Fully Alive with the Passion of Christ
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FULLY ALIVE WITH THE PASSION OF CHRIST The Visitation by Rafael Sanzio “All at once I was overcome by a sensation that is difficult to describe: all at once I seemed to rise above all the coordinates of my momentary existence in the world into a kind of state outside time in which all the beautiful things I had ever seen and experienced existed in a total ‘co-present’; I felt a sense of reconciliation, indeed of an almost gentle assent to the inevitable course of events as revealed to me now, and this combined with a carefree determination to face what had to be faced. A profound amazement at the sovereignty of Being became a dizzying sensation of tumbling endlessly into the abyss of its mystery; an unbounded joy at being alive, at having been given the chance to live through all I have lived through, and at the fact that everything has a deep and obvious meaning – this joy formed a strange alliance in me with a vague horror at the inapprehensibility and unattainability of everything I was so close to in that moment, standing at the very ‘edge of the infinite’; I was flooded with a sense of ultimate happiness and harmony with the world and with myself, I would even say that I was somehow ‘struck by love,’ ” Vaclav Havel, writing from a communist prison in Czechoslovakia, before later becoming the nation’s President in 1989 SOUTH HIGHLAND 132 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CELEBRATING OUR 132ND YEAR OF FAITHFUL SERVICE NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE FROM, WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE OUR NEIGHBOR. ALL ARE WELCOME IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST! 2035 Highland Ave S • Birmingham, Alabama 35205 www.southhighland.org • (205) 933-0790 CELEBRATION FOR THE LORD’S DAY 8:30AM & 11:00 AM • Internet - southhighland.org/radio AM 850 and FM 101.1 December 13, 2020 THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT Dr. Jim Dorroh, organ PRELUDE “Come Now, Savior of Mankind” Johann Sebastian Bach Abby Gatliff WELCOME Psalm 126 *CALL TO WORSHIP Words in bold text are spoken When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those in unison by the congregation. who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb. May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves. Let us worship the God of wonder, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who fillls us with joy! †*PROCESSIONAL HYMN Chancel Ensemble: “Rejoice! Rejoice, Believers” Llangloffan Heather Batey, Kirsten Heiser, Mary Margaret Yielding, Entrance of the Word and the Light Tyra Shelley, Rick Atkerson, Brad Diamond, Garland Stansell, and Leland Keller. String Quintet: Alicia Garrison, Whitney Garrison, Meredith Treaster, Zak Enikeev, and Hellen Weberpal from Glory to God Hymnal *PRAYER OF ADORATION Abby Gatliff 8:30 - Matt & Grace Graffeo LIGHTING OF THE THIRD ADVENT CANDLE 11:00 - John, Fran, Burns & We light these Advent candles as a sign of the coming light of Christ. Parker Morris The Advent wreath is a circle with no beginning and no end. It is a symbol of God’s unending love and faithfulness. Isaiah the prophet calls us to prepare for the coming of Jesus by making straight all that is crooked: A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” Let us prepare for Jesus, the Christ, who is anointed by God to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners. For as a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Lord God will cause Isaiah 40:3, 5; 61:1, 11 righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. Let us walk in the light of the Lord, Let us pray: Almighty God, you have made us and all things to serve you, now prepare the world for your rule. Come quickly to save us, so that wars and violence shall end, and your children may live in peace, honoring one another with justice and love; through Jesus Christ, who lives in power with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen Choral Masterworks OVERTURE “Nun komm der Heiden Heiland” J.S. Bach (Come now, God’s chosen saviour) Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, Now come, Savior of the Gentiles, Der Jungfrauen Kind erkannt, Known as the Virgin’s child, Des sich wundert alle Welt, Of whom the whole world marvels, Gott solch Geburt ihm bestellt. that God had ordained such a birth for him. Rev. Dr. Larry Michael CALL TO CONFESSION PRAYER OF CONFESSION O promised Christ: We are a world at war. Our peace depends on your coming. We are a sinful people. Our pardon depends on your coming. We are full of good intentions but weak at keeping prom- ises; our only hope of doing God’s will is that you should come and help us do it. LORD Christ, Word made flesh, our world waits for your peace, for your pardon, and for your grace. Even so: come, LORD Jesus. Amen. *DECLARATION OF GRACE & FORGIVENESS based on Isaiah 40:1-2 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Your sins are pardoned. The penalty is paid. Thanks be to God. †RECITATIVO “Der Heiland ist gekommen” J.S. Bach Dr. Brad Diamond, tenor (The Lord has come from heaven) Der Heiland ist gekommen, hat unser armes Fleisch und Blut an sich genommen und nimmet uns zu Blutsverwandten an. O allerhöchstes Gut, was hast du nicht an uns getan? Was tust du nicht noch täglich an den Deinen? Du kömmst und lässt dein Licht mit vollem Segen scheinen. The Savior has come, has our poor flesh and blood taken upon Himself, and accepts us as blood-relations. O, greatest of all good, what have you not done for us? What do you not do daily for those who are yours? You come and let your light with full blessing shine. ARIA “Komm, Jesu, komm” J.S. Bach Dr. Brad Diamond, tenor (Come, Jesus, come) Komm, Jesu, komm zu deiner Kirche Come, Jesus, come to this thy church Und gib ein selig neues Jahr! And grant a blessed new year! Befördre deines Namens Ehre, Advance your name’s honor, Erhalte die gesunde Lehre Preserve the healthy teaching, Und segne Kanzel und Altar! And bless the pulpit and the altar! Greet your family and friends and †*PEACE OF CHRIST The peace of Christ be with you! check in Online to let us know who all is present and watching And also with you! with you! CELEBRATIONS, JOYS, CONCERNS Rev. Dr. Ed Hurley All children please get your favor- TIME FOR YOUNG DISCIPLES (11:00) ite stuffed animal and let’s worship together - Katya O’Leary PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION 8:30 - Gary Harden 11:00 - Josh Vick OLD TESTAMENT LESSON (11:00) Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 1 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prison- ers; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion—to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. 4 They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities,the devastations of many generations. 8 For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faith- fully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed. 10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Rick Atkerson, tenor RECITATIVO “Siehe, siehe, ich stehe vor der Tür” J.S. Bach Tyra Shelley, (Now behold me! I stand before the door) Music Ministry Intern Siehe, ich stehe vor der Tür und klopfe an. So jemand meine Stimme hören wird und die Tür auftun, zu dem werde ich eingehen und das Abendmahl mit ihm halten und er mit mir.