Second Sunday of Advent | December 6, 2020

Worship

This week’s service is available by lives-streaming only. There is no in-person worship. Read the update from Session.

Live-Stream

Streaming tips

If you have trouble with the video above here is a direct link to the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oWgcrhzdxss. If you tune into the live-stream while the service has already begun, you can drag the scroller on the bottom are the way back to the left to begin the service. A recording of this live-streamed service will be available on this page following the service.

Zoom Prayer and Fellowship

We will have a 30 minutes prayer and fellowship time on Zoom at 11:15.

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/3577569746

Call-in: (312) 626-6799 and use meeting ID 357 756 9746.

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Order of Worship

Prelude: Away in a Manger with Infant Holy, Infant Lowly with Phil Thornbery on piano

Lighting the Advent Candle

Call to Worship: Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13

  LORD, you were favorable to your land;
          you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
  You forgave the iniquity of your people;
          you pardoned all their sin.         

  Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,
          for he will speak peace to his people,
          to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
  Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
          that his glory may dwell in our land.

  Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
          righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
  Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
          and righteousness will look down from the sky.
  The LORD will give what is good,
          and our land will yield its increase.
  Righteousness will go before him,
          and will make a path for his steps.

Hymn #82: Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus (sheet music)

Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Forgiveness

Gloria Patri

Circle Time

Prayer of Illumination

Scripture Reading: Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in he prophet Isaiah,
     “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
          who will prepare your way;
   the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
          ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
          make his paths straight,’”
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11

   Comfort, O comfort my people,
          says your God.
   Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
          and cry to her
     that she has served her term,
          that her penalty is paid,
     that she has received from the Lord”s hand
          double for all her sins.

   A voice cries out:
     “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD,
          make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
   Every valley shall be lifted up,
          and every mountain and hill be made low;
     the uneven ground shall become level,
          and the rough places a plain.
   Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
          and all people shall see it together,
          for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

   A voice says, “Cry out!”
          And I said, “What shall I cry?”
     All people are grass,
          their constancy is like the flower of the field.
   The grass withers, the flower fades,
          when the breath of the LORD blows upon it;
          surely the people are grass.

   The grass withers, the flower fades;
          but the word of our God will stand forever.
   Get you up to a high mountain,
          O Zion, herald of good tidings;
     lift up your voice with strength,
          O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,
          lift it up, do not fear;
     say to the cities of Judah,
          “Here is your God!”
  See, the Lord GOD comes with might,
          and his arm rules for him;
     his reward is with him,
          and his recompense before him.
  He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
          he will gather the lambs in his arms,
     and carry them in his bosom,
          and gently lead the mother sheep.

Sermon: “Parakeets in the Wilderness”

Duet: All is Well with Phil and Sarah Thornbury

Epistle Reading: Peter 3:8-15

But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.

Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.

Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.

Prayers of the People

Postlude: Go Tell It on the Mountain

Benediction

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First Sunday of Advent | November 29, 2020

Worship

This week’s service is available by lives-streaming only. There is no in-person worship. Read the update from Session.

Live-Stream

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Order of Worship

Prelude: O Come, O Come Emmanuel with the Handbell Ensemble

Lighting the Advent Candle

Call to Worship: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

   Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
          you who lead Joseph like a flock!
     You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
        before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.
     Stir up your might,
          and come to save us!

   Restore us, O God;
          let your face shine, that we may be saved.

   O LORD God of hosts,
          how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
   You have fed them with the bread of tears,
          and given them tears to drink in full measure.
   You make us the scorn of our neighbors;
          our enemies laugh among themselves.

   Restore us, O God of hosts;
          let your face shine, that we may be saved.

  But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,
          the one whom you made strong for yourself.
   Then we will never turn back from you;
          give us life, and we will call on your name.

  Restore us, O LORD God of hosts;
          let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Hymn #87: Comfort, Comfort Now My People

Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Forgiveness

Dear Lord, we are not doing that well on our own. Come down and help us. We thought we had matters in our own hands. Come down and save us. We presumed we had all that we needed to give ourselves a sure and certain future. Come down and rescue us from ourselves. Come, shine your light before us this Advent.

Gloria Patri

Circle Time

Prayer of Illumination

Scripture Reading: Mark 13:24-37

“But in those days, after that suffering,
     the sun will be darkened,
          and the moon will not give its light,
  and the stars will be falling from heaven,
          and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake — for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 64:1-9

    O that you would tear open the heavens and come down,
          so that the mountains would quake at your presence —
    as when fire kindles brushwood
          and the fire causes water to boil —
     to make your name known to your adversaries,
          so that the nations might tremble at your presence
   When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect,
          you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
   From ages past no one has heard,
          no ear has perceived,
     no eye has seen any God besides you,
          who works for those who wait for him.
   You meet those who gladly do right,
          those who remember you in your ways.
     But you were angry, and we sinned;
          because you hid yourself we transgressed.
   We have all become like one who is unclean,
          and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth
     We all fade like a leaf,
          and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
   There is no one who calls on your name,
          or attempts to take hold of you;
     for you have hidden your face from us,
          and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity
   Yet, O LORD, you are our Father;
          we are the clay, and you are our potter;
          we are all the work of your hand.
   Do not be exceedingly angry, O LORD,
          and do not remember iniquity forever.
          Now consider, we are all your people.

Sermon: “Tear Open the Heavens”

Welcome & Announcements

Epistle Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind — just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you — so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Solo: Light of the Star with Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus sung by Julie Ramsey

The Lord’s Supper

Please provide your own bread and cup. We will share in the meal together.

Postlude: Canticle of Turning with Janet on piano

Benediction

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Christ the King Sunday | November 22, 2020

Worship

The service is at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary.

Live-Stream

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Order of Worship

Prelude: O Love That Will Not Let Me Go with Blessed Assurance

Welcome & Prayer of Adoration

Call to Worship: Psalm 100:1-5

   Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth.
        Worship the LORD with gladness;
          come into his presence with singing.

   Know that the LORD is God.
          It is he that made us, and we are his;
          we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

   Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
          and his courts with praise.
          Give thanks to him, bless his name.

   For the LORD is good;
          his steadfast love endures for ever,
          and his faithfulness to all generations.

Hymn #37: Let All Things Now Living

Silent Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Forgiveness

Gloria Patri

Circle Time

Prayer of Illumination

Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24

For thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.

Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.

I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:31-46

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Sermon:

Solo: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing with violinist Tom Sobieski

Epistle Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

Prayers of the People & the Lord’s Prayer

Postlude: Prayer of Thanksgiving with violinist Tom Sobieski

Benediction

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Service of the Lord's Day | November 15, 2020

Worship

The service is at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary.

Live-Stream

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Order of Worship

Prelude: Romance with flutist Suzanne Edwards

Welcome & Prayer of Adoration

Call to Worship: Psalm 123:1-4

To you I lift up my eyes,
          O you who are enthroned in the heavens!
   As the eyes of servants
          look to the hand of their master,
     as the eyes of a maid
          to the hand of her mistress,
     so our eyes look to the LORD our God,
          until he has mercy upon us.

   Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us,
          for we have had more than enough of contempt.
   Our soul has had more than its fill
          of the scorn of those who are at ease,
          of the contempt of the proud.

Hymn #643: Now Thank We All Our God

Prayer of Confession

Assurance of Pardon

Gloria Patri

Circle Time

Prayer of Illumination

Scripture Reading: Judges 4:1-7

The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, after Ehud died. So the LORD sold them into the hand of King Jabin of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-ha-goiim. Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help; for he had nine hundred chariots of iron, and had oppressed the Israelites cruelly twenty years.

At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the Israelites came up to her for judgment. She sent and summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you, ‘Go, take position at Mount Tabor, bringing ten thousand from the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun. I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the Wadi Kishon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into your hand.’”

Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:14-30

‘For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” But his master replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Sermon: “Grouchy or Generous?”

Solo: Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer sung by Tina Newlin

Epistle Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape!. But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

Dedication Prayer for Stewardship & Prayers

Postlude: Simple Gifts

Benediction

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Service of the Lord's Day | November 8, 2020

Worship

The service is at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary.

Live-Stream

Order of Worship

Prelude: God So Loved the World

Welcome & Prayer of Adoration

Call to Worship: Psalm 78:1-7

Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
          incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
  I will open my mouth in a parable;
          I will utter dark sayings from of old,
  things that we have heard and known,
          that our ancestors have told us.
  We will not hide them from their children;
          we will tell to the coming generation
     the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
          and the wonders that he has done.

  He established a decree in Jacob,
          and appointed a law in Israel,
     which he commanded our ancestors
          to teach to their children;
  that the next generation might know them,
          the children yet unborn,
     and rise up and tell them to their children,
       so that they should set their hope in God,
     and not forget the works of God,
          but keep his commandments;

Hymn #350: Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning

Silent Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Forgiveness

Gloria Patri

Circle Time

Prayer of Illumination

Scripture Reading: Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25

Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors — Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor — lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods. Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan and made his offspring many.

“Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.”

But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good.” And the people said to Joshua, “No, we will serve the LORD!” Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” The people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and him we will obey.” So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:1-13

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Sermon: “Focus”

Handbell Trio: Today We Are Called to Be Disciples of the Lord

Epistle Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13

You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers. As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers.

Prayers of the People & the Lord’s Prayer

Postlude: Like a River Glorious

Benediction

CCLI License #768739