Sunday Bulletin | December 13, 2020

Government Street Presbyterian Church Sunday, December 13, 2020 | 10am T h e T h i r d S u n d ay i n A dv e n t

Wherever you are worshiping today, we pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to you through the scripture, prayers, music, Prelude and sermon. We are called to Chiming of the Hour worship by the promises of God in whom we place our Welcome faith and trust.

Gathering

Call to Worship & Scripture and Hymn settings Lighting of the Advent Wreath can be found on pages 5-8 of the bulletin. We invite you to reflect on the hymn texts as they are sung, and the Scriptures as they are read.

Music on the Theme of Advent WESTMINSTER

Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar Travis & Lisa Goodloe

While we wait for Christ’s coming, we light the candle of hope.

We place our hope in the Light of the World.

While we wait for Christ’s coming, we light the candle of peace.

We pray for peace in our hearts, our homes, and our world.

While we wait for Christ’s coming, we light the candle of joy.

We pray for joy of Christ to overwhelm our sorrow.

Hymn 87—This 17th-century The light of these candles is our prayer for a better world, German paraphrase of Isaiah a prayer for God’s kingdom to come.

40:1–5 was one of the texts “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” translated as part of the 19thLet us worship God. century British interest in German religious poetry. It is Hymn 87 Comfort, Comfort Now My People set here to one of the most GENEVAN 42 popular Genevan psalter tunes, probably derived from Prayer of Confession unison an earlier French folksong.

You came and lived among us, O God, shining light into our darkness, but we did not recognize you.

We continue to miss your presence in our lives, placing our hope in that which does not satisfy.

We contribute to the discord and hostility around us, 1

refusing to believe true peace is possible.

We count our burdens, forgetting the joy that drew us to you.

Forgive us, Lord. Open our eyes to perceive you among us.

Open our ears to hear your call.

Open our hearts to the fullness of your kingdom even today.

In the name of Christ we pray, Amen.

Assurance of Pardon Response | Hymn 581

Glory Be to the Father

GLORIA PATRI

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.

P roclaiming the Word

In the Prayer for Illumination, we ask the Holy Spirit to be present with us as we hear God’s word read and Prayer for Illumination preached. We seek to better understand God’s will so that First Reading we can follow Christ more Children’s Sermon faithfully.

LeAnne Tamblyn Isaiah 64:1-4, 8-11 Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar

The Lord’s Prayer 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,

Second Reading Sermon Hymn 88—These titles the coming Christ appeared in daily Vesper antiphons sung

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.

John 1:6-8, 19-28 Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar

“Testify to the Light”

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Thanksgiving

during the week before Christmas; their roots date at least to the reign of Charlemagne. Both text and Hymn 88 tune are the fruit of 19thcentury efforts to reclaim Affirmation of Faith unison Christian treasures from preI believe in God the Father Almighty, Reformation sources. maker of heaven and earth;

Confessions define what we and in Jesus Christ as a community believe, his only Son our Lord; affirming our beliefs about who was conceived by the Holy God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, Spirit, and about humanity, the suffered under Pontius Pilate, church and the world. The was crucified, dead, and buried; Apostles’ Creed affirms the he descended into hell; historical nature of Jesus of the third day he rose again from the Nazareth as the Christ and dead; he ascended into heaven, confirms the Trinitarian nature of God as Father, Son, and Offertory Holy Spirit.

Doxology | Hymn 607

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel vs. 3,4 VENI EMMANUEL

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.

Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow

Hymn 82—With its opening “Come,” this hymn sounds the Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; note of entreaty and invitation Praise God all creatures here below. that characterizes the Advent Praise God above ye Heavenly host; season (from the Latin Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen! adventus = “coming”). Its blending of memory and hope Prayer of Intercession & Thanksgiving helps us to give voice to our present faith as we stand between the past and the future.

OLD HUNDREDTH

Sending

Hymn 82

Please remain seated at the postlude. An usher will come Benediction by to dismiss your pew.

Postlude Celebrating in Worship Sami Anselmo Jacob Mohr

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus HYFRYDOL

Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar Toccata on Veni Emmanuel Samuel Metzger

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Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.

4 They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

8 For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

9 Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed.

10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

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John 1:6-8, 19-28 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said.

24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” 28 This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

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CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS Orders may be submitted online via PayPal at gspcmobile.org/giving, or by request to Katy Partridge katy@gspcmobile.org in the church office.

Plants are $12 each and may be collected following the 6 p.m. Christmas Eve service. Deadline to order is Wednesday, December 16.

We need the following information for dedications: Your name, number of plants, names of those in honor or in memory of.

Please note “poinsettia(s)” on your check.

Make plans now to attend GSPC’s Christmas Eve worship services.

Two services will be offered: Lessons & Carols at 4 p.m. and Lessons & Carols with Communion at 6 p.m.

The duration of each service will be one-hour.

Due to COVID, it is necessary to accommodate those attending by offering two services.

Please go to gspcmobile.org/rsvp to let us know which service your family will attend.

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Thank You! to those who set up and decorated the beautiful Chrismon tree in Jackson Street foyer.

CopyrightŠ Certificate Hymn settings, scripture, and other materials used by permission.

Government Street Presbyterian Church CCLI# 11115660 Valid thru 10/31/2021 10

Advent Devotional 2020 Devotionals written for each day in Advent by members of GSPC.

Booklets are available at the Government and Jackson Street exits.

You may also view the booklet online at gspcmobile.org/ adventdevotional

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The Sanctuary Flowers are given to the glory of God by Nicole Bounds Riis in loving memory of her father Kent Bounds.

300 Government Street Mobile, Alabama 36602 251.432.1749 | gspcmobile.org Member PC(USA)

 Staff REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR Pastor & Head of Staff rebekah@gspcmobile.org REV. ALEXANDRA HUTSON Associate Pastor alexandra@gspcmobile.org TOMMY WATTS Director of Music & Organist Communications tommy@gspcmobile.org

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Women’s Bible Study Tuesdays at 10AM via Zoom Contact: Laurie Shorter or Mary Elizabeth Perry Sunday Book Study Group Sundays at 12:00 p.m. via Zoom Contact: Laurie Shorter Presbyterian Women P.W. Circle & Bible Study Second Monday night of each month via Zoom (12/14, 1/11, 2/8, 3/8, 4/12, 5/10) Contact: Bligh Jones

SAMANTHA ANSELMO Children’s Choir Director

KATY PARTRIDGE Office & Property Manager katy@gspcmobile.org DAWN HEARN Bookkeeper dawn@gspcmobile.org BARBARA WILLIAMS Hostess barbara@gspcmobile.org SHELIA SMITH Director of Food Services MARILYN MILLS Sexton ARTHUR LEWIS Sexton 

@GSPCMOBILE 12