Sunday Morning Worship Service
December 18, 2005
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.
Bethel Presbyterian Church
Fourth Sunday in Advent
December 18, 2005
11:00 a.m.
GREETING, WORDS OF WELCOME, RITUAL OF FRIENDSHIP AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
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.
PRELUDE The First Noel
CALL TO WORSHIP
Behold! God is good, and has set a star in the heavens to guide us to the truth.
We follow it with joy, knowing that God will give us strength to climb the hills, and sight to conquer the darkness.
Behold! God is good, and has promised us a Savior to lead us to righteousness.
We await the Savior’s coming with gladness and with expectation that in the holy birth our lives may be renewed.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
EPISTLE LESSON Romans 16:25-27 Henry & Carolyn Tulley
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE
*HYMN #23 Angels We Have Heard on High Gloria
*CALL TO CONFESSION
The cares of this life weigh us down, and we seek escape more than insight, avoidance rather than confrontation with God’s truth. God comes to us even when we are hiding from the best we know. God waits to hear our story and to restore us to life as it is meant to be. Let us come to God in prayer.
*UNISON CONFESSION OF SIN
Almighty God, Light of the World, you caused light to shine out of darkness in the advent of Jesus our Christ; you continually open to us the ways we are to prepare. We confess our unwillingness to see the light and to walk in your ways. We have not always opened our eyes to the needs of others, and our feet have wandered from the paths of justice and peace. We ask that the Spirit of Christ be born anew within us, that our hearts may be stirred to glorify the nativity with acts of compassion and service. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
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.
*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.
BAPTISM FOR PREVIN GRIFFITH LANGHAM
PRESENTATION
PROFESSION OF FAITH
*APOSTLES CREED
Do you believe in God, the Father almighty?
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ?
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?
I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
THANKSGIVING OVER THE WATER
THE BAPTISM
WELCOME
Previn has been received into the one holy catholic and apostolic church through baptism. God has made him a member of the household of God, to share with us in the priesthood of Christ. Let us welcome the newly baptized.
With joy and thanksgiving we welcome you into Christ’s church to share with us in His ministry, for we are all one in Christ.
The peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
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HYMN #25 Away in a Manger (Remain Silent)
ANTHEM For Unto Us a Child Is
Julie Bunch, Laura Dailey, & Mary Ann Hensley
GOSPEL LESSON Luke 1:26-38
SERMON Annunciation Rev. Marc Sherrod, ThD
*HYMN #19 To a Maid Engaged to Joseph Annunciation
*LITANY FOR ADVENT
O Come, Emmanuel, come to us, for we are lonely for God.
Come, bring the peace of God-with-us.
O Come, Wisdom from on high,
Lead us in the ways of knowledge, and show us the paths of peace.
Glorious Shoot from the Jesse tree,
Come, and bring life, fresh and green and lovely, to our spirits.
O Rose which blooms in the snow of winter,
Come, and grant to us the blessed gift of hope.
O Bright Morning Star of the darkened world,
Come and be for us our Light, our Truth, and our Way. Jesus our Christ, we welcome you. Come and be known among us, for we want to be your people. Amen.
SHARING OF PRAYER CONCERNS
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORD’S PRAYER
OFFERTORY MUSIC O Sing a Song of Bethlehem
DEDICATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
*DOXOLOGY Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow Hymn #592
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 #53 What Child is This?
*BLESSING FOR THE MEAL
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Hymn #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 Noel in G Daquin
*All who are able may stand.
Bethel offers Sunday school for children and four educational opportunities for adults at 9:45 A.M.
Childcare for babies and preschool age children is offered at 11:00 A.M.
Restrooms are located in our Educational Building on the first floor and the lower level.
Ushers can provide activity sheets for children and large print hymnals if needed.
The Liturgist today is Scott McGill.
The Ushers today are Mariana & Anneke Oonk
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Today, we celebrate the sacrament of baptism for Previn Griffith Langham. He is the son of Jennifer and Patrick Langham and grandson of Dianne and Gary Griffith. His sister is Ansley. His Aunt, Joanna Griffith, will serve as his sponsor. Join us as we welcome Previn into the household of faith!
Our architect/consultant, Chris Malone will be with us today to present Bethel’s four building options. His presentation will follow lunch in the Fellowship Hall. You don’t want to miss this! Proceeds from the lunch will be divided between the Post-Christmas Mission Trip and Kingston Skate Park.
Our annual Christmas Joy Offering will be received today. Please earmark your checks or use one of the special offering envelopes provided.
We will be raking leaves at Bethel this afternoon after the Work Teams Presentation.
Our Christmas decorations include poinsettias donated by Jack and Carolyn McNew, Willie Mae Meers, Doris Ann Parkinson, Tom and Jane Pickel, Nelda Toon, Lillian Walton and George Warlick. The money collected for the poinsettias will go to the Michael Dunn Center.
Mark your calendars for our annual Christmas Dinner, Pageant and Party this Wednesday, December 21, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Instead of regular desserts, please bring finger food desserts, like cookies or brownies to the kitchen.
Our 5 p.m. Christmas Eve Candle Light Service will feature sacred seasonal music by Katherine Dungan on the harp and Caleb Sherrod on the clarinet. Invite your family and friends to be part of God’s Community in worship on this special night! An offering will be received during the service and will be divided between the Post-Christmas Mission Trip and Kingston Skate Park.
We will have our regular 11 a.m. Lord’s Day Service on Christmas Day, including Sharing the Sacrament of Holy Communion. There will not be Sunday school this day.
Doris Barber, Sue Carter, Al & Dot Davis, Marnie Shields, Fern Stackpole, Justin Trivette, Margaret True, Evelyn Waldrup
Effective December 11, the photo section on our web site will be temporarily closed for new photographs. Photos posted before December 11 can still be viewed during the remodeling. When our Webmaster, Dan McDowell, completes the "remodeling" job, all Bethel members will be able to place their Bethel-related photos directly on the web site for everyone to see, without having to send them to the webmaster or editor for posting. We will announce details of the new-and-improved Bethel Digital Photo Center when it is ready for your use.
Please pick up your Church Directory in the Narthex if you haven’t already done so. If you don't see your name on the directory, please see Alicia in the church office.
We are looking forward to a productive mission trip to the Gulfport-Biloxi area December 27 – January 2. We will be leaving via a rented van early December 27 for a ten-hour trip to Westminster Presbyterian Church in Gulfport, Mississippi. Those participating with Bethel are: Denise Martin, Chelsea Richmond, Dave Nippert, Dan, Debbie and Bram Hyder, Duie Swicegood, Bill Carothers, Dr. E.C. Cunningham and Audrey Norman. A total of 188 people from the Presbytery of East Tennessee will be going to put on thirty roofs. Thank you for your continued support of this mission effort of the Presbytery of East Tennessee. In Christ’s Service, Deb.
THIS WEEK'S EVENTS
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Sunday
|
Dec 18 |
Building Work Team Presentation & Lunch
|
12:00 P.M.
|
| |
|
Christmas Caroling |
4:30 P.M. |
| Tuesday |
Dec 20 |
Parish Life Meeting |
7:00 P.M. |
| Wednesday |
Dec 21 |
Advent Bible Study
Property & Personnel Meeting
Christmas Dinner/Pageant/Party
|
10:00 A.M.
5:30 P.M.
6:30 P.M.
|
| Saturday |
Dec 24 |
Christmas Eve Service |
5:00 P.M. |
| Sunday |
Dec 25 |
Christmas Day Service |
11:00 A.M. |
| Undesignated Offering |
$5,116.69 |
| Building Fund |
$200.00 |
| Evening Circle |
$134.19 |
| Christmas Baskets |
$125.00 |
| Grace School |
$100.00 |
| Christmas Joy Offering |
$90.00 |
| Katrina Mission Trip |
$90.00 |
| Miss Dot Hunger Fund |
$60.00 |
| H.O.M.E. |
$30.00 |
| Cookbooks |
$28.00 |
| Head Start Christmas Party |
$25.00 |
| TOTAL |
$5,998.88 |
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