"No One Knows"

WE GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HOMEWOOD
MISSION STATEMENT

Through the grace of God, faith in Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we prayerfully seek to discern God’s will for this congregation and to reach beyond ourselves to feed the hungry, body and soul. Adopted by Session 7/31/17

PRAYER FOR PEACE Scottish Blessing
If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world. So let it be.

PRELUDE ||| Seasonal Favorites Various Composers

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE
The world says, “All is lost.”
God says, “All is loved.”
The darkness says, “The light is dying.”
The light says, “The fire is catching.”
Fear says, “Cover your eyes and your ears.”
Hope says, “Wait, watch, and listen.”
As we light our first Advent candle,
we pray for holy hope of God.
Come now, O Child of Mary.
Come now, O Prince of Hope.

*CALL TO CONTINUING WORSHIP
Let us go into the house of the Lord!
Let us meet God with joy!
God builds us up like a great city.
May peace be within our walls.
Let us seek the goodness of God;
let us go into the house of the Lord!

*HYMN 82 ||| Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus ||| Hyfrydol

CALL TO CONFESSION
This is the time for us to wake from sleep; salvation is near to us. Let us then lay aside the tatters of sin, and put on the armor of righteousness, asking our Savior for forgiveness.

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O God, we are steeped in a world of violence. War is one of the first things we learn, and we let it work its way into our lives. Your promises of peace sound like impossible dreams, and we become accustomed to cruelty. Forgive us. Wrest our weapons from our hands, and show us how beautiful life can be when you forge them into instruments of peace.
(silent prayer)
Amen.

*DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Beloved, know this: the God of Presence, the God of Transformation, the God of Peace, hears our prayers and gives us power to love. Through Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God!

*THE GLORIA 581 
MOMENT WITH OUR CHILDREN ||| Rev. Matt Lang

WELCOME AND CHURCH COMMUNICATIONS

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

FIRST SCRIPTURE READING ||| Isaiah 2:1-5
1The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. 3Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 5O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!

SPECIAL MUSIC

SECOND SCRIPTURE READING ||| Matthew 24:36-44
36“But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, or the Son, but only the Father. 37For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. 42Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God!

SERMON ||| "No One Knows" ||| Rev. Matt Lang

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

*HYMN 104 ||| O Lord, How Shall I Meet You ||| Valet Will Ich Dir Geben

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Brief Statement of Faith 1983
In life and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve.

 
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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.

INVITATION TO OFFERING
Rejoicing in the Lord always, we give thanks for the Word made flesh. With grateful hearts let us offer our whole selves to God.

OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS

OFFERTORY

*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
You are the source of every good and perfect gift, O God. Use these tithes and offerings for your glory. Let your church be a spring whose waters never fail; and let your people be repairers of the breach and restorers of streets to live in. We pray in your name. Amen.

WE GO IN GOD’S NAME

*HYMN 105 ||| People, Look East ||| Besancon
 
BLESSING & CHARGE
May the God of peace make you holy and the power of the Spirit sustain you until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Alleluia!

Prepare the way of the Lord!
Amen.

POSTLUDE ||| "From Heaven to Earth I Come" ||| Gordon Young

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

Rev. Matt Lang, Pastor
Mrs. Mary Ann Wenzelman, Interim Organist/Pianist

Worship Liturgist: Melodee Leimnetzer
Usher: Laura Dillman

Web Techs: Shirley Armistead, Nancy Beaudoin, Phil Dillman, Kathie Hazlett

 
WELCOME –.A warm welcome to our visitors on this First Sunday of Advent. In this holy season, we remember that God keeps his promises. Rejoice with us in the covenant of God’s love. Please do stay awhile after worship and join us at “Heavenly Perks”, so that we may meet you. 

SCRIPTURES IN WORSHIP – Next Sunday we will be reading Isaiah 11:1-10 and Matthew 3:1-12. 

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..