December14, 2008, 11:00 AM
WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
Call to Worship –
Rejoice in the Lord always.I will say it again: Rejoice!Let your gentleness be evident to all.The Lord is near.We rejoice in the hope of Christ’s coming.Let us worship God!Lighting the Third Advent Candle
Reader 1: God calls us to worship today as followers of his Son, Jesus Christ. We light these candles as a symbol of the coming light of our Messiah. (then lights the third candle)
Reader 2: Jesus asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “you are the Christ.”
Reader 1: Each day the world asks us the same question Jesus asked Peter: Who is coming?
All: With Peter, we declare that Christ, the Son of God, is coming.
Reader 2: When Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?”
All: With the disciples, we wonder when Christ will come.
Reader 1: Jesus warns us not to be deceived but to watch and wait.
Reader 2: Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
Reader 1: As we wait, we celebrate his first coming as a baby and his life of sacrifice.
All: But even more, we look forward to his glorious second coming when he will make all things new.
*Opening Song –337 “Joy to the World! The Lord Is Come”
*God Greets Us
*We Greet Each Other
*Continuing Praise
“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You”
“Let’s Worship and Adore Him”
“Wonderful Counselor”
Call to Communion – John 1:1-14
The bread that we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.
We who are many are one body, for we all share the same loaf.
The cup for which we give thanks is a sharing in the blood of Christ.
The cup that we drink is our participation in the blood of Christ.
Holy Father, with joy at the coming of your Son,
in thanks for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ,
in the joy of his resurrection,
in the hope of his coming again,
we present ourselves a living sacrifice
and come to the table of our Lord.
The gifts of God for the people of God.
The body of Christ, given for you.
Thanks be to God.
The blood of Christ, shed for you.
Thanks be to God.
*Song of Thanksgiving – 342:1,4,5 “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Children’s Time
Prayer of Preparation
Scripture Reading – Luke 2:1-7, 16-20, 39-40
Message – “Christmas Is for Parents”
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
*Song –350:1,3 “Christians, Awake”
The Offerings – First: General Fund
Second: Valley CHOW Pantry
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Intercessory Prayer
WE ARE DISMISSED TO LOVE AND SERVEOpportunities for Ministry and Fellowship
*God’s Parting Word
*Closing Song – 355 “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice”
Postlude
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Today is the third Sunday in Advent. Advent is a season of tension – Christ has come, and yet not all things have reached completion. So as we remember Israel’s hoping, as we give thanks for Jesus’ birth as the Prince of Peace, and as we rejoice that God is with us, we also anticipate his second coming at the end of time. The lighting of another candle each Sunday heightens our sense of anticipation.
The second offering today is for the Valley Church CHOW Pantry. Your generous giving allows our local coordinators to purchase in bulk items which supplement the other food products you donate regularly or which can be obtained from the CHOW warehouse.
If you have more items for the Giving Tree, you can still bring them. Items will be picked up on Friday to be brought to the Chenango Forks Fire Station for the community distribution on Saturday morning.
Monday, 7:00 PM Elders meet
Thursday, 5:30 PM Dress rehearsal for Live Nativity. Supper is provided.
Saturday, 5:30 PM Live Nativity (also 6:30 and 7:30)
We hope you are inviting friends and family to come with you to both the Live Nativity, which will be on Saturday, December 20 with presentations at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 pm, and to the Christmas Eve Candlelight service on Wednesday, December 24 at 7:30 pm. Also, the younger children will again be presenting a Christmas puppet show during the morning worship on December 21. The joy of this special season needs to be shared with our whole community.
Valley Church has the privilege this year of hosting the annual holiday concert by Bronzissimo!, which is one of the premier community handbell choirs in our area. The concert will be on Sunday, December 21 at 4:00 PM. A free-will offering will be received. We also plan to have cookies and beverages following the concert, so your extra cookies baked for the Live Nativity will be put to good use.
Please take note of the sign up sheets in the entry and let us know how you plan to help out with the Live Nativity. There’s a place and a job for about everyone. Thanks.
Youth Announcements:
NEXT SUNDAY,
December 21, 2008
SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:45 AM Regular Sunday School classes do NOT meet this Sunday or next. However, there will be a practice during this time for the children who are taking part in the puppet show/Christmas pageant later in the morning.
MORNING WORSHIP: 11:00 AM Pastor Gelder will bring the message “Christmas Is for Teens” based on Luke 2: 41-52.
