DEEPLY ROOTED IN FAITH (* for those able to stand) PRELUDE WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS ChORAL iNTROiT LighTiNg Of ThE PEACE ADvENT CANDLE Leader: On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we look to the steadfast god... All: Let us pray: Eternal and all-powerful God, we thank you for the covenant of love that binds us together. Even when we lose hope and turn away from you, you reach out to us; you make whole our brokenness. Even from the fragments of our lives, you weave a tapestry of great beauty. Nothing is impossible with you. You have prepared a place for us—let us not rest unl we find our way home and rest in you. Amen. * OPENiNg SONg Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Ph #31 PRAYER Of CONfESSiON (unison) O Holy Lord of hope, in this season of holy ancipaon, hear us as we come to you with humble hearts. You created us to feel the deep joy of your presence and to share in the wonders of your love. You created us to be people of prayer, to be people who discover you in prayer and grow deeper in our love of you through prayer. You created us to be people of awe and wonder who look around our lives and discover your presence everywhere, bringing light and life to everything. You created us to be all of these, yet we can become so wrapped up in the struggles of life that we shut out you and your joy. We can become so busy that we never pray, let alone discover you in prayer. We can become so focused on this and that, that we never look up from our lives to discover your mystery all around us. (connued) fourth Sunday in Advent December 18, 2011 first Presbyterian Church encourages people to live their lives faithfully, daily, where they are, and with what they have been entrusted, to the glory of god. Our mission is to let our light shine and be beacons of hope, equipping people for life in the world.
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DEEPLY ROOTED IN FAITH (*forthoseabletostand)
PRELUDE
WELCOMEANDANNOUNCEMENTS
ChORALiNTROiT
LighTiNgOfThEPEACEADvENTCANDLELeader:OnthisfourthSundayofAdvent,welooktothesteadfastgod... All: Let us pray: Eternal and all-powerful God, we thank you for the covenant of love that binds us together. Even when we lose hope and turn away from you, you reach out to us; you make whole our brokenness. Even from the fragments of our lives, you weave a tapestry of great beauty. Nothing is impossible with you. You have prepared a place for us—let us not rest until we find our way home and rest in you. Amen.
*OPENiNgSONgHark! The Herald Angels SingPh#31
PRAYEROfCONfESSiON(unison)O Holy Lord of hope, in this season of holy anticipation, hear us as we come to you with humble hearts. You created us to feel the deep joy of your presence and to share in the wonders of your love. You created us to be people of prayer, to be people who discover you in prayer and grow deeper in our love of you through prayer. You created us to be people of awe and wonder who look around our lives and discover your presence everywhere, bringing light and life to everything. You created us to be all of these, yet we can become so wrapped up in the struggles of life that we shut out you and your joy. We can become so busy that we never pray, let alone discover you in prayer. We can become so focused on this and that, that we never look up from our lives to discover your mystery all around us. (continued)
Touch our hearts this morning so that we can become people of joy, prayer, and gratitude who shine with your presence. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen (silent prayers of confession)
ASSURANCEOfPARDONLeader:friends,believethegoodnewsofthegospel: All: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God.
CALLTOOffERiNgOffERTORY
(Please sign the Act of Friendship pad and pass it down the pew)
*DOXOLOgY(No.592)
gREATPRAYEROfThANKSgiviNg(responsive)Leader: TheLordbewithyou.People: And also with you.Leader: Liftupyourhearts.People: We lift them to the Lord.Leader: LetusgivethankstotheLordourgod.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
FOR YOuR INFORMATION:• fPC’sNursery, locatedon thesecondfloor, isavailable for infantsandchil-drenages5andyounger.• fPC encourages children ages 6 andoldertoattendworship.Worshipbagsforchildrenofallagesare located inthelobby.• Bibles and large print hymnals areavailableinthebackofthesanctuary• Amplified hearing aid devices areavailablefromanusher• Ph=Presbyterianhymnal, Sf=Sing thefaithhymnal
DEACON CARE MINISTRY:• Tan “Prayer Request” Cards are used forprayerrequests.Asrequestsarereceived,theBoardofDeaconswillofferprayers.
• Blue“WeCare”Cardsareformessagesofcaretopersonsofthecongregation.Cards are available in the pew racks.Please place the cards in the offeringplate.
Help is needed in assisting the Deacons in delivering the poinsettia plants to designated members and friends of the church following the service. If you can help, please come to the steps of the Chancel follow-ing the service. If you are traveling out of town and would be willing to deliver a plant, please come to the chancel area following worship and inform one of the Deacons. Thank you!
Ch
rist
mas
Eve
Wo
rsh
ip C
eleb
rati
on
5:
00 p
mTh
is is
a s
ervi
ce fo
r all
ages
, ple
ase
brin
g yo
ur c
hild
ren!
Th
e se
rvic
e w
ill c
lose
in c
andl
elig
ht w
ith th
e si
ngin
g of
“S
ilent
Nig
ht."
No
nurs
ery
serv
ice
is a
vaila
ble.
Ch
rist
mas
Eve
Co
mm
un
ion
Ser
vice
11
:00
pm
Gre
et th
e bi
rth
of C
hris
t with
joy
and
sing
ing!
The
ser
-vi
ce w
ill in
clud
e sc
riptu
re re
adin
gs, a
med
itatio
n, m
usic
, th
e Sa
cram
ent o
f the
Lor
d’s
Supp
er a
nd w
ill c
lose
in
cand
lelig
ht w
ith th
e si
ngin
g of
“Si
lent
Nig
ht.”
N
o nu
rser
y se
rvic
e is
ava
ilabl
e.
Ch
rist
mas
Mo
rnin
g Se
rvic
e 10
:15 a
mJo
in u
s fo
r a c
asua
l, sh
orte
ned
wor
ship
ser
vice
that
w
ill c
onsi
st o
f wel
l kno
wn
hym
ns a
nd re
adin
gs.
Com
e and
Cele
brat
e in
Wors
hip
the b
irth
of C
hrist
!
Ch
rist
mas
Eve
Wo
rsh
ip C
eleb
rati
on
5:
00 p
mTh
is is
a s
ervi
ce fo
r all
ages
, ple
ase
brin
g yo
ur c
hild
ren!
Th
e se
rvic
e w
ill c
lose
in c
andl
elig
ht w
ith th
e si
ngin
g of
“S
ilent
Nig
ht."
No
nurs
ery
serv
ice
is a
vaila
ble.
Ch
rist
mas
Eve
Co
mm
un
ion
Ser
vice
11
:00
pm
Gre
et th
e bi
rth
of C
hris
t with
joy
and
sing
ing!
The
ser
-vi
ce w
ill in
clud
e sc
riptu
re re
adin
gs, a
med
itatio
n, m
usic
, th
e Sa
cram
ent o
f the
Lor
d’s
Supp
er a
nd w
ill c
lose
in
cand
lelig
ht w
ith th
e si
ngin
g of
“Si
lent
Nig
ht.”
N
o nu
rser
y se
rvic
e is
ava
ilabl
e.
Ch
rist
mas
Mo
rnin
g Se
rvic
e 10
:15 a
mJo
in u
s fo
r a c
asua
l, sh
orte
ned
wor
ship
ser
vice
that
w
ill c
onsi
st o
f wel
l kno
wn
hym
ns a
nd re
adin
gs.
Com
e and
Cele
brat
e in
Wors
hip
the b
irth
of C
hrist
!
HopeHelp and
For the person who has every-thing stop by our Living Gift Market in the parlor during Advent and “purchase” alter-natives to commercial gifts. You will receive a card that you can give to the people you have honored.
We would like to be able to contribute $5000.00 to Heifer this Christmas. To read more about Heifer International, visit www.heifer.org. If you prefer to make a monetary do-nation, it can be placed in the collection plate or given to the church office.
The Christmas Joy Offering is one of the four special offerings designated by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Gifts to the Christmas Joy Offering will be distributed equally to the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions and to support student scholarships at Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges.
Look for the offering enve-lopes located in the pews.
The Social Justice and Mis-sion Committee is excited to present a new opportunity to make a real impact in the Sa-lina community all year long. Each season of the year we'll have a new mission project. This Advent season, we will collect diapers, socks, toi-let paper and other winter clothing items that will ben-efit the families at the Ashby House.
We hope that you will join in our excitement as we look for ways to offer help and hope to others in our community each and every month.
Intentional Christmas from Social Justice & Mission Committee
This is the last Sunday for the Heifer International table in the Parlor, so get your items today! We'd also like to be able to deliver the much
needed items to the Ashby House as soon as possible. Bring your donated items in by this Friday, Dec 23! As always, you may make a monetary contribution to any of these offerings.
Call the church office if you have any questions! Merry Christmas!
For the person who has every-thing stop by our Living Gift Market in the parlor during Advent and “purchase” alter-natives to commercial gifts. You will receive a card that you can give to the people you have honored.
We would like to be able to contribute $5000.00 to Heifer this Christmas. To read more about Heifer International, visit www.heifer.org. If you prefer to make a monetary do-nation, it can be placed in the collection plate or given to the church office.
The Christmas Joy Offering is one of the four special offerings designated by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Gifts to the Christmas Joy Offering will be distributed equally to the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions and to support student scholarships at Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges.
Look for the offering enve-lopes located in the pews.
The Social Justice and Mis-sion Committee is excited to present a new opportunity to make a real impact in the Sa-lina community all year long. Each season of the year we'll have a new mission project. This Advent season, we will collect diapers, socks, toi-let paper and other winter clothing items that will ben-efit the families at the Ashby House.
We hope that you will join in our excitement as we look for ways to offer help and hope to others in our community each and every month.
Intentional Christmas from Social Justice & Mission Committee
This is the last Sunday for the Heifer International table in the Parlor, so get your items today! We'd also like to be able to deliver the much
needed items to the Ashby House as soon as possible. Bring your donated items in by this Friday, Dec 23! As always, you may make a monetary contribution to any of these offerings.
Call the church office if you have any questions! Merry Christmas!
This material is from the weekly "Feasting on the Word" Lectionary class led by Discipleship and Congre-gational Care Pastor Tom Reid. This Wednesday's class will be held at 5:30pm, and there will be no class on Sunday, Dec 25, Wed Dec 28, and Sunday, Jan 1.
WHAT is important to know? — From “Exegetical Perspective,” Lewis R. Donelson
In many ways, the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary of the coming miraculous birth of Jesus reads almost exactly like the announcements of the wondrous births of Ishmael (Gen. 16:7–13), Isaac (Gen. 17:1–21; 18:1–15), Samson (Judges 13:3–20), and most obviously John the Baptist (Luke 1:8–20). This announcement is, of course, the second announcement of miraculous birth in the Gospel of Luke. Gabriel appears not only to Mary but, in 1:8–20, to Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. Thus, this passage is part of Luke’s careful interweaving of John the Baptist and Jesus, in which John serves largely in the role of Elijah preparing for the day of the Lord (Mal. 4:5). Luke emphasizes John’s special calling and high status, while carefully elevating Jesus above John.
WHERE is God in these words? — From “Theological Perspective,” Cynthia L. Rigby
Mary has the reputation of being in perfect sync with God, responding to God’s command in absolute obedience. She is the “blessed one” who is called by God to bear the Christ child, the “servant of the Lord” who desires that God’s will come to fruition, even in and through her. Mary recognizes what all Christian believers must recognize—that we, creatures before the Creator God, are incapable, in and of ourselves, of accomplishing God’s will, but we can be instruments of God’s will.
SO WHAT does this mean for our lives? — From “Pastoral Perspective,”
Ashley Cook Cleere
Mary’s puzzlement grants permission to take time to adjust to astonishing news, to question whether or not trials and tragedies, or God’s magnificent promises, are for real, and to contemplate potential repercussions. The query “How can this be?” is a reverberating refrain that shapes our faith by reminding us how much is hidden from us. The exclamation of these four words may well signify the nearness of God. Perhaps Mary’s words deliver God’s Christmas wish, that followers of Christ will believe that nothing is impossible with God, and invite the Holy Spirit to work through them to attain miracles. NOW WHAT is God’s word calling us to do? — From “Homiletical Perspective,”
Kimberly Bracken Long
God’s coming reign of justice and favor for all people is embodied in God’s choosing to pour out the divine Spirit upon Mary, even within her, to bring about salvation for the whole world. That’s the sort of good news that we can hardly conjure up on our own. Dare we proclaim that God breaks in, to restore, reveal, and redeem the mess we have made of the world? Dare we proclaim that God’s gospel of justice and peace may turn our world upside down—and that this news is very, very good?
This material is from the weekly "Feasting on the Word" Lectionary class led by Discipleship and Congre-gational Care Pastor Tom Reid. This Wednesday's class will be held at 5:30pm, and there will be no class on Sunday, Dec 25, Wed Dec 28, and Sunday, Jan 1.
WHAT is important to know? — From “Exegetical Perspective,” Lewis R. Donelson
In many ways, the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary of the coming miraculous birth of Jesus reads almost exactly like the announcements of the wondrous births of Ishmael (Gen. 16:7–13), Isaac (Gen. 17:1–21; 18:1–15), Samson (Judges 13:3–20), and most obviously John the Baptist (Luke 1:8–20). This announcement is, of course, the second announcement of miraculous birth in the Gospel of Luke. Gabriel appears not only to Mary but, in 1:8–20, to Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. Thus, this passage is part of Luke’s careful interweaving of John the Baptist and Jesus, in which John serves largely in the role of Elijah preparing for the day of the Lord (Mal. 4:5). Luke emphasizes John’s special calling and high status, while carefully elevating Jesus above John.
WHERE is God in these words? — From “Theological Perspective,” Cynthia L. Rigby
Mary has the reputation of being in perfect sync with God, responding to God’s command in absolute obedience. She is the “blessed one” who is called by God to bear the Christ child, the “servant of the Lord” who desires that God’s will come to fruition, even in and through her. Mary recognizes what all Christian believers must recognize—that we, creatures before the Creator God, are incapable, in and of ourselves, of accomplishing God’s will, but we can be instruments of God’s will.
SO WHAT does this mean for our lives? — From “Pastoral Perspective,”
Ashley Cook Cleere
Mary’s puzzlement grants permission to take time to adjust to astonishing news, to question whether or not trials and tragedies, or God’s magnificent promises, are for real, and to contemplate potential repercussions. The query “How can this be?” is a reverberating refrain that shapes our faith by reminding us how much is hidden from us. The exclamation of these four words may well signify the nearness of God. Perhaps Mary’s words deliver God’s Christmas wish, that followers of Christ will believe that nothing is impossible with God, and invite the Holy Spirit to work through them to attain miracles. NOW WHAT is God’s word calling us to do? — From “Homiletical Perspective,”
Kimberly Bracken Long
God’s coming reign of justice and favor for all people is embodied in God’s choosing to pour out the divine Spirit upon Mary, even within her, to bring about salvation for the whole world. That’s the sort of good news that we can hardly conjure up on our own. Dare we proclaim that God breaks in, to restore, reveal, and redeem the mess we have made of the world? Dare we proclaim that God’s gospel of justice and peace may turn our world upside down—and that this news is very, very good?