Order of Worship Stated Meeting of Muskingum Valley Presbytery Trinity United Presbyterian Church December 5, 2015, 2:00 pm GOD GATHERS US Opening Prayer... Donna Robertson, Elder, Rittman Milton Presbyterian Church One: Almighty God, you wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature. In your mercy, let us share the divine life of Jesus Christ who came to share our humanity, and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
*Call to Worship... Mike Parker, Pastor, Ashland First Presbyterian Church One: Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing to the Lord, all the earth! All: Sing to the Lord and bless God s name. Tell the good news of salvation from day to day. One: Declare God s glory among the nations, God s marvelous works among all the peoples. All: For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. One: Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. All: Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world, and those who live in it. One: Let the whole creation sing for joy at the presence of God, who is coming. All: God is coming indeed, to judge the earth with righteousness, and the peoples with equity and truth. Praise the Lord! *Opening Hymn... O Come, All Ye Faithful, #41 1. O come all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold him, Born the King of angels! O come, let us adore Him; O come, let us adore Him; O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. 2. Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning, Jesus, to Thee be all glory given; Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing! O come, let us adore Him; O come, let us adore Him; O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. 3. Sing, choirs of Angels, Sing in exultation, Sing all ye citizens of heaven above: Glory to God, all Glory in the highest! O come, let us adore Him; O come, let us adore Him; O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. Invitation and Prayer of Confession... One: Because we have passed through the waters of baptism, we dare to bare our souls before God and reveal the bitterness that dwells in our hearts. Trusting in God s grace, let us confess our sin. All: God of wonder, you surround us with signs of your glory and surprise us with your presence, yet we often miss the marvels you place before us. Forgive our dullness and make us alert to the ways you make yourself known, that we might be witnesses to your good news and proclaim your extravagant love; through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen. Assurance of Pardon... One: In Jesus Christ, God saves us, not because of any good works that we have done, but according to God s mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. People of God, rejoice! In Jesus Christ, we are
forgiven. As the Lord has forgiven us, let us also forgive one another. The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. All: And also with you. Amen. GOD SPEAKS TO US: Lessons and Carols 1 First Lesson... Pastor Tim Pollock, Bloomfield Presbyterian Church Genesis 3:8-19 Adam and Eve disobey God s command and disrupt the order and goodness of creation. God pronounces judgement. Carol... O Little Town of Bethlehem, #44, verse 4 O, holy child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in, Be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell; O, come to us, abide with us, Our Lord, Emmanuel. Second Lesson... Pastor Tricia Petraven, Shreve and Hopewell Presbyterian Churches Genesis 22:15-18 God promises that, through Abraham, all the peoples of the world will be blessed. Carol... O Come, O Come Emmanuel, #9, verses 1-2 1. O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel! 2. O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel! Third Lesson... Candice McMath, Muskingum Valley Presbytery Mission Center Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 The people who walk in darkness receive the promise of the Messiah, the Future King. Carol... It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, #38, verse 4 For lo, the days are hastening on, By prophet bards foretold; When with the ever circling years, Comes round the age of gold. When peace shall over all the earth, Its ancient splendors fling; And the whole world give back the song Which now the angels sing. Fourth Lesson... Pastor Tim Pollock Isaiah 11:1-4a, 6-9 The Messiah will come from the root of Jesse to restore the peace of creation. 1 Many thanks to Pastor Mark Unrue and Uhrichsville First Presbyterian Church for sharing their Lessons and Carols service with us today.
Fifth Lesson... Pastor Tricia Petraven Luke 1:26-35, 38 An angel appears to Mary and announces that she will bear a holy child. Carol... Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, #31, verse 2 Christ, by highest heav n adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord; Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail, the incarnate Deity! Pleased in flesh with us to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel. Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King. Sixth Lesson... Pastor Tim Pollock Luke 2:1-7 Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem, where Mary gives birth to her child. Carol... Away in a Manger, #25 1. Away in a manger, no crib for His bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay. 2. The cattle are lowing, the poor Baby wakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes. I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky, And stay by my side until morning is nigh. 3. Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there. Seventh Lesson... Candice McMath Luke 2:8-16 Angels appear to the shepherds in the fields and announce the birth of the Messiah. Carol... Angels from the Realms of Glory, #22, verses 2 & 4 2. Shepherds, in the fields abiding, Watching o er your flocks by night, God with us is now residing, Yonder shines the infant light: Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King! 4. All creation, join in praising God the Father, Spirit, Son, Evermore your voices raising To the eternal Three in One: Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King! Eighth Lesson... Pastor Tricia Petraven Matthew 2:1-11 Magi from the East come seeking the Messiah and offer gifts to the baby Jesus. Carol... We Three Kings of Orient Are, #66 1. ALL: We three kings of Orient are, Bearing gifts we traverse afar; field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star. O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright; Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to They perfect light. 2. MEN: Born a King on Bethlehem s plain, Gold I bring to crown Him again; King forever, ceasing never, Over us all to reign. O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright; Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to They perfect light.
3. WOMEN: Frankincense to offer have I, Incense owns a Deity nigh; Prayer and praising, we are raising, Worshiping, God most high. O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright; Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to They perfect light. 4. MEN: Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume, Breathes a life of gathering gloom; Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, Sealed in the stone cold tomb. O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright; Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to They perfect light. 5. ALL: Glorious now behold Him arise, King and God and sacrifice; Alleluia, Alleluia! Sounds through the earth and skies. O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright; Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to They perfect light. Ninth Lesson... Candice McMath John 1:1-14 The Word of God becomes flesh and lives among us, full of grace and truth. Carol... Silent Night, Holy Night, #60, verses 1 & 3 1. Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright. Round yon virgin mother and child; Holy infant, so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace; Sleep in heavenly peace. 3. Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love s pure light. Radiant beams from Thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace. Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth; Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. WE RESPOND Installation of Moderator and Moderator - Elect... Pastor Mike Parker, Ashland First Moderator... Pastor Burnetta Armour, Millersburg First and Clark Community Moderator - Elect... Elder Sheila Ellenberger, Cambridge Unity Sentences of Scripture... Galatians 3:27-28, Ephesians 4:1-6 One: As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ. All: There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. One: Lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. All: There is one body and one Spirit, just as we were called to the one hope of our calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
Psalm 133 and Call to Discipleship... Pastor Mike Parker One: How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! [ ] We are called by God to be the church of Jesus Christ, a sign in the world today of what God intends for all of humankind. All: The great ends of the church are the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; the maintenance of divine worship; the preservation of the truth; the promotion of social righteousness; and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world. Installation Prayer... Pastor Mike Parker One: Faithful God, in baptism you claimed us; and by your Holy Spirit you are working in our lives. [ ] and be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever. All: Almighty God, in Jesus Christ you called disciples and, by the Holy Spirit, made them one church to serve you. Let your Spirit rule your church, so that we may be joined in love and service to Jesus Christ, who, having gone before us, is coming to meet us in the promise of your kingdom. Amen. Charge and Blessing to New Officers... Pastor Mike Parker The Sacrament of the Lord s Supper... Pastor Burnetta Armour and Dr. J. Schumacher We will be receiving communion by intinction. Please come share the feast which our Lord has prepared! Invitation to the Lord s Table... One: Friends, this is the joyful feast of the people of God! They will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God. According to Luke, when our risen Lord was at the table with his disciples, he took bread, and blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him. This is the Lord s table. Our Savior invites those who trust him to share the feast, which he has prepared.
Prayer of the 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 our thanks and praise. One: With joy we praise you, gracious God, for you have created heaven and earth, made us in your image, and kept covenant with us even when we fell into sin. We give you thanks for Jesus Christ, our Lord, whose coming opened to us the way of salvation and whose triumphant return we eagerly await. Therefore we join our voices with all the saints and angels and the whole creation to proclaim the glory of your name. All: 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. One: You are holy, O God of majesty, and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. You sent him into the world to satisfy the longings of your people for a Savior, to bring freedom to the captives of sin, and to establish justice for the oppressed. He came among us as one of us, taking the lot of the poor, sharing human suffering. We rejoice that in his death and rising again, you set before us the sure promise of new life, the certain hope of a heavenly home where we will sit at table with Christ, our host. All: We remember his death, we proclaim his resurrection, We await his coming in glory. One: Holy and gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us that the bread we break and the cup we bless may be the communion of the body and blood of Christ. Strengthen us, O God, in the power of that same Spirit to bring good news to the poor and lift blind eyes to sight, to loose the chains that bind and claim your blessing for all people. Keep us faithful in service until Christ comes in final victory, and we shall feast with all your saints in the joy of your eternal realm. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen.
The Lord s Prayer Breaking of the Bread... One: The Lord Jesus, on the night of his arrest, took bread, and after giving thanks to God, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat. This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way he took the cup, saying: This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me. Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the saving death of the risen Lord, until he comes. These are the gifts of God for the people of God. Communion of the People *Prayer after Communion... Pastor Burnetta Armour One: O amazing God, you come into our ordinary lives and set a holy table among us, filing our plates with the bread of life and our cups with salvation. everyday world with the promise of your holiness. Amen. Send us out, O God, with tenderheartedness to touch an ordinary GOD SENDS US *Closing Hymn... Joy the World, #40 1. Joy to the world! the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room, And heav n and nature sing, And heav n and nature sing, And heav n and heav n and nature sing. 2. Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns; Let us our songs employ. While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. 3. No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground. He comes to make His blessings flow, Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as the curse is found. 4. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, and wonders of His love. *Charge and Blessing... Pastor Burnetta Armour