THE FIRST
PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH AT CALDWELL
Our Purpose:
To help all people build life-transforming relationships with God
and each other.
The members and friends of FPC welcome people from all backgrounds
- - people of faith from throughout
the world, people who profess no faith, Christians of all denominations and
those who are searching for religious and spiritual meaning.
Welcome!
December 2, 2018
Ten o’clock
First Sunday of Advent
Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
GATHERING
REFLECTION
“The Advent season is a season of waiting, but our
whole life is an Advent season, that is, a season of
waiting for the last Advent, for the time when there
will be a new heaven and a new earth.”
― Dietrich
Bonhoeffer
PRELUDE
Fantasy on 'Hyfrydol'
"Come, thou long-expected Jesus"
arr. Hal H. Hopson
First Church
Ringers
CALL TO WORSHIP
Liturgist: Donna
McGinley, Deacon
In this season of
Advent, we long for God’s presence.
Christ is our light and the source of our hope.
In this season of
advent, we search for Gods truth.
Christ is our light and the source of our hope.
In this season of
Advent, we seek God’s guidance.
Christ is our light and the source of our hope.
In this season of
Advent, we remember God’s promise.
Christ is our light and the source of our hope.
LIGHTING OF THE
ADVENT CANDLE AND OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN NO. 88
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
Veni Emmanuel
Lighting the
candles today is Acolyte Nathaniel Popat
CONFESSION
CORPORATE
CONFESSION
Lord, have mercy on us. We are not ready for your
coming. We live in sin, as though there were
no justice. We live in fear, as though there were no
grace. Forgive us, Lord. Show us your mercy
and steadfast love. Lead us in your truth, and teach
us your paths, for you are the God of
salvation. Amen.
PERSONAL
CONFESSION
In the name of the
Coming One we pray,
Amen.
ASSURANCE OF
FORGIVENESS
...Friends, believe the good news.
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
*RESPONSE OF
PRAISE HYMN NO. 71
"Surely, It Is God Who Saves Me"
First Song
Surely, it is God who saves me;
I will trust and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my stronghold
and my sure defense,
and God will be my Savior.
PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING
TIME WITH THE
CHILDREN
Please note: Following Time With
The Children, children preschool through 1st grade
may leave the sanctuary for Young Children and Worship
to be held in room A-5.
PARISH LIFE
Members, friends and visitors, please sign the
Friendship Pad in each pew and pass it to the
person next to you. The last person will pass the pad
back to the first person, who will then please
place the sheet in the offering plate. Worshipers are
invited to use the cards in the pew racks for
prayer requests so we may share one another’s joys and
concerns. Please place the cards in
the offering plate and the staff will include them
with their prayers this week.
OFFERING
OFFERTORY
"Prepare the Way of the Lord"
Allen Pote
Westminster Choir
*RESPONSE OF
THANKSGIVING HYMN NO. 143
“Angels, from the Realms of Glory”
Regent Square
All creation, join in praising God the Father, Spirit,
Son, evermore your voices raising to the eternal Three in One: Come and
worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, he newborn king!
*PRAYER OF
DEDICATION
SCRIPTURE
Luke 21:25-36
Pages 80-81, NT
SERMON
“The Paradox of
Advent”
Stacy
Guinto-Salinas
Ph.D. Student
Princeton Seminary
GIVING THANKS
*HYMN NO. 306
“Blest Be the Tie That Binds”
Dennis
INVITATION TO THE
LORD’S TABLE
GREAT PRAYER OF
THANKSGIVING AND 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.
THE BREAKING OF
THE BREAD
COMMUNION OF THE
PEOPLE
PRAYER AFTER
COMMUNION
GOING FORTH
*BENEDICTION
*CONGREGATIONAL
RESPONSE HYMN NO.121 St. 4 "O Little
Town of Bethlehem"
ST. Louis
O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings
tell; O come to us; abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!
*THE PEACE
The peace of
Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Please exchange greetings of welcome and peace with
your neighbor.
*Please rise in
body or in spirit
†Our thanks to
Alyssa Deluva for preparing the Lord’s Table today.
Our Communion servers this week
are: Teresa Akersten, Jeannine Archibald, Jill Colavita,
Sally Cooperson, Steven Cornman, Jack Dusinberre, Lisa Edwards, Kaitlyn Heun,
Robert Hodge, Brian Johnson, Ron Masson, Donna McGinley, Kathy Pace, Sue Tannler.
† Your prayers of
intercession are requested for those members and friends known to be currently
or
recently
hospitalized or who continue to need our prayers and support:
... Mary Aharrah, Maggie Bischoff, Thelma Campbell, Harry Coppens,
Ray Corbin, Jay Courter, Catherine Flemming, Gordon
Gibson, Sandra Harvey, Bill Hayden, Christopher Kerwin,
Edna Lawshe, Dottie Leonard, Barbara Piggery, Louise Ritscher, Richard Rose, Edwin Rosin, Marge Rosin, Bob Scarrillo, David Solie, Rick
Sommers, Debbie Wefferling, Laura Winter and Helena
Wispelwey.