The First Baptist Church at Worship

4th Sunday of Advent

December 21, 2014 10:00 AM

The Gathering

The Congregation is invited to meditate and contemplate

during the Prelude.

THE PRELUDE Debbie Lindley, Pianist R. Alan Kimbrough, Organist

Ave Maria with Silent Night

Schubert/Gruber

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

adapted from Plainsong by Thomas Helmore

“Still, Still, Still”

Paul Manz

Partita on “Praise God the Lord, Ye Sons of Men”

Johann Gottfried Walther

In Praise to the Lord

THE RINGING OF THE CHIMES

A three-fold ringing of three signifies the presence of the triune God: Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit.

CHORAL INTROIT Chancel Choir

Blest Be the God of Israel ................................. #88 v.1

*LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES

*PROCESSIONAL HYMN #103 O Come, All Ye Faithful ADESTE FIDELES

Originally entitled “Adeste Fideles” our opening hymn is generally attributed to John Francis Wade cir. 1743, with the tune also written by Wade. The 1841 translation by Frederick Oakley is the version most commonly sung. Being one of our most joyous carols, we are all called to rejoice at the birth of our Savior.

*WELCOME & PASSING THE PEACE Dr. Rodney Kennedy

(Please register your attendance by filling out a yellow card from the pew rack and placing it in the offering bag this morning.)

We are invited to greet our nearest neighbors, extend our hand, and greet one another in the name of Christ.

(Please be seated.)

LIGHTING OF ADVENT CANDLE Nick & Anna Gough

Isaiah 9:6-7: “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The child’s authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and the kingdom. God will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”

We light this candle as a symbol of the Prince of Peace. May the visitation of your Holy Spirit, O God, make us ready for the coming of Jesus, our hope and joy. O come, O come Emmanuel.

ADVENT PRAYER

God our Creator, in the Advent Season when the past has fled, unasked, away, and there is nothing left to do but wait, God, shelter us. Be our surrounding darkness; be the fertile soil out of which hope springs in due time. In uncertain times, help us greet the dawn and labor on, love on, in faith awaiting your purpose hid in You, waiting to be born in due time. Amen.

CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE A Holy Hush, v. 4 Schell, Dill, arr. R. Landis

Reading & Proclaiming God’s Word

NEW TESTAMENT EPISTLE LESSON Sue Trollinger

Romans 16:25-27: Now to God who is able to strengthen you

according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith -- to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.

Leader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. People: Thanks be to God!

*THE GOSPEL LESSON Rev. Kay Davis-Dudding

Leader: The Gospel of the Lord according to Luke. People: Praise be to you, O Christ.

Luke 1:26-38: In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by

God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God." Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

Leader: The Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

*THE FELLOWSHIP HYMN #132 It Came upon the Midnight Clear

CAROL

This carol, written by Unitarian Pastor Edmund H. Sears in 1849, is one of our most well loved. His words tell of the angels’ proclamation and how the world will be changed.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Rev. Jason Alspaugh

(Following the message, children in preK-6 graders will be led downstairs for Sunday School. PreK-1 graders will be in Rm. #4. Grades 2-4 will be in Rm. #3B. Grades 5-6 will be in Rm. #1. Parents should pick up their children after worship.)

CALL TO PRAYER #397 v.2 Come, Holy Spirit

CHAPLIN

Come, gentle Jesus, come;

I have need of Your perfect peace.

May calm repose begin; all my fears release.

Let them on wings take flight,

nevermore to cloud my sight.

Not only for this day, come, gentle Jesus, stay.

PASTORAL PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER Rev. Alspaugh

ANTHEM Chancel Choir

Breath of Heaven ..................... Eaton / Grant, arr. Courtney

SERMON Dr. Kennedy

“Lord Give Us Strength”

The Response of God’s People

THE OFFERTORY Quartet

Come, Emmanuel .................................. Besig / Price

Dawn Kalbfleisch, Connie Holmen, Brad Kallenberg, Tim Meador

*THE PRESENTATION OF GIFTS

(As the ushers move down the aisles, the congregation is asked to stand at the moment the ushers pass their pew. This presentation to God enacts our self-offering and gratitude to God.)

*OFFERTORY RESPONSE #99 v.2 View the Present…

AR HYD Y NOS, alt.

Probe the present with the promise, Christ will come again.

Let your daily actions witness, Christ will come again.

Let your loving and your giving and your justice and forgiving

be a sign to all the living: Christ will come again.

*OFFERTORY PRAYER Sue Trollinger

INVITATION TO CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP

(Persons wishing to join First Baptist Church are invited to come forward while the organist plays the first verse of the recessional hymn. You may join First Baptist Church by transfer of letter, statement of faith, or baptism. The pastor will greet you as you come forward this morning.)

*HYMN OF INVITATION #143 Go, Tell It on the Mountain GO TELL IT

As Jesus was born of humble means, this hymn was born out of slavery. As many African American spirituals “Go Tell It on the Mountain” was made popular through John W. and Frederick J. Work and the Fisk University Singers. First published in 1907 this spiritual has been sung countless times!

*BLESSING WITH DISMISSAL Dr. Kennedy

*CONGREGATIONAL BENEDICTION #134 v.4 Silent Night, Holy Night STILLE NACHT

Silent night, holy night,

wondrous star, lend thy light;

with the angels let us sing

alleluia to our King;

Christ the Savior is born,

Christ the Savior is born.

*POSTLUDE R. Alan Kimbrough

“Noel Suisse” ................................. Louis Claude Daquin

Prayer for the Armed Forces

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace, strengthen them in their trials and temptations, give them courage to face the perils which beset them, and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers of the People

Rich Appelt Lou Fenner Cliff Rhodes

Glen & Barbara Babb Lavanda Ferguson Gretchen Root

Carson Bailey Kathie Flagahan Anna Ruth

Ruth Balas Jane Halliday Joan Sawyer

Barker Family Bev Harrell Bonnie Schneider

Peggy Bauman Rosalie Hoffman Donna Slattery

Jennifer Berman Libby Hornbeck Judy Smith

Corene Blair Jim Landis Rayfield Stinson

Jessica Blair Jennifer Loxley Shirley Terry

Jessica Brown Patty Loxley Harold & Janet West

Sue Chitty Rheta Marcum Tattie Williams

Collier Family McCain Family Judy Williams

Marilyn Craig Marilyn Sue Miller Warren Williams

Pamela Cress Gloria Must

James Davis Tammy & Robert Palmer Military Duty: Alan Denny Mary Ann Paloncy Sebastian Ewald

Stephen Dillaway Robert Paloncy Brittany Kalbfleisch

Florida Dixon John & Cheryl Petry Jeffrey Kennedy

Earnest Family Ron Petry Chris West

Joni Edmundson Meghan Phillips Andy Wilson

Angie Lane Meador, Peace Corps Botswana

Iglesia Bautista Dios Compasivo (El Salvador)

Week of December 21 – 28

Sun. 21 9:30a ........................................ FUMC Worship (Dining Room)

10:00a ........................................ Worship Service – Advent IV

11:15a ................ Congregational Meeting / Coffee Fellowship

11:30a ................................... Blue Christmas Service (Chapel)

................................................. No Chapel Communion

11:30a .............. Sunday School Classes / Pageant Rehearsal

Mon. 22 11-12 ......................................... Sack Lunches for Homeless

6:30p ........................................................ Y-Leaders Meeting

Wed. 24 11-12 ......................................... Sack Lunches for Homeless

5:30p ............................................................... Music Prelude

6:00p ................................................ Christmas Eve Worship

Thu. 25 ......................................................... Merry Christmas!

Fri. 26 .................................................... Church Office Closed

Sun. 28 9:30a ........................................ FUMC Worship (Dining Room)

10:00a ............................................................ Worship Service

11:15a ...................................................... Chapel Communion

11:15a .......................................................... Coffee Fellowship

11:30a ............................... Sunday School Classes / Activities

Congregational Meeting After Worship To approve Human Resources Committee Report

First Baptist Church of Dayton

4TH

Sunday of advent

DECEMBER 21, 2014

Our Mission Statement:

To celebrate God's love as a community of believers

in Jesus Christ through worship, education,

fellowship, and outreach to others.

111 W. Monument Avenue

Dayton OH 45402 937-222-4691

Fax: 937-222-0649

fbc@fbcdayton.org www.fbcdayton.org