Before the worship service begins please turn off

Before the worship service begins, please turn off your God may be calling YOU, but probably not on your cell phone. Please turn off your cell phone, or put it on vibrate.

Welcome! We are so glad you are here!

CALL TO REFLECTION PRELUDE: O Come, Emmanuel arr. Rebecca Johnson

A bird does not sing because he has an answer. A bird sings because she has a song. Joan Walsh Anglund

I have seen a fraction of God’s glory, and it is awesome. Bernard of Clairvaux, On the Song of Songs

The most beautiful music of all is the music of what happens. Irish Proverb

The ones who hear the voice of God must recognize that they are called to an adventure whose ending they cannot foresee because it is in the hands of God. Thomas Merton

New life starts in the dark. Whether it is a seed in the ground, a baby in the womb, or Jesus in the tomb. It starts in the dark. Barbara Brown Taylor, Episcopal priest

‘Advent’ means ‘coming, ’ of course, and the promise of Advent is that coming is an unimaginable invasion. The mythology of our age has to do with flying saucers and invasions from outer space, and that is unimaginable enough.

But what is upon us now is even more so – a close encounter not of the third kind but of a different kind altogether. An invasion of holiness. That is what advent is about. Frederick Buechner, Listening to Your Life

The Lord sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves. D. L. Moody

We are all meant to be mothers of God. What good is it to me if this eternal birth of the divine Son takes place unceasingly but does not take place within myself? And what good is it to me if Mary is full of grace if I am not also full of grace?

What good is it to me for the Creator to give birth to his Son if I do not also give birth to him in my time and my culture? This, then, is the fullness of time; When the Son of God is begotten in us. Meister Eckhart

PRAYER OF TRANSFORMATION

First Sunday of Advent LIGHTING OF THE CANDLE OF HOPE

One: We wait in the darkness, expectantly, longingly, anxiously, thoughtfully. Many: The darkness is our friend.

One: In the darkness of the womb, we have all been nurtured and protected. Many: In the darkness of the womb the Christ-child was made ready for the journey into light.

One: It is only in the darkness that we can see the splendour of the universe—blankets of stars, the solitary glowings of the planets. Many: It was the darkness that allowed the Magi to find the star that guided them to where the Christ-child lay.

One: In the darkness of the night, desert people find relief from the cruel relentless heat of the sun. Many: In the blessed desert darkness Mary and Joseph were able to flee with the infant Jesus to safety in Egypt.

One: In the darkness of sleep, we are soothed and restored, healed and renewed. Many: In the darkness of sleep, dreams rise up. God spoke to Joseph and the wise men through dreams. God is speaking still.

One: Sometimes in the solitude of the darkness our fears and concerns, our hopes and visions rise to the surface. We come face to face with ourselves and with the road that lies ahead of us. And in that same darkness we find companionship for the journey.

Many: In that same darkness we sometimes allow ourselves to wonder and worry whether the human race is going to survive. One: And then, in the darkness we know that you are with us, O God, yet still we await your coming.

Many: In the darkness that contains both our hopelessness and our hope, we watch for a sign of God’s hope. One: For you are with us, O God, in darkness and in light. ***from the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand (abridged). Posted by James Hawes, on Sunday Papers. http: //www. sundaypapers. org. uk/

Many: Today we light the first candle of Advent: the candle of hope. ALL: In this season of Advent, we wait for the coming of Hope into our world. We await the birth of the Christ-child, the coming of God into our lives in a new way.

HYMN O Come, O Come Emmanuel # 9 in the Blue Hymnals

O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Desire of nations, Bind All peoples in one heart and mind; Bid envy, strife, and discord cease; Fill the whole world with heaven's peace. Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

PRAYER OF FORGIVENESS – (IN UNISON) Adapted from The Exeter Book, c. 950

O just and faithful King, you can unlock the prison-house of fear and all that draws us away from You and let us out into the glorious freedom of your love…. Open the gate of this prison, and lead us to your kingdom, which is our true home.

Come now, high King of heaven. Come to us in flesh and bone…Seek us out, who are lost in the darkness…Impart to us all your everlasting joy, so that we, who are fashioned by your hands, may praise your glory. In your name we pray. Amen.

A TIME OF SILENCE

Assurance of Forgiveness

Glory be to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

A TIME WITH THE

The News of the Community

Visitors, to First Church! Following worship, please join us on the patio for juice and coffee.

Please date, fill out, and pass the red Friendship Register to your neighbor.

A Deacon’s Fund offering will be collected today. Please use the envelope provided in your bulletin.

Just a reminder — we continue to collect hygiene supplies and gently used or new sneakers and blue jeans for the Jubilee Center. The Center has an urgent need for nonperishable food items.

A funeral for Betty Hanna will be held in our sanctuary this afternoon at 2: 00 p. m. ; a reception will follow in the Rice Room.

Monday, December 4 th: 9: 00 a. m. – Noon Friday, December 8 th: 9: 00 a. m. – Noon

Bake Sale and Holiday Fair December 10 th, following worship. Sponsored by PW (Presbyterian Women)

Now through December 10 th for Hollywood Central Elementary (HCE) families in need.

Please consider sharing Christmas with a child in need. Gift tags will soon be available. Please return your UNWRAPPED GIFTS to the church by December 10 th.

Sunday, December 17 th, 10 a. m. our Westminster Choir will present the cantata God With Us! a compilation of anthems by six arrangers.

Sunday, December 24 th, 10 a. m. our Westminster Ringers Handbell Choir will present a Christmas concert.

✞ December 10 th – 25 th ✞ 25% to Puerto Rico 25% to Bold Justice 50% to the General Fund

ANTHEM — Joy Arising arr. Joseph Martin The Anthem is a prayer. Please, no applause.

The Gifts of Christmas

Thanksgiving for the Word

O Word of God incarnate, O Wisdom from on high, O Truth unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky: We praise You for the radiance That from the hallowed page, A lantern to our footsteps, Shines on from age to age.

SCRIPTURE READING— Luke 1: 46 -55 (New Testament, Page 57 in pew Bible)

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever. ”

The Gifts of Christmas

* This We Believe (in unison) Psalm 100, The Message

On your feet now—applaud GOD! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence. Know this: GOD is God, and God, GOD. He made us; we didn’t make him. We’re his people, his well-tended sheep.

Enter with the password: “Thank you!” Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him. For GOD is sheer beauty, allgenerous in love, loyal always and ever.

*HYMN OF COMMITMENT – People, Look East # 12 in the Blue Hymnal

People, look east. The time is near Of the crowning of the year. Make your house fair as you are able, Trim the hearth and set the table. People, look east: Love the guest is on the way

Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare, One more seed is planted there: Give up your strength the seed to nourish, That in course the flower may flourish. People, look east: Love the rose is on the way.

Birds, though you long have ceased to build, Guard the nest that must be filled. Even the hour when wings are frozen God for fledging time has chosen. People, look east: Love the bird is on the way.

Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim One more light the bowl shall brim, Shining beyond the frosty weather, Bright as sun and moon together. People, look east: Love the star is on the way.

Angels, announce with shouts of mirth Christ who brings new life to earth. Set every peak and valley humming With the word, the Lord is coming. People, look east and sing today: Love the Lord is on the way.

OFFERING OUR TITHES AND GIFTS (Visitors, in the pew rack you will find a Guest Information card. Please complete the card, then place it in the offering plate. )

ANTHEM A Procession of Hope arr. Joseph Martin

*THE RESPONSE OF PRAISE – ADVENT DOXOLOGY ( #593) Praise Christ, the child of Bethlehem, Whom all the world did once condemn; May our remembrance of His birth Bring peace again to all the earth. Amen.

Offering of Prayer (in unison) Adapted from Frank Colquhoun, 1909 -1997

Our heavenly Father, as once again we prepare for Christmas, help us to find time in our busy lives for quiet and thought and prayer; that we may reflect upon the wonder of your love and allow the story of the Savior’s birth to penetrate our hearts and minds.

So may our joy be deeper, our worship more real, and our lives worthier of all that you have done for us through the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. In His name we pray. Amen.

Celebration of the Sacrament of The Lord’s Supper

Invitation to the Lord’s Table Great Thanksgiving (CONGREGATION READS WORDS IN BOLD)

All Sing: In the Lord, I’ll be ever thankful, In the Lord I will rejoice, Look to God, do not be afraid. Lift up your voices, the Lord is near; Lift up your voices, the Lord is near.

The Lord’s Prayer (Debtors version)

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. Forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory. Amen.

Words of Institution Communion of Bread & Cup

Closing Let us talents and tongues employ, reaching out with a shout of joy: bread is broken, the wine is poured, Christ is spoken and seen and heard. Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again, pass the Word around: loaves abound!

Christ is able to make us one, at the table He sets the tone, teaching people to live to bless, Love in word and in deed express. Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again, pass the Word around: loaves abound! Prayer

* CHARGE AND BLESSING Congregational Response: God be with you till we meet again; Loving counsels guide, uphold you, With a Shepherd’s care enfold you; God be with you till we meet again.

Postlude Toccata on “Veni Emmanuel” James Denton