Sunday, December 4, 2016 2nd Sunday of Advent 10:45 a.m. PREPARING OUR HEARTS FOR WORSHIP Indeed, one of us is tempted to think there is not much wrong with the church that could not be cured by God calling about a hundred really insensitive, uncaring, and offensive people into ministry. Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon Because God challenges us to follow the teaching and example of Jesus Christ, we strive to be a warm, accepting family of worshipers and faith explorers who reach out to share Christ s love, support each other, and serve our community and world.
We Gather to Praise God PRELUDE In the Bleak Midwinter arr. Malcolm Archer (b. 1952) INTROIT WELCOME SILENCE AND RINGING OF THE BELL * CALL TO WORSHIP CALL AND LIGHTING OF ADVENT CANDLE from Matthew 3:2-3 ONE: Advent is a season of preparing and waiting Prepare the way of the Lord, make his ways straight. ALL: God, as we wait and prepare, teach us your way of repentance. * HYMN 8 Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates DRAW NEAR TO GOD S LOVE AND GRACE God of Advent, in the midst of a troubled and hurting world, we long for your voice. We seek hope, the promise of a new day. Yet we are captive to old ways, to the ways of the world. We respect power and influence, wealth and might. But John the Baptist appears on the edges of society, interrupts our Advent, reminds us that you move on the margins, away from power and influence. O God, we confess that we do not care for John or his call to repent. We re not ready to change our ways so they are more like yours. Forgive us. Heal our hearts and vision; help us to see you moving in the world. And help us to change, to live in new ways that proclaim you to the world. Silence for personal reflection SUNG RESPONSE * Please stand in body or spirit
RECEIVE GOD S LOVE AND GRACE * SING GLORY TO GOD * PASSING THE PEACE ONE: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. ALL: And also with you. We Listen for God s Word SUNG PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (sung twice) FIRST SCRIPTURE LESSON Isaiah 11:1-9 Page 640 ONE: The Word of the Lord. ALL: Thanks be to God. TIME WITH YOUNG DISCIPLES Rachel Clark SECOND SCRIPTURE LESSON Matthew 3:1-12 Page 2 ONE: The Word of the Lord. ALL: Thanks be to God. SERMON WHEN GOD STIRS James Sledge
We Respond to God s Word * HYMN 10 On Jordan s Bank the Baptist s Cry * PROFESSING OUR FAITH The Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE ONE: Lord, in your mercy, ALL: Hear our prayer. SHARING OUR FAITH Chuck Anderson OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD Angels from the Realms of Glory arr. Reginald Jacques (1894-1969) Chancel Choir Chamber Group * DOXOLOGY
SACRAMENT OF THE LORD S SUPPER Invitation to the Lord s Table Great Thanksgiving ONE: The Lord be with you. ALL: And also with you. ONE: Lift up your hearts. ALL: We lift them up to the Lord. ONE: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. ALL: It is right to give God thanks and praise. ONE: It is truly right Sanctus 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.
Distribution of the Elements Communion is by intinction. Come forward by the outside aisles, take bread, dip it into the cup and eat, then return via the center aisle. Bread is gluten-free, cup is non-alcoholic, and yeastfree wafers are available. A tray with bread and cups will be brought to those who cannot come forward. And the Glory of the Lord from Messiah G.F. Handel (1685-1759) POST COMMUNION PRAYER * HYMN 15 Rejoice! Rejoice, Believers * OUR LIFE TOGETHER AS THE BODY OF CHRIST * CHARGE AND BLESSING * CHORAL BENEDICTION POSTLUDE Savior of the Nations Come! arr. Wayne Wold (b. 1954) Songs reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-721003 The Prayers of the People are offered on behalf of and with the congregation. To highlight this, they are led by an elder currently serving on our Session (governing council for Presbyterian churches). Supporting us in Worship Today Acolyte Elena Clark-Wilson Worship Leaders Elder Jeff Jordan, Whitney Owen, Elena Clark-Wilson Communion Servers Kelly Foster, Julie Kasten, Edward Newburn Advent Candle Lighting The Geisinger family Ushers Dale Martin, John Moses, Elizabeth Shipley-Moses, Will Sjoberg Sound Assistant Robbie Arwood Sunday Sexton Monica Strople Sanctuary Flowers The flowers today are given to the glory of God in loving memory of Faith and Scott Phillips on their 63rd anniversary by Kelly and Glen Foster.
Please keep in your prayers Thomas Walton, grandfather of Diane Walton Hendricks, in hospice care John Tant, friends of Gregg and Susan Tate, recovering from a massive brain injury Peace in Cameroon The family of Joan Brubaker, mother of Lori and Alan Brubaker Kathryn Houser, sister of Julie Kasten June Pataky, mother of Susan Loyd, with dementia and in rehab after a fall Marilyn Lippincott, stepmother of Victoria Lippincott, undergoing cancer treatment Don Searle, father of Kerry Grannis, recovering from pneumonia Marjorie Brown, mother of Cameron Brown, in rehab following a broken hip Michael Marrone, husband of Ellen Marrone, recovering from a dog bite Continued prayers for Electa Anum, Kris Barth, Ercell Binns, Donald Bisbee, Lexi Bognar, William Chance Bridgforth, Sophie Burdette, Mary Kay Cheek, Phyllis DeMass, Jean-Anne Gates, Nancy Gehron, Frank Greenday, Kate Heavner, Gareth Howell, Nancy Lundien, Ellen Marrone, Jack Miller, Bob Moore, Virginia Pregano, Emilia Siciliano, the Strople family, Gloria Svedberg, Gregg Tate, Christa Young Prayer Requests: The Prayers of the People are now led by different elders each Sunday, and this has created some difficulties in dealing with the Prayer Request cards. To remedy this, please place Prayer Requests in the offering plate. (Ushers will no longer collect them.) This ensures that that the pastors will receive your concerns immediately following the service. A Warm Welcome We welcome all who come to worship with us. You are invited to join us for coffee in Fellowship Hall immediately following worship. If you need to step out of worship, the service is being broadcast into the parlor, just across the hall from the narthex at the back of the sanctuary. Please turn off all cell phones and flash devices during the service. Please sign the red friendship pad which can be found at the end of the pew, then pass the pad along to your neighbor. Large-print bulletins, including copies of today s hymns and This Week at FCPC, are available at the sanctuary entrances. Portable electronic assistive listening devices are available in the narthex. Ushers can provide them upon request.
An audio recording of today s service and audio/video of today s sermon can be found at www.fallschurchpresby.org/sermon. Christian Development for all Ages Sunday classes are 9:30-10:30 a.m. Other Christian development opportunities are available throughout the week. Pick up a flyer at the Activities Center or visit www.fallschurchpresby.org for more information. Children in Worship Children are always welcome in our services. Children s worship bags with books and materials that can be used during worship are available at the Kids Corner, located on the side pew, lectern side, at the front of the sanctuary. Please enjoy the materials and return them after the service. Infants to age 2: Child care is provided in Room 11 during the Sunday school hour and 10:45 a.m. worship service. Parents may drop off and pick up children during this time. 2- and 3-year-olds: Christian nurture is offered during the 10:45 a.m. worship service in Room 206. 4-year-olds through 3rd grade: After the Time with Young Disciples, children 4 years old through kindergarten, and 1st through 3rd grade, are dismissed to Godly Play in Rooms 204 and 59, respectively. The Reverend James Sledge, Pastor The Reverend Diane Walton Hendricks, Pastor for Spiritual Growth Rachel M. Clark, Director of Children s Ministry Helen Wilkins, Director of Youth Ministry Dr. Lisa A. Billingham, Director of Music Dr. Lisa Bloy, Organist Felix Polendey, Director of Children s Choirs Falls Church Presbyterian Church belongs to the Covenant Network of Presbyterians, seeking to fully include all of God s children in the leadership of the church regardless of sexual orientation. 225 East Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046 703-532-6518 www.fallschurchpresby.org