bulletin dec. 18th
DESCRIPTION
Bulletin for dec 18thTRANSCRIPT
Pastors at First Presbyterian Church:
Jim Wood, Senior Pastor - [email protected] Hoy, Executive Associate Pastor- [email protected]
Jim Gates, Associate Pastor of Evangelism- [email protected]
Pra•x•is:The Experiment
This year we are challenged to participate in an experiment called Pra•x•is, a Greek word meaning “practices.” Our hypothesis is
simple; if we commit to five spiritual practices over the next year, our relationships with Jesus Christ and with one another will be radically transformed. The five practices are found in the word Pra•x•is: Pray for the entire world, Read through the entire Word, Add to the community, Invest in the Kingdom, and Send yourself to the nations. The X represents Christ (the Greek letter Chi, or X, is the first letter of Christ and an ancient symbol for Jesus) and reminds us that what we do only finds meaning if Jesus is at the center. If you are seeking purpose or meaning, if you want to know and grow closer to God, or if you want a deeper spiritual life, we invite you to join us this year and take the experiment!
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH www.fpcnorfolk.org
THIS WEEK AT FIRST DECEMBER 18, 2011
Visitor’s Cross - A handmade cross will be added to the new Pra•x•is cross in The Common each time the Lord blesses us with a first-time visitor. We celebrate that 191 first-time visitors have been with us in worship since 9.11.2011. Please remember to invite your friends to church. “and day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH www.fpcnorfolk.org
SHARING HIS LOVE: Go 2 Blocks! -1 Block Sunday school + 1 Block Worship; please park 2 blocks away to make room for visitors.Send Yourself to the Nations - Make a 2% Commitment: Commit 2% (7 days or 168 hours) of Your Year to Missions. If you decide to commit to the 2% challenge, please go have your pictures taken in the “Send Yourself” box in the Common, that way we can celebrate with you!
Our Church’s Commitment to Send Ourselves to the Nations through Dec 11:158 hearts ... 316 feet ... 1,106 days ... 26,544 hours ... how many lives impacted for Christ?
Boxes of Love - Each ornament ($60) has a picture of an African child who is part of the Holy Family Center in Kenya. Supported by FPC, the Center serves many precious children who are HIV+. Your gift provides things like: mattresses, blankets, back packs, shoes, socks, jackets and food, enough for a MONTH! More information is provided in the Common. (10 Hours Each box)
Finish Strong! - After you have fulfilled your pledge consider giving an extra "Finishing Strong Gift." Remember due to IRS regulations and deadlines, all year-end gifts must be received or postmarked by December 31 to be included in the giving statement FPC provides for your tax purposes. "Be sure to pick up your 2012 contribution envelopes from the tables in the breezeway between First Hall and the Sanctuary."
SEEKING CHRIST:Children’s Christmas Pageant and Family Dinner - Tonight, at 5:00pm in First Hall. Nothing will transport you into the true spirit of Christmas like our children's pageant. Add to that a turkey dinner and Happy Birthday Jesus cake to top off the evening. Come young and "young at heart" and worship with your FPC Family. Please make your dinner reservations on Connection Card or at www.fpcnorfolk.org.
Christmas Eve Services- Join us in celebrating the birth of Christ Our Lord on Christmas Eve. 4:00pm Children and Families
5:30pm and 7:30pm Traditional Service with Full Choir11:00pm Reflective Service with Lord’s Table
Christmas Services- Christmas Day Service on Sunday, December 25 at 10:00am in the Sanctuary. Come and celebrate the gift of Christmas with your church family at this casual and joy-filled worship service. Bring your favorite Christmas present!
SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY DECEMBER 18, 2011Fourth Sunday of Advent 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary
(Please silence your cell phone.)
Organ prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship: Philippians 4:4
*Hymn - #8 Lift Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates
Prayer of Confession
O promised Christ: We are a world at war. Our peace depends on your coming. We are a sinful people. Our pardon depends on your coming. We are full of good intentions but weak at keeping promises; our only hope of doing God’s will is that you should come and help us do it. Lord Christ, Word made flesh, our world waits for your peace, for your pardon, and for your grace. Even so: Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Silent Confession
Confessional Response - Kyrie Kyrie eleison; Christe eleison; Kyrie eleison.
Translation: Lord have mercy; Christ have mercy; Lord have mercy.
Assurance of Pardon: Isaiah 12:2
*Congregational Response to God’s Grace: Gloria in Excelsis Deo; Gloria in Excelsis Deo
Greeting and Connecting [with 5-Cents-A-Meal Offering] [Half the proceeds benefits local, national and global hunger programs, and half supports our FPC Soup Kitchen.]
Children through grade 5 are invited to come forward to receive Worship Packets & a RADICOL Kid’s bulletin, designed especially to involve them in worship.
Sacrament of Baptism 8:30Children of the Covenant:
Amelia Frances Collins Daughter of Katie and Alek Collins
Eli Douglas Spicer Son of Paige Whitten Spicer
Choral Response : All who drink the water I give will never thirst, The Water I give will be a fountain within you, giving you life.
Anthem Sussex Carol David Willcocks
Old Testament Reading: Joshua 1: 1-9, Page 194, O.T., NRSV
New Testament Reading: Luke 1: 26-56, Page 56 & 57, N.T., NRSV
The Preached Word Send Bulk Mail Jim Wood
Presentation of our Gifts: Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed for the LORD your GOD is with you wherever you go.”
Organ Anthem: When Christ Was Born Reginald Jacques
*Doxology and Prayer of Dedication 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.
*Affirmation of Faith The Apostles‘ Creed, Page 14 Hymnal I believe in God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.
Concerns and Prayers of Our Church Family
The Lord’s Prayer [in unison] 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 us our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and power, and glory, forever.
*Hymn - #53 What Child is This
*An Invitation to Christian Discipleship
*Benediction and Congregational Response Celtic Alleluia: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP DECEMBER 18, 2011Fourth Sunday of Advent 9:30 in First Hall
(Please silence your cell phone.)
ENTERING INTO THE WORD
Songs of Praise and Prayer: Joy to the World
What Joy is Found
Greeting & Prayers
Children in grades K-2 are dismissed for Worship First. Children through grade 5 are invited to come forward to receive Worship Packets & a RADICOL Kid’s bulletin, designed to involve them in worship.
Songs: Winter Song
Cry Holy
ENCOUNTERING THE WORD5-Cents-A-Meal OfferingOld Testament Reading: Joshua 1: 1-9, Page 194, O.T., NRSV
New Testament Reading: Luke 1: 26-56, Page 56 & 57, N.T., NRSV
The Preached Word Jim WoodSend Bulk Mail
ENGAGING THE WORD AND THE WORLD Offering Our Gifts & Prayers: Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed for the LORD your GOD is with you wherever you go.
The Lord’s Prayer [in unison] 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 us our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and power, and glory, forever.
Benediction and Song of Response: I Let Go
SUNDAY MORNING CLASSES DECEMBER 18, 2011For help finding a class for yourself or your child, please stop by the Welcome Center.
Children and Youth Sunday SchoolBethlehem Babies Nursery Birth -23 months ~ 8:20 - 12:10 p.m. Check your child in at the Nursery Area.Little Lambs Sunday School 2-4 years old ~ 9:30 & 11 a.m.Check your child in at computers outside the children’s wing.
R.A.D.I.C.O.L Sunday School (Raising Awesome Disciples in Christ Our Lord)
K-5th grade 9:30 & 11 a.m. Check in at computers outside the children’s wingJr. High Sunday SchoolGrades 6-8 ~ 9:30 & 11 a.m. in the Catacombs Sr. High Sunday School Grades 9-12 ~ 9:30 in Youth Director’s Office on Staff Square; 11 a.m. in the Catacombs
Adult Sunday School 9:30Basic Bible Class - Studying Books of the Bible(Rabbi Room) Seekers Class - The Book of Acts (Part 2) (2nd Floor Conference Room)Covenant Class - Early Church History (The Center for Prayer & Spiritual Growth 2nd floor)Marriage by the Book-God’s perspective on marriage. (The Center for Prayer & Spiritual Growth 2nd floor)
11:05Young Couples Small Group (The Center for Prayer & Spiritual Growth 2nd Floor)Holy Land Group - 2nd & 4th Sundays (The Center for Prayer & Spiritual Growth 2nd Floor) 20-Something Couples Bible Study - 2nd & 4th Sunday starting in Jan. (The Center for Prayer & Spiritual Growth 2nd Floor)Young Adults - The Life You’ve Always Wanted (The Center for Prayer & Spiritual Growth 1st Floor)
In The Common: Free Bibles in The Loft & Sermon DVDs, free for visitors. A Special Gift for Visitors: First-time visitors receive a copy of Donald Miller’s book, Searching for God Knows What, found on the table in The Common.
Program Staff:Andrew Callan, Minister of Administration - [email protected] Gates, Director of Family & Children’s Ministries - [email protected] Mackey Johnston, Children’s Ministry Coordinator - [email protected] Kristine Rand, Director of Prayer & Spiritual Growth - [email protected] Whitaker, Director of Youth & Young Adults - [email protected] Wood, Mission Outreach Coordinator - [email protected]
