Welcome to OPC December 10: 2 - PowerPoint Presentation

Welcome to OPC December 10: 2 nd Sunday of Advent

“The Chimes” ~OPC YouthWelcome and Announcements Greeting Each Other Ringing of the Bell

Season of CaringDo you see an answer to your need (or the need of a loved one) here? Visit the “Season of Caring” display in the Fellowship Hall to select the offer of help that you can use.Please feel free to post other needs that you have (on the board) Other services to offer may also be posted there. Thank you for your participation and caring!

Season of CaringResponses for “I CAN DO…” I can – Help decorate for Christmas -- Write Christmas Cards -- Help with Baking -- Make a meal, or, make a cake or pie for busy days -- Wrapping, baking, visiting -- Shovel a driveway -- 2 hours of cleaning, running errands, or whatever

Season of CaringResponses for “I CAN DO…” I can – Help with anything as long as it is during a weekend -- Rides and or shopping 8-11AM -- Babysit -- Help get out & put up decorations, set up a tree, lift and move furniture -- Help address Christmas cards -- Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Season of CaringResponses for “I CAN DO…” I can – Babysit, Dog sit, or House sit -- Visit shut-ins, help w/ cleaning, accompany to a doctor appointment -- A ride to doctor appointment -- Visit a shut-in

“The Chimes” ~OPC YouthWelcome and Announcements Greeting Each Other Ringing of the Bell

Prelude “Toccata on Adeste Fidelis ” ~ Hegarty Lighting of the candles

CALL TO WORSHIP L: The God who speaks comfort to us calls us here this day. P: The God who addresses us with tenderness meets us here.

CALL TO WORSHIP L: The God who guides us with gentleness cares for us here. P: We come waiting for the Lord, being made ready to receive him.

CALL TO WORSHIP L: Hallelujah! The Lord is coming with hope and peace. P: Lord, continue to call us and put us on the right path to you. Amen.

LIGHTING OF THE PEACE CANDLEL: Gracious God, on our Advent journey, P: We have begun with Hope.L: As we continue, grant us the courage to make Peace.

LIGHTING OF THE PEACE CANDLEP: Peace in our hearts, L: Peace in our homes,P: Peace in our communities, L: Peace for the kingdom.

LIGHTING OF THE PEACE CANDLEP: Help us, Emmanuel, to be the people of peace we are called to be.

Comfort, comfort you my people,Tell of peace, thus says our God;Comfort those who sit in darkness Bowed beneath oppression’s load. HYMN # 3 “ Comfort, Comfort You…” v.1

Speak you to JerusalemOf the pace that waits for them;Tell them that their sins I cover, And their warfare now is over. HYMN # 3 “ Comfort, Comfort You…” v.1

For the herald’s voice is callingIn the desert far and near,Bidding us to make repentance Since the kingdom now is here. HYMN # 3 “ Comfort, Comfort You…” v.2

O that warning cry obey!Now prepare for God a way;Let the valleys rise in meeting And the hills bow down in greeting. HYMN # 3 “ Comfort, Comfort You…” v.2

Make you straight what long was crooked,Make the rougher places plain; Let your hearts be true and humble,As befits God’s holy reign. HYMN # 3 “ Comfort, Comfort You…” v.3

For the glory of the LordNow o’er earth is shed abroad;And all flesh shall see the token That God’s word is never broken. HYMN # 3 “ Comfort, Comfort You…” v.3

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) We are impatientpeople, O Lord. We want everything immediately. Because we really don’t understand the power and importance of waiting and preparing for your great gift,

we want to skip over Advent and go right to Christmas morning. We are so eager for the parties and celebrations. It is easy for us to forget those who are in need, to not listen to those who are troubled,

to not reach out in kindness and compassion to all who hurt. Forgive us for our need to speed through the season of Advent. Slow us down and give us an appreciation for the Advent of your Son.

(silence is observed for individual reflection and prayer)

* ASSURANCE OF PARDON L: God patiently waits for you – slow down, take your time, relax. God is sending the Promised One who will enter your heart with healing, hope, and peace.

* ASSURANCE OF PARDON P: Thanks be to the Advent God, who comes among us, setting us free to love and serve. Amen.

OPC Youth w/ Adult Choir

PROCLAIMING THE WORDSCRIPTURE READING: Isaiah 40:1-11

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. 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.

A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 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. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’

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. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass.

The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand for ever. Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up; do not fear;

say to the cities of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’ See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will lead 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. L: This is the Word of the Lord.P: Thanks be to God!

SUNDAY SCHOOL PAGEANT

HYMN # 66 “ We Three Kings” (v.1 only) We three kings of Orient are, Bearing gifts we traverse afar. Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star.

HYMN # 66 “ We Three Kings” (v.1 only) O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light!

HYMN # 59 “ While Shepherds Watch…” v.1 While shepherds watched their flocks by night, All seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down And glory shone around, and glory shone around.

HYMN # 59 “ While Shepherds Watch …” v.3 To you, in David’s town this day, Is born of David’s line The Savior who is Christ the Lord, And this shall be a sign, and this shall be a sign.

HYMN #25 “Away in a Manger” v.1 Away in a manger, no crib for His bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

HYMN #25 “Away in a Manger” v.2 The cattle are lowing, the poor Baby wakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes. I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky, And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

HYMN #25 “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” v.1 Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King. Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”

HYMN #25 “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” v.1 Joyful, all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With the angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!” Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

HYMN #53 “What Child is This?” v.1 What Child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet while shepherds watch are keeping?

HYMN #53 “What Child is This?” v.1 This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the son of Mary!

HYMN # 40 “ Joy to the World! ” v.1 Joy to the World! The Lord is come; Let earth receive her King! Let every heart prepare Him room And heaven and nature sing (x2) And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD Offertory Invitation CHOIR ANTHEM “A Time for Advent” ~Stewart Harris

*DOXOLOGY #592 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.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATIONO God, bless these gifts and our lives. May they witness to the Way being prepared anew, and your glory to be revealed so that every eye shall clearly see it. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

RESPONDING TO THE WORD JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE PASTORAL PRAYER

The Lord’s Prayer (unison) 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.

BEARING AND FOLLOWING THE WORD INTO THE WORLD

Rejoice! Rejoice believers, and let your lights appear, The evening is advancing and darker night is near.The Bridegroom is arising and soon He will draw nigh; Up, watch with expectation, At midnight comes the cry. *HYMN #15 “Rejoice! Rejoice Believers” v.1

See that your lamps are burning, replenish them with oil; Look now for your salvation,The end of sin and toil. The marriage feast is waiting, The gates wide open stand; Arise, O heirs of glory, The Bridegroom is at hand! *HYMN #15 “Rejoice! Rejoice Believers” v.2

Our hope and expectation, O Jesus, now appear;Arise, Thou sun so longed for, Above this shadowed sphere! With hearts and hands uplifted, we plead, O Lord, to see The day of earth’s redemption, And ever be with Thee! *HYMN #15 “Rejoice! Rejoice Believers” v.3

*BENEDICTION

Postlude“Noel, Noel” ~J.S. Bach