FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
ORDER OF WORSHIP
HANGING OF THE GREENS
First Sunday of Advent
December 1, 2024
PRELUDE How Brightly Beams the Morning Star, Nicolai/Wilson
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANGELS HAROLD AND GLORIA ARRIVE
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Today we make ready our welcome for God’s only Son, Jesus of Nazareth. During the holy season of Advent, we renew the special meaning of this season – the birth of new hope, and a message of eternal life.
People: Let us clear our minds and open our hearts as we prepare for the coming of the Lord. We honor his birth by adorning our church for the coming of our King.
Leader: (Jeremiah 33: 14-15) The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land.
LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH (HOPE)
Reader 1: "In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it" (Isaiah 2:2, NRSV)
Reader 2: We begin the first week of Advent with hope in God’s promised arrival. A favorite Advent hymn "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" (UMH 211) was written by Anglican priest John Mason Neal in the mid-1800s. This beautiful hymn reflects the hope we celebrate today.
Reader 3: The hymn’s second verse speaks to hope, "O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by Thine advent here; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight."
As we light the first candle of Advent, we carry into our gloomy places the light of Hope. (Light one candle)
Reader 4: Let us Pray.
Lord of Hope, we await your coming with great expectation. Our lives are marked by hope, even when our circumstance might prove to the contrary. May we put to flight the dark shadows of others this Advent season. Amen.
*OPENING HYMN #9 (Blue) ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’
1. O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
2. O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
3. O come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind.
Bid envy, strife, and discord cease fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
SETTING OUT THE PARAMENTS and GREENERY
*CALL TO CONFESSION
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
We give thanks, O God, that you are unchanging, that your love for us was so strong that you sent your Son to guide and teach us. Forgive us, O God, for the times when we have been happy to hear the gospel without truly living it, for the times when the things of this world, the busy-ness of the season keep us from truly doing your work – to stand up for the weak, to feed the hungry, to care for the broken. Forgive us when we place our hope in someone or something other than the Christ-child born in a poor stable. Our hope lies in the promise of your mercy, O God. Heal, restore and bless us, we pray, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*GLORIA PATRI
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, Amen.
STORY OF THE EVERGREEN TREE
*HYMN #420 (Blue) ‘God of Grace and God of Glory’ (verses 1, 2, 4)
1. God of grace and God of glory, on Thy people pour Thy power;
crown Thy ancient church’s story; bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage for the facing of this hour,
for the facing of this hour.
2. Lo, the hosts of evil round us scorn Thy Christ, assail Thy ways!
From the fears that long have bound us free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage for the living of these days,
for the living of these days.
4. Set our feet on lofty places; gird our lives that they may be
armored with all Christ-like graces, pledged to set all captives free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, that we fail not them nor Thee!
That we fail not them nor Thee!
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We are an Advent people, a people of hope.
For us, Advent is a time of waiting, and so we wait.
We wait for the coming of the One who is the fulfillment of God’s promise,
the fulfillment of hope, the declaration that we have been redeemed.
Even so, we are not a naïve people. We know that the world in which we live
will continue to be filled with pain and sorrow.
We know that hatred and violence will continue to exist.
We know that death and separation will continue to be a part of our lives.
But because we are an Advent people, we know that none of these things will win in the end. The Holy One is coming, to make holy once again all that was, is, and ever will be.
And in our waiting and our hoping, we work and worship, pray and play,
in all things hoping that peace, love and joy will reign in our lives and in our world, now and forever.
STORIES OF CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATIONS AND DECORATING THE CHRISTMAS TREE
OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR RESOURACES AND *DOXOLOGY
SCRIPTURE READING
Isaiah 9: 2-3, 6-7 (responsive reading)
The people walking in darkness have seen a great Light, on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest,
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. And the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end;
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing it and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Response: Lord, hear our prayer
Our homebound or in care members: Richard & Dolores C, Bob F (Pat caregiver), Jan J, Darwin L (Jeanne caregiver), Marlys M, Bob O (Nancy caregiver), Rose P, Joyce R, Steve VB, Dee W (Please reach out and call)
This Week’s Prayer Families: Martin & Sally M, Jeannie & Tom M
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen.
SETTING UP OF THE NATIVITY WITH THE CHILDREN
ANGELS HAROLD AND GLORIA BID FAREWELL
*CLOSING HYMN #538 (Blue) ‘Lord Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing’
1. Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing; fill our hearts with joy and peace.
Let us each, Thy love possessing, triumph in redeeming grace.
O refresh us, O refresh us, traveling through this wilderness.
2. Thanks we give and adoration for Thy gospel's joyful sound;
may the fruits of Thy salvation in our hearts and lives abound.
Ever faithful, ever faithful to the truth may we be found.
3. So that when Thy love shall call us, Savior, from the world away,
Let no fear of death appall us, glad Thy summons to obey.
may we ever, may we ever reign with Thee in endless day.
POSTLUDE Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, arr. A. L. Page
ORDER OF WORSHIP
HANGING OF THE GREENS
First Sunday of Advent
December 1, 2024
PRELUDE How Brightly Beams the Morning Star, Nicolai/Wilson
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
- ADVENT CONGREGATION POTLUCK being held following worship service TODAY. The program will be signing Christmas cards and singing Christmas hymns. All are welcome!
- TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP, 9:30ish AM at the Mission Coffee House.
- THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY will be meeting at 9:30 AM in the center meeting room. Christmas Special will be on Dec. 5-19.
- PC(USA) SPECIAL OFFERING starting today, Dec. 1 through Dec. 22. Donations can be placed in the offering plate with a notation ‘Christmas Joy.’
- BROOKINGS PROJECT JOY: Today is the last day for monetary donations. Donations can be placed in the offering plate with a notation ‘Brookings Project Joy.’
- ADVENT CONGREGATION POTLUCK will be held next Sunday, December 8 following worship service. Men’s Brotherhood will be serving spaghetti. Please bring a salad or dessert to share if you are able, but please plan to attend in any case as there is always plenty of food. The program will be signing Christmas cards and singing Christmas hymns.
- POINSETTIAS: Monetary donations being accepted for memorial poinsettias. You may bring your own poinsettia if you wish Please share the names of those to be honored/ remembered on the sign-up sheet in the office. Deadline: Dec. 12
ANGELS HAROLD AND GLORIA ARRIVE
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Today we make ready our welcome for God’s only Son, Jesus of Nazareth. During the holy season of Advent, we renew the special meaning of this season – the birth of new hope, and a message of eternal life.
People: Let us clear our minds and open our hearts as we prepare for the coming of the Lord. We honor his birth by adorning our church for the coming of our King.
Leader: (Jeremiah 33: 14-15) The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land.
LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH (HOPE)
Reader 1: "In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it" (Isaiah 2:2, NRSV)
Reader 2: We begin the first week of Advent with hope in God’s promised arrival. A favorite Advent hymn "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" (UMH 211) was written by Anglican priest John Mason Neal in the mid-1800s. This beautiful hymn reflects the hope we celebrate today.
Reader 3: The hymn’s second verse speaks to hope, "O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by Thine advent here; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight."
As we light the first candle of Advent, we carry into our gloomy places the light of Hope. (Light one candle)
Reader 4: Let us Pray.
Lord of Hope, we await your coming with great expectation. Our lives are marked by hope, even when our circumstance might prove to the contrary. May we put to flight the dark shadows of others this Advent season. Amen.
*OPENING HYMN #9 (Blue) ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’
1. O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
2. O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
3. O come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind.
Bid envy, strife, and discord cease fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
SETTING OUT THE PARAMENTS and GREENERY
*CALL TO CONFESSION
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
We give thanks, O God, that you are unchanging, that your love for us was so strong that you sent your Son to guide and teach us. Forgive us, O God, for the times when we have been happy to hear the gospel without truly living it, for the times when the things of this world, the busy-ness of the season keep us from truly doing your work – to stand up for the weak, to feed the hungry, to care for the broken. Forgive us when we place our hope in someone or something other than the Christ-child born in a poor stable. Our hope lies in the promise of your mercy, O God. Heal, restore and bless us, we pray, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*GLORIA PATRI
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, Amen.
STORY OF THE EVERGREEN TREE
*HYMN #420 (Blue) ‘God of Grace and God of Glory’ (verses 1, 2, 4)
1. God of grace and God of glory, on Thy people pour Thy power;
crown Thy ancient church’s story; bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage for the facing of this hour,
for the facing of this hour.
2. Lo, the hosts of evil round us scorn Thy Christ, assail Thy ways!
From the fears that long have bound us free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage for the living of these days,
for the living of these days.
4. Set our feet on lofty places; gird our lives that they may be
armored with all Christ-like graces, pledged to set all captives free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, that we fail not them nor Thee!
That we fail not them nor Thee!
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We are an Advent people, a people of hope.
For us, Advent is a time of waiting, and so we wait.
We wait for the coming of the One who is the fulfillment of God’s promise,
the fulfillment of hope, the declaration that we have been redeemed.
Even so, we are not a naïve people. We know that the world in which we live
will continue to be filled with pain and sorrow.
We know that hatred and violence will continue to exist.
We know that death and separation will continue to be a part of our lives.
But because we are an Advent people, we know that none of these things will win in the end. The Holy One is coming, to make holy once again all that was, is, and ever will be.
And in our waiting and our hoping, we work and worship, pray and play,
in all things hoping that peace, love and joy will reign in our lives and in our world, now and forever.
STORIES OF CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATIONS AND DECORATING THE CHRISTMAS TREE
OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR RESOURACES AND *DOXOLOGY
SCRIPTURE READING
Isaiah 9: 2-3, 6-7 (responsive reading)
The people walking in darkness have seen a great Light, on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest,
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. And the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end;
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing it and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Response: Lord, hear our prayer
Our homebound or in care members: Richard & Dolores C, Bob F (Pat caregiver), Jan J, Darwin L (Jeanne caregiver), Marlys M, Bob O (Nancy caregiver), Rose P, Joyce R, Steve VB, Dee W (Please reach out and call)
This Week’s Prayer Families: Martin & Sally M, Jeannie & Tom M
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen.
SETTING UP OF THE NATIVITY WITH THE CHILDREN
ANGELS HAROLD AND GLORIA BID FAREWELL
*CLOSING HYMN #538 (Blue) ‘Lord Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing’
1. Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing; fill our hearts with joy and peace.
Let us each, Thy love possessing, triumph in redeeming grace.
O refresh us, O refresh us, traveling through this wilderness.
2. Thanks we give and adoration for Thy gospel's joyful sound;
may the fruits of Thy salvation in our hearts and lives abound.
Ever faithful, ever faithful to the truth may we be found.
3. So that when Thy love shall call us, Savior, from the world away,
Let no fear of death appall us, glad Thy summons to obey.
may we ever, may we ever reign with Thee in endless day.
POSTLUDE Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, arr. A. L. Page