First Presbyterian ChurchFounded 1835

Corner of Jefferson and Clinton StreetsMarianna, Florida

(850) 526-2430

E-Mail: firstpresmarianna@earthlink.net Website: www.firstpresmarianna.org

A CELEBRATION OF GOD’S GIFT

OF JESUS WHO COMES TO RULE OUR LIVES

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2007 11:00 A.M.

THE CHURCH GATHERS . . .

MUSIC FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON Played by the JuBELLees

PRELUDE

THE CHIMING OF THE HOUR

WELCOME AND SHARING OF COMMUNITY LIFE

INTROIT: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” Natalie Sleeth

* THE LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAYOF ADVENT Leaders: Alan, Susie, Evan and Anna BarberLeader: Welcome to worship on this fourth Sunday of AdventPeople: We are here to remember that Advent means coming.Leader: Advent is a time to prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus as the babe of

Bethlehem.People: Advent is a time to prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus as the

King and Lord of the universe.Leader: Advent is a time to remember that each and every day Jesus wants to come

into our hearts and lives.People: Today we have come to welcome anew into our lives the Jesus who

has come, and who will come.All Sing: Margaret

Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,Proclaiming Thy royal degree;But of lowly birth didst thou come to earth,And in great humility.O come, to my heart, Lord Jesus ChristThere is room in my heart for Thee!

Leader: As we light again our first candle we remember God’s gift of promised restthat the long-expected Jesus has brought to our lives,

People: and we give thanks for all that it means for us to rest in theassurance of God’s love divine, all loves excelling.

Leader: As we light again our second candle we remember that God has given usJesus as the dear desire of every nation, and as the joy of every longingheart,

People: and we give thanks for every desire he has fulfilled in our lives, andthe joy he has brought to each of our hearts.

Leader: As we light again our third candle we remember that Jesus even though he

was born as a child was still a king,People: and we give thanks for all that his reign means in our lives.Leader: As we light our fourth candle we remember that Jesus wants to rule in our

hearts alone,People: and we pray, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus, enable us to trust

and obey you now and always.”

* Advent Hymn Welcoming the Coming Jesus into Our Hearts No. 8 Truro “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates”

CALL TO CONFESSION

UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSIONIn the gift of Jesus Christ you have come to bring your gracious kingdom to thisworld. In him you seek to rule the whole world with your truth and grace. Yetthe world still refuses to accept his rule, and the gift of joy to the world that youoffer to all who will believe in him. As we live in such a world so often we too donot accept his rule in our lives. Too often we want our own way rather thanyour ways revealed in your gift of Jesus. Even when we accept your love in himwe frequently want to keep it to ourselves rather than seeing that it is for allpeople. Forgive us, we pray. Point us again to Jesus who has come because hewants to rule in our hearts alone.

PERSONAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION IN SILENCE

SUNG REQUEST FOR GOD’S FORGIVENESS No. 1 (stanza four only) StuttgartBy Thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone;By Thine all sufficient merit raise us to Thy glorious throne.

THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON

* SUNG RESPONSE OF PRAISE FOR ADVENT No. 11 (stanza one only)Valet Will Ich Dir Geben

O Lord, how shall I meet You, how welcome You aright?Your people long to greet You, my hope, my heart’s delight!O kindle, Lord, most holy, a lamp within my breast,To do in spirit lowly all that may please You best.

TO HEAR AND REFLECT ON GOD’S WORD . . .

A TIME FOR OUR CHILDREN Suzanne Owens(Children age 5 and under are excused to go downstairs for nursery care after theChildren’s Time)

THE PROPHET ISAIAH ANTICIPATES THE COMING OF JESUSIsaiah 9:2, 6-7

The Response: Leader: This is the Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God!

ANTHEM "Westminster Carol"Roger C. Wilson based on an old French Noel

PAUL AND ISAIAH SPEAK OF THE RULE OF JESUS Romans 15:4-13The Response: Leader: This is the Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God!

SERMON “Claiming God’s Gift of Jesus Who Comes to Rule Our Lives”Dr. Christopher

TO RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD . . .

* CAROL AFFIRMING OUR FAITH IN CHRIST THE LORD OF ALL No. 37W Zlobie Lezy

“Infant Holy, Infant Lowly”

THE FELLOWSHIP OF SILENT PRAYER

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION AND SUPPLICATION

THE PRESENTATION OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS

THE OFFERTORY

* THE OFFERTORY RESPONSE FOR ADVENT Veni EmmanuelPraise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

* PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING

* THE LORD’S PRAYER ( Presbyterian Hymnal, page 16 traditional, using debts and debtors)

TO GO OUT AND SERVE . . .

* CAROL OF THE ANGELS AT THE BIRTH OF JESUS No. 31 Mendelssohn“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

* THE CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

* THE CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE FOR ADVENT Houston(see back cover - Stanza One and Refrain)“I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light”

* POSTLUDE

* All who can do so comfortably will stand

Pastor: Huw Christopher Director of Music: Lawrence R. NelsonElder of the month: Virgil Oswald Organist: Stanley LittletonNursery Attendant: Susie Barber

To Our Visitors – Welcome to First Presbyterian Church of Marianna. We are glad to haveyou worship with us today and invite you to join us each Sunday as we worship and studyGod’s word. If you would like more information concerning our church you may fill out oneof the pew cards, talk to the ushers or the pastor, or call the church office. Nursery isavailable for infants and pre-kindergarten children during Sunday morning activities.

The poinsettias gracing the sanctuary today are given to the glory of God and by Alex andJoy Lewis in memory of Alex’s parents Alex and Jean Lewis; by Alex and Joy Lewis inmemory of Joy’s parents Merritt and Mae Blighton; by Robert and Beverly Hinson inmemory of Robert’s parents Rudolph and Earline Hinson; by Robert and Beverly Hinson inmemory of Clyatt Granger and in honor of Emmy Granger (Beverly’s parents); by Robertand Beverly Hinson in honor of their children Scarlett Brandi, Amanda and Jeff Hinson; byJoy Hinton in memory of in memory of Edward Hinton and Mary Magdalene Land; byWillie Mae Goold in memory of Lucille and G.D. Maloy; by Ron Goold in memory of Mr.and Mrs. Wilbur Goold; by Mary Bevis Schmidt in memory of Reginald V. Schmidt; byJohn and Alma Milton; by Louise Hoy in memory of Jesse Hoy; by Huw and RachelChristopher in grateful appreciation for all of the love and support of the church staff andcongregation; by Daun and Christine Crews; by Jim and Mary Ann Gibbs; by Jackie andLarry Spivey in memory of their parents Mr. and Mrs. Roy Spivey and Mr. and Mrs. CoyDozier; by Joanne Wynn in memory of Milton Wynn; by Don and Charlotte Hunter in honorof their parents; by Don and Charlotte Hunter for all the blessings the Lord has given us; byJoy Lewis in memory of Mildred Martin; by Laurie Ward in memory of Christine Edge; byMeg Brown in memory of Adelaide McCaskill; by Meg Brown in memory of Mike Higgins;by Rex and Toni Nowell; by Bob and Shawn Cherry in honor of Don and Charlotte Hunter;by Frankie Stewart and the Owens family in memory of Wayne Stewart; by Lee Shook inmemory of Dorothy and Claude Shook; by Gayle DiBenedetto in memory of GuyDiBenedetto and Carl and Gwen Johnson; by Evelyn Coskey; by Guy and Ginger Green; andby Lou and Kathy Roberts in memory of Mildred Roberts, Emma Rossman and JakePeacock.

With the exception of the two poinsettias on the flower stands, if you have given a poinsettiayou will be welcome to pick it up after the Christmas Eve Service tomorrow night.

Our Prayer Calendar: Ilene Culpepper, Charles Cook (nephew of EdithStephens andcousin of Betty Hatcher), Chuck Tate (former custodian), The Rev. Joe Vaughn, (pastor ofthe St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Panama City), the Rev. Dr. Arthur G. Crosswell ofMilton, Florida. The Rev. Dr. Malcolm McIver III (friend of Rachel and Huw Christopher).

We appreciate Betty Blighton, Carol Homoney, Jackie Homoney and Lou Wilkinson playinghandbells this morning under the direction of Charlotte Hunter.

A Children’s Church program for children first through fourth grade will not be held thismorning or next Sunday so that children may be able to share in our Christmas celebrationswith their families. Younger children may leave for nursery care following the Time withour Children.

The Christmas Joy Offering will be received at our Christmas Pageant on Wednesday, andnext Sunday. This offering of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) isdivided equally between the Board of Pensions to offer supplemental retirement income andmedical insurance for retired ministers, missionaries, church workers and their families, andthe Racial Ethnic Schools and Colleges of our denomination. The insert in the bulletinoutlines some of this work. Please use special envelopes in the bulletin for this offering. Asof Friday of this past week $280.20 had been received for this offering.

Huw and Rachel Christopher invite everyone to share in an informal Christmas OpenHouse for the whole family at the Manse, 4380 River Forest Road (opposite the baseballfields at Chipola College) this afternoon from 3 until 6 p.m.

Our Christmas Eve celebrations will begin tomorrow night at 6 p.m. with special music forthe season played by internationally famous flutist, Donna Wissinger, and Stanley Littleton,piano. At 6:30 p.m. we will celebrate God’s gift of Jesus which changes the ordinary intothe extraordinary with special music by our choir directed by Larry Nelson, and JoanAndrews, soloist. The celebration will include the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper and willconclude with a Candlelighting ceremony. Nursery care will not be provided for this service.Copies of the new CD, “A Chipola Family Christmas,” recently produced by DonnaWissinger in honor of our own Joan Stadsklev will be available today or Monday eveningfrom Tom or Joan Stadsklev. The cost is $15.00 each or 10 for $100.00

All Montreat Youth and their parents are reminded of the deadline for the conferenceregistration fee of $217.00. This fee needs to be in the church office by 3:00 on Friday.

Everyone is invited to join us for Sunday School every Sunday. Next Sunday, the adultsin the parlor will be studying, “Called to Witness” based on Luke 2:22-35. Upstairs in Room

4 the adult class will be studying the texts to be used in our Worship Service: Hebrews 2:10-18 and Matthew 2:13-23.

Next Sunday our worship service will be led by Jack Homoney, a member of our churchwho is also a Commissioned Lay Preacher in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) We arepleased to have Jack leading worship for us once again. His sermon based on Hebrews 2:10-18 and Matthew 2:13-23 will be entitled, “ Trusting in God’s Protective Care.”

Huw and Rachel Christopher will be leaving on Tuesday of this week for a vacation trip tovisit family in Britain. He will be back in the office on Wednesday, January 9.

Congratulations are extended to Barry and Jennifer Stafford in the birth of their son, StephenAndrew Stafford, on December 14, 2007 in Panama City, and also to big sister, Eva Marie,and to grandmother, Mary Lu Andreu.

The sympathy of the congregation is extended to Betty Joyce Hand in the death of heraunt,Mrs. George C. Bevis, Jr. (Bobbie Bevis) in Jacksonville on November 10, 2007.

Apopreciation is extended to all who helped to share with us the story of Christmas throughthe “Journals of Christmas” pageant last Wednesday night.

Have you made your reservation for Disciplefest as yet? There are workshops for all agesbeing offered by the Presbytery of Florida at this event to be held at Blue Springs BaptistAssembly on Friday, January 25 and Saturday, January 26, 2008. A brochure outlining all ofthe programs being offered and registration forms are available on the table in the hallwayoutside the fellowship hall or from the church office. The Christian Education Committeehas scholarships available for anyone who needs financial assistance in order to attend.

This week in the life of the church . . .Monday Ladies Exercise Class 9:00

The Church Office will close at 12 noonPre-Service Music begins at 6 p.m.Christmas Eve Service at 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday The Church Office will be closed for Christmas Day.Wednesday Food pantry is open from 9:00 until 11:00 a.m., volunteers are Hazel Nelson

and Bud WiermanYouth Group will meet at the home of Mary Skipper at 6:30

Thursday Newsletter collated at 1 p.m. Friday Ladies Exercise Class 9:00Sunday (30 ) Coffee and Juice in fellowship hall at 9:30 a.m.th

Sunday School at 9:45 a.m.Worship led by Elder Jack Homoney at 11 a.m.

Have you remembered the First Presbyterian Church in Your Will? (Reprinted under OneLicense.net A-708810)