December 27, 2020 Season of Christmastide

• It is helpful for us to know who is worshiping on campus. If you haven’t registered to attend, please visit 2pc.org now and use the buttons at the top of the homepage to let us know you’re here!

• To help everyone keep proper distance when exiting, please exit by row to the closest exterior Sanctuary door (back rows to the North doors; front rows to the South doors). Also, please keep masks on throughout the worship service and while on campus.

• A live stream of services is available at 2pc.org/live for those unable to attend at this time.

• Please take this order of worship with you as you exit. Hint: You can bring it back for worship this evening at 6:00!

• The order of worship for the evening service begins on page 7 of this booklet.

• 52 Reasons Devotion Series: In July of this year, Pastor George introduced an encouraging weekly devotional regarding the importance of corporate worship for the people of God. To follow that series, click “media” at the top of our homepage at 2pc.org, subscribe to our social media channels (@2PCMemphis), or find it in the Messenger email newsletter each Friday.

• Messenger: The best way to find out what’s going on at Second is to subscribe to our weekly email newsletter. To subscribe, simply scroll to the orange box at the bottom of our homepage and enter your name and email address—then watch for it to arrive in your inbox on Friday afternoons!

Welcome to Worship

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Seek and Praise King JesusPRELUDE: “I Wonder As I Wander” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Hayes

Jill Peak, organ

WCALL TO WORSHIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Josh PrestonFor the protection of our community during the pandemic, singing along to hymns is discouraged.

WHYMN OF PRAISE: “As with Gladness Men of Old” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DIXWords: William C. Dix / Music: Conrad Kocher / Matthew 2:10

As with gladness men of old did the guiding star behold; As with joy they hailed its light, leading onward, beaming bright; So, most gracious God, may we evermore be led to Thee.

As with joyful steps they sped to that lowly cradle-bed, There to bend the knee before Him whom heav’n and earth adore; So may we with willing feet ever seek Thy mercy seat.

As they offered gifts most rare at that cradle rude and bare; So may we with holy joy, pure, and free from sin’s alloy, All our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to Thee, our heav’nly King.

Holy Jesus, ev’ry day keep us in the narrow way; And when earthly things are past, bring our ransomed souls at last Where they need no star to guide, where no clouds Thy glory hide.

In the heav’nly country bright need they no created light; Thou its light, its joy, its crown, Thou its sun which goes not down; There forever may we sing alleluias to our King.

WINVOCATION

WPSALTER LESSON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Select verses from Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after:that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble;he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.

You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Morning Worship8:15 & 11:00 a.m.

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WCONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VENI EMMANUELWords: John Mason Neale / Music: Thomas Helmore / Isaiah 59:20

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Receive the Grace of King Jesus

CORPORATE PRAYER OF CONFESSIONGod of grace and truth, in Jesus Christ You came among us as light shining in darkness. We confess that we have not welcomed the light or trusted the Good News to be good. We have failed to be Your agents of peace on earth. We have resisted Your mighty rule in our lives. We have been reluctant to glorify and praise You for becoming God with us. We have closed our eyes to Your glory in our midst, expecting little, and hoping for less. Forgive our doubt and renew our hope, so that we may receive the fullness of Your grace and live in the truth of Christ the Lord.

INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

ASSURANCE OF DIVINE PARDON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Titus 3:4-5

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness,

but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.

WORSHIP OF GOD WITH THE GIFTS OF GOD

Boxes at Exits: We will not pass the offering plate. Boxes are available at the Sanctuary exits.Give Online: 2pc.org/giveGive by Text: Text SECOND followed by the gift amount to (901) 410-9500 to give to the General Fund. To give to World Missions, text WORLD followed by an amount to the same number.Give by Mail: Second Presbyterian Church, 4055 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38111

OFFERTORY ANTHEM: “Ding Dong! Merrily on High” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carolyn JenningsWords: G.R. Woodward / Music: arr. Carolyn Jennings / Luke 2:13-14

Ding dong! merrily on high in heav’n the bells are ringing. Ding dong! verily the sky is riv’n with angel singing.

Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis.E’en so here below, below let steeple bells be swungen. And “io, io, io,” by priest and people sungen.Pray you, dutifully prime your matin chime, ye ringers; May you beautifully rhyme your evetime song, ye singers

The Chancel Choir Calvin Ellis, director

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PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS (See announcements on pages 10-11.)

VIDEO: A WORD TO THE CHILDREN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Courtney Humphreys

Offer Your Obedience to King Jesus

WPRAYERS OF INTERCESSION 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.

WHYMN OF PREPARATION: “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHRISTMASWords: Nahum Tate / Music: G.F. Handel / Luke 2:8

While shepherds watched their flocks by night, all seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, and glory shone around, and glory shone around.

“Fear not,” said he for mighty dread had seized their troubled mind “Glad tidings of great joy I bring to you and all mankind, to you and all mankind.

“To you, in David’s town this day, is born of David’s line, The Savior, who is Christ the Lord, and this shall be the sign, and this shall be the sign:

“The heav’nly babe you there shall find to human view displayed, All meanly wrapped in swathing bands, and in a manger laid, and in a manger laid.

“All glory be to God on high, and to the earth be peace; Good will henceforth, from heav’n to men, begin and never cease, begin and never cease!”

SCRIPTURE LESSON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II Corinthians 6:3-13We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor,

through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

The grass withers, the flower fades,but the Word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)

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SERMON: The Great Love Affair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .George Robertson

I. Live Faithfully Under Christ’s Cross (II Corinthians 6:3-10)II. Love Passionately Christ’s People (II Corinthians 6:11-13)

PRAYER OF COMMITMENT

WBENEDICTION

WBENEDICTION RESPONSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GLORIAWords: Traditional French Carol / Music: arr. Edward Shippen Barnes / Luke 2:14

Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo.

POSTLUDE: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gordon Young

WIndicates congregation standing CCLI License #252778

Sermon Notes

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WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gerry Peak

Give at Exits: We will not pass the offering plate. Boxes are available at the Sanctuary exits.Give Online: 2pc.org/giveGive by Text: Text SECOND followed by the gift amount to (901) 410-9500 to give to the General Fund. To give to World Missions, text WORLD followed by an amount to the same number.Give by Mail: Second Presbyterian Church, 4055 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38111

WCALL TO WORSHIPFor the protection of our community during the pandemic, singing along to hymns is discouraged.

WJOY HAS DAWNEDJoy has dawned upon the world, promised from creation: God’s salvation now unfurled, hope for ev’ry nation. Not with fanfares from above, not with scenes of glory, But a humble gift of love: Jesus, born of Mary.Sounds of wonder fill the sky with the songs of angels, As the mighty Prince of Life shelters in a stable, Hands that set each star in place, shaped the earth in darkness, Cling now to a mother’s breast, vuln’rable and helpless.Shepherds bow before the Lamb, gazing at the glory; Gifts of men from distant lands prophesy the story. Gold, a King is born today; incense, God is with us; Myrrh, His death will make a way, by His blood He’ll win us.Son of Adam, Son of heav’n, given as a ransom, Reconciling God and man, Christ our mighty champion! What a Savior, what a friend, what a glorious myst’ry: Once a babe in Bethlehem, now the Lord of hist’ry!

Words and Music: Keith Getty and Stuart Townend / John 1:18

WINVOCATION

WGO, TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAINGo, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and ev’rywhere; Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night, Behold, throughout the heavens there shone a holy light.The shepherds feared and trembled when, lo! above the earth Rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior’s birth. Down in a lowly manger our humble Christ was born, And God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.

Words: John Work, Jr. / Music: African-American Spiritual / Luke 2:17

Sunday Night Worship6:00 p.m.

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SCRIPTURE LESSON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Revelation 21:3-4And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away

every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

The grass withers, the flower fades,but the Word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)

SERMON: Something to Live For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brandon Terry

PRAYER OF COMMITMENT

The Liturgy of the Table

INVITATION TO THE TABLEThis is the Lord’s table. All who profess their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are invited to receive communion. If this is not your faith, we would still encourage you to walk forward, knowing that no one will make you take the elements. Any of our elders or pastors will be happy to talk to you about questions or doubts you have about faith in Christ. We encourage children not to take communion until they have joined the church but do welcome them to come forward with their parents to receive a blessing. All communion wafers are gluten free.

PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

ASSURANCE OF DIVINE PARDON

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

PRAYER OF CONSECRATION

SHARING THE BREAD AND THE CUP

WTHIS IS THE CHRISTGood news from heaven the angels bring, glad tidings to the earth they sing: To us this day a child is given to crown us with the joy of heaven.

This is the Christ, our God and Lord who in all need shall aid afford. He will himself our Savior be and from our sins will set us free.

All hail, thou noble guest this morn whose love did not the sinner scorn In my distress thou come’st to me what thanks shall I return to Thee?Were earth a thousand times as fair beset with gold and jewels rare She yet were far too poor to be a narrow cradle, Lord, for Thee.Praise God upon His heavenly throne who gave to us His only Son For this His hosts on joyful wing a blest new year of mercy sing.

Words: Martin Luther / Music: Sandra McCracken / John 7:41

Haleigh Boykin, soloist

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WIN CHRIST ALONEIn Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song; This Cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease. My Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ I stand.In Christ alone, Who took on flesh, fullness of God in helpless babe! This gift of love and righteousness, scorned by the ones He came to save. ’Till on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied. For ev’ry sin on Him was laid; here in the death of Christ I live.There in the ground His body lay, light of the world by darkness slain; Then, bursting forth in glorious day, up from the grave He rose again! And as He stands in victory, sin’s curse has lost its grip on me; For I am His and He is mine, bought with the precious blood of Christ.No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the pow’r of Christ in me; From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand;

’Till He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.Words and Music: Keith Getty, Stuart Townend / Philippians 3:8-9

WPRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

WBENEDICTION

WGOSPEL AMEN

WIndicates congregation standing CCLI License #252778

Sermon Notes

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The flowers in the Sanctuary for the month of December are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of: Bernice and George Flinn by their sons George, Jr., Fred, Carl, and their families; Mr. and Mrs. William D. Nicholson by their children and grandchildren; Lillian and Thomas Patton by Susan and Claude Crawford, Elizabeth and John Holmes, and their grandchildren; and their son, Benjamin, and their parents, Madge and Charles Smith and Diantha and Carl Weber, by Vicki and Bill Weber.

December Flowers

Per IRS regulations, year-end gifts not mailed to the church must be placed in the offering boxes at the Sanctuary exits or delivered to the church office no later than Thursday, December 31, 2020, in order to qualify as a charitable gift for the 2020 tax year. The church office will close at 5:00 p.m., but you can give online at 2pc.org/give until midnight on December 31. Contributions mailed to the church must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service by December 31, 2020, in order to qualify as a charitable gift for the 2020 tax year. Mailed envelopes postmarked after December 31, 2020, must be reported as a 2021 gift, regardless of the date on the enclosed check.

General Fund Giving Update

November

YTD 7/1/20–11/30/20

$ 846,300 $ 3,381,838

$ 9,637 $ 63,376

$ 686,206 $ 3,043,767

This Year Actual Variance

Last Year Actual

This Year Budget

$ 836,663 $ 3,318,462

Year-end Giving Reminder

World Missions: David and Lisa live in East Asia where they have started Discovery Bible Studies among a minority people group in their country. David also provides leadership training, and Lisa serves as a midwife. Their small groups continue to grow, and they are currently meeting one-on-one with their hill tribe friends due to the nature of the pandemic and local restrictions. In addition, they are caring for Bella, a 9-year-old with disabilities. Pray for Bella’s eyesight, as it impacts her learning. Pray also for wisdom for David as he trains his groups and for the Holy Spirit to draw many to Christ.Mission Memphis: Our partners at Young Life Memphis ask that we pray for the youth they serve, for hearts in Memphis to turn to Jesus, for racial reconciliation in our community, and for safety and health for the YL staff.

Weekly Focus on Missions

Sympathy to: Bob Stacey on the death of his wife, Grethel Sue Stacey, December 14, 2020.Catherine Burns on the death of her father, Lewis Harold Spradley, December 16, 2020, in Houston, TX.Kimm Clayton on the death of her

mother, Stella Durr-Brown, December 18, 2020, in Sandusky, OH.Nanette Farris on the death of her brother, Jamey Farris, December 19, 2020, in Cookeville, TN.In the Hospital (as of 12/21/20): Susan Cunningham, Baptist Rehab

Caring Ministry Update

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We’ll kick off the new year with our annual Gospel Priorities series. Each Sunday in January, we will hear from our pastors and some guest pastors during morning and evening worship on the themes of biblical justice, mercy, and grace found in Luke 4:18-19. Join us as we continue to seek to become the church Christ has redeemed us to be.January 3: Todd Erickson (morning); Gerry Peak (evening)January 10: Barton Kimbro (morning); Brandon Terry (evening)January 17: Denny CatalanoJanuary 24: Marron ThomasJanuary 31: Manuel Glory “Chucho” Morales

On-Campus Activities UpdateDue to the rise in COVID-19 cases in our county, please make note of the following changes to on-campus activities:• Adult CCs will not meet on campus through at least January 10.

Check with your CC leader about meeting virtually.• Our nursery will not be available for any worship service.• The Fitness Center and Track has closed. • All other on-campus activities, including youth programming,

Bible studies, etc. are cancelled at this time.

January Preaching Series

4055 Poplar Avenue · Memphis, Tennessee 38111 www.2pc.org · (901) 454-0034