Sunday Bulletin | December 9, 2018 | Advent III

Worship Volunteers

Concerns of the Church

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

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 Charlotte Eichold, by her daughter, Beth Walmsly.

Supper Club Christmas Luncheon will be held at Guesnard House today following worship.

Calendar

SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT DECEMBER 9, 2018 | 11AM

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

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9 | Advent II 9:30a Sunday School 11:00a Worship | Liminal (formerly Mithril) 12:00p Supper Club Luncheon Guesnard House

4:00p

Choir Rehearsal

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12 7:00a Men’s Bible Study | Library 12:00p Advent Organ Recital 6:00p Handbell Rehearsal 7:00p Choir Rehearsal SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 10:00a Choir Rehearsal for Lessons & Carols (all choirs)

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11 7:00a Bible Study home of Rudy Nordmann

7:45a

ADVENT ORGAN RECITALS

Ashford Kettler Susan Ashbee | Elizabeth Boone Charlotte Crockett Sandy Thomason Dot White Charlotte Crockett 478.1003 / 591.7902 Blair Schoenvogel | Jeni Marley

Women’s Bible Study home of Ann Adams

10:00a Women’s Bible Study | Frist Rm

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16 | Advent III 9:30a Sunday School 10:45a Lessons & Carols

Wednesday, December 12 & 19 | 12:00PM Featuring favorite organ literature, hymns, and carols.

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).

REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12 Handbells at 5pm Orchestra at 6pm Sanctuary Choir at 7pm SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 Sanctuary, Children’s & Cherubs’ Choirs at 10am

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

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

RESPONSE

CHIMING OF THE HOUR | 11AM

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

Let There Be Peace on Earth

PRAYER OF THE DAY SILENT

God of all peoples, your servant John came baptizing and calling for repentance.

Help us to hear his voice of judgment, that we may also rejoice in his word of promise, and be found pure and blameless in that glorious Day when Christ comes to rule the earth as Prince of Peace. Amen.

VOLUNTARY

MILLER/JACKSON

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.

CHORAL ANTHEM A Celtic Noel

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sing alleluia, alleluia! Gloria, gloria! Glory to God! Noel, noel!

The song is beginning with praise and thanksgiving. Sing “Jesus is born.”

PROCLAIMING THE WORD

Rev. Paul Phillips

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH

Noel, noel! the angels are praising. The shepherds are raising their voice to the sky.

Noel, noel! Lay gifts now before Him. Come kneel and adore Him, the Savior divine.

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION FIRST READING

ADVENT HYMN 88

Malachi 3:1-4

Old Testament p. 838

CHILDREN’S SERMON

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

vs. 5

RESPONSIVE LITANY

VENI EMMANUEL

MUSICAL REFLECTION

Liminal Luke 3:1-6

Advent is a time for God’s people to reawaken their longings.

The Word of the Lord.

Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.

Thanks be to God. SERMON

New Testament p. 56

Guess Who’s Coming to Advent?

Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.

HYMN 97 Watchman, Tell Us of the Night

Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.

THE APOSTLES’ CREED UNISON

CANDLE LIGHTING

ABERYSTWYTH TRADITIONAL

I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord;

PRAYER UNISON Gracious God, you are the Prince of Peace who lives and reigns forever. As we journey together, we pray you would still our fears, heal our wounds and fill our spirits. Shine forth your perfect peace in our unsettled world throughout this Advent season. Amen.

Love Has Come

BRING A TORCH

PRAYER OF CONFESSION UNISON

Ann Adams

Loving God, we hear the call to repentance, but we struggle to respond. A voice tells us to turn around, but we prefer our own ways. You seek to purify us in the furnace of your love, but we constantly elude your searching hand. Our sin leads us in other directions, away from you, away from life. Look with mercy on us. Clear a place within us so that something new might be born, something that will return us to the way you have shown us in Jesus Christ. Amen.

A TIME OF SILENT CONFESSION.

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.

Lord, we thank you that “Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory.” Yet, we still find ourselves waiting, waiting for your fresh word, waiting for your powerful appearance, waiting for your new disclosure, waiting in eager longing. We are here, awake, alert, wanting your rule to override our disorder; hoping for your power to check our own power, trusting in your glory that will drive out our complacency. Thank you, God, for yours is indeed the kingdom, the power, and the glory. Come soon, come soon. Amen.

HYMN 88

who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,

vs. 1, 7

VENI EMMANUEL

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven,

HYMN 110

OLD HUNDREDTH

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING UNISON

THANKSGIVING

When there is separation, we long for reunion.

RESPONSE | DOXOLOGY

Rev. Paul Phillips

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

When there is hostility, we long for reconciliation.

Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.

It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, from angels bending near the earth, to touch their harps of gold: “Peace on the earth, good will to all, from heaven’s all-gracious King.”

The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the glorious angels sing!

Sing noel!

SECOND READING

When there is division, we long for unity.

Noel, noel! God’s light is upon us. His Word is among us, for Jesus is born.

Wexford Carol

GSPC Staff

THE PEOPLE’S RESPONSES ARE IN BOLD.

Michael Barret

Noel, noel! The heavens are ringing. Creation is singing as angels take wing.

Noel, noel! Let great jubilation resound through creation to welcome the King.

Liminal

Christmas Day Ida Moarnin/Frost & Snow/Piper in the Meadow Straying

The Sanctuary Choir & Liminal

Please see the bulletin insert for nominations.

and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

SENDING CHARGE AND BLESSING

from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church;

VOLUNTARY

the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins;

Liminal

Merry Christmas Jig/Masters in This Hall/All Around the Holly Tree

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

RESPONSE | HYMN 113 Angels We Have Heard on High REFRAIN ONLY

GLORIA

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

Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!

DECLARATION OF PARDON

THE PEACE

PRAYER OF INTERCESSION

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

And also with you.

THE LORD’S PRAYER UNISON Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,

THE PEACE MAY BE EXCHANGED WITH THOSE AROUND YOU.

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.

Celebrating in Worship Liminal will perform in the Jackson Street Foyer immediately following worship.

Andra Bohnet | Flute/Whistle Andy Kruspe | Bodhrán Ben Harper | Guitar