Welcome to East Brentwood Presbyterian Church

Sunday, December 8, 2019 Second Sunday in Advent

The congregation is asked to use the time of the pre-service music as a period of silent prayer and preparation.

We Gather

Threshold This Sunday we are encouraged to reflect on peace - a peace that, we are told, passes all understanding; a peace that is given to us through the one we know as the Prince of Peace; a peace that we acknowledge every Sunday as we are invited to pass that peace to those around us in worship.

Advent Welcome Song “Gathering With Our Old Friends” By Nate Strasser

Old friends, new friends Here with our family Peace is here this Christmas Not just a memory

Peace is here this Christmas Not just a memory

Call to Worship and Opening Prayer

A Visit from Our Old Friend - Peace

Lighting of the Advent Wreath Advent God, we open ourselves to hear your call today to become those who not only wait, but also work, for peace in our lives, our families, our communities, and our world.

Opening Hymn #128 “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly”

Passing of the Peace The Peace of Christ is with you! And also with you.

We Proclaim

Time with the Children Lindsey Hinds-Brown Congregation: God go with you Children: God be with you here

Special Music “There’s a Song in the Air”

Prayer for Illumination

Hebrew Scripture Isaiah 11:1-10 Blue p. 640, Red p. 602 The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

New Testament John 3:1-12 Blue p. 93, Red p. 88 The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Sermon Rev. John Hilley We Respond to God’s Love

Prayers of the People (Lord’s Prayer)

We continue with prayer as we join in singing:

“Christ be our Light”

Longing for light, we wait in darkness, Longing for truth, we turn to you. Make us your own, your holy people, light for the world to see.

Christ be our light! Shine in our hearts, Shine through the dark [night]. Christ, be our light! Shine in your church gathered today.

Longing for peace, our world is troubled, Longing for hope, many despair. Your Word alone has power to save us. Make us your living voice.

Christ be our light! Shine in our hearts, Shine through the dark [night]. Christ, be our light! Shine in your church gathered today.

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 sins, as we forgive those who sin against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Offertory “” (During the offertory, you are encouraged to participate and respond to God’s generosity by making your offering and you are invited to come forward to light a candle as a symbolic act of praying for a person or a place in need of God’s peace.)

Welcoming New Members Kiersten Bell, NaNette and Michael Bucek (Beau) , Owen Coulam, Jeremy and Kelli Cranford (Conlan and Adelyn) Jordan Fitts, Nora DeWater, Rick and Kelly Kimsey (Marley and Lennon) , Amethyst and Dax Kurbegov, Alex Kurbegov, Dara Kurbegov, Sue Moore, Matt and Amy Sterling (Wilmer and Edith), Ken and Jo VonNieda, Grady Vasilevskis, Jasper Vasilevskis

Ordination and Installation of Elders

Statement of Ordination Constitutional Questions Do we, the members of the church, accept these individuals, chosen by God through the voice of this congregation to lead us in the way of Jesus Christ? We do. Do we agree to pray for them, to encourage them, to respect their decisions, and to follow as they guide us, serving Jesus Christ, who alone is Head of the Church? We do. Prayer of Ordination

Welcoming New Elders Kristy Godsey Brown, Michael Bucek, Amethyst Kurbegov, Whitney Philbrick, Susan Rohleder, Jasper Vasilevskis

Hymn #105 “People, Look East”

Announcements

Benediction

Postlude “Unspeakable Joy” CCLI# 5607039 ______

Please rise in body or spirit.

About Today’s Service

Participants In Today’s Service: John Hilley (Pastor); Nate Strasser (Music Director); Lindsey Hinds-Brown (Young Families Director); Sue Moore (Liturgist); Beau Bucek and Marley Kimsey (Acolyte and Water Bearer); Karen and Lee Haberer, Dax and Amethyst Kurbegov (Hospitality and Offering Support); Yarnell Beatty (Taking on the persona of Peace).

Gathering of Old Friends: Each December, we are invited to greet the familiar Christmas Story and Advent themes of hope, joy, peace, and love like they were old friends. We know and love them, and through the years, their stories have become part of our stories, a part of who we are and how we see the world. The old stories we retell are comforting. But have you ever noticed that old friendships tend to change? As time marches on, our friendships change, the world changes, we change. In this wondrous season between Thanksgiving and Christmas, a time of visits with families and old friends, we invite you to join us in reflecting on our lives, and the ways we have been changed. We encourage you to look at these old friends – hope, peace, joy and love – with fresh eyes and consider anew how we might be changed this Christmas season.

“Giving is an act of worshiping God with gratitude for all the ministries we have to be thankful for at EBPC: faith-building worship, prayer, congregational care, fellowship, education (nursery, children, youth, adults,) mission programs, and stewardship of our facilities and grounds. All of these require resources. Our community’s faith is expressed in our budget which supports how we do God’s work. Please remember EBPC during this season of generosity. We hope you will be called to make a gift or fulfill their pledge towards EBPC’s funding goals for this fiscal year (ending July 31) which allows us to plan for these ministries. Visit ebpctn.org/ways-to-give.

Pilgrimage Luncheon: A Time to Celebrate our Pilgrimage of Hope TODAY following WORSHIP, we will enjoy a potluck luncheon and celebrate 2019, as well as look ahead to 2020. It is an exciting time to be part of our faith community! • We will hear from Pastor John about the exciting highlights of his upcoming sabbatical, including his trip back to South Africa where he did a postgraduate fellowship. • We will learn about the dynamic worship services and other activities that are being planned by teams led by EBPC lay leaders. • We will have the opportunity to see the renovated youth rooms during their Open House. • We will meet The Rev. Steve Musick, our Temporary Supply and the staff who support this ministry. The Sabbatical Planning team will present the strategy for making sure that EBPC continues to flourish in John's absence and will entertain questions that you may have about this sabbatical period. We will be invited to connect to meaningful volunteer opportunities for any of the planning teams for worship, care, hospitality, fellowship and operations.

Announcements

Americana Carols is available online! Nate Strasser and Matt Comb's AMERICANA CAROLS is available online everywhere music is sold online - for streaming or download! To hear audio samples and for more information, visit AmericanaCarols.org. CDs will be available later this month on our website at https://ebpctn.org/CDs for $20 per CD (price includes shipping) to benefit EBPC’s Mission Programs. We hope you enjoy Americana Carols this Christmas Season and every year to come!

December 15, Third Sunday in Advent - Your Old Friend “Joy.”

On December 15 during our regular 10AM service, the Kids’ Music and Drama Club will lead us on an adventurous tour to Bethlehem! Your tour guide, Mr. T, is geared up and ready to guide his group of students through the various parts of a living nativity…following the signs of Christmas along the way! Filled with scripture and songs of truth, Good News Ahead…The Signs of Christmas!, created by Gina Boe and Barb Dorn, will be the most exciting living nativity tour you’ve ever experienced, bringing Old Testament prophecies and the Christmas story to life through scripture-based songs that the congregation will love! Following the Christmas Pageant, stick around for Hot Cocoa and cookies and join us in wrapping gifts for recipients of our EBPC Giving Tree! Experience the true joy that comes from giving to others in need and learn about the wonderful families we are honored to serve at Glenview Elementary in Nashville.

December 15 from 2-5 pm Health Clinic at Nueva Vida: We are in need of additional volunteers for our Health Clinic at our partner church Nueva Vida on December 15 from 2-5 pm. Come for all or part of this time and provide hospitality and assistance with basic medical support. You will be supported by the ministry team of health professionals who are using this time of ministry as a training experience in advance of our upcoming Guatemala Mission Trip in March 2020. Nueva Vida is located less than twenty minutes from Brentwood on East Thompson Lane. For more information, contact Dr. Mike Magee ([email protected]).

December 22, Fourth Sunday in Advent - A Visit from Your Old Friend “Love.” John Hilley, preaching. We receive the Christmas Joy Offering.

December 24, Christmas Eve 3:00 p.m. Christmas Caroling in the Barn Don your scarf and gather with us for hot chocolate and cider as we prepare to welcome the Christ Child. While we sing your favorite carols in the barn, children wishing to participate in a living nativity will select their costumes and prepare to lead us in worship. 3:30 pm Christmas Eve in the Barn We hope to see you at 3:30 p.m. this Christmas Eve for our second annual Christmas in the Barn. Join us for a very special, 30-minute family service where all children are invited to participate in our living nativity. Pull up a hay bale, toss a blanket over your knees, and gather close around the manger as we celebrate the birth of the Christ child nestled inside our historic barn. 5:00 p.m. Candlelight Service Join us in the Sanctuary for a traditional candlelight service featuring beautiful Christmas hymns and message celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

Office Communications—With Deborah’s departure, please send all office communications to [email protected]. Welcome Dawn Castner, our new Office Manager and NaNette Bucek, Office Assistant.

Calendar Events Coming This Week ~ At a Glance

Sunday, December 8 9:00 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Kids Music and Drama 10:00 a.m. Worship Service 11:00 a.m.. Youth Band 11:30 a.m. Pilgrimage Luncheon 3:30 p.m. Yoga 5:00 p.m. PYG and 608 Youth Groups 5:15 p.m. Youth Ministry Team Planning Meeting

Monday, December 9 9:30 a.m. English Conversation Opportunities 6:00 p.m. Session Meeting 6:00 p.m. Boy Scouts

Tuesday, December 10 8:30 a.m. EBCA Chapel

Wednesday, December 11 8:30 a.m. EBCA Chapel 9:30 a.m. Staff Meeting 6:00 p.m. Room in the Inn 7:00 p.m. Choir Rehearsal 7:45 p.m. Praise Band

Thursday, December 12 4:00 p.m. Indian Dance Classes

Friday, December 13 6:00 p.m. St. Barbara’s Coptic Orthodox Church Prayer

Saturday, December 14 8:00 a.m. St. Barbara's Worship 3:15 a.m. Gurukul Hindi Language Classes

Sunday, December 15 9:00 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Kids Music and Drama 10:00 a.m.. Christmas Pageant 10:00 a.m. Worship Service 11:00 a.m. EBPC Giving Tree Advent Gathering 11:00 a.m. Youth Band 3:30 p.m. Yoga 5:00 p.m. PYG and 608 Youth Groups Praise and Prayer

As a caring congregation, we remember in prayer:

• Stephen Roadman, recovery from ruptured Achilles’ Tendon

Have a prayer concern that you would like to share, email the church office at [email protected].

EBPC Staff

John R. Hilley - Pastor Dawn Castner - Office Manager, NaNette Bucek - Office Assistant Mercedes Ford - Preschool Director, Nate Strasser - Music Director, Lindsey Hinds-Brown - Young Families Director , Leanne Pound - Nursery Jane Price - Bookkeeper, Nora DeWater—Youth Ministry

EBPC Session

Liz Beatty Nancy Diffenbaugh Lori Fitts Barb Hall Kevin McGuire John Philbrick Paul Rein Richard Strecker Brian Telford Kristine Vasilevskis

East Brentwood Presbyterian Church 9000 Concord Road Brentwood, TN 37027 (615) 370-4227 www.ebpctn.org