Service For The
Lord’s Day
Third Sunday of Advent
December 11, 2011 *Those who are able, please stand. 10:00 A.M Worship
WELCOME! We are glad you are worshiping with us today. We pray that you will be
challenged and find joy, hope and celebration in this hour spent together in the presence
of God. Please sign and pass the “Ritual of Friendship” booklet; then, return it to the
first person. Note those who worship with you so that you might greet them by name.
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP
As we listen today to the voice of Scripture, Great God, let us join the chorus of those
who make the yearly pilgrimage to Bethlehem with faithful hearts, saying “Glory to the
newborn King.”
GOD’S PEOPLE GATHER TO WORSHIP
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
*PASSING OF THE PEACE (Please greet nearby worshipers and return to your seat.)
PRELUDE “The Father‟s Rose” Hayes
INTROIT “Peace Will Come at Christmas” Persichetti
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH Martindale, Devanny and Ewell Families
*CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
Leader: Come away from haste and frantic busyness. This is the season for quiet
waiting.
All: It is hard to still our souls when we are so busy. It is hard to be patient
with ourselves or others.
Leader: Receive God‟s mercy and strengthen your hearts. A Savior is coming; God‟s
love is near.
All: We want to hear and believe God’s promises. We want to become patient,
loving seekers.
Leader: God presents us with a high and holy way. Come before God now with praise
and singing.
1
All: We sense the joy God offers to us. Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.
*PRAYER OF INVOCATION (In Unison)
Gracious God, we rejoice that You strengthen our weak hands and make
firm our feeble knees. You open our eyes and unstop our ears. You meet our hungers
with good things. You help us discover our true strength. You lift up the lowly to
claim the power You alone can provide. We have assembled to worship You.
Awaken the gladness that comes when we recognize Your presence. We long to know
You in this hour. Amen.
*OPENING HYMN “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks” No. 59
*CALL TO CONFESSION (Lay Reader)
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)
Come into our emptiness, gracious God. Break through our pretensions.
We pretend to be powerful because we have not claimed the peace that is available
when You dwell with us. Quiet our grumbling and complaining. We are impatient
because we have focused on things, not on You. Enter our lives with the forgiveness
You have promised to all who are truly sorry for their unfaithfulness. Release us
from our self-created prisons. Amen.
*KYRIE No. 574
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Lay Reader)
*GLORIA PATRI No. 579
GOD’S PEOPLE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION (In Unison)
O gracious God, Whose claim on us is strong enough to change our direction,
look with favor on this gathered congregation, that none may go astray but all may
respond with joy to Your promises and go out to share Your good news with the
hungry and needy and oppressed. Amen.
FIRST READING Psalm 98
ANTHEM “Variations on an Echo Carol” arr. Holcombe
FPC Brass Ensemble
CHILDREN’S TIME (Afterward, children may go to early release.)
SECOND READING Luke 2:8-14
2
SERMON “Hillside Hallelujahs” Rev. Rusty Cowden
*HYMN “Angels We Have Heard on High” No. 23
GOD’S PEOPLE RESPOND
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH “The Apostles‟ Creed” (Traditional) Hymnal p. 14
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
…“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, the power and the glory forever.
Amen.”
OFFERTORY “A Christmas Carol Suite” Lyons
FPC Woodwind Quartet
*DOXOLOGY No. 592
*OFFERTORY PRAYER (In Unison)
Majestic God, thank You for inviting us to share the blessings You pour
out on us. We want to extend the healing ministry of Jesus, Who gave sight to those
who were blind and new insight to some who only pretended to see. Use our
resources to heal attitudes as well as bodies, to bring wholeness, not just cures. Help
us to address the inequities of the earth that leave so many without hope. Lead us
into Your realm in the midst of our daily living. Amen.
*HYMN “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” No. 31
GOD’S PEOPLE GO FORTH TO SERVE
*CHARGE AND BLESSING
*BENEDICTION “Gloria Tibi” Persichetti
POSTLUDE “Bell Carol” Keveren
THE CELEBRATION HAS ENDED;
LET OUR SERVICE BEGIN!
WELCOME VISITORS! We are pleased you chose to worship with us today. To learn
more about First Presbyterian Church of Warren, we invite you to pick up a Welcome Packet
at one of the Sanctuary entrances.
3
FPC VISION: Glorify and enjoy God through worship, education and service.
FPC’S WEB PAGE ADDRESS is http://www.fpcwarren.org – come visit us on the „Net!
Our e-mail address is fpcwarren@hotmail.com.
WE ARE BLESSED with abundant talent here at FPC!! This morning‟s brass and
woodwind groups are filled with our own members. In addition, we welcome two special
guests, Lucas Huffman and Courtney Lallo.
ON CHRISTMAS MORNING, First Presbyterian Church will be broadcasting a special
worship service on WHKZ 1440 AM. Instead of our usual live broadcast, Rusty and the
choir will prerecord the service, so that FPC members and friends will be able to listen to an
hour of worship while staying at home with their families. There will not be a service here
at the Church on Christmas morning!
HOLIDAY CRAFTS – Join us in Fellowship Hall following worship for our Holiday Craft
Intergenerational. There will be something for everyone. A chili lunch will follow. Please
bring a salad or dessert to share.
THANK YOU . . . for all your thoughts, prayers and cards during my recovery. The love
and understanding is truly overwhelming! To the members of this Church Family, the Staff,
the Board of Deacons and everyone else, a huge „Thank You‟ for everything.
Nettie Ashelman
LOVE TREE gifts are due back today. Please make sure your gift(s) are wrapped and
returned with the tag attached.
HARK!! DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR? The Elastic Band will rehearse today and
again next Sunday, December 18. All rehearsals will be held following worship. Everyone
has enough talent, and everyone is welcome. Just bring your instruments and be prepared to
have a good time. We will play for Caroling on December 18 and again for the 5:30 p.m.
early Christmas Eve Service on December 24. Please join us.
CONTRIBUTION DEADLINE FOR 2011 – Please remember that contributions must be
postmarked or received in the Church Office no later than Saturday, December 31, 2011, to be
recorded for 2011. All contributions received after this date will be placed in the contributions for
2012. This holds true for gifted stock. Please have your broker transfer any stock to our
Huntington account prior to December 31 to be included in the 2011 tax year. If you have any
questions, please call the Church Office.
THE STEPHEN FOSTER BARBERSHOP CHORUS will perform at Christ Episcopal Church
at 3:00 p.m. today. Come out and celebrate the Christmas season with music.
4
MEMORIAL POINSETTIAS – Time‟s running out to order your poinsettias for this Christmas
Season. With the many poinsettias adorning the Sanctuary, the warm feeling of Christmas
permeates throughout. The cost this year is $9 each. You can either pick yours up on Christmas
Eve or donate them to a homebound. For your convenience, we have included an order form in
today‟s bulletin. Please complete and return it to the Church Office with your payment. All orders
must be received and paid for by Tuesday, December 13, 2011.
ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS GIFT-GIVING booklets and order forms are available at
the Church for those of you interested in giving the gift that keeps giving. We will be
accepting orders until December18, 2011. This is a great opportunity for each of us to make
someone‟s holiday a little brighter (and for those of you who are parents, these make fantastic
gifts for teachers!!!).
CHRISTMAS CAROLING – We will be caroling to our homebound members and friends
next Sunday, December 18. We will meet at the Church at 2:30 p.m. When we return, we
will enjoy dinner and join the Elastic Band in a sing-along.
CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING – Once again we will be collecting for the Christmas Joy
Offering during the Advent Season. The receipts from this offering are distributed equally to
the Board of Pension for assistance programs and to the National Ministries Division of the
General Assembly Council to support eight Presbyterian racially ethnic schools and colleges.
Please prayerfully consider this offering.
SANCTUARY FLOWER CHART – The Sanctuary Flower Chart for 2012 has arrived and
is in the Church Office. Please reserve your date or dates now for 2012. Remember, you are
able to have flowers on the Chancel, the Columbarium doors or both.
REMEMBER – Everyone is asked to bring a can or box of food wrapped in white paper for
the 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve service.
SHAWL MINISTRY IS UP AND RUNNING –We meet on the first and third Tuesdays at
7:00 p.m. at the home of Susan Stahl. We hope you will join us. The shawls are kept in
Carol‟s office. We just ask that the tag be filled out and left in the green folder to help us
keep track of who has received shawls.
ATTENTION ELDERS – Your December Session Packet is ready. Please stop by the
Church Office to get your copy. The next meeting is Wednesday, December 21, 2011, at
7:00 p.m.
SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION - Our next celebration of Communion will be Sunday,
January 1, 2012, by intinction, during our regular 10:00 a.m. worship service.
THE ROSE BUD ON THE COMMUNION TABLE this morning is dedicated to the glory
of God and in celebration of the birth of Jensen McLean Ehrler, born Wednesday,
5
November 9, 2011, at 5:29 p.m. in Akron, Ohio, to Tracy (McLean) and Doug Ehrler.
Jensen weighed 7 lbs. 7 oz. and was 19 ½ inches long. Proud grandparents are FPC
Members, Pat and Ernest McLean.
TWO-CENTS-A-MEAL OFFERING - The Deacons will be collecting the 2¢-A-Meal
offering on Sunday, January 1, 2012, during our regular worship service. This program
provides a channel for Presbyterians to respond to the crisis of hunger at home and abroad.
Don‟t forget to bring your coins to drop in the offering buckets.
HEARING DEVICES to better enable you to hear the service are available from one of the
ushers. Please return the device at the end of the service.
Our RADIO MINISTRY service is broadcast at 10:00 a.m. Sundays on WHKZ-1440 AM.
If you would like to contribute to this ministry, donations designated for the Radio Ministry
may be placed in the offering plate; contributions may also be mailed to the Church Office
with “Radio Ministry” in the memo of the check.
LARGE-PRINT BULLETINS AND HYMNALS ARE AVAILABLE ON
REQUEST FROM OUR USHERS AND GREETERS.
LAY READER: Shelly Straitiff, Deacon
USHER CAPTAIN: Zam Zampedro
GREETERS: Marilyn Johnson Delores Morrison
John and Marilyn Pogue
RADIO, LIGHTS Chuck Simpkins, Emeritus
AND SOUND SYSTEM: Bill Kemp Gary Wireman
VIDEO PROJECTION: Robert Stahl
------------------------------------------------Tear here-----------------------------------------------------
MEMORIAL POINSETTIAS
In memory of:_______________________________________________________________
Given by:___________________________________________________________________
______# of Poinsettias at $9.00 each ______Will pick up ______ Give to Homebound
____________Amount enclosed in lieu of Poinsettias for ____________________________
Your Name:________________________________________________________________
All orders must be received and paid for by Tuesday, December 13, 2011
WEEK-AT-A-GLANCE
6
Sun, Dec. 11 - Third Sunday of Advent
- Love Tree Gifts due back today
- Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary ........................................................... 8:30 am
- Sunday School ................................................................................. 9:00 am
- Adult Study, Parlor ......................................................................... 9:00 am
- Worship .......................................................................................... 10:00 am
- Bell Rehearsal, Sanctuary ............................................................ 11:15 am
- Elastic Band Rehearsal, Sanctuary ............................................. 11:15 am
- Holiday Crafts Intergenerational / Lunch, Fellowship Hall ..... 11:30 am
- Stephen Foster Chorus, Christ Episcopal Church ....................... 3:00 pm
Mon, Dec. 12 - Bulletin information due in Church Office
- Women of Faith, Parlor ................................................................ 10:30 am
- OA, Mabel Culver Room ................................................................... 7:00 pm
- AA, Westminster Hall ........................................................................ 7:30 pm
Tue, Dec. 13 - Al-Anon, Mabel Culver Room........................................................... 9:00 am
- S.O.P.H.I.A., Fellowship Hall.......................................................... 10:00 am
- NA, Mabel Culver Room ................................................................... 7:00 pm
Wed, Dec. 14 - AA, Mabel Culver Room ................................................................... 7:30 pm
Thur, Dec. 15 - Prayer Talk, Fellowship Hall ......................................................... 8:30 am
Fri, Dec. 16 - Al-Anon, Mabel Culver Room......................................................... 10:00 am
Sat, Dec. 17 - Birthday Party, Fellowship Hall....................................................... 11:30 am
Sun, Dec. 18 - Fourth Sunday of Advent
- Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary ........................................................... 8:30 am
- Sunday School ................................................................................. 9:00 am
- Adult Study, Parlor ......................................................................... 9:00 am
- Worship .......................................................................................... 10:00 am
- Bell Rehearsal, Sanctuary ............................................................ 11:15 am
- Elastic Band Rehearsal, Fellowship Hall .................................... 11:15 am
- Caroling / Supper ............................................................................ 2:30 pm
Rev. Rusty Cowden
Pastor
Melanie A. Vlad Carol Hazinakis
Director of Music Ministry Administrative Assistant
7