Third Sunday of Advent

Third Sunday of Advent

The West Side Presbyterian Church Third Sunday of Advent December 17, 2017 10:00 am Service And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant. Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name. -Luke 1:46b-49 O LORD, You will hear the desire of the meek; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear. -Psalm 10:17 But the meek shall inherit the land, and delight themselves in abundant prosperity. -Psalm 37:11 The LORD lifts up the downtrodden; He casts the wicked to the ground. -Psalm 147:6 It is better to be a lowly spirit among the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. -Proverbs 16:19 Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do His commands; seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the Lord s wrath. -Zephaniah 2:3 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; He has sent me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free -Luke 4:18 2

~ The Preparation for the Word ~ PRELUDE Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying Johann Sebastian Bach *CALL TO WORSHIP and OPENING PRAYER The Spirit of the Lord is with us. The time of God s favor has come. Pray for the gift of joy from God. Shine in our lives. Lord Jesus Christ. Let us pray: Living God, You have come among us to lead us to paths of righteousness. Guide our feet through the wilderness toward the living water of Your grace, following in the steps of our Savior: Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Amen. *HYMN OF PRAISE 8 Lift Up Your Heads TRURO THE LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE THE PREPARATION Choir: Congregation: Prepare your hearts to receive the joy of the world. Walter and Diana Perog, and granddaughter Lisa Wolf The Family: Jesus said, "I am the light of the world; anyone who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. Family Member: Why do we light three candles? Family Member: We light three candles as a sign of the coming light of Christ. Advent means coming. We are preparing ourselves for the days of hope, peace and joy as recorded in the Gospel of John 15:10-11: If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father s commandments and abide in His love. I have said these things to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. Let us walk in the light of the Lord! 3 * Please stand

THE RESPONSE (congregation) Family Member: As we prepare for the second coming of Christ, let us confess our sin and pray for God s forgiveness. CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE: HYMN 63, verse 4 ASSURANCE OF PARDON (A moment of silent confession.) 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. DIX *THANKSGIVING HYMN 13, verse 3 BEREDEN VÄG FÖR HERRAN *THE PEACE Fling wide your gates, O Zion; your Savior s rule embrace. And tidings of salvation proclaim in every place. All lands will bow rejoicing, their adoration voicing. O blest is Christ that came in God s most holy name. ~ The Proclamation of the Word ~ CHILDREN S MESSAGE Jane French 4

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Oscar Daniel, son of Brian and Gretchen Horwitz Hugo Thomas, son of Brian and Gretchen Horwitz Maxwell David, son of Brian and Gretchen Horwitz *COMMITMENT OF THE CONGREGATION We, the members of the West Side Presbyterian Church, in the name of the whole church of Christ, pray with these parents that Oscar, Hugo and Maxwell may come to know and follow Christ as a beloved member of God's family. *RESPONSE HYMN 498 Child of Blessing, Child of Promise KINGDOM ANNOUNCEMENTS Child of blessing, child of promise, baptized with the Spirit s sign, with this water God has sealed you unto love and grace divine. Child of God, your loving Parent, learn to listen for God s call. Grow to laugh and sing and worship, trust and love God more than all. MOMENT FOR MISSION Jane French NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Luke 1:46b-55 Craig Ollenschleger The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. SERMON Why Does God Favor the Lowliest? Rev. Marc Oehler ~ The Response to the Word ~ *RESPONSE OF FAITH Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free. 5

*HYMN 16 The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came GABRIEL S MESSAGE PRESENTATION OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS OFFERTORY ANTHEM Magnificat Charles Villiers Stanford My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior, for He hath regarded the lowliness of His handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth, all generations shall call me blessed, for He that is mighty hath magnified me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on them that fear Him throughout all generations; He hath showed strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath send empty away. He, remembering His mercy, hath holpen His servant Israel, as He promised to our forefathers, Abraham and His seed, forever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be; world without end. Amen. -Luke 1:46-55, and the Gloria Patri *DOXOLOGY HYMN 68, verse 4 *PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING To God, the Father, God, the Son and Holy Spirit, Three in One may every tongue and nation raise an endless song of thankful praise. PUER NOBIS NASCITUR *HYMN 12 People, Look East BESANҪON CHARGE AND BLESSING 6 ~ The Sending ~ May the God of hope, peace and joy make you holy 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 and the power of the Spirit sustain you until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia! Prepare the way of the Lord! Amen. Isaiah 40:3; Mark 1:3

*POSTLUDE Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying Paul Manz You are welcome to listen to the Postlude. If you are leaving before it is finished, please do so quietly. * * * * * * * Our worship has ended. May our service to God and others continue. Greeters: We thank Craig Ollenschleger and Nancy Rockerman for greeting today. Procession of Worship Elements: The worship elements are being carried in this morning by Walter and Diana Perog, and granddaughter Lisa Wolf. Lay Leadership: We thank Jane French, Craig Ollenschleger, Walter and Diana Perog, and Lisa Wolf for their leadership in worship today. If you are interested in being a lay reader during the 10 am Sunday service, please contact Lucy Ianacone (Lianacone@optonline.net; 201-445-6824). Sanctuary Flowers today are in memory of Gary Kollar, and Helen Barbara Mueller, given by Rose Marie Kollar. Requesting flowers is a wonderful way to remember a loved one or to celebrate a special occasion. If you wish to dedicate flowers, please call Russell Clark (201-444-5189). Coffee Hour: Please stay after the service to enjoy fellowship and refreshments in the Narthex. We thank today s Coffee Hour hosts Laura and Sylvia Sanderson for their hospitality. Visitor Information Packets are available in the Narthex. If you are visiting with us today, please feel free to take one. 7

The West Side Presbyterian Church Serving northwest Bergen County and vicinity since 1912 Varian Fry Way, Six South Monroe Street, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 Phone: (201) 652-1966 * www.westside.org 2017 Lay Leadership of West Side Session (Elders) 8 Class of 2017 Shelagh Brooke Gary Burrell Henry Cruz Paul Higbee Karen Klockner John Marcy Don Reeder Josephine Lira (Youth Rep) Class of 2017 Sharon Bizik Kay Chase Jan Lescroart Walter Lynn Ellen Smith Ann Butler (Youth Rep) Class of 2018 Heidi Ahlborn Phyllis Anderson Russell Clark John Lescroart Anna Levy Katherine Montgomery John Pierce Larry Steenvoorden Board of Deacons Class of 2018 Caroline Barr Donna Burdick Sally Clark Harris Fleming Lisa Garvey Laura Impomeni Peter Krautle Crraig Ollenschleger Class of 2019 Scott Brubaker Cindi Cheesman Wendy Dodge Jane French John Gutekunst Fred Jubitz Dennis Kim Paul Mensing Andy Roughgarden Beth Staples Anson Welch Class of 2019 Janet Anderson Christina Dyer Donna Dykstra Terry Erzmoneit Angela Gutekunst Anita Jones Mary Ann Malinski Marion Strauch Migues Torres Sora Torres