December 12, 2010
10:30 AM
Third Sunday of Advent
WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
*Call to Worship – Isaiah 61:1-3
*Opening Praise – 337:1,4 “Joy to the World! The Lord Is Come”
*God Greets Us
*We Greet Others
Lighting the Advent Candle: Joy
Today we light the candle of joy. The prophet said,“’Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.’ With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: ‘Give praise to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.’” (Isaiah 12:2-6)
Song – “He Came Down”
*Continuing Praise
“I Love You, Lord’“Wonderful Counselor”“You Are the Reason”Call to Confession
Prepare the way of the Lord!Let us make our confession to God.Prayer of Confession
God of salvation, in Christ you have done great things – our hearts are filled with joy. By your power you lifted us out of the wasteland of sin and brought us with joy and laughter into your kingdom. Salvation is your gift to us. But we confess that often we try to replace your gift with our own efforts. We try to complete what is already perfect; we try to add to what is already full; we try to earn what we already have. Forgive us for our foolishness. Help us to focus on your grace. Help us to live grateful lives in return. For Jesus’ sake alone, Amen.
*Song of Pardon – 352:2-4 “That Boy-Child of Mary”
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Children’s Time
Prayer of Preparation
Scripture Reading – Colossians 2:6-12, 16-19; 3:1-4
Message – “When Heaven Comes to Us”
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
Song of Response – 341:1-2 “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
Lift up your hearts.We lift them up to the Lord.Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.It is right for us to give thanks and praise.Holy are you, O God, and blessed is you r Son, Jesus Christ. As Mary and Joseph went from Galilee to Bethlehem and there found no room, so Jesus went from Galilee to Jerusalem and was despised and rejected. As in the poverty of a stable Jesus was born, so by the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit. As your Word became flesh, born of a woman, on that night long ago, so on the night in which he gave himself up for us he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Take, eat; this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” When the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.
The gifts of God for the people of God.
The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.
Thanks be to God.
The blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.
Thanks be to God.*Song of Thanksgiving – 345:2 “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
The Offering – General Fund
Offertory Prayer
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Intercessory Prayer
WE ARE SENT TO LOVE AND SERVE
Opportunities for Ministry and Fellowship
*A Prayer for Serving
Strengthen us, O God, in the power of your Spirit to bring good news to the poor and lift blind eyes to sight, to loose the chains that bind and claim your blessing for all people. Keep us faithful in your service until Christ comes in final victory and we shall feast with all your saints in the joy of your eternal realm. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen.
*God Blesses Us – Romans 15:13
*Parting Song – 356:3 “Go, Tell It on the Mountain”
Postlude
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Today is the third Sunday of Advent. We pray that the message of the Advent season will fill your heart and life with joy.
We will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper this morning. If you have publicly professed that Jesus is your Savior and if you are seeking to follow him as your Lord, please receive the bread and cup as they are passed to you. We will eat and drink after all have been served.
A dress rehearsal for the Live Nativity will be Friday, 5:30 PM. It is important that all the participants in the production attend. Hot dogs and chips will be served.
The ninth annual Live Nativity will be presented this Saturday evening, with enactments at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 PM. Each presentation will be followed with time for cookies, hot chocolate, coffee and conversation in the fellowship hall. Thanks to all who are bringing cookies – check the sign up sheet in the foyer for things you can do to make this the best production yet. There is no better publicity than your personal invitation to friends to come with you but you can also hand out flyers with information about when and where – copies are on the same table. We also need your help in making sure our guests are warmly welcomed when they come.
Wednesday, 6:00 AM Men’s breakfast and Bible study at the Spot
9:30 AM Women’s Bible Study at 7:00 PM Winter congregational meetingFriday, 5:30 PM Dress rehearsal for the Live Nativity
Saturday, 5:30 PM Live Nativity
The annual winter congregational meeting is this Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM. Copies of the proposed budget for 2011 are in your mail slots today for your preview so you can be ready to discuss and vote on the budget. Council will also be giving an update on the process for seeking Valley Church’s next pastor and ministry teams will be reporting on their activities and plans. It is important that your family be represented at this meeting, both to receive information and to be part of financial decisions that impact us all.
Next Sunday Valley youth will present a puppet show telling the Christmas story. All who are involved in the presentation need to be here for practice during Sunday School time (9:15 AM).
Jacob De Young had hernia surgery on Friday. Pray for a speedy and uncomplicated recovery. Pray too for his parents as they care for him.
Thank you for your amazing generosity – the offering last week to help the Komaromis with expenses related to Beth’s heart procedures was $1645.00!
NEXT SUNDAY, December 19, 2010
SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:15 AM Classes for all ages. The adult class is continues the three-week Advent series. Children will be practicing for the puppet show.
MORNING WORSHIP: 10:30 AM Fourth Sunday of Advent. Pastor Gelder continues an Advent series of messages on “When Heaven Came Down.” The focus this week will be “When Heaven Comes to Stay”, based on Revelation 21:1-5.
