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December 13, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009 Bulletin
The Order for the Worship of God
Faith Presbyterian Church 9:30 a.m., December 13, 2009
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 A Stable Lamp Is Lighted Wilbur Held
Wachet auf! (Wake Up!) J.S. Bach (Germany, 1685-1750)
(see words in gray hymnal, p. 613)
Greeting & Invocation
Lighting of the Candle –
The Carpenter Family, candlelighters
The third candle, the Shepherds’ candle, symbolizes the important part the shepherds played in the story of Jesus’ birth. They, who were the humblest of people, were the first to know Jesus was born.
Prayer
God in heaven, as we continue our Advent journey, help us to be people who wait for you, watch for you, and through your Spirit be prepared for you. Continue to shine your light in our lives as we look at all you have done, all you are doing, and all you will do. Amen.
Hymn # 354 Angels from the Realms of Glory
(Gray Psalter Hymnal)
Christmas Cantata “A Great and Mighty Wonder” –
Tom Fettke
Lazlo Kovacs will be narrating.
The words for the songs are included in the bulletin.
I. “A Great and Mighty Wonder”
Quoting “Antioch” --George Frederick Handel
II. “The Wonder of the Promise”
Quoting “Adeste Fideles” --Ukrainian Bell Carol
III. “The Wonder of the Incarnation”
Soloists Mayfawny Bergmann & Carol Goodrich
IV. “The Wonder In the Heavens”
Quoting “The Heavens Are Telling” --Franz Joseph Haydn & “Ding Dong! Merrily On High”
V. “The Wonder In a Manger”
Quoting “Jungst” (German melody) by Tom Fettke
VI. “The Wonder of the Star”
Quoting “Kings of Orient” --John H. Hopkins, Jr. “Followers of the Star”
VII. “The Wonder of the Gift”
Quoting “Crusaders’ Hymn” Schlesisch Volkslieder, 1842
VIII. “The Wonder of It All”
Gospel Lesson: Luke 1: 5 – 25 NRSV
5In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. 7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. 8Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. 10Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. 13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. 14You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. 16He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.” 19The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.” 21Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. 22When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. 23When his time of service was ended, he went to his home. 24After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, 25“This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.”
Sermon“Zechariah and Elizabeth: Three Seasonal Thoughts”
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 'Twas In the Moon of Wintertime Paul Manz
(see words in Christmas supplement, p. 14, and music notes)
Response
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, Amen. –H.W. Greatorex
Prayer of Dedication
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
• Dessa Shinn’s Family
• Margaret List
• Will Miller
• Folk in the military
• Hope Clinic
• Priscilla Girls’ School
Hymn # 12 Gentle Mary Laid Her Child
(Christmas Hymnal)
Benediction
Postlude O Come, All Ye Faithful
Sigvart Hofland (Norwegian-American, (b. 1889)
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.
Announcements
* Greeters this morning are John Miller & Ann Freeman.
* FWF Bible Study – There will be no Tuesday Women’s Bible study until January 2010. A date will be announced later.
* Sunday School – There will be no Sunday School on Sunday, December 20, 27 and January 3.
* “Open House” at the Horner’s (2125 Marconi Court) in West Lafayette on Sunday, December 27 from 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. We hope you can come and see our home decorated for Christmas.
* Christmas poinsettias are available for purchase for $7.75 each. If you are interested in purchasing a poinsettia, please leave your money and name in an envelope on the church office desk with any information you would like included in the bulletin if you wish to note they are in memory or honor of someone. They will be placed in the sanctuary during the Christmas season and you are welcome to take them home after Christmas.
* CHRISTMAS BOOKS – Check out the library’s selection of Christmas* books and videos on the mobile library rack. *Christmas has been defined rather broadly to include more general books about Jesus due to our limited selection of truly seasonal books. Happy Reading!
* For those wishing a visit at any time by Pastor Horner please be sure you let Stephanie know you are interested. Pastor Horner’s office hours are Monday – Thursday 9:30am – 1:30pm, or by appointment.
Weekly Calendar for December 13, 2009
Today:
9:30 a.m. Congregation at Worship
1:30 p.m. Tippecanoe Villa worship
3:00 p.m. Friendship House worship
6:00 p.m. Youth
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 (Communion) &
Breakfast (Stuart Robertson)
Wed., 5:45 p.m. Handbell Choir
Wed., 6:30 p.m. Adult Choir
Thurs., 7:00 p.m. Bible study at the Horner’s
Fri., 6 – 8pm Russian Christmas Party
Sat., 9:00 a.m. Christmas Day Choir Rehearsal
Coming Weeks:
Wed., Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Service, 7:00 p.m.
Thurs., Dec. 25 Christmas Day Service, 11:00 a.m.
Sun., Dec. 27 Horner’s Open House, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Music Notes and Words
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), former U.S. Poet Laureate
Wachet auf (Wake Up!)
Advent is the season of preparation, not only for Christ's birth, but also for His return. In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus told the parable of the ten virgins who went out to meet the bridegroom, but fell asleep because of the long wait. Some forgot to bring extra lamp oil, and when the bridegroom came, they were not prepared and were not allowed into the wedding banquet. The chorale 'Wachet auf'' refers to this story and reminds Christians to be alert and ready for Jesus' return. The prelude is a trio played on two keyboards and pedals. For the first 13 measures, a gentle dance-like duet is played on one keyboard and the pedals, and then the chorale tune enters, played on the second keyboard. Perhaps Bach had in mind a wedding dance.
'Twas In the Moon of Wintertime
"The tune of this Huron carol is French, as adapted by a Jesuit missionary, probably Jean de Brebeuf, who worked among the Huron Indians in Canada in the seventeenth century. He supposedly set the text, retelling the Christmas story, in the Huron language, although some scholars believe that the text may have originated with the Indians themselves, for the symbolism is that of Indian lore ("Gitchi Manitou" is the Great Spirit of the Hurons). In any case, this is one of the very first carols to have originated in north America."
(from "A Musical Christmas with Peter Duchin", 1976, p.56.)
Posted by faithpres at December 13, 2009 11:33 AM