Government Street Presbyterian Church Sunday, December 6, 2020 | 10am T h e S e c o n d S u n d ay i n A d v 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 worship by the promises of Chiming of the Hour God in whom we place our Welcome faith and trust.
Gathering
Call to Worship &
2nd Breakfast WESTMINSTER
Rev. Alexandra Hutson
The McMillan Family
Scripture and Hymn settings Lighting of the Advent Wreath can be found on pages 5-8 of While we wait for Christ’s coming, the bulletin. We invite you to reflect on the hymn texts as we light the candle of hope. they are sung, and the We place our hope in the Light of the World. Scriptures as they are read. 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. The light of these candles is our prayer for a better world, a prayer for God’s kingdom to come. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” Let us worship God.
Anthem
Come to the Light
CELTIC ADVENT SONG
Come to the Light, the candle of hope, everyone gather near. Come to the Light and warm in its glow, Jesus will soon be here. This is the time, this is the place, worship with joyful praise. Lift up your voice, sing and rejoice, open your heart to grace.
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Prayer of Confession unison In the Prayer for Illumination, we ask the Holy Spirit to be present with us as we hear God’s word read and preached. We seek to better understand God’s will so that we can follow Christ more faithfully.
God of the future, you are coming in power to bring all nations under your rule. We confess that we have not expected your kingdom, for we live casual lives, ignoring your promised judgment. We accept lies as truth, exploit neighbors, abuse the earth, and refuse your justice and peace. In your mercy, forgive us. Grant us wisdom to welcome your way, and to seek things that will endure when Christ comes to judge the world.
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
Blanche Parsons
First Reading Children’s Sermon
Isaiah 40:1-11 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,
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. 2
Hymn 88—These titles of the Second Reading Mark 1:1-8 coming Christ appeared in Rev. Alexandra Hutson daily Vesper antiphons sung Sermon during the week before “How Will You Prepare?” Christmas; their roots date at least to the reign of Charlemagne. Both text and tune are the fruit of 19thHymn 88 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel vs. 1,2 century efforts to reclaim VENI EMMANUEL Christian treasures from preAffirmation of Faith unison Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar Reformation sources.
Thanksgiving
Confessions define what we as a community believe, affirming our beliefs about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and about humanity, the church and the world. The Apostles’ Creed affirms the historical nature of Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ and confirms the Trinitarian nature of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
I believe in God the Father Almighty,
and sitteth on the right hand of
maker of heaven and earth;
God the Father Almighty;
and in Jesus Christ
from thence he shall come to judge
his only Son our Lord;
the quick and the dead.
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven,
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.
The fourth century word Offertory “Doxology” is comprised of the Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow Greek words doxa and logos. Doxology | Hymn 607 OLD HUNDREDTH Doxa means splendor, or Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; grandeur while the word logos Praise God all creatures here below. means word or speaking. Praise God above ye Heavenly host; Doxologies are short hymns of expression of praise to God Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen! and are often sung or chanted. Since the early church, doxologies have been a way for Christians to express their Invitation to the Lord’s Table Rev. Hutson love and thankfulness for what God has done in their lives.
Sacrament of Holy Communion
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The Sacraments are the Great Prayer of Thanksgiving responsive Word of God enacted and Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar sealed in the life of the The Lord be with you. Church, the body of Christ. And also with you. When we gather at the Lord's Lift up your hearts. Supper, the Spirit draws us We lift them to the Lord. into Christ's presence and Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. unites us with the Church in It is right to give our thanks and praise. every time and place. We join with the faithful in heaven and o n e a r t h i n o f f e r i n g Breaking of the Bread thanksgiving to the triune God. Communion of the People -From the PC(USA) Directory of Worship
Communion Meditation
Communion will be served to you by an usher at each pew. Prayer after Communion All are invited to receive communion.
Rev. Alexandra Hutson
Sending
Hymn 106—This engaging Advent text based on Isaiah Hymn 106 Prepare the Way, O Zion 40:3–5 and Psalm 24:7–10 BEREDEN VÄG FÖR HERRAN has been in use in the Church Rev. Alexandra Hutson of Sweden for almost two Benediction hundred years. It is set to a Postlude 2nd Breakfast version of an even older Swedish tune, which in turn GSPC hosts a worship service with Celtic music each year on the seems to be derived from a German folk-tune that spread second Sunday in Advent. This year, we offer a similar experience to Scandinavia. using both pre-recorded and live playing of this beautiful style of music. We look forward to returning to our usual presentation next Advent. Chorale Sami Anselmo Jacob Mohr Andra Bohnet, flute
The music provided by 2nd Breakfast was recorded by:
Andra Bohnet Robby Gibson Ande Kruspe Rachel Nozny
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Isaiah 40:1-11 40 Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
O Zion, herald of good tidings;[a] lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,[b] lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” 10 See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.
6 A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. 9 Get you up to a high mountain, 5
Mark 1:1-8 1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; 3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” 4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
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CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS Order 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
Wednesday, December 9 6:30 p.m. GSPC will gather to tour the gardens, and those who want to participate may join in singing Christmas carols. Social distancing and masking will be observed.
Advent Devotional 2020 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 and in loving memory of Stewart Ashbee, by his 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
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
Worship with us via Live-stream on
BARBARA WILLIAMS Hostess barbara@gspcmobile.org SHELIA SMITH Director of Food Services MARILYN MILLS Sexton ARTHUR LEWIS Sexton
Sundays at 10 a.m.
@GSPCMOBILE 12