fpchw logo 2016

fpchw logo 2016

Delivery Day or Bad News, Good News

BULLETIN FOR STREAMING SERVICE

PRAYER FOR PEACE (celtic oral tradition - 1st millennium)
You are the peace of all things calm
You are the place to hide from harm
You are the light that shines in dark
You are the heart's eternal spark
You are the door that's open wide
You are the guest who waits inside
You are the stranger at the door
You are the calling of the poor
You are my Lord and with me still
You are my love, keep me from ill
You are the light, the truth, the way
You are my Saviour this very day. 

PRELUDE ||| Seasonal Favorites Various Composers

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES
We light these candles as a sign of the coming light of Christ. God, who began a good work in us, will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1)
Thanks be to God for this good news of great joy! (1 Thess 3, Luke 2)

*CALL TO CONTINUING WORSHIP ||| based on Psalm 129:35-37
Lead us on the trail of your commandments
because that is what we want.
Turn our hearts to your laws,
not to greedy gain.
Turn our eyes away from looking at worthless things.
Make us live by your way.

*HYMN 100  |||  "My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout" ||| Star of the County Down

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious God, we admit that we take your grace for granted. Too often, like children at Christmas, we ask for a pony, that which we want and may not need. We know that you have consistently provided for the needs of your people and the earth. We become so focused on our wants that we fail to see how you work to meet our needs. Help us to see beyond our wants and needs to see your provision presence and promise.

(silent prayer)

Amen.

*DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Hear the good news! Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us. Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life has gone; a new life has begun. In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!

*THE GLORIA

MOMENT WITH OUR CHILDREN ||| Elder Karen Maurer

WELCOME AND CHURCH COMMUNICATIONS

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

FIRST SCRIPTURE READING ||| Malachi 3:1-4 ||| CEB
3Look, I am sending my messenger who will clear the path before me; suddenly the Lord whom you are seeking will come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you take delight is coming, says the Lord of heavenly forces. 2 Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can withstand his appearance? He is like the refiner’s fire or the cleaner’s soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver. He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. They will belong to the Lord, presenting a righteous offering. 4 The offering of Judah
and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in ancient days and in former years.

SPECIAL MUSIC ||| Of the Father's Love Begotten ||| Mark Hayes

SECOND SCRIPTURE READING ||| Luke 3:1-6 ||| CEB
3 In the fifteenth year of the rule of the emperor Tiberius—when Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea and Herod was ruler[a] over Galilee, his brother Philip was ruler over Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was ruler[c] over Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas—God’s word came to Joh son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 John went throughout the region of the Jordan River, calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. 4 This is just as it was
written in the scroll of the words of Isaiah the prophet, a voice crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight. 5 Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be leveled. The crooked will be made straight and the rough places made smooth. 6 All humanity will see God’s salvation.”

The Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God!

SERMON |||  "Delivery Day or Bad News, Good News"  |||  Rev. Dudley J. Elvery

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

*HYMN 106  |||   Prepare the Way, O Zion ||| Bereden Väg főr Herran

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH ||| The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.  Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS

OFFERTORY ||| I Wonder as I Wander ||| Mark Hayes

*DOXOLOGY ||| 606 |||  Old Hundredth
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Loving God, see in our offerings our willingness to loudly affirm your kingdom and your work as important to us. See also our commitment to clear away the clutter of our lives to make room for your coming anew. Amen.

SEALING OF THE WORD

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE

GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

THE LORD'S PRAYER
…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.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

SHARING OF THE MEAL
All who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord, regardless of age or denomination, are invited to partake in the Sacrament of Communion. Please come forward down the side aisle. Take a piece of the bread and a cup and eat. Please dispose of the cups in the waste baskets by the table. We have gluten free bread available. Return to your seat by the center aisle.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
God of grace, you renew us at your table with the bread of life. May this food strengthen us in love and help us to serve you in each other. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

WE GO IN GOD’S NAME

*HYMN 129  ||| Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming ||| Es Ist Ein’ Ros’

*PRAYER OF BLESSING from St. Patrick
We arise today through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun, Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning, Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea, Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.
We arise today through God's strength to pilot us;
God's might to uphold us, God's wisdom to guide us,
God's eye to look before us, God's ear to hear us,
God's word to speak for us, God's hand to guard us,
God's way to lie before us, God's shield to protect us,
God's hosts to save us afar and anear,
Alone or in a multitude.
Christ shield me today against wounding
Christ with me, Christ before me,

Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me.
We arise today
Through the mighty strength of the Lord of creation. Amen.

POSTLUDE ||| Festivity on "Here We Come A Caroling" ||| Douglas Wagner

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord! Thanks be to God!

Rev. Dudley J. Elvery II, Interim Pastor
Mrs. Mary Ann Wenzelman, Interim Organist/Pianist
Mike Welf, Immediate Past Moderator of Presbytery, Communion Celebrant
Worship Liturgist: Kathie Darman
Usher: Phil Dillman

SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING – Session has called a Special Congregational Meeting for the election of Church Officers at 12:00 noon on Sunday, December 12, 2021. Ruling Elders and Trustees will be nominated in a report from the 2021 Nominating Committee. For the first time, this will be a combined meeting in the sanctuary with our members attending in-person after worship and on electronic video from home. Details will be announced for participation from home.

SCRIPTURES IN WORSHIP – Next Sunday we will be reading Zephaniah 3:14-20 and Luke 3:7-18.

PRAYER CHAIN – If you want prayer requests included on the prayer chain, contact Shirley Armistead at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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