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December 21, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008 Bulletin
The Order for the Worship of God
Faith Presbyterian Church 9:30 a.m., December 21, 2008
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 O Little Town of Bethlehem (alternate tune)
Paul Manz
Three settings of "From Heaven Above To Earth I Come " (see hymnbook p. 339)
1. Friedrich Zachau (Germany, 1663-1712)
2. Max Reger (Germany, 1873-1916)
3. Flor Peeters (Belgium, 1903-1986)
Welcome and Greeting
Lighting of the Candle - We Wait in Hope Joel Raney
Choral Prelude – the Choir and Bell Choir
Litany (read responsively) Lou Ann Johnston
Advent is a time to praise.
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his
benefits.
During Advent we remember God’s past faithfulness.
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his
benefits.
During Advent we remember God’s present goodness.
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his
benefits.
During Advent we remember God’s future promise.
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his
benefits.
Lighting of the Candles
The Smith/McFadden Family, candle lighters
This morning we light four candles. The first candle reminds us that during Advent we wait upon the promises of the Lord. The second candle reminds us to watch for God’s presence with expectant eyes and anxious hearts. The third candle reminds us to prepare ourselves to receive the gift of the promised Savior. As we light the fourth candle, we are reminded that Advent is a time to give praise for what God has done, for what God is currently doing and for what God will bring to completion. As the light of Advent grows brighter, it reminds us that we move closer to receiving the gift of a Savior.
Refrain – the Choir and Congregation see insert
Prayer
God in heaven, we look to you amidst a world filled with darkness. Help us to seek the light of our truth, as we remember your promises and offer our praise to you. Amen.
Hymn # 347 Angels We Have Heard on High
(Gray Psalter Hymnal)
Psalter: Psalm 86: 8 - 13 NRSV (read responsively)
Lou Ann Johnston
8There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.
9All the nations you have made shall come and bow down before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.
10For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.
11Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name.
12I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.
13For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
Prayer for Illumination Lou Ann Johnston
First Lesson: Isaiah 7: 10 - 17 NRSV Lou Ann Johnston
10Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, 11Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. 12But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. 13Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? 14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. 15He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.
17The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on your ancestral house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria.”
Lector: “This is the Word of God.”
Congregation: “Thanks be to God for His Word.”
Anthem A Christmas Celebration Patti Drennan
Children’s Sermon
Hymn # 29 What Child Is This, Who Laid to Rest?
(Christmas Hymnal)
Second Lesson: Luke 1: 26 - 38 NRSV
26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
Sermon “Mary and Her Son Jesus” Pastor David Horner
After the sermon children in grades K-6 may leave for children’s choir
Gathering of Tithes and Offerings
Please sign and pass the register located in the pew.
Offertory Gently Mary Laid Her Child Paul Manz
Grieke Toebes, bells
Response
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,
To his feet your tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore his praises sing.
Alleluia, alleluia! Praise the everlasting king!
Prayer of Dedication
Joys and Concerns
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Margaret List, John Rogler, Dorothy Bethel, McKay Family, folk in the military, Theological College of Central Africa, Zambia, Rich & Kathy Stuebing
Hymn # 7 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
(Christmas Hymnal)
Benediction
Postlude Angels we Have Heard On High Dale Wood
* The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized Edition), copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.
Christmas Poinsettias have been donated by the following:
Bobby Kane in memory of Bob, Christine and Estella Kane and in memory of Carol and Alice Winters
Charlie & Pat Short in memory of Pat’s parents and Jamie Short (Charlie’s brother)
In loving memory of Gertrude Honig and of the Reverend William Vamos from the Honig and Vamos families.
Margaret Rogler in memory of loved ones!
John & Lola Miller in memory of Glen & Euretta Miller (John’s parents) and Bertie Rush (Lola’s father)
Bob & Marcella Verplank in memory of Abe & Elisabeth Verplank (Bob’s parents) and Vincent & Edith Smith (Marcella’s parents)
Becky Chapman in memory of Henry & Georgia Gick (Becky’s parents)
Announcements
* Greeters this morning are Ken Wark and Marcella Verplank.
* Java Hero – the Johnston’s
* Sunday Evening Bible Study will re-convene for the Spring semester at Jane and Terry Stewart's. They'll be letting you know when in January---thanks Jane and Terry!
* Faith Women Fellowship Announcement – There will be no FWF Bible study until Tuesday, January 13.
Weekly Calendar for December 21, 2008
Today:
9:30 a.m. Congregation at Worship
11:00 a.m. Sunday School
No Davis Manor worship
6:00 p.m. Youth
No Bible study at the Moore’s
This Week:
Tues., 7:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 338
Tues., 7:30 p.m. Tippecanoe Co. Jail Bible study
Wed., 7:00 a.m. Morning Prayers & Breakfast (Grieke Toebes)
Wed., 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Worship
Thurs., 11:00 a.m. Christmas Day Worship
Thurs. – Fri. Office Closed
It’s Christmas Caroling Time Again
This year’s third annual Christmas Caroling / Chili Supper will be held TODAY, December 21st at 4:30 pm (second actually due to last year’s snowstorm). We will meet at the church and distribute music, then we will carol our way around parts of the surrounding neighborhoods. Carolers of all ages (and skill levels) are invited to join us. We will need some youngsters to hand out Christmas cards as we walk around. This might be a fun event to introduce your friends to Faith Church.
When we run out of energy and air, we will return to the church for a simple, but warm, chili supper. All you need bring is yourselves, friends and if you wish, some cookies to share. If you don’t want to carol but like chili, come to the supper anyway. We could actually use a few people to heat the chili up while the rest of us are warbling.
PLEASE let us know if you plan to attend so we know how much chili to prepare. There will be a sign-up sheet in the Narthex starting this Sunday. We hope to see and hear you there.
(NOTE: We will also have a few alternate choices for vegetarians and those with other dietary restraints).
Evangelism Committee
Posted by faithpres at December 21, 2008 08:22 AM