December 17, 2023 Third Sunday of Advent
Adult Sunday School @ 9:30 AM Sunday In-Person and Livestream Worship Service @ 10:45 AM “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.” Matthew 5:14 NRSV
The Church on the Hill, Near the Cross, In the Word and on the move for Christ
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Monday
Youth Church Sunday @ 10:45 AM
Pastor’s Prayer Call @ 7:00 AM
Adult Sunday School now in person @ 9:30 AM
Monday - Friday
Sunday Service on Livestream @ 10:45 AM
KAIROS Call @ 1:00 PM :HGQHVGD\ Bible Study on Zoom @ 7:00 PM
&KXUFK 2IILFH +RXUV Monday through Friday 9AM - 4 PM One Hagerty Blvd. West Chester, PA 19382 610.692.2446 www.stpaulsbaptist.org
Order of Worship The Third Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 17, 2023 Rev. Orville Brissett Minister of Music and Worship Arts
Reverend Farrah Gaskins Worship Leader
Praise and Worship Lighting of the Advent Candle The Call to Worship The Choral Introit……… Holy, Holy, Holy….…........Congregation Prayer of Invocation..….….……..............Reverend Farrah Gaskins Prayer Chant…………….The Lord’s Prayer………..Congregation
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Musical Interlude……………………..……………………… Advent Litany………………………………………………. The Hymn of Consecration…….... “Joy to the World”…….…..Men’s Choir
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Greeting our Visitors…..……………............…Sister Triera Wicks Pastoral Emphasis & Scripture Lesson............... Rev. Dr. Wayne E. Croft Sr., The Ministry of Giving Offertory Prayer…….…..................................Trustee Danon Mckim
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Announcements …..……..................................................................... Prayer of Intercession………...…….............Minister Kay Anderson Choral Response.…...……………..…………………..………...
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The Ministry of Music
Sermonic Selection……….. “Still Here”……...……….Men’s Choir “We don’t need another political uprising. We don’t need another conqueror on the scene. What we need is a special word, that will bond within our hearts and give us direction from above. We need a Word from the Lord. A Word from the Lord. Just one Word from the Lord, will remove all the doubts and cause the sun to shine and give peace of mind. Speak Lord, Speak Lord.”
The Ministry of Preaching The Reverend Dr. Wayne E. Croft, Sr.
“Song of Joy”
Zephaniah 3:14-20 NRSV *Call to Discipleship
Departing to Serve
*PleaseStand **UshersMaySeatWorshippers ***Congregation Seated Worship with us online at https://stpaulsbaptist.org/
ADVENT LITANY : JOY LEADER: A sound is heard in Ramah, the sound of weeping. Rachael is weeping.
PEOPLE: As we begin the Advent Season we pray for our justice system, we respect the system even when its results seem flawed, we pray for the families of those who have been slain by gun violence, left to die on streets. We also pray for the accusers. LEADER: As people of God, we weep for the lives of all who instead of enjoying life become victims of hate, victims of war, and victims of violence. We come to praise you, O God, the maker of heaven and earth. PEOPLE: Glory be to God on high; and earth, peace. LEADER: We come to praise You, God our Creator. You have made us in Your image. Give us the courage to hunger for You with our whole being, so that in hungering for You, we live for You, loving You in our every breath, thought, and action. PEOPLE: Glory be to God on high; and on earth peace. LEADER: We come to praise you Lord Jesus, who, though You were in the form of God, allowed Yourself to be born in human likeness. PEOPLE: Glory be to God on high; and on earth peace. ALL: Christ Jesus, Son of God, the Light of the World may the joyful promise of Your presence make us rejoice in our hope of salvation. You are the Joy of Heaven that longs to fill us. You are the might of God that longs to empower us. You bring life to the deserts of our hearts, and You bring joy to the darkest night. Glory be to God on high; and on earth peace.
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Home Daily Bible Readings MONDAY “Contentment in Every Situation” (Philippians 4:10-19) TUESDAY “God Is My Refuge” (Psalm 91:1-16) WEDNESDAY “The Lord Has Done Great Things!” (Joel 2:18-27) THURSDAY “The Annunciation to Zechariah” (Luke 1:5-17) FRIDAY “Zechariah Doubts but Elizabeth Rejoices” (Luke 1:18-25) SATURDAY “Believe!” (John 20:19, 24-29) SUNDAY “Mary and Elizabeth Express Faith” (Luke 1:36-45, 56 )
MINISTRY MOMENTS CLOTHING MINISTRY-ACCEPTING WINTER CLOTHES OPEN TUESDAYS 1PM-3PM QUILTING MINISTRY-TUESDAYS 6PM-8PM CHOIRINSPIRATIONAL CHOIR PRACTICE TUESDAYS @ 7PM **The Clothing Ministry is in need of new men's underwear and socks (all sizes). We are also in need of men‘s belts. Belts can be new or used.
Members In Nursing Homes and Hospitals Select Specialty Hospital Sister Angela Asparagus Room #927
Rockland Place (Nursing Home) Sister Geneva Porter-Room 230 1519 Rockland Road Wilmington, DE 19803 Pembrooke (Nursing Home) Sister Deedra Matthews-Room 226 1120 West Chester Pike West Chester, PA 19382
Members Convalescing at Home Deacon Jesse Craig Sister Lurerlene Crook Brother Lynell Laws Brother Albert "Skeater" Hill Sister Sonya Combs-Adams
Church Family the following items will help us serve with greater efficiency: Any items that you need to be placed in the Sunday Bulle�n must be submitted to the Church Office by noon on Wednesday. You may email your announcement informa�on to assistantsecretary@stpaulsbap�st.org. If informa�on is received a�er the deadline, it will be placed in the next upcoming Sunday Bulle�n. Announcements will only be placed in the bulletin 3 weeks prior to the event. Any in-service Ministry announcements can be sent to spbcannouncementministry@gmail.com. They will announce Pastoral Emphasis and St. Paul’s ministry news only. The deadline is Monday to be announced 3 weeks out. Any item of informa�on for Pastoral Emphasis, or if you are reques�ng to make an announcement on Sunday, must be submitted by noon on Friday. You may either call 610.692.2446 Ext. 140 or email your announcement informa�on to churchoffice@stpaulsbap�st.org. We realize that things do happen between Friday and Sunday and that the need may arise wherein someone has to get a note to Pastor. However, in an effort to give Pastor minimal distrac�ons on Sunday mornings as he prepares for worship, aside from an emergency, please refrain from sending a note to Pastor reques�ng that he make an announcement.
Opportunities for sharing time and talents
Part time Church Sexton M-F 6pm-9pm Contact the church office at churchoffice@stpaulsbaptist.org Weekend Church Sexton
Saturday and Sundays
REACTIVATION of the SAFETY & SECURITY MINISTRY
Do you take safety and security seriously? Do you have a special skill set that could benefit the safety and security ministry? Did you serve on the safety and security ministry previously? If you answered yes to any of these questions then please use the tiny URL to express interest in serving on the ministry. https://tinyurl.com/SPBC-SSERP23
For more information, please contact Dr. Carmen Lesesne or email security@stpaulsbaptist.org
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Looking for an opportunity to give of your time and talents? We are praying for volunteers to serve on the planning committee and/or to be available to join us at the dinner as we give back and serve the community. To learn more about this outreach dinner and how you can help, please join us for an informational meeting on Sunday, January 7, 2024 immediately following morning service in Room 306. All ARE WELCOMED Chairperson – Brother David Durnell, Evangelism Ministry Co-Chair - Trustee Dwayne Loper Co-Chair - Sister Pam White, Missionary Ministry
Memorial Scholarship in Honor of Dr. Judith Thomas We, as family and friends of the late Dr. Judith Thomas, hereby establish this scholarship designed to support a student in need whose interests include educa�on. Besides being a Lincoln University student, to qualify for the scholarship, each year an oratorical compe��on will be held where students will be asked to speak on an issue relevant to educa�on in the current �me. Our goal is to raise $25,000 in the near term (by June 30, 2024), so that the first compe��on can be held in the fall of 2024. Students studying any major offered by Lincoln University are eligible to apply and to compete. Please use the link below to donate. Thank you for your support!
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/drjudiththomas
ST. PAUL'S BAPTIST CHURCH MARTIN LUTHER KING PLAZA
ONE HAGERTY BOULEVARD WEST CHESTER, PA 19382 PHONE: 610-692-2446 FAX: 610-692-7582 EMAIL: CHURCHOFFICE@STPAULSBAPTIST.ORG WWW.STPAULSBAPTIST.ORG