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“Growing Our Community Together” Christ's Sunday, December 16, 2018 Third Sunday of Advent A Service of Lessons and Carols The Chancel Choir Ken Selinger, Director of Music Betsy Selinger, Accompanist “Growing our Community Together” Christ’s Lutheran Church exists to welcome people to faith in Christ Jesus; to equip persons with a faith that works in real life; and to send us in service into the world in Jesus’ name. Christ’s Lutheran Church 700 East Pennsylvania Avenue Oreland, Pennsylvania The Rev. Bill Vanderslice, Pastor Serving Today Greeters – Ron & Karen Greilich Lectors – Choir Communion Assistants – Dorie Ramsdell, Jerry Beil Soundboard – Jen Keller Acolytes – Fallon George, Jess Shapley, Will Shapley Ushers – Dave Asher, John Melnick, Mike Messer, Tim Keller Altar Guild – Tim & Jen Keller Nursery – Olivia Felix Flower Delivery – Susan Ross Counters – Sue Frantz, Lori Stevens Closer – Vicky Frantz Coffee Hour – Allison Uehling, Karen Bennion Advent Wreath Lighters – Robin, Penelope, and Richard Daniels Serving Next Sunday Greeters – The Uehling Family Lector – (8 am) Deb Quaco (10:30 am) John Frantz Soundboard – Mike Messer Acolytes – Mira Parapatt, Lukas Parapatt, Wyatt Nelson Ushers – Clyde Engle, Don Berger, Steve Seyfried, David Ross, Ed Suloff Altar Guild – Dorie Ramsdell, Pat Hargraves Nursery – Olivia Felix Flower Delivery – Alice Rasmussen Counters – Bill & Bev Campbell Closer – Vicky Frantz Advent Wreath Lighters – Mariel, Adam, Madeleine and Emilia Ochs Christ’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 700 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Oreland, PA 19075 Office Phone: 215-886-4612 | FAX: 215-886-1422 www.christs-oreland.org Email: [email protected] Bill Vanderslice, Senior Pastor: [email protected] Ken Selinger, Director of Music: [email protected] Elise Seyfried, Spiritual Formation Director: [email protected] Lorraine Pfeiffer, Administrative Assistant: [email protected] Sally Mead, Preschool Director: [email protected] Peter Carr, Sexton: [email protected] Office Hours: 8:30am-12:30pm In the event of a pastoral emergency, after office hours, you may reach Pastor Vanderslice by calling his cell phone at 215-534-2845. 2 Welcome to Christ’s Lutheran Church! May you experience the joy of God’s presence as we worship together this morning. We are blessed by your presence! Enjoy our gracious lobby to greet friends, guests, and visitors before the service. Please sign the guest book in the lobby if you are visiting with us today, and include your address and zip code. Please allow others to enjoy quiet space and time in the pews as they prepare for worship. Our musical prelude begins our worship experience. We encourage you to use this time to silently prepare to receive God’s Word. WHEN YOU LEAVE…..Introduce yourself to someone you do not know. The poinsettias decorating the altar and sanctuary are dedicated by those listed on the insert. You may download an electronic copy of the worship program to your electronic device by scanning the QR code on the lobby bulletin board. Cell Phones - Please silence your electronic devices before entering the worship area. We request that you put your cell phone on “Airplane” mode to avoid any interference with the sound system. An AED is located in the office hallway. There is an automated external defibrillator (AED) in case of an emergency. Large Print Bulletins are available in the lobby, or ask an usher. Activity Bags and Children’s Bulletins are available in the lobby. A lobby speaker and windows make it possible to see/hear the service from the Lobby in case you need to step out for your comfort or for attending to young children's needs. _____________________ The Service is from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, copyright 2006. All rights reserved Service music and hymns are used by permission of Augsburg Fortress license #14002-LIT, CCLI License # 1589737 or One License # A 70825 3 Lessons & Carols Our Choir dedicates this service of Lessons & Carols to long time choir member and worship leader Kathy Suloff “My life flows on in endless song…how can I keep from singing” Special thanks to the Chancel Choir Ken Selinger, Director of Music Betsy Selinger, Accompanist for leading today’s Service of Lessons and Carols The service of “Lessons and Carols” is based on the format of the traditional service held each Christmas Eve in the Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, England. First presented on Christmas Eve in 1918, the format was created by Eric Milner-White whose years as an army chaplain convinced him that the church needed different forms of worship. His original service was then adapted by the Archbishop of Canterbury and almost immediately other churches modified it for their own use as we have today. 4 Prelude “Bring a Torch” French Carol, arr. Smith Trumpet: Danny Melnick Choral Introit: “People Look East” Farjeon/arr.Leavitt Welcome and Announcements A Moment for Reflection GATHERING The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God. Please stand in body or spirit. The Welcome The angel said to the shepherd, “Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ, the Lord. (Luke 2: 10-11) As we gather this morning, we hear again the good news the angels proclaimed: God has come for all people through the birth of the one named Jesus. Through Bethlehem’s manger God comes into the chaos, messiness, and vulnerability of the world. In all things and at all times, we rejoice that God comes to save us and reigns in love. We come in song and verse to adore Jesus who is Savior, Christ and Lord. The Dialogue Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth. Let the earth hear, and all that fills it. The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. This is the Lord for whom we wait; let us be glad and rejoice in the salvation of God. O Come, O Come Emmanuel Hard Covered Hymn Book – ELW # 257 | Verses 1 and 2 Reprinted by ownership of sufficient copies or license #, see page 3. See next page for the hymn. 5 O Come, O Come Emmanuel Verses 1 and 2 1 O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel. 2 O come, O Wisdom from on high, embracing all things far and nigh: in strength and beauty come and stay; teach us your will and guide our way. Refrain Confession and Forgiveness Amid the troubles and fears of this world, let us confess our sin and welcome God’s forgiveness, grace and love. Silence is kept for reflection. Mary accepted your call to be the mother of Jesus. Forgive our lack of faith and trust. Your Son was born in the poverty of a stable. Forgive our neglect of the poor. The shepherds left their flocks and went to Bethlehem. Forgive our selfishness and complacency. With great joy the angels proclaimed, “Do not fear. For I bring you good news of great joy. Today is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. In Jesus, who is Savior, Christ, and Lord, our sins are forgiven. May you know the peace which the angels sang from the heavens. Indeed, God’s forgiveness is good news of great joy!” Amen. 6 The Gathering Song Angels, from the Realms of Glory Hard Covered Hymn Book – ELW # 275 Reprinted by ownership of sufficient copies or license #, see page 3. Please be seated for the lighting of the Advent Wreath and hymn. 7 The Lighting of the Advent Wreath The Daniels Family – Robin, Penelope, and Richard As we light the third candle, we remember the shepherds, simple men, out in the dark and cold night tending their flocks. Surely the last thing in the world they expected was the arrival of angels. The last thing they anticipated was an invitation to come and worship the Christ child. And yet it happened---and it happened to them. Sometimes, wonderful things come when we least expect them. This Advent, we pray that we will be open to the miracles all around us. Let us accept the invitation to come, just as we are to the manager in Bethlehem to share the joy of the Savior’s birth. Wreath Lighting Prayer – Third Candle | Pink Candle The Hymn of Praise Angels We Have Heard on High Hard Covered Hymn Book – ELW # 289 Reprinted by ownership of sufficient copies or license #, see page 3. Verses 1 and 2 1 Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o'er the plains, and the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains. Refrain Gloria in excelsis Deo; gloria in excelsis Deo. 2 Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heav'nly song? Refrain 8 The Word God speaks to us in scripture, preaching, and song. The First Reading Isaiah 12:2-6 (CEV) Read by: Jim Brenneman I trust you to save me, LORD God, and I won’t be afraid. My power and my strength come from you, and you have saved me. With great joy, your people will get water from the well of victory. At that time you will say, “Our LORD, we are thankful, and we worship only you. We will tell the nations how glorious you are and what you have done. Because of your wonderful deeds we will sing your praises everywhere on earth.” Sing, people of Zion! Celebrate the greatness of the holy LORD of Israel.
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