Welcome to Severna Park Evangelical Presbyterian Church Worship is both discovery and sharing. As we share the Word of God, prayer, and the sacraments in an atmosphere of praise, Christ Jesus reveals the Living God in ever greater fullness. May God bless you and your worship today. Visiting? If you have questions or need assistance, please ask. Please fill out an Visitor Card to register your attendance with us. Listening devices are available from the sound booth. For more information: Our website: www.spepchurch.org Our facebook page: go.spep.church/fbpage SPEPlink our e-newsletter-subscribe or read it online (www.spepchurch.org) Connections our newsletter-available in the Narthex Our Purpose: To Glorify God Our Mission: Discovering in Christ the greatness of God, and sharing those discoveries with others. Our Vision: A church where Jesus mends broken lives with the goodness of God, and equips us to join him in his work. Our Values: Firm in biblical standards, flexible in ministry style. Confident that Jesus is at work. Humbly transparent, with respect and compassion for others. Delighted in God. Passionate for spiritual growth and ministry skill. Committed to be part of what Christ is doing in the church and in the world.
Severna Park Evangelical Presbyterian Church Worshipping Sundays at: 9:30am & 11:00am December 3, 2017 Preparation for Worship: Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. ~ Psalm 73:25-26 This morning s sermon: He Who Comes from Above John 3:25-36 Pastor Glenn Parkinson 3
Order of Worship Gathering God s People Call to Worship, Titus 3:3-6 Dan Delaney Director of Worship and Music 4 We ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior. Gathering Song O Come, All Ye Faithful hymn # 145 TEXT: Latin Hymn; ascribed to John Francis Wade; translated by Frederick Oakeley MUSIC: John F. Wade, ADESTE FIDELES 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, Christ the Lord! Sing choirs of angels, Sing in exultation, O sing, all ye bright hosts of heav n above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest! O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord! Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning, Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv n; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
Prayer of Invocation Lighting of the Advent Candle (9:30) Good News for Kids (11:00) Fogarty Family Tate Shelby High School Director Candle Response O Come, O Come Emmanuel (vs. 1) hymn # 123 Music adapted from Plain song by Thomas Helmore; arranged by Tom Fettke Text Latin Hymn translated by John M. Neale 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. Drawing Near Scripture Reading, Colossians 3:15-23 Donna Triolo Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, This is the Word of the Lord Thanks be to God 5
Celebration of Grace Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (vs. 1) Helen H. Lemmel Public Domain O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There s light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free! Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face; And the troubles of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace. Cry of Repentance Our God and Father, thank you for appearing to us in all your goodness and loving kindness. Thank you for giving us your Son so we can know you, and see what once was hidden. Lord, you are holy and good. And Jesus we are grateful for the constant, steady strength you have been to us. Your strength has made us strong when we ve called to you for help. Jesus, your kindness has already led us back to you from the edge. You ve restored us from despair, and warmed us to joy. And yet, Lord, we don t always call on you when we re in need. We are too quick to help ourselves and hide from others. Heavenly Father, we have still tried to live by our own law. We have hidden our faults so we seem strong. We ve even made pretense of busyness to avoid helping those in pain. Father, forgive us. But you, Holy Spirit of God, have not hidden yourself from us. We know you are with us and you are for us and you want us to know you. Tell us again of your mercy. Jesus, our Friend, resolve our fears and our pains and give us your rest. Jesus, we wait for you. Lord, we wait for you. Take up our burdens, Lord! And help us today, to find our joy in you. 6 silent prayer
Song of Response As with Gladness Men of Old hymn # 163 Text: William C. Dix 1860 Music: Conrad Kocher 1838 CCLI no. 56194 As with gladness men of old Did the guiding star behold, As with joy they hailed its light, Leading onward, beaming bright, So, most gracious Lord, may we Evermore be led to Thee. As with joyful steps they sped To that lowly manger bed, There to bend the knee before Him Whom heav n and earth adore. So, may we with willing feet Ever seek the mercy seat. As they offered gifts most rare At that manger rude and bare, So may we with holy joy, Pure and free from sin s alloy, All our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to Thee, our heav nly King. Holy Jesus, every day, Keep us in the narrow way; And when earthly things are past, Bring our ransomed souls at last Where they need no star to guide, Where no clouds Thy glory hide. 7
Song of Praise Hark! the Herald Angels Sing hymn # 133 C. Wesley, F. Mendelssohn, arr. W. H. Cummings Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem! Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King. Christ, by highest heav n adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of the Virgin s womb: Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail th incarnate Deity! Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King. Hail the heav n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Ris n with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King. Declaration of Grace Pastor Glenn Parkinson 8
Dedicating Ourselves to God Prayer of Dedication Offertory O Come, Messiah, Come Words and Music by Isaac Wardell Pastor Glenn Parkinson O come, O come, Messiah. O come our Halleluja. Oh sing, O sing Hosanna. O come, Messiah, come! Comfort and joy, Alpha, Omega, He. Sorrow and toil, no longer rulers be. O come, O come, Messiah. O come, Messiah, come! Advent Doxology Hymn # 625 Enjoying God s Fellowship Sermon He Who Comes from Above Glenn Parkinson Sermon text: John 3:25-36 Pastor Pew Bible Page 863 Invitation to the Lord s Supper 9
Table Song The Lord s Supper Come Light Our Hearts Written by Sandra McCracken As recorded by Rain for Roots on Waiting Songs For You, O Lord our souls in stillness wait For You, O Lord our souls in stillness wait Truly our hope is in You Truly our hope is in You O Lord of life, our only hope Your radiance shines On all who look to You in the dark Emmanuel come, come light our hearts Chorus Oh Joy above, all other loves In You we find, more than enough We come as we are, O heal and restore, Come light our hearts Communion Prayer Connecting to our Church Family Pastor Glenn Parkinson 10
Sending Song Sending God s People Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus hymn # 124 Charles Wesley 1744; Rowland H. Prichard 1830, HYFRYDOL Come, Thou long expected Jesus Born to set Thy people free; From our fears and sins release us, Let us find our rest in Thee. Israel s strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art; Dear desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart. Joy to those who long to see Thee, Dayspring from on high, appear: Come, Thou promised Rod of Jesse, Of Thy birth we long to hear! O er the hills the angels singing news, glad tidings of a birth: Go to Him, your praises bringing; Christ the Lord has come to earth. Come to earth to taste our sadness, He whose glories knew no end; By His life He brings us gladness, Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend. Leaving riches without number, Born within a cattle stall; This the everlasting wonder: Christ was born the Lord of all. Born Thy people to deliver, Born a child and yet a King, Born to reign in us forever, Now Thy gracious kingdom bring. By Thine own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone; By Thine all sufficient merit, Raise us to Thy glorious throne. Benediction from Ephesians 1:17 11