Bethel Presbyterian Church
Second Sunday in Advent
December 9, 2007
Gathering and Greeting of God's People
Introit Carol of the Bells Julie Coen
Prelude Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Handbells
Call to Worship
This is the season of holy waiting.
We wait for the One on whom the Spirit of the Holy God rests.
We watch for the One who judges with righteousness and decides with equity.
We wait while the night begins to glow with the light of day.
Come let us walk in the light of God!
Lighting of the Advent Candles Jane & Phil Walsh
*Hymn of Praise # 48 Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming Es Ist Ein' Ros
*Call to Confession
Remember that our Lord Jesus can sympathize with us in our weaknesses, since in every respect he was tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with boldness approach the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
*Prayer of Confession
God of righteousness and justice: before you, who can stand? We. whose lives are comfortable, who turn our eyes from the poor and deny our debt to them- we are the ones who must repent. From greed, violence, and systems that oppress, Lord, help us to turn. Wash us, that we may be clean. Tend to us, that we may bear fruit worthy of your kingdom. Inspire us to prepare your way. Amen.
Lord have mercy upon us,
Christ have mercy upon us,
Lord have mercy upon us.
*Declaration of Forgiveness
The good news in Christ is that when we face ourselves and God with the awareness of our need, we are given grace to grow, and courage to continue the journey.
Thanks be to God. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Amen.
*Response Good Christian Friends, Rejoice v.3 Hymnal, # 28
Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart, and soul, and voice,
Now ye need not fear the grave: Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all to gain the everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!
A Moment with the Children Rev. Pat Harvey
Anthem Rejoice! Handbells
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 11: 1-10
New Testament Reading: Matthew 3: 1-12
Sermon "Be Prepared…" Rev. Pat Harvey
*Affirmation of Faith – from "A Brief Statement of Faith"
We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God. Jesus proclaimed the reign of God: preaching good news to the poor and release to the captive teaching by word and deed and blessing the children, healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted, eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners, and calling all to repent and believe the gospel. Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition, Jesus was crucified, suffering the depths of human pain and giving his life for the sins of the world. God raised this Jesus from the dead, vindicating his sinless life, breaking the power of sin and evil, delivering us from death to life eternal. With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.
*Hymn of Affirmation # 300 Down to Earth, as a Dove Personent Hodie
Prayers of the People and the Lord's Prayer
Offering
*Doxology
*Prayer of Dedication
*Hymn of Dedication # 7 Lord Christ, When First You Came to Earth Mit Freuden Zart
*Charge
*Benediction
Congregational Response O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Hymnal, # 9
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
*Postlude
*All who are able, please stand.
Congregational Meeting
Be in prayer for our congregation as we move into our construction phase January 4th. Today there will be a tour of the rental house next door so that you might inspect items for which you wish to make a "silent bid". The close of bids is this Wednesday, December 12th at 12:00 noon. See Karen Schall with your bid. Give thanks for the Kingston United Methodist Church's gracious offer, which we've accepted, for office space and that we join with them on Sunday mornings. Please make plans to attend a special groundbreaking ceremony, probably on Sunday, December 30th, immediately following the morning worship service.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
At Home
Doris Barber, Dot and Al Davis, Gene Pierce, Anne Robertson, Bettie Shenk John Will, Marci Smith, Pat Hale, Tom and Helen Roostee, Bill Shadden
Jamestown: 851 Lawnville Road, Kingston 37763
Louise Pickel Room 209
Mac Robbins Room 305
Anne Smith Room 312
Wellington Place: 1098 Bradford Way, Kingston 37763
Joan Pemberton Room 306 B
Jan Parker Room 207
Baptist Healthcare: 700 Williams Ferry Rd #45, Lenoir City 37771
Evelyn Waldrup Room 42
Rockwood Healthcare: 5580 Roane State Highway, Harriman 37748
Roberta Cash Room 132 B
Margaret True Room 212 B
Marnie Shields Room 358
Harriman Healthcare: 240 Hannah Road, Harriman 37748
Ruby Hunter Room 305 A
NHC Oakridge: 300 Laboratory Road, Oak Ridge 37830
Wanda Carter Room 212
Summit View of Farragut: 12873 Kingston Pike, Knoxville 37934
Shirley Lumpkins Room 316
In the Hospital
Maude Hyder (Dan Hyder’s Mother) – Johnson City Medical Center
The Session has called a meeting of the congregation today, December 9, 2007, after worship to hear a report from the nominating committee to approve our corporate charter and bylaws and to select a secretary of the corporation.
The Christmas Joy Offering will be received the next two Sundays. Thanks for your financial contributions in supporting our racial ethnic college ministry and our denominations fund to assist retired Presbyterian ministers with emergency help.
The Children’s Christmas Pageant will be December 19th after Fellowship Supper. Please remember to bring finger foods for dessert. The pageant will be in Bethel Sanctuary.
The next Fun Lunch will be December 11th, at the home of Nancy King at 12 noon. If you need a ride, please call Ruth Ann Ludwig at 376-5333 or Nancy King at 376-5991.
Thanks to those who have signed up to usher, but we still need more for the month of December. Please sign up on the sheet at the back of the Sanctuary.
Bill and Marianne Shadden want to thank you so much for your visits, calls, cards, and caring thoughts during Bill’s recent hospital stay. They appreciate all of you very much and are happy to be part of this loving church family.
The Angel Tree filled with angels for adoption has returned to the back of the sanctuary. Many thanks to the many people who have already adopted an angel.
Please return all wrapped gifts to the church before Tuesday, December 9 for distribution Saturday, December 15. If possible, please put all the gifts for each child together with the angel. Each angel will have a number and letter. The number represents the family and the letter represents the child in that family. Also on each angel will be a list of clothing items and sizes for each child as well as a suggestion for a toy/book/CD/DVD/etc. Please check each item purchased. There is no obligation to buy everything the child wants.
In addition to the food baskets and items for the children in the families, the Mission Outreach Committee plans to provide a smaller food basket for approximately 10 elderly families. These have already been adopted.
If you would like to help the elderly in our community, there is a basket under the Christmas Tree where these items can be collected. Also, the MO committee would like to include a small gift such as a flannel, knitted or crocheted afghan, booties or soft hat for people who are shut ins or in nursing homes who might not be too active and chill easily. Handmade items would be perfect and a great way to use that left over material and yarn.
In addition to monetary contributions for food, we need shampoo, bath soap, bubble bath, dishwashing soap, combs, toothpaste, toothbrush (adult and child) and other items not covered by food stamps. These will be divided among the families.
Volunteers are needed for set up Friday morning to early afternoon, December 14. Volunteers are also needed for distribution Saturday morning, December 15 from 9:00 – 12:00. Please let Jane Walsh know if you can help.
