ASSEMBLE IN GOD’S NAME
W Rise in body or spirit.
Please join in reading or singing the words in bold.
Prelude “Pastorals” Purvis
As you open your mind and your heart to God’s presence in our midst, we invite you to prepare for today’s service as you listen to the prelude, which marks the beginning of worship.
Lighting of the Candles
WCongregational Introit “Light A Candle in the Night” v.4
Music can be found in the pews. Please leave the music in your pews for others to use throughout Advent.
Light a candle in the night. Prepare the way for the holy light:
God with us, Emmanuel, the font of joy with us to dwell.
Child of joy, come in your glory, heaven’s gift, the wondrous story!
Messiah King shall come to earth.
Prepare your heart for His holy birth.
Call to Worship
My soul magnifies the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
The Mighty One has done great things.
All: Holy is God’s name!
Greetings & Announcements
Visitors: please fill out a visitor’s card and place in the offering plate at offering
WPassing of the Peace
WHymn of Praise “The First Nowell” #56
Prayer of Confession
God our Savior, we ask for your mercy. Though we have heard Mary’s song, we still seek security in pride and power and possessions. Though we know your story, we resist the costs of following you. We pass by those considered lowly in this world. We turn away from hungry people who still wait to be filled. Forgive us, we pray. Help us to work for the justice you intend. Make us messengers of the peace you bring. As we wait for you, turn our apathy into acts of love and service. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Emmanuel. Amen.
Silent Reflection
Assurance of New Beginnings
Sharing Faith with the Children
Lighting of the Advent Candles
Reader 1: We light this candle as a symbol of the joy to be found in your kingdom on earth.
Reader 2: For the Lord elevates the lowly, releases the captive, and brings sight to the blind. We rejoice in his justice and mercy, faithful to all generations.
All: Come, Lord Jesus, come!
Children ages 3-9 may go to Children’s Church
PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD
WHymn of Preparation “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice” #28
Prayer for Illumination
First Scripture Reading Psalm 146:5-10
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD!
Leader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.
Choral Anthem “Christmas Gift” Tipton/McDonald
Second Scripture Reading Luke 1:46b-55 New Testament, p. 57
Leader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.
Sermon Pastor David Fuentes
WHymn of Response
“While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks” vv. 1,2 & 6 #58
WAffirmation of Faith Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his 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,
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
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.
WGloria Patri #579
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. Amen.
GIVE THANKS TO GOD
Prayers of God’s People
We invite you to be in prayer for the needs of the community and you may use the white space in the bulletin to record prayer requests shared in worship.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
Offerings of the People
Offertory “Carol of the Bells” Leontovich/Wilhousky
WDoxology #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.
WPrayer of Dedication
GO IN GOD’S NAME
WClosing Hymn “Once in Royal David’s City” #49
WBenediction
WCongregational Response “Three-fold Amen” #586
Postlude “Sleeper, Wake” Lau
Image on Cover: “Virgin Mary,” Jacques Callot, French, 17th Century
Used with permission of the Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Gift of William Gray from the collection of Francis Calley Gray, by exchange
SERVICE SCHEDULE
Week of December 24
Elder of the Week Bob Griffin
Liturgist Beth Doran/Lynn Lamont
Ushers Bob Griffin
Whit Morgan
Lynn Lamont
Carolyn Caton
Acolyte Aurora Glisson
WEEKLY CALENDAR
Sunday / 10:30 am / WorshipSunday / 5:00 pm / Christmas Eve Worship
Tuesday / 7:00 pm / Karate
Thursday / 9:30 am / Nifty Knitters
Thursday / 7:00 pm / Choir Practice
ENVELOPES: Envelopes for pledges and donations can be picked up in the church Narthex!
CHRISTMAS EVE: There is a 5pm Christmas Eve service tonight.
LUNCH GROUP The Lunch Group will meet on Wednesday, January 17th (3rd Wednesday each month) at Famous at 11:30am. Point of Contact: Gerry Teple (637-7337).
Ministry Teams: The entire congregation is invited to join us for ministry night! All ministries (formally committees) will meet on the first Tuesday of every month at 6 PM. You are invited to pick a ministry to serve on or try a few out to see what is a fit for your talents and experience. The next ministry night will be Tuesday, January 2 at 6 PM.
YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT WINTER RETREAT: Join us Friday, January 12-Monday, January 15 for a trip to the mountains in Boone, NC, for some skiing, hiking, lounging, drinking hot cocoa, and shopping. Open to 6th graders through young adults. Contact Pastor David for more information.
Presbyterian Women’s Circle: Come join a Presbyterian Women’s Circle! Our Bible Study this year is Cloud of Witnesses: The Community of Christ in Hebrews. The morning circle will meet Jan. 3 at 10:00 am, and the night circle will meet Jan. 9 at 6:00 pm.
RCS OUTREACH: Please join us in providing and sharing a meal with the residents of the homeless shelter at RCS. We will meet at RCS at 6:00pm on Saturday, January 20th. Contact Jennifer Miller, 876-5457, for more information.
Facebook Page: We now have an official Facebook page for the church. Check in with the church when you are here for an event, or tag photos! You can also share the site with your Facebook friends and invite them to like us too!
LITTLE FREE LIBRARY: Thanks to Rob and Diana Thompson for their stewardship of the LFL for December! Monty Lamont will be our steward for January.
PRAYER CIRCLE: Every Monday at 10am there is a prayer circle meeting in the multipurpose room of the church. Opportunity to share coffee and prayer concerns.
70th Anniversary planning committee: In May 2018 we will celebrate of 70 wonderful years of ministry as West New Bern Presbyterian Church. If you would like to serve on a committee to plan the festivities, contact Tonya Cedars (252-229-2853).
BOOK CLUB: Book Club will not meet in December. We will meet January 30 and are reading “Be Frank with Me” by Julia Claiborne Johnson.
CHURCH DRIVERS: If you need a ride to church the following would like to be of service:
Max & Jane Armstrong (637-3868) Ric & Sarah Evans (633-1323)
Fred & Sally Cornford (514-0515) Trudy Nelson (633-2780)
Whit & Pat Morgan (635-5059) Jim & Web Slaughter (637-4754)
SERMONS ONLINE: If you miss a Sunday you can listen to the sermon online on our website, www.westnewbernpc.com under sermon archives!
Daily Lectionary Readings for December 25-30
Monday: Morning Psalms 2; 145 |Micah 4:1-5, 5:2-4 | 1 John 4:7-16 | John 3:31-36 | Evening Psalms 98; 96
Tuesday: Morning Psalms 116; 146 | 2 Chronicles 24:17-22 | Acts 6:1-7 | Acts 7:59-8:8 | Evening Psalms 119:1-24; 27
Wednesday: Morning Psalms 34; 147:1-11 | Proverbs 8:22-30 | 1 John 5:1-12 | John 13:20-35 | Evening Psalms 19; 121
Thursday: Morning Psalms 2; 147:12-20 | Isaiah 49:13-23 | Isaiah 54:1-13 | Matthew 18:1-14 | Evening Psalms 110; 111
Friday: Morning Psalms 96; 148 | 2 Samuel 23:13-17b | 2 John 1:1-13 | John 2:1-11 | Evening Psalms 132; 97
Saturday: Morning Psalms 93; 149 | 1 Kings 17:17-24 | 3 John 1-15 | John 4:46-54 | Evening Psalms 89:1-18; 89:19-52
Daily readings can be found at www.presbyterianmission.org/devotion/daily
West New Bern Presbyterian Church
1701 Lucerne Way
New Bern, North Carolina
(252) 638-1005
Service for the Lord’s Day
Sunday, December 24, 2017
10:30 a.m.
“The West New Bern Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) exists to invite people to enter a relationship with Jesus Christ, grow in their faith, and go out in the world to share that faith.”
www.westnewbernpc.com