Bethel Presbyterian Church
Fourth Sunday in Advent
December 23, 2007
Gathering and Greeting of God’s People
Prelude
Call to Worship
This is the season of holy waiting.
We wait for a baby to be born; a child filled with the Holy Spirit.
We wait for a baby to be born, in whose presence we know God-is-with-us.
We watch while the light of day begins to fill the sky.
Come let us walk in the light of God!
Lighting of the Advent Candles Mariana & Anneke Oonk & Lyric Riveria
*Hymn of Praise # 23 Angels We Have Heard on High Gloria
*Call to Confession
Again, in this Advent Season we are summoned to prepare for God’s coming to us in a form we can begin to understand. Jesus accepted all our human limitations yet remained faithful to the Eternal law of love. We who have taken this saving action for granted are called to repent and be watchful. Let us confess our disobedience.
*Prayer of Confession
God, you are both tender and mighty - a shepherd we can trust. You call to us and gather us. You feed us and bid us rest in your care. Still we fear the world around us and fail to seek your help when we are lost. Still we struggle stupidly against you – refusing your comfort and ignoring your commands. Renew us and restore us, Lord of host. Show us the light of your face, that we may be saved. Amen.
Lord have mercy upon us,
Christ have mercy upon us,
Lord have mercy upon us.
*Declaration of Forgiveness
God clothes us with salvation and covers us with righteousness. Our sins are forgiven, and we begin anew with opportunities to proclaim God’s favor, live our thankfulness, and rejoice in the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Praise God’s holy name today and always!
Thanks be to God. In Jesus Christ we are forgiven! Amen.
*Response Hark! The Herald Angels Sing V. 3 Hymnal, # 31
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the sun of righteouseness!
Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by, Born that we no more may die,
Born to raise us from the earth, Born to give us second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King!”
A Moment with the Children Rev. Pat Harvey
Old Testament Lesson Isaiah 7: 10-16
Gospel Lesson Matthew 1: 18-25
Anthem Child of Peace Laura & Rachel Dailey
Epistle Lesson Romans 1: 1-7
Sermon Baby and Empire Rev. Marc Sherrod, ThD
*Affirmation of Faith – The Nicene Creed ( Ecumenical)
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
*Hymn of Affirmation # 38 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear Carol
Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer
Offering
*Doxology
*Prayer of Dedication
*Hymn of Dedication # 49 Once in Royal David’s City Irby
*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.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
At Home
Doris Barber, Dot and Al Davis, Gene Pierce, Anne Robertson,
Marci Smith, Pat Hale, Tom and Helen Roostee, Lucy Webb
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 107
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
The silent auction concludes this Friday, December 28th, at 12:00 noon. A list of items you can bid on is available on the table in the narthex.
The Bethel Garage Sale will be Saturday, December 29th, at 9:00 am, in the Fellowship Hall. Items that we do not keep in our new building will be sold. Please do not bring other items from home to be sold.
Mark your calendars for the period between Christmas and New Year’s day as the time to come help pack all the “stuff” we will put in storage during construction. The fun begins this Wednesday at 9:00 am. All sizes of plastic boxes (water and mouse proof) would be appreciated.
The Angel Food Menu is posted at the back of the Sanctuary. Deadline for January sign up is January 7th, 2008.
Please join us for our Groundbreaking ceremony next Sunday at 12:15 pm. You are also invited to attend the public hearing sponsored by the Kingston Historical Zoning Commission which will meet at Bethel on Thursday, January 3, at 7:00 pm.
The Session will be meeting this Thursday night at 7:00 pm, and again Sunday morning at 9:00 am, both meetings in the Fellowship Hall.
The Christmas Joy Offering will be received this Sunday. Thanks for your financial contributions in supporting our racial ethnic college ministry and the Presbyterian Church (USA) fund to assist retired Presbyterian ministers with emergency help.
Bethel sympathy is extended to the family of Bettie Shenk in her death Thursday. A memorial service will be in our Sanctuary this Wednesday at 3:00 pm., followed by a time to speak with the family in our Fellowship Hall.
“Blessed are the dead who die in the
Lord, says the Spirit. They rest from
their labors, and their works follow them.”
The ordination/installation service for our Elders-elect Phil Walsh, Steve Jacks, Bobbie Martin and Margaret Murr, will be next Sunday. Please continue to pray for all of Bethel’s leaders in this time of excitement and challenge!
We are invited to join with Kingston United Methodist Church in providing a New Year’s Day dinner for Public Service Personnel (police officers, emergency officials, etc.) working on that day, 11:00 to 2:00. Call Janet Moore at 717-0023 if you can help.
Thank you to Jeanette and Mike McElhinney for hosting refreshments on Sunday after caroling. Also, thank you to Greg & Margaret Murr for directing the Christmas pageant and for all who contributed to making it such a wonderful occasion.
