December 17, 2006
MORNING WORSHIP 8:45 A.M.
Third Sunday in Advent
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev.
Steven A. Peay, Ph.D.
(Please pass the red pew pads now. If you are a
guest this Sunday,
we would love to greet you following the service
or at coffee hour in the Social Hall.)
|
PRELUDE |
Veni Emmanuel |
Setting by Callahan |
CHIMES AND TOWER BELLS
CALL TO WORSHIP Rev.
Robert J. Brink
Leader:
We are followers
of Jesus Christ set apart for the gospel of God.
People: In this we find great joy.
Leader: God promised a Son
through the prophets,
People: who in his human nature is a
descendant of David,
Leader: born as a baby in
Bethlehem.
People: Whose unique identity as Son
of God
Leader: was shown by God’s
Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead.
People: Through him we have received
the joyous gift of eternal life
Leader: and the urgent
task of passing it on to others,
People: who receive it by entering
into obedient trust in Jesus.
Leader: Let us praise our Lord
in worship today.
ALL: We
come to worship in joy!
|
*HYMN 103 |
Come, Thou Long
Expected Jesus |
*THE CHORAL CALL TO WORSHIP
THE LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH AND PRAYER OF
INVOCATION
Henry
Fink and Susan Santelle Family
VOICE 1 Last
Sunday we lit the candle of peace. We light it and the candle of hope again as
we remember that Christ, who was born in Bethlehem, will come again to judge
the world and bring it everlasting peace. (a person lights the candles of hope,
and peace.)
VOICE 2 The
third candle of Advent is the Candle of Joy. When the angel Gabriel told Mary
that a special child would be born to her she was filled with joy. She sang a
song that began with the words: “My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices
in God my Saviour.
VOICE 3 Just
as the birth of Jesus gave great joy to his mother, so his presence in the
world gave joy to those who had none before. He healed them and gave them hope
and peace when they believed in him. From hope, peace, and love grows joy.
VOICE 4 We light the candle
of joy to remind us that when Jesus is born in us we have joy and that through
him there will be everlasting joy on earth. (a person lights the candle of joy)
VOICE 5 Joy is like a light
shining in a dark place. As we look at this candle we celebrate the joy we find
in Jesus Christ. Let us pray:
ALL Almighty
God, you send your Son into a world where the wheat must be winnowed from chaff
and wickedness clings even to what is good. Let the fire of your Spirit purge
us of greed and deceit, so that, purified, we may find our peace in you and you
may delight in us. Open our hearts to rejoice in you, we ask this through him
whose coming is certain, whose day draws near, your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who taught us to pray to you, saying:
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; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
ASCRIPTION OF GLORY
“Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee,
O Israel. Amen!”
|
THE OLD TESTAMENT
LESSON |
Zephaniah 3:14-20 |
Bible, page 862 |
|
*HYMN 106 (vs. 1 &
2) |
Hills of the North,
Rejoice |
{sung to Darwall’s 148th} |
{Children ages 3 through 8th
grade are dismissed to Sunday School
during
the singing of the Hymn.}
|
*CANTICLE (unison) |
Philippians 4:4-7 |
Rev. Samuel R. Schaal |
Bible, page 1071
|
THE GOSPEL LESSON |
Luke 3:7-18 |
Bible, page 935 |
|
ANTHEM |
Joseph’s Song |
Grier |
THE SERMON “O
Joy!” Dr.
Peay
|
HYMN 106 (vs. 3, 5) |
Hills of the North,
Rejoice |
{sung to Darwall’s 148th} |
THE CALL TO PRAYER AND SILENT MEDITATION
THE PRAYER OF PEOPLE AND MINISTER
THE CHORAL RESPONSE TO PRAYER
THE OFFERTORY
|
THE ANTHEM |
O Little Town of
Bethlehem |
Vaughan Williams |
*THE DOXOLOGY
*THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
AND DEDICATION
|
*HYMN 125 |
Good Christian Men,
Rejoice |
*THE CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
|
*POSTLUDE |
Wachet Auf |
Callahan |
*The congregation is invited to stand, if able.
The
Christmas decorations are provided by the Board of Deacons
and
through the generous donations of members in honor of or in memory of loved
ones.
Worship Preview for Sunday, December 24, 2006 ~
CHRISTMAS EVE
Next Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Advent, we
worship through a Service of
Lessons and Carols at 10 AM. Christmas Eve
services are: 4 PM Children and Family,
7 PM Candlelight Communion Service, and 11 PM
Candlelight Choral Service.
Dr. Peay’s sermon at 7 PM and 11 PM is entitled:
“Swaddled.”
Thomas
Gregory is the organist.
Jillian Bruss is the guest soloist at 7 PM.
Lee Jacobi directs the Chancel Choir at 11 PM.
Pilgrim Choir Anthems
Joseph's
Song
Gene
Grier
What shall I give this child born on this Christmas
night?
How shall I let him know he is our shining light?
What shall I give this child born in a lowly stall?
How shall I let him know he lives to save us all?
Joseph, dearest, Joseph mine, help me rock our child
divine.
Let us sing him a lullabye, our gift of love for little
baby Jesus.
Yes, we will give this child our gift of love in song.
That's how we'll let him know he's born to save us all.
O
Little Town of Bethlehem
Bishop
Phillips Brooks
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him,
still The dear Christ enters in.
O holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell:
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel.