Welcome We are so glad you are here

Welcome! We are so glad you are here! It is our hope that you will feel INVITED, WELCOMED, and LOVED as you worship with us.

rd 3 Sunday of Advent

Before the worship service begins, please turn off your cell phone. But before doing that, be sure to let folks know you’re here – check in at your favorite social media. Let’s share with our friends and neighbors where we are, and how glad we are to be here!

CALL TO REFLECTION PRELUDE – O Come, All Ye Faithful arr. Sandra Eithun Handbell Choir

PRAYER OF TRANSFORMATION

Third Sunday of Advent LIGHTING OF THE CANDLE OF JOY

* HYMN Angels We Have Heard on High # 23 in the Blue Hymnal

Angels we have heard on high Sweetly singing o'er the plains, And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains. Gloria, in excelsis Deo; Gloria, in excelsis Deo.

Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be Which inspire your heavenly song? Gloria, in excelsis Deo; Gloria, in excelsis Deo.

Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria, in excelsis Deo; Gloria, in excelsis Deo.

PRAYER OF FORGIVENESS – (IN UNISON) Adapted from Clement of Rome died c. 96 Epistle to the Corinthians

You, Lord, brought into being the everlasting fabric of the universe; you wove the tapestry of life. From one generation to another you are constant and righteous in your laws, wise and prudent in your actions.

To look round is to see your goodness; to trust you is to know your generosity; to confess to you is to receive your forgiveness. Make us. clean with the strong soap of your truth.

Make us whole with the powerful medicine of your grace…… To you, who alone can grant to us those and all good things, we offer up our praise through Jesus Christ, the high priest and guardian of our souls. Amen.

A TIME OF SILENCE

Assurance of Forgiveness

* Angels from the Realms of Glory (# 22, verse 4) All creation, join in praising God, the Father, Spirit, Son, Evermore your voices raising To the eternal Three in One.

ANTHEM — Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming Arr. James Denton Westminster Choir

A TIME WITH THE

The News of the Community

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

Holiday Bake Sale TODAY at Noon. Sponsored by Presbyterian Women

SENIOR GROUP CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION Monday, December 16 1 PM in the chapel Join in the Yankee Swap* and Potluck Luncheon** * $10. 00 Yankee Swap **Please bring Potluck of your choice

Or why you may be more asleep then you realize Waking Up to Change – Luke 3: 1 -6

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 READINGS — Luke 3: 1 -6 (New Testament, Page 60 in NRSV pew Bible)

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene,

during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,

as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low,

and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. ’”

Or why you may be more asleep then you realize Waking Up to Change – Luke 3: 1 -6

* This We Believe (CONGREGATION READS WORDS IN BOLD) John 3: 16 -17 The Message

This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.

God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.

*Hymn of Commitment What Child Is This # 53 in the Blue Hymnal

What Child is this who, laid to rest On Mary's lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard angels sing; Haste, haste, to bring Him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary!

Why lies He in such mean estate, Where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christian, fear; for sinners here The silent Word is pleading.

This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard angels sing; Haste, haste, to bring Him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary!

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh, Come one and all, to own Him. The King of kings salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard angels sing; Haste, haste, to bring Him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary!

The Prayers of the People

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in his wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory and grace.

Prayer and 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.

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. )

OFFERTORY — Sweet Little Jesus Boy Robert Mac. Gimsey Olu Dare, soloist

*THE RESPONSE OF PRAISE – DOXOLOGY (#592) Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Offering of Prayer (in unison) Adapted from John Cosin (1594 -1672)

Lord Jesus, give me a waking spirit, and a diligent soul, that I may seek to know your will, and when I know it truly, may perform it faithfully to the honor and glory of your blessed name. In your blessed name, we pray. Amen.

*Hymn Joy to the World # 40 in the Blue Hymnals

Joy to the world! the Lord is come: Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the world! the Savior reigns: Let us our songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And Wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders of His love.

*CHARGE AND BLESSING – CHORAL BENEDICTION: Go Ye Now in Peace Joyce Elaine Eilers

Postlude — The First Noel arr. Dan Miller

MORE News of the Community

SENIOR GROUP CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION Monday, December 16 1 PM in the chapel Join in the Yankee Swap* and Potluck Luncheon** * $10. 00 Yankee Swap **Please bring Potluck of your choice

Tuesday, December 24 th 5: 30 p. m.

✞ December 15 th – 29 th ✞ One Third to Outreach Ministry One Third to Bold Justice One Third to the General Fund

Holiday Bake Sale December 15 th, Noon. Sponsored by Presbyterian Women

Monday, December 9 th, 9: 00 – Noon Friday, December 13 th, 9: 00 – Noon

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