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December 23, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007 Bulletin
The Order for the Worship of God
Faith Presbyterian Church
9:30 a.m., December 23, 2007
Let the first tone of the organ be a call to quiet meditation in which all may become aware of God’s presence, and lift up a prayer for yourself and for Faith Church.
Prelude “Toccata for Daniel” Carl B. Staplin
(See music notes)
“Narodil se Kristus Pan”
Jesus Christ was born for us -- Alleluia!
Born to save us from our sin -- Alleluia!
Born to be our savior, guide and friend and brother,
Born, born, born for us today.
Prophets wise in days of old -- Alleluia!
Of his mission had foretold -- Alleluia!
By a virgin tended, from on high descended,
Born, born, born for us today.
Welcome, Announcements & Greet One Another
Invocation The Dubikovsky Family, candle lighters
The forth candle, the Angels’ candle, reminds us that angels not only announced that Jesus would be born to the Virgin Mary, but they were the first to announce His birth after Jesus was born.
Hymn # 340 “O Come, All Ye Faithful”
(Gray Psalter Hymnal)
Psalter: Psalm 89: 1 – 5, 8 (read responsively) Elaine McVay
1 I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.
2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
3 You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant,
4 'I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.' "
5 The heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
8 O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
Prayer for Illumination Elaine McVay
First Lesson: Isaiah 11: 1 - 4 NIV Elaine McVay
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -
3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
Special Music "Mary, Did You Know?" Buddy Green
Erin Sparks, soloist
Children’s Sermon
Second Lesson: Matthew 21: 33 – 46 NIV Elaine McVay
33"Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. 34When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.
35"The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37Last of all, he sent his son to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said.
38"But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance.' 39So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
40"Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?"
41"He will bring those wretches to a wretched end," they replied, "and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time."
42Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: " 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?
43"Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."
45When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.
Lector: “This is the Word of God.”
Congregation: “Thanks be to God for His Word.”
Hymn # 29 “What Child Is This, Who Laid to Rest?”
(Christmas Hymnal)
Sermon Series: “Hope for Christmas”
# 4 “Christ’s Hope”
[Will Someone Help Mary?]
Pastor Ronald M. Green
After the sermon children in grades K-6 may leave for children’s choir
Gathering of Tithes and Offerings
At this time please sign and pass the fellowship pad.
Offertory “A Stable Lamp is Lighted” Wilbur Held
(See Music Words)
Response
Sing praise to God who reigns above,
The God of all creation,
The God of power, the God of love,
The God of our salvation.
My soul with comfort rich he fills,
And every grief he gently stills:
To God all praise and glory!
Prayer of Dedication
Joys and Concerns
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Helen Yacomeni, Lewis & Kari Hauer (Mike Bergmann’s sister & husband), Mary Sholty, Jean Howe, the folk in the military, Theological College of Central Africa,-Zambia, Rich & Kathy Stuebing
Hymn # 337 “Joy to the World! the Lord Is Come”
(Gray Psalter Hymnal)
Benediction
Postlude “A Stable Lamp is Lighted” Wilbur Held
(See Music Words)
Worship
…is the quickening of conscience by God’s holiness;
the nourishment of mind with His truth;
the purifying of imagination by His beauty;
the opening of the heart to His love;
the surrender of the will to His purpose;
and all of this gathered up in adoration—
the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable, and therefore the chief remedy for that self-centeredness which is our original sin and the source of all actual sin.” William Temple
Welcome
To all who are weary and seek rest; to all who mourn and long for comfort; to all who struggle and desire victory; to all who sin and need a Savior; to all who are idle and look for service; to all who are strangers and want fellowship; to all who hunger and thirst after righteousness; and to whosoever will come--this church opens wide her doors and offers her welcome in the name of Jesus Christ her Lord.
Guests please sign our guest book and join us in the Fellowship Hall after worship.
Babysitting is available during worship for infants up to 2-1/2 years old in the room behind the balcony. Children ages 2-1/2 through 5 will be in the Pre-School Nursery in the Education Wing. School age children worship with their parents.
Music Notes
“A Stable Lamp is Lighted “
A stable lamp is lighted, whose glow shall wake the sky.
The stars shall bend their voices, and every stone shall cry.
And every stone shall cry, and straw like gold shall shine;
A barn shall harbor heaven, a stall become a shrine.
This child through David's city shall ride in triumph by;
The palm shall strew its branches, and every stone shall cry.
And every stone shall cry, though heavy cold and dumb,
And lie within the roadway to pave his kingdom come.
Yet he shall be forsaken, and yielded up to die,
The sky shall groan and darken, and every stone shall cry.
And every stone shall cry for stony hearts of men;
God's blood upon the spearhead, God's blood refused again.
But now, as at the ending, the low is lifted high;
The stars shall bend their voices and every stone shall cry.
And every stone shall cry in praises of the Child
By whose descent among us the worlds are reconciled.
(Richard Wilbur, b. 1921)
Organ "Magnificat"
The Magnificat, as recorded in Luke 1: 46-55, is Mary's response of Praise to God, as told to Elizabeth, that she should have a child who would be the Savior of the world. In a liturgical church, the Magnificat, or "Mary's Song," is used at Vesper services. It's divided into 12 verses, which include an added Doxology.
From the 15th through 18th centuries, the Magnificat was frequently set for voices or for organ. After 1450 it also became common to compose only alternate verses for organ, the others being chanted. This morning Elaine will read each verse before the corresponding organ verse is played.
Toccata for Daniel
Toccata for Daniel was commissioned in memory of
Daniel Horak (1981-2000). The inclusion of the Czech hymn, 'Narodil se Kristus Pan', reflects the Czech heritage of the First
Presbyterian Church near Ely, Iowa, and of the Horak family. The image on the front of the bulletin was found on an old Czech Christmas card, and was sent by Janice Horak. Christ was born for us!
Mission Notes
TCCA (The Theological College of Central Africa
The Theological College of Central Africa (TCCA), established by the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia in 1982, is a training centre for those wanting to enter full-time Christian service.
TCCA is fully accredited with the Accrediting Council for Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA), and is recognized by Zambia's Ministry of Education for Teacher Training in Religious Education.
Both a three-year Diploma of Theology and a four-year Bachelor of Theology degree are offered with majors in Pastoral Ministry, Education and Missions.
Mission: To train those wanting to enter full-time Christian service.
TCCA's 164 living graduates from seven African countries represent a variety of ministries: pastoral ministry, theological education, evangelism, discipleship, Christian education, community development and Bible translation.
Eighty percent of TCCA graduates are currently in full-time ministry in both urban and rural settings. Another ten percent are either homemakers or pursuing further studies.
Richard & Kathy Stuebing (THETA, Zambia)
Richard and Kathy Stuebing are two of the original faculty members of the Theological College of Central Africa in Zambia. Richard teaches classes and, serves as business manager and Kathy also teaches college classes designed to help both students and spouses.
Announcements
* Greeters this morning are Bert & Becky Chapman.
* Ushers this morning are Terry & Jane Stewart and Mark & Deb Johnson.
* Officers Training: There will be a training session for new elders and deacons on Sunday, January 13th from 2:30 to 5:00 pm. Officers will study our form of government, our constitution, the reformed faith as well as a review of duties and current committee configuration in order to prepare them for their coming term of office. Refreshments will be served.
On the following Sunday, January 20th, officers will be ordained and installed during morning worship.
Christmas Poinsettias have been donated by the following:
Tom & Peggy Housley in memory of Don & Rosina Housley and Esther McGrath
Margaret Rogler in memory of loved ones
In loving memory of Gertrude Dahlbom Honig and of the Reverend William Vamos from the Honig and Vamos families.
Bobby Kane in memory of Bob, Christine, and Estelle Kane and in memory of Carl and Alice Winters
Weekly Calendar for December 23, 2007
Today:
9:30 a.m. Congregation at Worship
No Sunday School
2:30 p.m. Rosewalk Commons worship
This Week:
Mon., Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Service & Reception, 7:00pm
Tues., Dec. 25 Christmas Day Service, 11:00am
Wed., 7:00 a.m. Morning Prayers & Breakfast (Grieke Toebes)
Wed., 6:30 p.m. Adult Choir
Fri., 6:30 p.m. Boy Scout Lock-In
Come and Worship this Christmas
A Service of Lessons and Carols
Christmas Eve, 7:00 p.m.
Followed by a time of fellowship. Childcare is available.
Christmas Day Worship
Christmas Morning, 11:00 a.m.
An unencumbered, sweet time…to remember the greatest gift ever given.
Posted by faithpres at December 23, 2007 10:15 AM