December 14

CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE
Order of Worship
GATHERING AROUND THE WORD
PRELUDE
Adeste Fideles
anonymous
We Three Kings
John H. Hopkins
Away in a Manger
James Ramsey Murray
Newton County Youth String Orchestra
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES
Donna, Chris & Jack Weesner
God is making the final preparations for an amazing thing! Now
is the advent of the long-awaited Messiah, our bringer of hope,
our Prince of Peace, our leader of love.
We wait, we prepare, we make straight the way.
We celebrate the coming of Christ with the lighting of the Advent
candles.
We are a people of hope, a people of peace, a people of love.
At first there was the frail light of a single candle of hope daring to
pierce through the darkness of despair and sin.
Then there was the candle of peace, the gentle and
persistent fire.
Today we light the candle of love. No other word so adequately
captures the spirit and goal of our faith. No other word so
completely describes what we know of our God.
For God so loved the world that a child was given. A Savior
was made in the form of love incarnate.
We gather, then, in Christian love.
We give thanks for a love that passes understanding, and we
await the dawning of God’s pervasive and enduring love
once more this Advent season.
May this candle of love give light to the world!
Listen to the words of John chapter 3:16-17...
I now light the candle of love.
Let us pray: Almighty God, prepare our hearts so that the dear
Christ may enter in and be born in us. Fill us with his love for you
and for your people everywhere; for we pray in his name. Amen.
HYMN 93
TRURO
Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Lord, we wait for your coming, holding on to your promise
against all odds. Forgive us when we fail to hear the singing
of angels, when we are blind to the brightness of your star,
when we allow no room in our hearts for your love. By your
abounding grace, prepare our lives and our world to receive
your inexpressible Gift.
(silence for personal prayer and reflection)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
IN DULCI JUBILO
HYMN 132, stanza 3
Good Christian Friends, rejoice with heart and soul and
voice; now ye need not fear the grave: Jesus Christ was
born to save! Calls you one and calls you all to gain the
everlasting hall. Christ was born to save! Christ was
born to save!
THE PASSING OF THE PEACE
The peace of the Christ be with you.
And also with you.
PROCLAIMING THE WORD
J. S. Bach
“Prelude” from Suite Number 1 for Unaccompanied Cello
Erin Cassel, cello
THE WORD FOR CHILDREN
All the children are invited to come forward for the Word for Children.
Afterward, children kindergarten and younger may go to children’s
activities downstairs.
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
SERMON
Micah 5:2
Luke 2:1-5
In Those Days
W illiam B. Wade, Jr.
RESPONDING TO THE WORD
HYMN 144, stanza 1
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
CRANHAM
The Apostles’ Creed
p. 35 in front of hymnal
THE OFFERING OF SUBSTANCE AND LIFE
OFFERTORY
The Infant King
NCYS Orchestra
Polish Carol
CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE
Hymn 104, stanza 1
CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS
THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
INVITATION
This is the joyful feast of the people of God!
They will come from north and south and from east and west,
to sit at table in the kingdom of heaven.
This is the Lord’s table. Our Savior invites those who trust in him
to share the feast that he has prepared.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
ANTHEM
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE READINGS
SEALING OF THE WORD
VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN
O Lord, how shall I meet you, how welcome you aright?
Your people long to greet you, my hope, my heart’s delight!
O kindle, Lord most holy, a lamp within my breast, to do in
spirit lowly all that may please you best.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
We rejoice in the hope of these days, O God, as your
realm unfolds its promises among us. Receive these
offerings, we pray, as signs of our love, and keep us
faithful in our receiving and in our giving, in the name
of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God…
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
COMMUNION
Eat the bread when you feel ready. This signifies God’s
presence to you individually. We will drink the cup together
after all are served. This signifies God’s presence to the
Church.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
p. 35, front of hymnal
BEARING AND FOLLOWING THE WORD
INTO THE WORLD
HYMN 123, stanza 5
CAROL
For lo, the days are hastening on, by prophets seen of
old, when with the ever circling years shall come the
time foretold, when peace shall over all the earth its
ancient splendors fling, and the whole world give back
the song which now the angels sing.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
traditional English carol
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Please stand, if you are able.
Worship Notes
* Dan Walden, Director of Youth and Children’s Ministries, will be assisting
with the worship service today.
* Please enter the sanctuary in a spirit of reverence as we prepare to
worship God. Remember to turn on your cell phones again when you
leave.
ONGOING ACTIVITIES
IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH
Today we welcome string students from the NCYS (Newton County
Youth Strings) Orchestra to our worship service. This orchestra for
middle and high school students meets on Thursdays from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
at FPC. The students are William Barnett, James Cunnliffe, Jake McCarthy, Gracie Miller, and Claire Rowan, violin and, Susan Eason, viola.
The artistic director of the NCYS Orchestra is Erin Cassel.
Erin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cello Performance from the University of Louisville with teacher Paul York and a Master’s degree with renowned cello pedagogue Martha Gerschefski at Georgia State University. A cellist and chamber musician with the Savannah Philharmonic,
Erin is also a member of Celli, a professional pop/classical cello quartet
that performs in venues throughout
the state. In addition, Erin is the head
of the Suzuki Cello Program at the
Georgia Academy of Music in Atlanta
and the director of the Georgia Academy Cello Choir and the Durham Middle School cello choir. Erin’s Suzuki
cello life began at age 4 in Vanderbilt
University’s Suzuki program with
teacher Anne Williams. Her teaching
is centered around Dr. Suzuki’s philosophy that “every child can.” She
strongly believes that every child, with
the help of both teachers and parents, can learn not only how to play
cello but how to become a beautiful musician and person."
December 21: Lessons & Carols Service
The sanctuary choirs of First Presbyterian of Covington and Conyers Presbyterian are teaming up to present a Lessons and Carols Service on Sunday, December 21. We hope you enjoy this meaningful presentation of the
story of the birth of Christ in conjunction with the adult choir from our sister
church, Conyers Presbyterian.
New Address: Jeanne Cannon has moved. Her new address is:
Benton House Room 112, 890 Scranton Road, Brunswick, GA 31525.
This Week at FPC
Sunday, December 14
9:00 Handbell Choir
9:30 Children’s Choir
10:00 Sunday School
11:00 Worship Service/Communion
12:00 Session meeting
5:00 Youth Connection Christmas
Party
Tuesday, December 16
4:00 Exercise
Wednesday, December 17
4:00 Adventure Club
6:45 Sanctuary Choir
Thursday, December 18
10:30 Ambassador Choir
Sunday, December 21
9:00 Handbell Choir
9:30 Children’s Choir
10:00 Sunday School
11:00 Worship Service
5:00 Youth Connection Supper
and Caroling
WELCOME TO
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF COVINGTON
If you would like information about membership or the
programs, mission, and fellowship of the church, speak to one of the
pastors as you leave or call the church office at 770-786-7321.
E-mail:
Pastor: Billy Wade: wbwade@bellsouth.net
Dan Walden: djwalden@mac.com
Church Office: penihaug@att.net
Website: www.fpccov.org
Mailing Address: 1169 Clark Street
Covington, Georgia 30014
The Third Sunday
of Advent
December 14, 2014
Bring your donations to the church or drop
them off at the Community Food Pantry
from 9:00-12:00 Tuesday, Wednesday or
Friday. Call 770-784-0037 for directions.
Special requests for December: cake
mixes and brownie mixes and, of course,
you may bring other staple goods as your
heart leads.
THANKS TO THOSE SERVING US TODAY
Nursery Volunteers Today:
Doug & Brigham Arnold
Next Week:
The Jason & Krissy Jones
Family
Ushers:
Jan Giles, chair
Sound Engineer:
Ken Walker
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SESSION
Class of 2014
Debra Arnold
Bill Loeble
Darcel Tabb
Roger Tingler
Cy Wolverton
Class of 2015
Gary Boteler
Billy Fortson
Jan Giles
Jim Stillerman
Class of 2016
Charles Ardis
Joyce Ashworth
Betty Bailey
Patrick Carmichael
Perri Walden
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH STAFF
William B. Wade, Jr.
Pastor Alice Walker
CAGO, AAGO
Dan Walden
Director of Youth
Organist/Ambassador Choir
and Children’s Ministry Pauleen Green & Maria Serrato
Peni Haug
Secretary-Treasurer
Nursery
Alan Bunn
Music Director Tiffany McWaters
Director of the
Early Learning Center
Alana
Artwork for the Advent Season is
by the young artists of Adventure
Club (2014)