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Worship ServicesDecember 11, 2016

8:30 and 11 a.m.

Third Sunday of Advent

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WelcomeWe are very glad to have you worshiping our gracious God with us today.

Flowers The sanctuary flowers are given today to the glory of God

from the wedding of Megan Clark and Wyatt Mobley.

The Advent Wreath CelebrationEach Sunday during the Advent season we light a candle in our morning services and read the corresponding Scripture to focus our attention on Jesus and glorify him. We use three purple candles representing Hope, Love and Peace, and a pink candle representing the Joy that is ours because of Christ’s coming into the world and into our hearts and lives. The white candle in the center of the wreath is lit on Christmas Eve and represents the birth of Jesus. This tradition, dating back to A.D. 600, reminds us that the center of the Church and the center of our Christmas celebration is Christ Jesus.

To Our Guests,We especially welcome you today! More information about our church is available on our website at firstpresaugusta.org.

Spiritual CareIf you would like to speak to someone about what it means to know Jesus Christ or you have any spiritual need or question, please use one of the prayer cards in the pew rack to contact one of our pastors. Our church elders are also available to speak with you. An Elder and his wife will be standing next to the pastor following the service to talk or pray with you.

Children’s Check-inWe are committed to the highest level of protection possible for the children placed in our care on Sundays and at all church events. For this reason, we require parents of newborns through fifth grade children to check in their children before they go to the nursery, Sunday School, Catechism, Children’s Church or any other children’s activity. Kiosks are available outside St. Andrew’s Hall. The process is quick and easy, and volunteers are available to assist you.

Children’s WorshipWe offer a specially designed program for children in pre-k through fourth grade during the morning services. Leaders will escort children from the sanctuary to their classrooms before the hymn of preparation. Parents are welcome to accompany them to observe where to pick them up after the service. Parents of children in pre-k through second grade are asked to pick up their children following Sunday School or the 11 a.m. worship service.

Nursery Nurseries are provided for infants and toddlers during the worship services and Sunday School. We provide a Mother/Infant Room (room 109) located in the wing behind the sanctuary and to the left, and the Geneva Room is designated as a Cry Room for parents with fussy children, equipped with live video feed of the worship services. Ushers are available to direct you.

Additional Seating Additional seating for morning and evening worship services is available each week in St. Andrew’s Hall.

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The Morning Services

The Meditation—O Holy Night ......................................................... Adolphe Adam

Theme: God’s Promises Spoken Through Us

The Prelude—What Child Is This? ................................................. arr. Richard Purvis

*Welcome and Announcements......................................................... Rev. John Franks

†The Call to Worship ..............................................................................Psalm 145:3-7Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.

They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.

They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

The Lord be with you.And with your spirit.Let us worship God!

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining,It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.Long lay the world in sin and error pining,Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices,O night divine, O night when Christ was born!O night divine, O night, O night divine!

Kirsten Newlin, solo

Words: J. S. Dwight | Music: Adolphe Adam | Copyright: Public Domain

* Ushers may seat worshipers at this time. † Indicates the congregation standing.

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*†The Hymn of Praise—O Come All Ye Faithful .......................................Adeste Fideles

Latin hymn | John Francis Wade’s Cantus Diversi, 1751

(All Verses)

†The Invocation (Please lift hands)

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The Sacrament of Baptism (8:30 a.m.) ..................................Buford Summerall Templeson of Bogan and Will Temple

Naamen Alexander Morrisson of Lauren and Byron Morris

Benjamin Crandall Millsson of Erin and Brad Mills

The Lighting of the Advent Candle—Love

8:30 a.m. ............................................................. The Scarborough FamilyRikki and Charles; Charlie, Daniel, Otis, Jude

11 a.m. ........................................................................ The Rowley FamilyBrianna and Chris Rowley

The Sacrament of Baptism (11 a.m.) ...........................................Elsie Windsor Mobleydaughter of Megan and Wyatt Mobley

Eleanor Christina Hubbarddaughter of Amanda and Chad Hubbard

The Response

The grass withers and the flowers fall,But the Word of our God stands forever.

The New Testament Lesson ................................................................... Luke 2:15-18page 1591 in the pew Bible

*The Advent Response—Silent Night ...................................................Stille Nacht(Sung by all)Silent night, holy night Son of God, love’s pure light. Radiant beams from thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace. Jesus, Lord, at thy birth. Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

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The Corporate Confession of Sin

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 promises;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.

†The Pastoral Prayer and The Lord’s PrayerOur 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.

The Assurance of Pardoning Grace ................................................. Ephesians 2:8-10For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

§The Personal Confession of Sin

† Indicates the congregation standing. § Please kneel if able to do so.

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Words: Christina Rossetti | Music: Gustav Holst arr. Mack Wilberg | ©2011 Oxford University Press

The Offertory—In the Bleak Midwinter ..................Gustav Holst; arr. Mack Wilberg

**The Offering (Please take a moment to sign the attendance register.)

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan;Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone.Snow had fallen, snow on snow,In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold him nor earth sustain;Heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.In the bleak midwinter, a stable-place sufficed;The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

What can I give him, poor as I am?If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb.If I were a wise man, I would do my part,But what I can, I give him: give him my heart!

Kirsten Newlin, solo

*‡The Peace

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

And also with you.

**Online giving is available at firstpresaugusta.org.‡ Children in pre-k through fourth grade exit for Catechism classes at this time.

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†The Hymn of Preparation—All Praise to Thee, Eternal Lord ............... Cannonbury(Verses 1, 3, 4, 5)

Martin Luther, 1524 | Robert Schumann, 1839

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3. Conquest

1. Captivity

2. Conflict

Sermon—The Mouth of God ....................................................Dr. George Robertson

The Scripture Lesson ..........................Exodus 4:27-28, Luke 2:17-18, Romans 1:1-6pages 93, 1591, 1746 in the pew Bible

The Response This is the Word of God,Thanks be to you, O God.

The Silent Prayers of God’s People

For an audio download of today’s sermons, please visit the church website at firstpresaugusta.org/2016Sermons.

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The Postlude—Organ Flourish on “Joy to the World”.............................Michael DellDr. John L. Wilson, Director of Music and Arts

†The Benediction (Please lift hands) (Please be seated following the benediction)

Frank Houghton, 1894-1972 | French carol melody

(All Verses)†The Hymn of Response—Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendor ... Quelle Est

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Chris WhiteDirector of Ministry Operationscwhite@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8837

Drew EptingRegional Director of Campus Outreachdrew.epting@campusoutreach.org, ext. 8847

Luke Niday, Director of Outreach Operations and CO Global Resource Coordinatorluke.niday@campusoutreach.org, ext. 8845

Stephen PittmanDirector of Hope for Augustastephen@hopeforaugusta.org, 678.234.9803

Rick KeuroglianDirector of Young ProfessionalsExecutive Director of City Hope Alliancerkeuroglian@firstpresaugusta.org, 706.664.8228

Clark NewtonRegional Director of Medical Campus Outreachclark@mcoaugusta.org, ext. 8841

George LazariDirector of Medical Campus Outreach Augustageorge@mcoaugusta.org, ext. 8841

Louise ColemanDirector of Children’s Ministrylcoleman@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8832

John L. WilsonDirector of Music and Artsjwilson@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8827

Mike MurphyAssistant Director of Music and Artsmmurphy@firstpresaugusta.org

Vonnie EidsonDirector of Communicationveidson@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8822

Pastoral Staff

Ministry Directors

Cameron Anderson, Youth Interncanderson@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8849

Bonnie Bowles, Bookkeeperbbowles@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8840

Julie Brashear, Hope for AugustaDevelopment Coordinatorjulie@hopeforaugusta.org, 803.480.1479

Beth Carson, Main Office/Discipleship Asst.bcarson@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8827

Beth Cave, Children’s Ministry Preschool Coordinatorbcave@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8832

Francesca Fontanez, Youth Internffontanez@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8849

Jonathan Harper Pastoral Intern and Missions Associatejharper@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8860

Lesley Hamm, Discipleship Coordinatorlhamm@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8831

Rachel Hyatt, Communication Associate rhyatt@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8833

Elaine Janik, Children’s Admin Assistantejanik@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8832

David Jones, MCO Resource Directoravid@mcoaugusta.org, ext. 8841

Sandy Lanclos, Event Coordinator and Assistant to Director of Operationsslanclos@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8820

Chandler Machemehl, Assistant Youth Directorcmachemehl@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8849

J.T. Martin, CO Accountingjt.martin@campusoutreach.org, ext. 8848

Ellen McGaha, CO Office Managerellen.mcgaha@campusoutreach.org, ext. 8848

Kaitlyn McNair, MCO Women’s Directorkaitlyn@mcoaugusta.org, ext. 8841

Mary-Clayton Murphy, Youth Internmcmurphy@firstpresaugusta.org, 8849

Alissa Preston, Family Nurture and Youthapreston@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8849

Meghann Robinson, Hope for AugustaDirector of Arts, Arrow Institute of Artmeghann@hopeforaugusta.org

Jess Romer, Ministry Assistantjromer@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8855

Mike Rosser, Hope for AugustaWalton Oaks Coordinatormrosser@hopeforaugusta.org, 706.715.9932

Mallory Sides, Canterbury Choir Directormsides@firstpresaugusta.org

Michael Stephens, IT Directormstephens@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8838

Kelly Tabb, Children’s Ministry Nursery Coordinatorktabb@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8832

Gregory Trent, Maintenance Coordinatorgtrent@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8835

Pam TurleyFinance and Accounting Managerpturley@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8821

Candyn Turman, Hope for AugustaAssociate Directorcandyn@hopeforaugusta.org, 404.630.0523

Hannah Westfall, CO Events Coordinatorhannah.westfall@campusoutreach.org

Ministry Staff

George RobertsonSenior Pastorofficeofsrpastor@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8855

John FranksAssociate Pastor, Family Nurture and Worshipjfranks@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8849

Mike HearonAssociate Pastor, Outreach and Missionsmhearon@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8860

John BarrettAssociate Pastor, Discipleshipjbarrett@firstpresaugusta.org, ext. 8852

Mike PhillipsAssociate Pastormphillips@firstpresaugusta.org

Jim KnightPastoral Associate, Pastoral Carejknight@firstpresaugusta.org

Robert Vasholz Pastoral Certificationbvasholz@firstpresaugusta.org, 706.691.1414

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Adult Sunday School Classes A guide to navigating our campus is available in the Welcome Center, and ushers are available to help direct newcomers and guests.

GreetersThese elders are greeting you during the month of December:

CLass CLass DesCription LoCation

College In college or of college age Murphy HallMCO Health care students Murphy HallYoung Professionals For those in their 20s and 30's, single or married Baker HouseYoung Married Young married couples Eve RoomStudent Families Parents of elementary – high school students Letchford HallCornerstone Parents of college students and older St. Andrew's HallCovenanters “Empty-Nesters” Geneva RoomTrinity Those with grandchildren and older Adult Classroom

8:30 a.m. Matt Willis, Dan Boone, Gary Beaudreau, David Haburchak, Cliff Eckles11 a.m. Sean Lynch, Jim Bodden, Jim Scarbrough, Dale Martin, Matt Aitken6:30 p.m. Sean Lynch, Dan Boone, Gary Beaudreau, David Haburchak, Cliff Eckles