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 10, 2017 Preparation for Worship: Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end. He will reign on David s throne and over his kingdom with justice and with righteousness from this time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. ~ from Isaiah 9:7 This morning s sermon: Whoever Believes in the Son John 3:31-36 Pastor Glenn Parkinson 3
Call to Worship, Psalm 85:9-10 Order of Worship Gathering God s People Dan Delaney Director of Worship and Music Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him. Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Gathering Song O Sing a Song of Bethlehem hymn # 167 Text: Louis F. Benson, Music: Melody collected by Lucy Broadwood; Adapted and arranged by Ralph Vaughan Wiliams O sing a song of Bethlehem, of shepherds watching there, And of the news that came to them from angels in the air: The light that shone on Bethlehem fills all the world today; Of Jesus birth and peace on earth the angels sing alway. O sing a song of Nazareth, of sunny days of joy, O sing of fragrant flowers breath, and of the sinless Boy: For now the flowers of Nazareth in every heart may grow; Now spreads the fame of His dear name on all the winds that blow. O sing a song of Galilee, of lake and woods and hill, Of Him Who walked upon the sea and bade the waves be still: For though, like waves on Galilee, dark seas of trouble roll, When faith has heard the Master s Word, falls peace upon the soul. O sing a song of Calvary, its glory and dismay; Of Him who hung upon the tree, and took our sins away: For He who died on Calvary is risen from the grave, And Christ, our Lord by heaven adored, is mighty now to save. Prayer of Invocation Connecting to our Church Family Lighting of the Advent Candle (9:30) Peace Candle Bill & Jeanne Beans 4
Good News for Kids (11:00) Jeanne Hoover 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. Responsive Reading, from Psalm 103 Drawing Near Michele Prince Director of Children s Ministry Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle s. The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 5
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. This is the Word of the Lord Thanks be to God Pastoral Prayer Pastor Glenn Parkinson Song of Response Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Adapted by Gerard Moultrie, 1864 arr. By Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906 Let all mortal flesh keep silence, And with fear and trembling stand; Ponder nothing earthly minded, For with blessing in his hand, Christ our God to earth descendeth, Our full homage to demand. King of kings, yet born of Mary, As of old on earth he stood, Lord of lords, in human vesture, In the body and the blood, He will give to all the faithful His own self for heav nly food. 6
Rank on rank the host of heaven Spreads its vanguard on the way, As the Light of light descendeth From the realms of endless day, That the pow rs of hell may vanish As the darkness clears away. At his feet the six winged seraph; Cherubim, with sleepless eye, Veil their faces to the presence, As with ceaseless voice they cry, Alleluia, alleluia, Alleluia, Lord Most High! Song of Praise How Deep Words and Music by Stephen Altrogge 2006 Sovereign Grace Praise You were broken that I might be healed. You were cast off that I might draw near. You were thirsty that I might come drink, Cried out in anguish that I might sing: How deep is Your love, How high and how wide is Your mercy. How deep is Your grace Our hearts overflow with praise to You. You knew darkness that I might know light, Wept great tears that mine might be dried. Stripped of glory that I might be clothed, Crushed by Your Father to call me Your own. Dedicating Ourselves to God Offertory Glory (Let There be Peace) Words and Music by Chris Stevens, Matt Maher, and Rachel Popadic Advent Doxology 7
Enjoying God s Fellowship Sermon Whoever Believes in the Son Glenn Parkinson Sermon text: John 3:31-36 Pastor Pew Bible Page 888 Sending God s People Sending Song What Child Is This? hymn # 137 Text by William C. Dix Music by Traditional English Melody What Child is this who laid to rest On Mary s lap is sleeping? Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing Haste, haste, to bring Him laud, The Babe, The Son, Of Mary. Why lies He in such mean estate, Where ox and donkeys are feeding? Good Christians, fear, for sinners here The silent Word is pleading. Nails, spear, shall pierce him through, The cross be borne for me, for you. Hail, hail the Word made flesh, The Babe, the son of Mary. So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh, Come, peasant, king, to own him. The King of kings salvation brings, Let loving hearts enthrone him. Raise, raise a dong on high; The virgin sings her lullably, Joy, joy for Christ is born, The Babe, the Son of Mary. 8
Sending Song Joy To The World! hymn # 125 Text: Isaac Watts; Music George Frederick Handel, arr. by Lowell Mason Joy to the world! The Lord is come; Let earth receive her King; Let ev ry 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. Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns; Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. No more let sin 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. 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, wonders of His love. Benediction from 1 John 2:1-2 9