December 21, 2014 - First Presbyterian Church

8:55 a.m. Worship
PROCLAIMING THE WORD
11:15 a. m. Worship
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GATHERING FOR WORSHIP
GATHERING FOR WORSHIP
* LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLES
* OPENING PRAISE SONGS
Jeffrey, Elizabeth,
and Lorena Best
“Prepare the Way”
“Holy Child”
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Stewardship Update
David Forney
David Bear
EXAMINING OUR HEARTS
Michael Kidd
Prayer of Confession
Assurance of Forgiveness
* Passing the Peace
PROCLAIMING THE WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Jack Meaney
FIRST SCRIPTURE LESSON
2 Samuel 7:1-16
§ CONVERSATION WITH CHILDREN
Jane Brennan
SECOND SCRIPTURE LESSON
SERMON
Luke 1:39-56
“Where God Chooses to Dwell”
Liz Forney
RESPONDING TO THE WORD
INVITATION TO SELF-OFFERING
You are invited to bring your offering
and the PC(USA) Christmas Joy Offering to God.
* Offering Song
* Prayer of Dedication
“To the Ends of the Earth”
THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Invitation to the Table
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving and the Lord’s Prayer
Words of Institution
* Communion of the People
Prayer after Communion
GOING OUT TO SERVE
* CLOSING SONG
“We Have a Savior”
* CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
* END OF WORSHIP ....................... BEGINNING OF SERVICE
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Bold lettering signifies congregational participation.
* Those who are able are invited to stand.
Please sign the Attendance Pad and pass it along the aisle.
PRELUDE ‘Prayer’ from Christmas Oratorio
Saint-Saëns/Permann
FIRST LESSON
2 Samuel 7:1-16
Pew Bible, p. 269
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
TOWER BELLS
§ WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Stewardship Update
David Forney
David Bear
* LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLES
adapted from Isaiah 7:14
Denis, Emma, Mufu, and Ethan Tebit
Pastor:
The Lord will give you a sign.
Congregation: Look, the young woman is with child
and shall bear a son, and shall name
him Immanuel.
Candle Lighter: We light these candles as a sign of the peace
we have knowing that God is with us.
* HYMN 82
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
“Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God our Savior,
we ask for your mercy.
Though we have heard Mary’s song, we still seek security
in pride and power and possessions.
Though we know your story,
we resist the cost of following you.
We pass by those considered lowly in this world.
We turn away from hungry people who still wait to be filled.
Forgive us we pray.
Help us to work for the justice you intend.
Make us messengers for the peace you bring.
As we wait for you, turn our apathy
into acts of love and service.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Emmanuel. Amen.
* ASSURANCE OF PARDON
ANTHEM
A rose there is a-springing from tender roots on earth;
As ancient men were singing, from Jesse came its birth.
And now this little flower appears in coldest winter,
At this the midnight hour.
This Rose, the stem of Jesse, by prophets once foretold;
Mary alone has brought us the Child promised of old.
By God’s eternal power, the maid has borne the infant,
At this the midnight hour.
The flower so small and slender
shines through with radiance bright.
To us so sweet and tender dispels the darkest night.
True man with God’s true power,
Helps us from all our suffering,
Saves us from death’s dark hour.
SECOND LESSON
SERMON
Come, hope of unity; make us one body.
Come, O Lord Jesus; reconcile all people.
* PASSING OF THE PEACE OF CHRIST
Luke 1:39-56
Pew Bible, p. 888
“Where God Chooses to Dwell”
Liz Forney
Fourth in the sermon series “Faces at the Manger”
RESPONDING TO THE WORD
* HYMN 158
“Born in the Night, Mary’s Child”
* THE APOSTLES’ CREED
Hymnal, p. 35
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
PRESENTATION OF OFFERINGS
The Offertory
* The Doxology
Hymn 102, v. 4
* Prayer of Dedication
* CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE
Hymn 103, v.4
Choir sings through once, congregation joins in the second time
Shepherd Yglesias Sieg
son of Derek and Heather Sieg
“A Rose There is a-springing”
arr. Cashmore
GOING OUT TO SERVE
* HYMN 144
“In the Bleak Midwinter”
* CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
* POSTLUDE
“Postlude sur un Noël”
Bédard
* END OF WORSHIP ....................... BEGINNING OF SERVICE
Pastors: Rev. Dr. David Forney, Rev. Kimberleigh E. Wells,
Rev. Liz Forney, and Rev. Kendall Pearson
Director of Music: Dr. Jeremy Thompson
setting by Michael Praetorius. The postlude is a setting of a popular
French carol by Quebecois composer Denis Bédard, full of
exuberance and joy.
Director of Ministry for Children and Their Families: Kathy Doby
Officer of the Day: Jim Gillespie
8:55 Communion Preparer: Jane Brennan
The Season of Advent
Ushers: 8:55 — Bill and Barbara Carswell
In Advent, we expectantly wait for the One who has already come.
We anticipate the promised justice of God’s new world, yet we praise
God who raised the “righteous branch” to rule with justice and
righteousness. We hope for the restoration of the afflicted, the
tormented, and the grieving, yet we delight that healing has come in
Christ. We long for the beating of swords into plowshares, yet we
rejoice that the Prince of Peace has appeared. We yearn for the
barren deserts of our inner cities to flourish, yet we laud the desert
Rose that has bloomed. We dream of the land where lions and lambs
live in harmony, yet we acclaim the child born to lead us into the
Promised Land. Christ has come! Christ is risen! Christ will come
again! In Advent, we are living between the first and the second
coming of the Lord. So in the Season of Advent, we live between
memory and hope, past and future.
11:15 — Jim Stone (Head), Lu Bolen, Ken Derby,
Jim Gillespie, Sandra Henneman, Doug Starns
Serving as Office Receptionist: Caroyl Gooch
Hearing devices and large print hymnals, Bibles, and bulletins
are available from the ushers.
It is our privilege to provide safe and welcoming childcare,
located on the lower level in Rooms 110 (infants) and 108 (toddlers
and preschoolers).
WORSHIP
About Today’s Music
8:55 – On this Sunday, the last Sunday of Advent we can sing our
first song “Prepare the way O Zion, your Christ is drawing near”
with greater exuberance and expectation as our celebration of Christ’s
coming is imminent. This song tells of our joy that “his rule is peace
and freedom and justice truth and love.” “Holy Child, Who Chose
the Hearts of Men” is more reflective in nature. This text is rich in
imagery and meaning with the invitation: “may the gift of God amaze
us till the triumph of all time.” Our final song “We Have a Savior”
was written by Hillsong and included on their Christmas album in
2012. This song is all about proclaiming the good news that Christ
has come to the world as our Savior, with the invitation not to just
proclaim this message to each other, but to the world.
11:15 – The prelude this morning is a selection from Camille SaintSaëns’ Christmas Oratorio arranged for solo organ by organist Joseph
Permann. The text in the original setting is from Psalm 110:3. The
English setting is a setting of Mary’s song known as the Magnificat,
found in our second reading this morning. The original version is set
for soprano, tenor and baritone soloists accompanied by harp and
organ and is a transcendently beautiful moment in the work. The
anthem this morning is based on a more accurate translation of the
carol “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming.” It is for unaccompanied
choir and continues in the Renaissance-motet style of the well-known
Each Sunday in Advent, a team of liturgical artists has created a paper
cut window banner to help draw our attention to the faces at the
manger. The banner for the first Sunday in Advent illustrates the
prophecy of the son of God called Emmanuel – God with us. The
banner for the second Sunday in Advent is the stump of Jesse,
depicting Joseph’s linage from the house of David. The banner for
the third Sunday in Advent depicts the shepherds and their sheep
hearing the angel proclaim “the good news of great joy.” Now on this
fourth Sunday in Advent, we rejoice as Mary learns that she is to bear
the very Son of God.
500 PARK STREET
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22902
434-296-7131
WWW.FIRSTPRESCHARLOTTESVILLE.ORG
First
Presbyterian
Church
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
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Sunday, December 21, 2014
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Services of Worship for the Lord’s Day
8:55 a.m. — Worship
10:05 a.m. — Sunday Morning Classes
11:15 a.m. — Worship
This Week at FPC
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Sunday, December 21
8:55 am
Worship
10:05 am Sunday Morning
Classes
11:15 am Worship
4:00 pm
Intergenerational Caroling
Monday, December 22
7:00 am
Men’s Bible Study
Tuesday, December 23
9:30 am
Staff Meeting
Wednesday, December 24
Church Offices Closed—
Christmas Eve
Noon-1pm Soup Kitchen meal
served
4:00 pm
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
8:00 pm
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Thursday, December 25
Church Offices Closed—
Merry Christmas!
Sunday, December 28
10:00 am Worship
W E E K
O F
D E C E M B E R
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2 0 1 4
Announcements
HAPPENING TODAY
The Christmas Joy Offering is received.
Presbyterians have long celebrated the birth
of Jesus Christ by giving generously to an
Advent offering. The Christmas Joy Offering
dates back to 1933 when the former Presbyterian Church in the United States began the
Joy Gift Offering to supplement inadequate
retirement income and provide supplemental
medical insurance for former ministers, missionaries, and church workers and their families. For over seventy years, Presbyterians
have given generously at Christmas to support the unmet needs of families who have
given their lives to the mission of the Presbyterian Church (USA). For many years, that
offering has also supported racial ethnic education, helping students develop their gifts
and find their calling.
A LOOK AHEAD
Christmas Services
December 24, 4:00 pm
Candlelight Service, with children’s participation and music leadership by the Praise
Team
December 24, 8:00 pm
Candlelight Service, with music leadership by
the Sanctuary Choir
December 28, 10:00 am
One service only, no Sunday Morning classes
Pledge Envelopes Now Available
Pledge envelopes for 2015 are available
outside the Chapel for those who requested
them. If you did not ask for a box of envelopes but would like to have one, please
contact the church office. Also contact the
church office if your envelopes should be
mailed to you.
We Are Privileged to Pray for Others because they may not be able to pray for themselves. Intercession is bringing before the
Most High, the needs and concerns of another. Consider taking the time to fill out
prayer requests for yourself, your family, your
friends, and those in the world in need of
prayer. The Prayer Team finds it helpful to
have as much information as you are comfortable providing. This helps them with framing their intercessory prayers. Prayer Team
Request Cards (green) are available in the
pew racks. Please put completed cards in the
oak prayer boxes available in the narthex
and at the receptionist’s desk in the hallway
outside of the sanctuary.
PRAYER
AND CARE NEEDS
If you know of members
of our congregation for
whom we may publicly
share prayer concerns, contact Pastor David
Forney, Pastor Kim Wells, Pastor Liz Forney or
Parish Nurse Kathy Freer.
LET US REMEMBER IN PRAYER:
Those Mourning the Loss of a Loved One
Virginia Dodd and family, following the loss of
Calvin Dodd on December 3, 2014; The family
and friends of Doris Melton, following her
death on December 15, 2014; the family and
friends of Jayne Tietz following her death on
December 12, 2014
Those Living with Cancer
Tom Baber; Dick Comey; Mary Jo Hill
(daughter of Betty and Jim Adams); Donna
Packard; Chuck Richardson (father-in-law of
Amy Richardson); Deborah Starns’ sister;
John Wehmann
Those Coping with Health Challenges, Anticipating Surgery or Recovering from Surgery,
Illness or Accident
Rod Beckwith; Ben Bower; Mike Dalton
(husband of First Pres Preschool teacher
Cathy Dalton); Virginia Dodd; Dick Fisher;
Dory Hulse’s son; Bob Rosette; Andrew
Wiley’s grandfather
Other Prayers
Our Stephen Ministers and their care receivers
Those Serving in the Military
Those who have completed service to join the
many veterans returning to civilian life; Those
in the military serving stateside, to include:
Brian S. Hartless (nephew of Marie Hartless);
Patrick A. Keller (son of Barbara & Andy Keller); John Newman (husband of Melyssa
Houser Newman, son-in-law of Jim & Gail
Houser); Drew Warren (son of John and Katherine Warren); Matthew S. Wilson (grandson of
Elaine Johnson)
Help Our Pastoral Staff care for you by notifying us when you, friends, or family are
expecting a birth, faced with an illness,
hospitalization, outpatient procedure, or are
serving overseas in the Armed Forces.
Please don’t assume that we know. Also, if
you are moving out of the area, please notify us so that we can share this information
with our church family and bless your new
journey.
Pastoral Care Emergencies on Nights and
Weekends: If you have a pastoral care
emergency, please contact our Pastor,
David Forney, at 987-5285, or Associate
Pastor, Kim Wells, at 987-0117.
DAILY SCRIPTURE DECEMBER 22-28
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Psalm 122; Isaiah 31:1-9
Psalm 33; Revelation 22:6-11, 18-20
Psalm 50; Luke 1:67-80
Psalm 2; Zechariah 2:10-13
Psalm 116; Acts 6:1-7
Psalm 34; John 13:20-35
Psalm 150; Matthew 1:18-25
First Presbyterian Church
500 Park Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: 434-296-7131 / Fax: 434-296-0751
E-mail: [email protected]
W e b s i t e : ww w. f i r s t p r e s c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e . o r g
Nancy Maine in memory of Bud Maine
POINSETTIAS AND GREENS
Joe and Norma Miller in honor of Caroline and Jay
Russell and Bobbie Mooney in memory of Russell D.
Mooney, Sr.
Russell and Bobbie Mooney in memory of John
White Page
Susie Morris in memory of Preston E. Morris
Hollis Proffitt in loving memory of Millie
The poinsettias and greens beautifying our Sanctuary for our
Christmas services are given to the glory of God by:
Mary Rohmann in memory of the Rohmann and
Wilde families
Rod and Liz Beckwith in memory of Rod’s parents
and brother
Don and Marian Spano in memory of Marian’s
father, Richard Boyn, and Don’s parents, Michael
and Minerva Spano
Rod and Liz Beckwith in memory of Liz’ parents and
brother
Dorothy Stone in memory of James W. Stone, M.D.
The Beddow Family in memory of Tom and Mary
Beddow
Barbara Tobey in memory of Mr. and Mrs. James A.
Tobey
The Beddow Family in memory of Frank and Doris
Beddow
Leonora VandenBerg and Rebecca Green in memory
of Nancy Lee McConnell
Tory Blackford in memory of Bill Blackford
Leonora VandenBerg in memory of Russel V.
VandenBerg
Shirley Whitt in memory of loved ones
Margaret W. Wood in memory of Dr. James B.
Wood
Pat Wood in memory of loved ones
Barbara Worrell in memory of Kenneth “Buddy”
Worrell
Travis and Sue Brown in memory of Gail Brockman
Orndorff and in honor of Gail’s mother, Dora Kay
Brockman
Diana Chambers and sons, Bryan and David, in
memory of Jack and son Carey
Dorothy and Daley Craig in memory of their families
Dick and Linda Fisher in honor of our prayerful
church community
Ruth S. Gibson and family in memory of Deborah
Gibson
The Mack Halsey family in memory of Marjory
Coffey, Mack’s sister
Marie Hartless in memory of William E. and Eleanor
S. Hartless
Helen Holdren in memory of Gary R. Holdren
His family in memory of Ray C. Hunt, Jr.
Bill and Barbara Isaacs in memory of their dear
friend, Charlotte Ramsey
Bill and Barbara Isaacs in memory of their dear
friend, Ethel Wilson
Pat Johnson in loving memory of Bill Johnson
Chris and Christine E. Kennedy in memory of the
Rev. Dr. Thomas D. Kennedy
Jane W. Kerewich in memory of loved ones
The Lutz Family in memory of Betty Lutz and Luci
DiRico, and in honor of Nancy Stuart

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