The Service of Worship Fourth Sunday of Advent December 20, 2015-8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Prelude Angels from the Realms of Glory arr. David Cherwien *Opening Song (8:30) #121 O Little Town of Bethlehem ST. LOUIS Greetings and Welcome The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you. Concerns and Celebrations of the Church Fellowship Registration Please pass the fellowship pad found at the end of the row, record the information, and return the pad to its starting point. Then please remove the sheet and place in the offering plate when it is passed. *Hymn #85 Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah (v. 4) TIF IN VELDELE Light four candles to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness. He is coming; tell the glad tidings. Let your lights be shining. Lighting of the Advent Candle Mark & Kathleen Williams (8:30) Rich & Karen Eckert and Kevin Gavin (11:00) Let us magnify the Lord together! Let us rejoice in God our Savior. For a child will come from Bethlehem to redeem the people of God. *Hymn #116 The Snow Lay on the Ground VENITE ADOREMUS *Prayer of Confession Karen Eckert Eternal God, we confess that we resist your holy realm. You look with favor on the poor while we treat the lowly with disdain. You scatter the plans of the proud while we aspire to power and privilege. Forgive us, God of grace. Teach us what you desire, so that our hearts may leap with joy at the coming of our Savior; through Jesus Christ our Lord. *Period of Silent Prayer In our Savior s name we pray. Amen. *Assurance of Pardon Karen Eckert Hear the good news: In Christ you are forgiven, your sins have been redeemed. We can declare with confidence: we are forgiven. *Congregational Response #132 Good Christian Friends, Rejoice (v. 3) IN DULCI JUBILO
Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; now we need not fear the grave: Jesus Christ was born to save! Calls you one and calls you all to gain the everlasting hall. Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save! First Lesson Psalm 80:1-7 pew Bible, OT, page 511 The Word of the Lord. large print Bible, page 540 Thanks be to God. A Time for Young Disciples (11:00) Lisa Burgwyn All children are invited to the front. Parents are welcome to come with younger children. For age-related opportunities after this time, see the announcement following the order of worship. Anthem (8:30) Breath of Heaven (Mary s Song) Anthem (11:00) O Little Town of Bethlehem C. Eaton & A. Grant Travis Boyd Second Lesson Luke 1:39-45 pew Bible, NT, page 53 The Word of the Lord. large print Bible, page 57 Thanks be to God. Sermon Restore Us O God of Hosts William K. Neely Invitation to Discipleship To speak with someone about becoming a Christian, church membership or a special prayer need, please go to Room 133 following this service. The room is to your left when exiting the sanctuary. *Affirmation of Faith Apostles Creed (ecumenical) 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. Blessing of Prayer Shawls *Hymn #99 My Soul Gives Glory to My God MORNING SONG Prayers of the People and 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. The Offering Offertory
The First Nowell arr. David Cherwien *Doxology with Alleluias LASST UNS ERFREUEN Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise Christ all people here below; Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise Holy Spirit evermore, Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! *The Prayer of Dedication *Hymn (8:30) #129 Lo, How a Rose E er Blooming ES IST EIN ROS The Sacrament of the Lord s Supper (8:30) Invitation and Words of Institution Communion of the People (You may take the elements as they are served.) Communion Music Prayer After Communion As you pass the bread, please share the words: The body of Christ broken for you. As you receive the bread, you may respond: Thanks be to God. As you pass the cup, please share the words: The blood of Christ shed for you. As you receive the cup, you may respond: Thanks be to God. *Hymn #113 Angels We Have Heard on High GLORIA *Benediction *Benediction Response #102 Savior of the Nations, Come NUN KOMM, DER HEIDEN HEILAND Savior of the nations, come; virgin s son, make here your home. Marvel now, O heaven and earth, that the Lord chose such a birth. *Postlude He Is Born arr. Richard Hudson * Please rise either in body or spirit Bold print indicates congregational participation. Worship Leaders William K. Neely, Pastor Dale Kitchin, Elder Assisting in Worship Karen Eckert, Liturgist
Karrie Rushing, Director of Music Brad Collier, Organist Early Band: Gerald McGowan, mandolin, Paul Shackelford, bass, Wilma Shackelford, flute, John Morrow, guitar, Karrie Rushing, songleader About Today s Service Visitors: We welcome those visiting with us today. If you are a first-time visitor, stop by the visitors table in the Welcome Center to receive a gift. Fellowship: Coffee, coffee-cake, cookies, and other goodies are available in the fellowship hall each Sunday after the 8:30 a.m. worship service. Children s Worship Bags: Worship Bags for children are available to your right before entering the sanctuary. Prayer Shawls: The Prayer Shawl Ministry has placed prayer shawls in the narthex to the right of the center sanctuary doors. If you are chilly during the service, wrap up in a shawl and return it after worship. Broadcast: The 11:00 service is broadcast live on WNCT-1070 AM and 105.9 FM radio (New Bern - 95.7; Jacksonville - 101.1) and streamed live at www.1070wnct.com and www.fpcgreenville.org. Portable hearing aids and large print Bibles, bulletins and hymns are available on the table by the entrance, or ask an usher for assistance. First Presbyterian Church welcomes children of all ages in worship. A nursery is provided for infants and toddlers for all services. The Toddler s Church is available for two and three year olds in Room 116. Following A Time for Young Disciples in the 11:00 a.m. service, ages four through six are invited to participate in Godly Play in Room 113. Older children are encouraged to participate in worship. In Respect of All Worshippers, please turn off or mute cell phones, and disconnect your wifi because it interferes with our radio broadcast. Do not use flash photography during the worship service and please refrain from eating and drinking in the sanctuary during worship. Please lift in prayer: Our Congregation Cares Church Family Sarah Allen, Connie Bond, Clara Carr, Matthew Chappell, Beth Clark, Martha Coffman, Thelma Flye, Ben Lattin, Clint Leinwebber, Sr., Genet Lilley, Elizabeth Lyle, Bill Martin, Mary Smith, Joe Sullivan, Margie & Ernest Wright Family and Friends: Sam Cundiff (cousin of Lisa Chappell) Rhonda DeBruhl (friend of Dale & Billie Luck Kitchin) Jack Farrior (uncle of Lisa Chappell) Family of Georgia Godwin Christine and Charlie Greene (sister & brother in law of Thelma McGowan) James Lee (father of Jason Lee) Paul Morrow (brother of John Morrow) Ann Stanley (mother of Craig Stanley) Military personnel and families; our national, state and local leaders and people called our enemies. Our Congregation in Ministry
Church Holiday Hours: Church office will be closed 12/24, 12/25, 12/31, and 1/1/2016. Church office will be open 12/28-12/30, 9am-2pm. Presbyterian Women: All PW are invited to lunch at McAlister s Deli on Tuesday, December 22, 12:30 p.m. Circle 1 meets January 11, 10:30 a.m. at the church; Circle 3 meets January 11, 2:00 p.m., at the home of Mary Stoneham, 1311 N. Overlook Dr.; Circle 6 meets January 12, 7:00 p.m. at the church; Cypress Glen Circle meets January 12, 10:00 a.m., at Cypress Glen. Women s Retreat: There are still spots available for private rooms and space in the bunkhouse. Contact Ashley Rudolph to sign up. The retreat is March 11-13, 2016 at Trinity Center in Salterpath, NC. MOC: The Men of the Church will have an Oyster and Shrimp roast for the entire adult congregation on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at 6:00 pm. Arrangements have been made to accommodate parents who want to attend and bring their children. Brian Dilday and the youth group will be hosting them in the basement fellowship hall. Pizza and beverages will be provided. We ask that you indicate your interest in attending by signing up on the sign-up sheet in the Welcome Center and indicate the number who will be attending. The deadline for signing up will be Sunday January 17. Bill Farrior and his crew will be cooking. The program will be provided by Chuck Young with Sports Works. The cost will be $10 for adults and $5 for children. We encourage everyone to attend. Contributions: Please turn in any 2015 contributions by 2:00 pm on December 30 or make sure they are postmarked by 12/31 in order to be counted for this year. Please notify Deborah Durham, Financial Administrator, of any stock transfers. Contact her at deborah@fpcgreenville.org or 758-1901. Christmas Eve Offering: This year s Christmas Eve Offering will be designated for Solid Rock International and will be used to build a hospital in San Juan, Dominican Republic. Please mail your donation, marked Christmas Eve Offering, to the church or bring it to a Christmas Eve service. First Friday Club: The next meeting will be the First Friday Lock-In on Friday, January 1st. We will begin at 8pm and end on Saturday at 8am. If you have any questions, contact Brian Dilday at 367-1914. Poinsettia Delivery: Can you deliver poinsettias to our sick and homebound? Please sign up in the Welcome Center if you can help. They will be available to pick up after the Christmas Eve services. Flower Calendar: The 2016 flower calendar is now available; please consider signing up to provide flowers for the sanctuary or Welcome Center. The calendar is in the narthex outside the sanctuary. Age Venturers: Mark your calendar for our Age Venturers program on January 5 at the church beginning at 11:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. We will hear from Lori Sneed, who works at the Center for Family Violence Prevention. We will be gathering items for the center, so please bring some items to help the center expand such as combs, brushes, shampoo, feminine products, twin sheets, pillowcases or blankets. After the program, we will enjoy a catered lunch (no charge). Please sign up in the office so we can know how many will be at lunch. Deadline is December 30. Chili Cookoff: Save the date for our annual Chili Cookoff on Wednesday, January 27, 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Christmas Eve Services 5:00 p.m. (Children are invited to come and dress as any manger scene character to be a part of the telling of the Christmas story.) 8:00 and 11:00 p.m. Candlelight Communion Services Child care available for the 5:00 and 8:00 services. Dec. 27 Worship: 11:00 a.m. (no Sunday School or 8:30 service)