Worship Bulletin 12/11/22

Starling Avenue Baptist Church Third Sunday of Advent

December 11, 2022 ╬ 11:00 a.m.

The Worship of God Third Sunday of Advent December 11, 2022 ╬ 11:00 a.m. *We invite you to stand as you are able.

Gathering at God’s Invitation Call to Worship

The Word Became Flesh

Dr. Joe Bryant

(Responsive Reading)

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

(John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.”’)

From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known. (John 1:14-18)

Prelude

Angels We Have Heard on High

Trad. French; arr. by Melody Bober

Welcome

Dr. Joe Bryant

Life of the Community Lighting of the Advent Candle: Joy Lighting of the Joy Candle: Sarah & William Fain Will you come to our world, God? Will you come with joy?

For we have too much seriousness; not enough laughter; Too many expectations, not enough celebration; Too many worlds, too little singing.

O come, O come, Emmanuel. When you come, bring joy.

Kathy Long

Featured Chrismon: Flowers of Faith—The Daisy

Kathy Long

In the Bible flowers are a symbol of the Old Testament promise of the coming of the Messiah. They represent women who carry the seeds of life – the flower being the child. The circle, representing the life cycle of a flower, symbolizes the life and death of both Christ and man. The promise of spring brings forth the rebirth of a new life.

Jesus taught in terms familiar to his followers and often drew illustrations from plants of the Holy Lands. Disciples used flowers as a reference to Christ because of how a blossom’s specific characteristics related to him.

The Daisy is a flower of simplicity, symbolizing the purity and innocence of the Christ Child. They bloom from seeds for only a few short weeks. Though their beauty disappears, they are reborn the next spring. Peter, in his first letter to exiled believers, wrote: “You have been born anew, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for ‘All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord abides forever.’ That word is the good news, which was preached to you.” I Peter 23-24.

*Hymn #105

Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming

The Church at Prayer & The Lord’s Prayer

German Carol, 15th century

Kathy Long

Remembering in Prayer: Garry Nelson, Maggie Pilson (friend of Becky Nance), Gloria Roop & husband Terry (friends of Nancy Snyder), Lauren Werner (Linda Pulliam’s granddaughter), Gloria Weaver, Lowell Roberts, Dana Sharon, Tony & Debbie Craddock, J. G. McMillan, Robert Sherwood, Susanne Travis, Pete Mabry, Lois Johnson, Jeanette Draper, Linda Harris, Christy Mattox & Regina Carter; Our Country; All Those Affected by War & Violence; Our Homebound Members

*Hymn #112

Child in the Manger

Trad. Gaelic melody; harm. Mark Edwards, 2007

Giving our Tithes and Offerings Offertory Prayer Offertory

Linda Pulliam The Potter’s Hand

Darlene Zschech, 1993

*Doxology (Hymn #706) Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise Him, all creatures here below; praise Him above, ye heavenly host, praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Anthem

People Look East (Choir accompanied by Fern Kanode)

French folk melody; harm. Shelby Trapp, 2008

Hearing God’s Word Old Testament Reading * New Testament Reading

Psalm 25:4-8 KJV

Dr. Joe Bryant

Matthew 1:18-25 NIV

Dr. Joe Bryant

For the Word of God in Scripture, for the Word of God among us, for the Word of God within us.

Thanks be to God. Sermon

Christmas Sermon Series: “The King is Coming” Second Sermon: “The Way to the King”

Dr. Joe Bryant

Responding to God’s Word *Hymn #575

Redeemed

A. L. Butler, 1966

If you sense God calling you today, we invite you to respond during this time of invitation.

If God is calling you to follow Jesus for the first time, to rededicate yourself as a Christ-follower, or as a faithful Christian, to join the fellowship of our church, we encourage you to come forward to speak to our pastor during this closing hymn.

Sending Into God’s World Benediction

Psalm 8:9 KJV

Dr. Joe Bryant

O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Postlude

Christmas Medley

Transcribed by William Stickles