An Order of Worship for the Lord’s Day
Stone Presbyterian Church A Welcoming and Affirming Congregation
December 6, 2015 – The Second Sunday of Advent
We Gather to Worship the One Who Is Coming
PRELUDE O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Alec Wyton (Please listen quietly to the prelude as the community prepares for worship)
INTROIT & POURING BAPTISMAL WATER
CALL TO WORSHIP
Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. Let us worship God.
+HYMN Prepare the Way, O Zion to ST. LOUIS +Those who are able may stand. (Please see announcements insert.) WELCOME
THE 2ND ADVENT CANDLE – THE GIFT OF PEACE Hannah Burrall & Deborah Gakpo
Unison prayer: God of peace, as we continue our pilgrimage together, deepen our relationship with you, with one another, and with all of your creation. Purify our hearts, that we might make ready a pathway for your coming. Shine into the dark places in our lives, that we might be freed to focus on the One who comes to love us and bring us peace. Amen! +THE ADVENT GIVING – The Peace & Global Witness Offering
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (together) ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS see insert
+A DOXOLOGY (to the tune GLORIA)
To the God of peace we sing, To the Son let praises ring, And the Holy Spirit praise, As our song in peace we raise: Glo—ria in excelsis Deo! Glo—ria in excelsis Deo! +THE PEACE OF CHRIST
We Listen for the Word of God
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
LESSONS FROM SCRIPTURE
Malachi 3:1-4 The messenger of the covenant will be like a refining fire. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. TOLD BY ELIZABETH SMITH Luke 1:68-79 #602 – The Song of Zechariah
Philippians 1:3-11 Paul’s gratitude for the faithfulness of the Philippians ANTHEM Songs of Peace Joseph M. Martin
CONVERSATION WITH CHILDREN
Luke 3:1-6 The proclamation of John the Baptist TOLD BY PETER MASSI
SERMON The Herald Heralds
We Respond in Faith with Thanksgiving
+HYMN #10 On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry WINCHESTER NEW +AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (based on John 1) see insert LIFE OF THE CHURCH, JOYS & CONCERNS
El Greco’s John the Baptist
OFFERTORY From Heav’n Above to Earth I Come Friedrich Wilhelm Zachau
+A DOXOLOGY ADESTE FIDELES Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exaltation!
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest! O Come, let us adore him, O Come, let us adore him, O Come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!
THE LORD’S SUPPER – INVITATION TO THE TABLE
THE GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give God thanks and praise.
… who forever sing to the glory of your name:
(SINGING to CRANHAM, “In the Bleak Mid-winter”)
Holy, holy, holy God of pow’r and might Heav’n and earth your glory show forth day and night. We sing loud “Hosannas,” the praise that he is due, As he brings salvation, our hope to renew.
…And so we announce to the world the good news of our faith as we sing together:
(SINGING to CRANHAM, “In the Bleak Mid-winter”)
Crucified with robbers on a cross to die; In the tomb for three days, lifeless he did lie. By God’s loving power raised new life to gain. We await with hope his coming once again.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (Traditional Version, Presbyterian Hymnal, p. 16)
THE COMMUNION (Please hold the bread to eat together; drink the cup as served.)
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
We Go Out in Peace +HYMN O Lord, How Shall We Meet You? GOD REST YE MERRY (Please see announcements insert.)
+CHARGE & BENEDICTION +CHORAL RESPONSE +POSTLUDE
STONE CHURCH WELCOMES YOU TO WORSHIP December 6, 2015 ~ Second Sunday of Advent ~ 10:30 a.m.
The purpose of Stone Church is to be an inviting, spiritual community of Christ, engaging in worship that inspires and challenges us to learn and grow
as we reach out in caring and service, trusting in the love of God.
All the People, Ministers
Stone Presbyterian Church Scott Leonard, Commissioned Lay Pastor PO Box 33, 8 South Park Row G. Roberts Kolb, Director of Music Clinton, New York 13323 Gerald G. Platz, Pastor Emeritus 315-853-2933 Peggy Weldon, Office Administrator [email protected] Jesse Miller, Sexton
www.stonepres.org ~ www.facebook.com/stonepres
An Order of Worship for the Lord’s Day
Stone Presbyterian Church A Welcoming and Affirming Congregation
December 6, 2015 – The Second Sunday of Advent
We Gather to Worship the One Who Is Coming
PRELUDE O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Alec Wyton (Please listen quietly to the prelude as the community prepares for worship)
INTROIT & POURING BAPTISMAL WATER
CALL TO WORSHIP
Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. Let us worship God.
+HYMN Prepare the Way, O Zion to ST. LOUIS +Those who are able may stand. (Please see announcements insert.) WELCOME
THE 2ND ADVENT CANDLE – THE GIFT OF PEACE Hannah Burrall & Deborah Gakpo
Unison prayer: God of peace, as we continue our pilgrimage together, deepen our relationship with you, with one another, and with all of your creation. Purify our hearts, that we might make ready a pathway for your coming. Shine into the dark places in our lives, that we might be freed to focus on the One who comes to love us and bring us peace. Amen! +THE ADVENT GIVING – The Peace & Global Witness Offering
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (together) ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS see insert
+A DOXOLOGY (to the tune GLORIA)
To the God of peace we sing, To the Son let praises ring, And the Holy Spirit praise, As our song in peace we raise: Glo—ria in excelsis Deo! Glo—ria in excelsis Deo! +THE PEACE OF CHRIST
We Listen for the Word of God
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
LESSONS FROM SCRIPTURE
Malachi 3:1-4 The messenger of the covenant will be like a refining fire. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. TOLD BY ELIZABETH SMITH Luke 1:68-79 #602 – The Song of Zechariah
Philippians 1:3-11 Paul’s gratitude for the faithfulness of the Philippians ANTHEM Songs of Peace Joseph M. Martin
CONVERSATION WITH CHILDREN
Luke 3:1-6 The proclamation of John the Baptist TOLD BY PETER MASSI
SERMON The Herald Heralds
We Respond in Faith with Thanksgiving
+HYMN #10 On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry WINCHESTER NEW +AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (based on John 1) see insert LIFE OF THE CHURCH, JOYS & CONCERNS
El Greco’s John the Baptist
OFFERTORY From Heav’n Above to Earth I Come Friedrich Wilhelm Zachau
+A DOXOLOGY ADESTE FIDELES Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exaltation!
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest! O Come, let us adore him, O Come, let us adore him, O Come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!
THE LORD’S SUPPER – INVITATION TO THE TABLE
THE GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give God thanks and praise.
… who forever sing to the glory of your name:
(SINGING to CRANHAM, “In the Bleak Mid-winter”)
Holy, holy, holy God of pow’r and might Heav’n and earth your glory show forth day and night. We sing loud “Hosannas,” the praise that he is due, As he brings salvation, our hope to renew.
…And so we announce to the world the good news of our faith as we sing together:
(SINGING to CRANHAM, “In the Bleak Mid-winter”)
Crucified with robbers on a cross to die; In the tomb for three days, lifeless he did lie. By God’s loving power raised new life to gain. We await with hope his coming once again.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (Traditional Version, Presbyterian Hymnal, p. 16)
THE COMMUNION (Please hold the bread to eat together; drink the cup as served.)
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
We Go Out in Peace +HYMN O Lord, How Shall We Meet You? GOD REST YE MERRY (Please see announcements insert.)
+CHARGE & BENEDICTION +CHORAL RESPONSE +POSTLUDE
STONE CHURCH WELCOMES YOU TO WORSHIP December 6, 2015 ~ Second Sunday of Advent ~ 10:30 a.m.
The purpose of Stone Church is to be an inviting, spiritual community of Christ, engaging in worship that inspires and challenges us to learn and grow
as we reach out in caring and service, trusting in the love of God.
All the People, Ministers
Stone Presbyterian Church Scott Leonard, Commissioned Lay Pastor PO Box 33, 8 South Park Row G. Roberts Kolb, Director of Music Clinton, New York 13323 Gerald G. Platz, Pastor Emeritus 315-853-2933 Peggy Weldon, Office Administrator [email protected] Jesse Miller, Sexton
www.stonepres.org ~ www.facebook.com/stonepres
WELCOME to the worship of God at Stone Presbyterian Church, a
congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in the Presbytery of Utica.
T H E C A L E N D A R
This week Today: 4 p.m. Annual Service of Lessons and Carols - Hamilton College Chapel
Monday: 6 p.m. Bible Study
7 p.m. Storytellers Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. Clinton Area Ministerium – Lutheran Home
Thursday: 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Fair Trade Shoppe
Saturday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fair Trade Shoppe Next Sunday: 9 a.m. Choir rehearsal
10:30 a.m. Worship
Looking ahead
Monday (12-14): 7 p.m. Session meeting
GREETER & HOST: Emily Hughes
PRAYER CHAIN: If you would like to add someone to our prayer list or would like to receive the prayer list for daily prayer, please go to our website www.stonepres.org and
click on “Prayer Request” or call the church office at 853-2933.
THE PRELUDE: PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP: The worship service starts with the prelude—that organ (or other instrumental) music you hear at the beginning of worship. To that end
we invite you to treat the prelude not so much as something “played beforehand” while you’re still
visiting with people, but more as a time to prepare yourself for worship. In our hectic and often stressed-out lives it can be hard to transition to more spiritual things. Take the opportunity to sit
quietly and enjoy the music of the prelude, centering yourself so that you can be fully engaged with
the worship and experience the presence of God in our midst.
TODAY’S OFFERING OF PEACE will be directed to the Presbyterian Mission Agency and
will be used to support world-wide peacemaking and global witness efforts. Portions of this
offering will be used to fund the Presbyterian Peace camp for children, an experience designed to help children have an appreciation for diversity and a belief in the power of peacemaking. As is
our custom, this Advent offering will be separate from our regular giving. Please help support
these obviously necessary peacemaking efforts.
WEAR PINK NEXT SUNDAY! For Advent (and Lent) purple is the liturgical color we use to
symbolize our preparation for the Christ—except for the Third Sunday in Advent. That is
Gaudete Sunday (from Latin meaning “rejoice”) and is taken from Philippians 4:4-5, the Entrance Antiphon of the day, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your
gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.” And the liturgical color for joy is—pink!
So wear pink to show the joy we have as followers of Christ. We will also have a special Christmas Joy collection that day.
WE HAVE TWO NEW FAMILIES: Look for tree ornaments with the needs and wants of our Christmas families. This year we are adopting one small family from the Neighborhood Center
and one small local family. This is Stone Church’s 30th year of adopting families through
the Neighborhood Center! Please return gifts - unwrapped, but with tags attached - by Sunday,
December 13. Be sure to join us that morning after worship for the wrapping party. Questions? See Donna Goodfriend.
HOPE HOUSE’S WISH LIST: This month’s wish list includes the following: deodorant, razors, conditioner, shampoo, toothpaste, shaving cream, coffee, sugar, creamer, rags, oven
mitts, and prayers. Please leave items in the narthex.
“PRAYER THAT WORKS” Bible Study group will meet on the first and third Mondays of December. Interested people should speak with Donna Goodfriend or Emily Massi.
THE BUILDING STONES MISSION SHOP at Stone Presbyterian Church sells Fair Trade products from around the world. Fair Trade insures workers a fair wage and healthy working
conditions, providing dignity and hope for farmers and artisans who produce the items we
consume and enjoy. By promoting Fair Trade in our church and community we are supporting the health and welfare of people organically by providing a means for them to be
contributors to the world economy. Our shop is open every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6:30
p.m. and every second Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
THE COUNTRY PANTRY NEEDS YOUR HELP: Thanks to all who contributed to the food
drive for the Country Pantry, their grocery bags were overflowing! We will wind up the towels
and gift card collection today. Preparing for the cold weather in January, we will collect all kinds of soup and/or crackers. Questions? Contact Judy LaGasse.
Ewa Lawrence Dani Rance
Doris Locke
Susanne Deborah Henderson Stickles’ Family
Judy Raney
Family of C. Davis Robinson
Family of Erik Sornesen Pete Robinson, Sherry’s dad
Ann Conley’s family
Refugees
Members/Friends of the Week: Schklair family, Juliann Scatko
Family of Mildred Schell
Danuta & Boleslaw (Ewa’s parents) Wilma Lawson
Jan Johnson
Courtney Britcher Gus & family
Anne Reynolds & family Carole Grove
Chris Woods & his family
Amy, Eric Sornesen’s fiancé, and family