omer Breeden Sexton Bobbie Peters Nursery Meghan Cadmus Nursery Brittany King Nursery P.O. Box 6106 Oak Ridge, TN 37831 (865) 483-1318 fpcor.org Located at the corner of Lafayette and Oak Ridge Turnpike Church Office Hours: 8:30-11:30 a.m. 12:00-4:00 p.m.