Sunday Bulletin | December 30, 2018

Concerns of the Church Welcome to GOVERNMENT STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. Visitor and Member cards are located in the pew racks and may be completed during the Ritual of Friendship and returned with the offering.

Childcare is available for infants to three years old in the nursery.

New Members are welcomed by profession of faith, reaffirmation of faith, or transfer of membership.

We invite you to speak with our minister for further information.

THE SANCTUARY FLOWERS are given to the glory of God and in memory of Shirley Smith by Mary Elizabeth and Bo Perry, Joy and Tom Rue. If you would like to place flowers in the sanctuary, please contact Ann Adams or the church office.

Sundays, January 6, and 13, 2019 are available to be filled.

New Officer Training and Installation

Worship Volunteers

Usher Captain: Sunday Assistant: Nursery: Wee Worship: Sanctuary Preparer: Prayer Chain Contact: Next Week’s Sunday Assistant:

Ashford Kettler Sara Bryan | Frank Trice Holly Carrigan Dorothy Morrison Harriet Boster Charlotte Crockett 478.1003 / 591.7902 Sara Bryan | Frank Trice

Calendar

SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS DECEMBER 30, 2018 | 11AM

Meals on Wheels | Monday—Friday 11AM GSPC is an equal opportunity provider.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2 6:00p Men’s Bible Study

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30 9:30a Sunday School 11:00a Worship

SUNDAY, JANUARY 6 | Epiphany 9:30a Sunday School (Adult only) 10:30a Choir Rehearsal/warm-up 11:00a Worship

MONDAY, DECEMBER 31 Church Office Closed TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2019 Happy New Year!

Church Office Closed

Training for new Deacons and Elders will occur for one-hour sessions immediately following Sunday worship on January 13 through February 3.

Installation and Ordination of new Deacons and Elders will occur during the worship service on January 13.

The 2019 Budget for GSPC will be presented to the congregation on January 20.

The Annual Meeting for 2018 will occur on February 10, 2019. Lunch will be provided for the congregation.

Known as the mother of Presbyterianism in southern Alabama, GSPC was founded in 1831. Worship has continued on this site since 1836 when the sanctuary, a National Historic Landmark, was completed. Member PC (USA).

Office Hours

Rev. Paul Phillips

Monday—Thursday 8AM-2PM

pastorpaul@gspcmobile.org

Friday 8AM-12PM

Director of Music & Organist

Interim Pastor

Tommy Watts tommy@gspcmobile.org

Lois McNorton Office & Property Manager lois@gspcmobile.org

Dawn Hearn Bookkeeper bookkeeper@gspcmobile.org

Shawn Walker Director of Children’s Ministry shawn@gspcmobile.org

Bring a dish to share, your choice of beverage, and memories of Christmases past!

Adults only, please

300 GOVERNMENT STREET | MOBILE, ALABAMA 36602 251.432.1749 | gspcmobile.org

Called to SERVE WE ARE CALLED BY THE SPIRIT TO GLORIFY GOD, SO THAT ALL MAY BECOME JOYFUL DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST.

Gathering

Proclaiming the Word

CHIMING OF THE HOUR | 11AM

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

PRAYER OF THE DAY SILENT

FIRST READING

Almighty God, you wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature. In your mercy, let us share the divine life of Jesus Christ who came to share our humanity, and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

VOLUNTARY The First Noel

English Melody arr. Diane Bish

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Colossians 3:12-17

Il Est Né (He Is Born)

New Testament p. 190

Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming Galatians 3:26-4:7

New Testament p. 178

The Word of the Lord.

 PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING UNISON

Thanks be to God. SERMON

A New Year

Rev. Shuford White

PLEASE TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO REFLECT UPON GOD’S WORD.

THE PEOPLE’S RESPONSES ARE IN BOLD.

Thanksgiving

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord from the heavens.

Praise the Lord from the heights.

 HYMN 145

Let all creations praise the name of the Lord.

What Child Is This

For God’s name alone is exalted.

 CHARGE AND BLESSING  HYMN 134

and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord;

Joy to the World

who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,

 HYMN 133 O Come, All Ye Faithful

ADESTE FIDELIS

born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,

God of the ages, our beginning and our end, it’s a day for looking at the past, what we’ve done and where we’ve been this year. It doesn’t take long for us to recall the missteps and the mistakes and the many times we missed the mark. Looking back, we see our sins. We also see your faithfulness. So we offer our confession with a measure of hope that your mercy will cleanse us yet again so that we might follow Jesus Christ into the future you have prepared. Amen.

A TIME OF SILENT CONFESSION.

ANTIOCH

VOLUNTARY

was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell;

PRAYER OF CONFESSION UNISON

Sending

TRADITIONAL

I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;

and Praise for all loyal servants. Hallelujah!

The God of hope has come to us, let us be thankful for God’s promises, mysterious presence and his faithfulness to all generations. The God of peace has come to us, let us be thankful for his healing and reconciling power, for violence to give way to gentleness. The God of joy has come to us, let us be thankful for the joy God brings into this world through times of grace. The God of love has come to us, let us be thankful for the gift of love, for God’s extravagant kindness and goodness, for the Christ Child who came to cast out our fear by his love. Thank you, Lord, for your abundant gifts. Amen.

GREENSLEEVES

 THE APOSTLES’ CREED UNISON

God has raised up strength for the people,

OLD HUNDREDTH

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.

MUSICAL REFLECTION

SECOND READING

FRENCH CAROL arr. Diane Bish

 RESPONSE | DOXOLOGY

CHILDREN’S SERMON

Sally Pearsall

 CALL TO WORSHIP

ORGAN VOLUNTARY

Sing We Now of Christmas

the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven,

French Carol arr. Bish

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;

 INDICATES AN INVITATION TO STAND AS YOU ARE ABLE. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES FOR THE DURATION OF THE SERVICE.

the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins;

the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

DECLARATION OF PARDON

 RESPONSE | HYMN 113

 THE PEACE The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Angels We Have Heard on High REFRAIN ONLY

And also with you.

Gloria in excelsis Deo! THE PEACE MAY BE EXCHANGED WITH THOSE AROUND YOU.

PRAYER OF INTERCESSION

 RESPONSE Let There Be Peace on Earth Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be, with God as creator, brothers and sisters are we, let us walk with each other in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now.

With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow: to take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.

MILLER/JACKSON

THE LORD’S PRAYER 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 our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

OFFERING | RITUAL OF FRIENDSHIP PLEASE COMPLETE THE VISITOR AND MEMBER CARDS LOCATED IN THE PEW RACKS AND RETURN WITH THE OFFERING.

GLORIA

Celebrating in Worship GSPC welcomes Rev. Shuford White as our guest preacher today.

Mr. White was born, grew up and went to school in Birmingham, Alabama. Following graduation from Birmingham Southern, he taught for a year. He earned his master’s degree, then promptly left education and entered the business world, managing a chain of auto parts stores. For several years, he struggled with God about where his life was going; he finally heeded God’s call, and went to Columbia Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. While in seminary, Shuford took a year and went to Seoul, Korea as a Volunteer in Mission where he taught and coached. Upon graduation from seminary he received his first call to a church in Decatur, Alabama, where he met Susan who became his wife. Together, their journey with Christ has led them to New Zealand, Missouri, Florida, North Carolina, and then back to Alabama, where Shuford serves as an interim minister.