Bethel Presbyterian Church
Second Sunday in Advent
December 10, 2006
11:00 a.m.
GREETING, WORDS OF WELCOME, RITUAL OF FRIENDSHIP AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is near.
Awake!
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP
Blessed be the Sovereign One of Israel,
who comes to us and sets us free.
God has raised up for us a mighty Savior,
born of the house of God’s servant David.
Bless the Lord!
The Lord’s name be praised!
PRAYER OF THE DAY
*HYMN #476 Worship the King, All Glorious Above! Lyons
*CALL TO CONFESSION
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
*UNISON CONFESSION OF SIN
Cleansing God, We hear the call to repentance, but we struggle to respond. A voice tells us to turn around, but we prefer our own ways. You seek to purify us in the furnace of your love, but we constantly elude your searching hand. Our sin leads us in other directions, away from you, away from life. Look with mercy on us. Clear a place within us so that something new might be born, something that will return us to the way you have shown us in Jesus Christ. Amen.
*WORDS OF ASSURANCE
The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. I declare to you, in the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. May the God of mercy, who forgives you all your sins, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life.
Thanks be to God.
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Gloria Patri Hymn #578
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE
FIRST LESSON Malachi 3
ANTHEM
SECOND LESSON Philippians 1
SERMON And the Greatest of These . . . Rev. Bill Shenk
*HYMN #376 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Hyfrydol
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – Apostle’s Creed (Traditional) Hymnal Page #14
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.
SHARING OF PRAYER CONCERNS
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORD’S PRAYER
OFFERING
*DOXOLOGY
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
*HYMN #11 O Lord, How Shall I Meet You? Valet Will IchDir Geben
*CHARGE AND BLESSING
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Hymn #12 vs. 2
Furrows, be glad
Though earth is bare, One more seed is planted there.
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
That in course the flower may flourish.
People look east and sing today:
Love the rose is on the way.
*POSTLUDE
