Georgetown Presbyterian Church November 25, 2018 10:00 am Service Advent and The Hanging of the Greens The Hanging of the Greens is a service usually celebrated on the first Sunday in Advent. This year we are celebrating the Sunday before Advent begins. This service finds its origins in the British tradition of decorating home and church with wreaths, garlands, trees, and lights for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. In a church setting, the service not only readies the sanctuary for the celebration of Christ’s coming, but also marks the beginning of our individual journeys of preparation for Christ’s coming and Christ’s return. Welcome One Another, as Christ Welcomes You Romans 15:7 Welcome and Community Sharing Leader: The Peace of Christ be with you! People: And also with you! Let us greet each other in the name of Christ. Prelude Praise, My Soul, The Kind of Heaven J.Goss Morning Prayer Mr. Asher Gulab *Introit Prepare Your Hearts (Sing Twice) Behold, Now is the Day of Salvation *Restoring God’s Image Prayers of Confession 2 Corinthians 6:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light . Isaiah 9:2 Emmanuel, God with Us, *Call to Worship Wow! It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. And we are surely ready Leader: How shall we prepare this house for the birth of Jesus? for some real Christmas spirit, Lord. It has been a long year for us. In fact People: With banners proclaiming God’s Advent in both meekness and the last few years have been filled with sorrow and challenge. The world majesty. itself is so full of conflict. Hate continues to rule the headlines. Our personal Leader: How shall we prepare this house for the gift of Christ? lives face unwanted changes. We get so frustrated, Lord; We feel so helpless and yes, we are fearful. Oh sure, there have been good moments too; People: With wreaths of holly, ivy and ribbon, reminders of Christ’s wonderful moments of joy in the midst of our worries, struggles and passion, death and resurrection. tragedies. Moments that are rays of light vanquishing the darkness and Leader: How shall we prepare this house for Christ’s promised return? reminding us of your Presence. Forgive us Lord, for losing sight of your People: With garlands of green, which speak of eternal life. Light in difficult times. Forgive us Lord, for pushing you aside when the songs, decorations and activities of the season, distract us from your gift of Leader: How shall we prepare this house to acknowledge that, for many, Christ. Forgive us Lord and grant that we may live in expectation of your this season is one of sadness intertwined with the joy? return. Remind us that you are with us even now, seeking to heal us and People: With colorful poinsettias that honor and remember the saints make us whole . of our lives and affirm God’s presence in our winters. In silence, we open our hearts to God, as we stand in community. Leader: How shall we prepare our hearts for the approaching intimacy of Leader: Amen! People: Amen! our God? *Assurance of Pardon & Congregational Response Hymnal #231 People: By hearing again, the words of the prophets, the stories of the A rise, your light is come! The Spirit’s call obey; faithful and the trustworthy promises of our God. Show forth the glory of your God which shines on you today. Leader: Parent, Child and Presence - One God in three intimacies - the A rise your light is come! The mountains burst in song! One who came, the One who comes, and the One who will come Rise up like eagles on the wing, God’s power will make us strong. again. People: Thanks be to God. PREPARING THE TREE OF REMEMBRANCE The Poinsettias remind us that our separations are but temporary; HANGING OF THE PINE BOUGHS AND THE EVERGREEN WREATHS that the day is coming when we will be reunited in the glory of God’s heaven. *Hymn of Promise O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Hymnal #154 Hymn of Affirmation The Day of Resurrection! (Vs. 1) Hymnal #298 Biblical titles for Christ used in this prayer-hymn are: Emmanuel (God With Us), Dayspring, Wisdom, Desire of Nations. The Congregation is invited to bring forward a poinsettia plant to decorate our tree. So We Proclaim; So We Believe Prayers of the People / The Lord’s Prayer (Inside back cover of hymnal) 1 Corinthians 15:11 *Hymns of Dedication Joy in the Morning Hymnal #533 Narrative Lesson Isaiah 41:17-20 Pew Bible O.T. Pg.#629 *Benediction & Benediction Response Iona Community, Scotland Leader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God! Leader: The Cross . People: We shall take it. The Bread . We shall break it. PREPARING THE ADVENT WREATH The Pain . We shall bear it. Hymn of Proclamation Go, Tell It on the Mountain Hymnal #218 The Joy . We shall share it. (Children are invited to play Rhythm Instruments as we sing) The Gospel . We shall live it. The Love . We shall give it. Anthem Our Hope is in Emmanuel Chancel Choir The Light . We shall cherish it. The Darkness . God shall perish it! Mediation The Lord’s Answer Pastor Williams Postlude Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing J. Behnke PREPARING THE TREE OF PROMISE Hymns of Astonishment ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (vs. 1) . Hymnal #185 Community News ~ November 25, 2018 Good Christian Friends, Rejoice (vs. 1) . Hymnal #198 Away in a Manger (vs. 1) . Hymnal #203 THE SESSION HAS CALLED A MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING 3 ELDERS TO THE SESSION CLASS OF 2021 AND ONE ELDER TO THE CLASS OF The congregation is invited to come forward and hang a Moravian Star 2019. THE MEETING WILL BE HELD FOLLOWING WORSHIP ON DECEMBER 9, 2018. or a Symbol of Christ on the Tree of Promise. WE ARE GLAD THAT YOU ARE WORSHIPING WITH US THIS MORNING! Our Worship Leader is Asher Gulab. Please register your attendance in the black community pads. Be Doers of the Word; Blessed in the Doing Guests are invited to include contact information if desired. For information about joining James 1:22, 25 our fellowship, speak with the pastor or call the church office at 856-6842. You may visit our Web Page - PresChurch.com - for continuing information about our congregation. LIGHTING THE WINDOW CANDLES AND THE TREE CANDLES VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND WEB PAGE regularly for continuing information about Georgetown Presbyterian Church. Every week our Bulletin is posted on the web page. Receiving God’s Tithes and Our Gifts Our page is found at: PresChurch.com and includes a link to our FaceBook page. Offertory O Worship the King W. Croft YOU ARE INVITED TO POST PRAYER REQUESTS on our Prayer Board at the bottom of the *Dedication of Gifts We Give Thee but Thine Own Hymnal #688 stairs leading from the Sanctuary. Pictures may also be posted with requests. Please We give thee but thine own, what e’er the gift may be; update your concerns regularly. All that we have is thine alone, a trust, O Lord, from thee. ~ Advent/Christmas Schedule ~ Georgetown Presbyterian Church Chartered January 27, 1860 THIS YEAR’S CHOIR CANTATA, will be spread over the entire “Candles & Carols” 203 North Bedford Street; P.O. Box 46 Georgetown, DE 19947 Advent season, with movements sung during the lighting of our Advent Wreath each Sunday. The Cantata is a candlelight Advent journey that celebrates the traditional Office: 856-6842 / Pastor’s Cell: 302-344-1912 themes of HOPE, PEACE, JOY, and LOVE. The choir will also perform the Cantata in or from a cell phone call - **pastor - (star,star, p-a-s-t-o-r) to call pastor directly rd its entirety for Ellendale United Methodist Church on the evening of December 23 . Church E-mail: [email protected] Web Page: PresChurch.com ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 24TH, CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES will be held 7:00pm and Facebook page: Facebook.com/GeorgetownPres ~ for Current happenings and photos 11:00pm. The 7pm service will involve our children; the 11 pm service will include the ~~You do not need to be a member of Facebook to read our Facebook page.~~ Lord’s Supper and be a bit more meditative. Both services will include Congregational Copyright reprints authorized under OneLicense.net License #A Candle Lighting and a guest soloist. Special Note: We placed an order for a gentle snow fall to occur at the end of each service. Worship Leaders and Staff OUR ADVENT/CHRISTMAS THEME this year is “The Dawn of Redeeming The Reverend Michael Williams . Pastor Grace.” This is a line from “Silent Night! Holy Night!” which was first sung 200 years Mrs. Linda C. Wolfe . Director of Music ago this Christmas Eve. Mrs. Sallie Horner . Co-Director of Music The GPC Chancel Choir. Music Ministry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mr. William Taylor . Clerk of Session Mr. Lee Turek . Treasurer ESTIMATE OF GIVING CARDS FOR 2019 have been mailed out to members and friends. Dr. Bobby Gulab . Assistant Treasurer Please prayerfully consider your support of GPC’s ministries and return your card, either Mrs. Beth Garvilla . Church Office nd by placing in the offering plate or mailing into the church office by December 2 . Mr. Mark Amendt . Building Service Additional cards are available on the table outside the church office. Mrs. Jennine Money Groene . Ministry Candidate New Castle Presbytery THE SOUTHERN DELAWARE CHORALE will present a concert performance of G.F. Session Elders and Commissioned Deacons Handel’s “Messiah”, with the Mid Atlantic Symphony and 4 professional soloists, on Elders serve on the Session for 3 year terms; Deacons are Commissioned for Specific Ministries Sunday, December 2nd at 3:00pm at Cape Henlopen High School, 1250 Kings Hwy., Lewes, DE 19958.