Government Street Presbyterian Church Sunday, December 27, 2020 | 10am T h e F i r s t S u n d ay a f t e r C h r i s t m a s
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 worship by the promises of Chiming of the Hour God in whom we place our Welcome faith and trust.
Gathering Czech Christmas Carol Martha Solaje (b. 1948)
WESTMINSTER
Rev. Alexandra Hutson
from Psalm 148 Scripture and Hymn settings Call to Worship can be found on pages 5-8 of Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; the bulletin. We invite you to praise him in the heights! reflect on the hymn texts as Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host! they are sung, and the Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! Scriptures as they are read. Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for he commanded and they were created. Hymn 119—Brought together in the mid-19th century, the Hymn 119 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing text and tune of this familiar MENDELSSOHN carol began in quite different forms. The text had ten Prayer of Confession unison stanzas and began, “Hark, God of grace and truth, in Jesus Christ you came among us how all the welkin rings.” The as light shining in darkness. tune was created for a festival We confess that we have not welcomed the light, celebrating Gutenberg’s or trusted good news to be good. introduction of moveable type. We have closed our eyes to glory in our midst, expecting little, and hoping for less. Forgive our doubt, and renew our hope, so that we may receive the fullness of your grace, and live in the truth of Christ the Lord. Amen 1
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 Prayer for Illumination
In the Prayer for Illumination, we ask the Holy First Reading Spirit to be present with us as we hear God’s word read and Children’s Sermon preached. We seek to better The Lord’s Prayer understand God’s will so that we can follow Christ more Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, faithfully. 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,
John Peebles Isaiah 61:10-62:3
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.
Second Reading Sermon
Luke 2:22-40 Rev. Alexandra Hutson
“This Child is Destined” Hymn 629—The sweetness celebrated in this anonymous 12th-century Latin poem is not cloying or sentimental; it is more like an antidote to Hymn 629 Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee bitterness and a source of ST. AGNES hope and healing. The bestknown 19th-century translation is set here to a tune composed especially for these words.
Thanksgiving
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Confessions define what we Affirmation of Faith unison as a community believe, I believe in God the Father Almighty, affirming our beliefs about maker of heaven and earth; God, Jesus Christ, the Holy and in Jesus Christ Spirit, and about humanity, the his only Son our Lord; church and the world. The who was conceived by the Holy Apostles’ Creed affirms the Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, historical nature of Jesus of suffered under Pontius Pilate, Nazareth as the Christ and was crucified, dead, and buried; confirms the Trinitarian nature he descended into hell; of God as Father, Son, and the third day he rose again from the Holy Spirit. dead; he ascended into heaven,
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.
Hymn 136—Like other Offertory material from oral traditions, Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow 19th-century African American Doxology | Hymn 607 OLD HUNDREDTH spirituals flourished without Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; being written down. Their Praise God all creatures here below. refrains were their most stable parts, and narrative stanzas Praise God above ye Heavenly host; were often improvised to fit. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen! These Nativity stanzas attempt Prayer of Intercession & Thanksgiving to recall that tradition.
Please remain seated at the postlude. An usher will come Hymn 136 by to dismiss your pew.
Benediction Celebrating in Worship Sami Anselmo Jacob Mohr
Postlude
Sending Go, Tell It on the Mountain TRADITIONAL
Rev. Alexandra Hutson Adeste Fideles
arr. Harold Rutz (b. 1930)
Stephen Prager, guest organist
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Isaiah 61:10-62:3 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. 62 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. 2 The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. 3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
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Luke 2:22-40 22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
that will be opposed 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” 36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” 33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign 5
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CopyrightŠ Certificate Hymn settings, scripture, and other materials used by permission. Government Street Presbyterian Church CCLI# 11115660 Valid thru 10/31/2021 10
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The Sanctuary Flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Mr. & Mrs. Ervin S. Cooper by their family. 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 SAMANTHA ANSELMO Children’s Choir Director
KATY PARTRIDGE Office & Property Manager katy@gspcmobile.org
HOLIDAY HOURS The church office will be closed beginning at noon on Thursday, December 31 and will reopen on Monday, January 4. Meals-on-Wheels will not run on Friday, January 1. 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 (1/11, 2/8, 3/8, 4/12, 5/10) Contact: Bligh Jones
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