GOVERNMENT STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Sunday, November 29, 2020 | 10AM THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT
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.
CALL TO WORSHIP &
Gathering ANN ADAMS, PIANIST WESTMINSTER
REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR
CASI & COLEMAN CALLAWAY
Scripture and Hymn settings LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH can be found on pages 4-8 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. The light of this candle 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.
Hymn 37—Written for an easy -to-sing folk melody familiar in England as well as Wales, this Let All Things Now Living 20th-century North American HYMN 37 ASH GROVE text bears many resemblances to both Psalm 148 and the PRAYER OF CONFESSION unison traditional canticle Benedicte, Holy God, you brought hope into our hurting world. omnia opera Domini (Bless the Even after your miraculous birth and resurrection, Lord, all you works of the we still fail to believe your promises. Lord).
We have stopped expecting your good news to be true. We are embarrassed to share the miracle of coming with others. Forgive us, Lord. Give us the courage to place our hope in you. Through Christ we pray, Amen.
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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.
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 PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION understand God’s will so that we can follow Christ more FIRST READING faithfully.
P roclaiming the Word
CHILDREN’S SERMON
Hymn 643—Although this hymn is often used on large and festive occasions, its first two stanzas had much humbler beginnings: they originated as a family table prayer during the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648). These words have been associated with this tune since the mid17th century. 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.
Mark 13:24-37 REV. ALEXANDRA HUTSON
SECOND READING
SERMON
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
“Restore Us”
REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR
Thanksgiving HYMN 643
Now Thank We All Our God NUN DANKETT ALLE GOTT
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH unison
REV. ALEXANDRA HUTSON
OFFERTORY I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; 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,
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.
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Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow The fourth century word DOXOLOGY | HYMN 607 OLD HUNDREDTH “Doxology” is comprised of the Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Greek words doxa and logos. Praise God all creatures here below. Doxa means splendor, or Praise God above ye Heavenly host; grandeur while the word logos means word or speaking. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen! Doxologies are short hymns of PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION & THANKSGIVING expression of praise to God and are often sung or chanted. THE LORD’S PRAYER unison Since the early church, Our Father, who art in heaven, For thine is the kingdom, doxologies have been a way hallowed be thy name, and the power, for Christians to express their thy kingdom come, and the glory, forever. love and thankfulness for what thy will be done, Amen. God has done in their lives. on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, Hymn 104—Though many as we forgive our debtors; Advent hymns address Christ and lead us not into temptation, with entreaty and invitation, but deliver us from evil. this more contemplative text considers how an individual prepares for and responds to Christ’s coming. It also brings together a recollection of the HYMN 104 O Lord, How Shall I Meet You VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN First Coming with an anticipation of the Second BENEDICTION REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR Coming.
Sending
POSTLUDE Please remain seated at the postlude. An usher will come by to dismiss your pew. Celebrating in Worship Sami Anselmo Jacob Mohr
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Mark 13:24-37 24 “But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. 27 Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
35 Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, 36 or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”
28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.
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Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth 2 before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might, and come to save us! 3 Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved. 4 O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? 5 You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure. 6 You make us the scorn of our neighbors; our enemies laugh among themselves. 7 Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
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GSPC presents
Advent Devotional 2020 Devotionals written for each day in Advent by members of GSPC.
Booklets will be available following worship at the
Government and Jackson Street exits. You may also view
the booklet online at gspcmobile.org/ adventdevotional 9
Visit GSPC online at GSPCMOBILE . ORG
Social Media @GSPCMOBILE Have church photos? upload to Google Photos at GSPCMOBILE.ORG/PICS GSPC sends an email newsletter each Friday. If you do not currently receive this and would like to, you may sign up at GSPCMOBILE.ORG/SIGNUP or by calling the church office at 251.432.1749.
Copyright© 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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300 Government Street Mobile, Alabama 36602 251.432.1749 | gspcmobile.org Member PC(USA)
The Sanctuary Flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of
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 DAWN HEARN Bookkeeper dawn@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
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