Sunday Morning Worship Service
December 5, 2004
TO OUR GUESTS, we extend a warm welcome. We invite you to participate in signing our Friendship Folder, adding your address and phone number if you'd like to receive our church newsletter or a pastoral call. When we pray the Lord's Prayer at Bethel, we say "sins...sin against us" rather than "debts..." or "trespasses..."; during "a time for sharing" we welcome prayer requests from the congregation. On first Sundays each month, all who put their trust in Christ and who have received baptism in any Christian church are invited to share his sacred meal. We are glad you are with us. Please come again.
THE SERVICE FOR THE LORDS DAY
Second Sunday of Advent
December 5, 2004
GREETING, WORDS OF WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Worship the Lord with gladness.
And enter the Lords presence with songs of joy.
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
Let all people and all nations turn to the source of their salvation.
Let them bow together in praise and seek the blessing of God.
Here we seek the light God offers us.
Here we prepare to walk in Gods path.
Christ is the light of the world.
His way is the path for our feet.
The Day of the Lord approaches.
The dayspring from on high even now shines upon us.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
*HYMN # 309 Of the Fathers Love Begotten Divinum Mysterium
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of forgiveness and mercy, hear our prayer as we confess our sin. With moments so critical we let time go by. With deliverance so near we linger in the darkness. With Christ as our armor, we yet fear the unknown foe. With the night having passed, we still hesitate to greet the new day. O God, lead us forth, that we may meet the moment you graciously give us. Dispel the shadows, so that your will may be clear. Clothed with light and new life in Christ, let us go forth as those awake to your will. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
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. Know that you are forgiven and be at peace.
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Gloria Patri Hymn # 579
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another. The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE
ANTHEM Waiting for a King
SCRIPTURE Matthew 3:1-12
SERMON Advent Danger
The Reverend Marc Sherrod, ThD
*HYMN # 5 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Picardy
DEDICATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
*DOXOLOGY AND PRAYER OF DEDICATION
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
INVITATION TO THE LORDS TABLE
GREAT THANKSGIVING AND THE LORDS PRAYER
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is truly right and our greatest joy to give you thanks and praise, O Lord our God, creator and ruler of the universe. You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. You set us in this world to love and serve you, and to live in peace with all that you have made. When we turned from you, you did not turn from us. When we were captives in slavery, you delivered us to freedom, and made covenant to be our sovereign God. When we were stubborn and stiff-necked, you spoke to us through prophets who looked for that day when justice shall triumph and peace shall reign over all the earth. Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with the celestial choirs and with all the faithful of every time and place, who forever sing to the glory of your name:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
You are holy, O God of majesty, and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. You sent him into this world to satisfy the longings of your people for a Savior, to bring freedom to the captives of sin, and to establish justice for the oppressed. He came among us as one of us, taking the lot of the poor, sharing human suffering. We rejoice that in his death and rising again, you set before us the sure promise of new life, the certain hope of a heavenly home where we will sit at table with Christ our host. We give you thanks that the Lord Jesus, on the night before he died, took bread, and after giving thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat. This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way he took the cup, saying: This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me. Remembering your gracious acts in Jesus Christ, we take from your creation this bread and this wine and joyfully celebrate his dying and rising, as we await the day of his coming. With thanksgiving we offer our very selves to you to be a living and holy sacrifice, dedicated to your service. Praise to you, Lord Jesus:
Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus, come in glory.
Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these your gifts of bread and wine, that the bread we break and the cup we bless may be the communion of the body and blood of Christ. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, that we may be one with all who share this feast, united in ministry in every place. As this bread is Christ's body for us, send us out to be the body of Christ in the world. Strengthen us, O God, in the power of your Spirit to bring good news to the poor and lift blind eyes to sight, to loose the chains that bind and claim your blessing for all people. Keep us faithful in your service until Christ comes in final victory, and we shall feast with all your saints in the joy of your eternal realm. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, now and forever.
Amen.
BREAKING OF THE BREAD
COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE
HYMN # 2 Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus Hyfrydol (v. 1)
*CHARGE & BLESSING
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus Hyfrydol (v. 2)
*All who are able may stand.
This worship service is broadcast on WKTS 90.1 FM at 12:30 p.m. today.
Bethel offers Sunday school for children and four educational opportunities for adults at 9:45 AM. Childcare (babies and preschool age) is offered at 9:45 and 11 AM. Restrooms are located in our Educational Building, first floor and lower level. Ushers can provide large print hymnbooks and activity sheets for children.
The Sanctuary Flowers are given by Ruth Ann Ludwig, Nancy and Vic King, David and Joy Ludwig in loving memory of Bob Ludwig.
The Liturgist today is Danny Holloway.
Our Ushers/Greeters are Celia Simon & Dick Evans.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HEAD-START CHRISTMAS PARTY will be held on Friday, December 10, at 1:00 in the Fellowship Hall for the pre-school children and families meeting weekly at Bethel. All Christmas carol enthusiasts are welcome.
ADVENT DEVOTIONAL BOOKLETS for all ages are available in the narthex.
WELCOME We are glad to welcome Jennifer Jarvis as our new Youth Minister! Jennifer is a member of Powell Presbyterian Church, and plans to attend Seminary in Fall, 2005. Please join us in giving her a big welcome!
MARK THESE DATES!
Hanging of the Greens Today at 3:30 p.m. Dinner at 6:00 followed by worship. |
Christmas Covered Dish Supper & Pageant December 15 at 6:30 p.m. |
Christmas Caroling December 19 at 4:30 p.m. followed by fellowship at the Hettricks |
Christmas Youth Party December 21 |
Christmas Eve Communion & Cantata December 24 at 8 p.m. |
PLEASE PRAY FOR: the family of Tora Phillips, Gale King, Kay Michener, Carol Jane Row, Christine Woods, Al & Dot Davis, Mary Sykes, Justin Winsbro, Ruth Moutoux, Susan Todd, Presbyterian Churches & Pastors -Ooltewah (William Mills) & Knoxville-Parkway (Joe McKewen) |
THIS WEEK
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY: BODY RECALL 9-10 AM
TUE |
CIRCLE II LUNCHEON (CAROLYN TULLEYS) 12:00 NOON |
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WED |
HANDBELLS 5:30 PM
SESSION MEETING 7:00 PM
CHOIR 7:30 PM
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THU |
EVANGELISM COMMITTEE MEETING 7:00 PM |
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FRI |
HEAD START PARTY 1:00 PM |
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NEXT
SUN |
RCHS BAND CONCERT 2:00 PM
MIDWAY BAND CONCERT 3:00 PM
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