November 30, 2014

Communion—Advent I

Our Mission

In common with all churches we seek to:

Worship God

Proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to the scriptures

Develop community

Offer nurture through the pastoral care giving of our members and staff

We call people to a life of:

Discipleship

Stewardship

Spiritual development

As a faith community we seek to be:

An inviting church

Offering hospitality and

Encouragement to people in search of God.

Our Vision

We will organize our church as a center for:

Spiritual development

Music and the arts

Urban mission

Ecumenical cooperation

Our Objectives

We have some unique opportunities due to our Germantown location and

congregational history. These include:

Providing special programs for children and families in the local community

Building a healthy, diverse congregation

Developing an urban mission

Developing a ministry of music and the arts

Using our building and endowment creatively and responsibly

The First Presbyterian Church in Germantown logo seen on the cover of this bulletin represents

the multifaceted life of our energized congregation. The cross on the left symbolizes our Living Lord –

the foundation upon which we build our faith. The harp in the yellow square represents our rich musi-

cal heritage, for we enjoy celebrating the gift of music in worship, workshops, and concerts. It is im-

portant for us to share music with our community. The dove symbolizes serving – offering educational

and mission opportunities through our many outreach activities. People – active and joy-filled – are

represented in the red square on the right. We welcome all people to this church. We are a diverse

congregation of many racial, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds. We are, indeed, alive,

spirit-filled, and caring.

The colors are reflective of the beautiful stained glass windows of the church. In fact, the col-

ors of the logo were taken directly from The Christmas Window– “Thy light is come” made by Nicola

D’Ascenzo and seen in the southwest corner of the nave.

The First Presbyterian Church in Germantown –

Alive, Celebrating & Serving the Living Lord!

November 30, 2014 The First Sunday of Advent

Celebration Sunday

Communion

ORDER OF MORNING WORSHIP AT 10:00 AM

GATHERING AS GOD’S FAMILY

Prelude: Hymn Sing Lindsay Mauck, Song leader

Welcome and Announcements Introit: Of the Father’s Love Begotten Plainsong, Mode V

Of the Father’s love begotten, Ere the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, He

the source, the ending He, Of the things that are, that have been, And the future years

shall see, Evermore and evermore! Amen.

†*Call to Worship Shawdee Rolle, Zaria Cuffee & Chris Scott Leader: Faith, hope and love,

People: By these three gifts we live.

Leader: Given by God, received in the Spirit,

learned from Christ.

People: Together with sisters and brothers throughout the world,

whose faith, hope and love carry them through good times

and bad, we gather at Advent in a festival of praise

and thanksgiving for the gift of God in Jesus Christ,

until he comes again.

Leader: Be it Germantown or Jerusalem,

People: We are part of a global community of faith,

Whose hope is grounded in the unfailing love of God,

Come to live among us: Emmanuel.

Leader: We light the first candle of Advent,

the candle of hope.

People: Let all who are discouraged take heart in this light.

It is both in suffering and in celebration that we hope.

Let us not close ourselves to hope when it seems naive,

or is too painful. And let us refuse to call any place

or time or person hopeless. For this is the light of Emmanuel,

the candle of hope.

____________________ *congregation standing

† latecomers may be seated

IN PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP PLEASE TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK SILENTLY TO

GOD. AT THE CLOSE OF THE SERVICE LET US GREET ONE ANOTHER WITH CHEERFULNESS.

PLEASE BE SURE YOUR CELL PHONE IS TURNED OFF DURING WORSHIP.

†*Hymn 2: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus HYFRYDOL

(Please bring your donations for the Food Cupboard and Cents-Ability forward during this hymn.)

CONFESSING OUR SINS TO GOD

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession

Leader: Wondrous God, who sets suns and moons above us, mountains and

valleys beneath us, and friends and strangers among us: how often

xx have we tried to hide from your presence, how seldom have we

xxxxx looked for your creating face and your fashioning hand!

People: Lord, have mercy upon us.

Leader: Wondrous God, who took upon yourself flesh of our flesh in Jesus

xx our brother, and being found in human form made the ultimate dis-

xx closure of yourself in the face of Jesus Christ: how often we have

xxxc forgotten you, how seldom have we really loved and followed you!

People: Christ, have mercy upon us.

Leader: Wondrous God, who freely pours out the Holy Spirit: how often

xxxx have we ignored your promptings, how seldom have we asked for

xxx your help or accepted your gifts!

People: Lord, have mercy upon us.

Silent Meditation

Assurance of Pardon

While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.

For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as

by the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide

my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and you

forgave the guilt of my sin.

†*Congregational Response 572: Lord, Have Mercy Upon Us KYRIE

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

†* Sharing the Peace of Christ

Leader: The peace of Christ be with you.

People: And also with you.

(As worshipers, we come from diverse experiences and points of view. We have differ-

ent racial, educational, and economic backgrounds. Yet we are all one in Christ. We

symbolize this as we exchange with one another, by words and gestures, signs of peace

and reconciliation such as, “The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.”)

PROCLAIMING GOD’S WORD

Prayer for Illumination

The Lesson Genesis 1:1-5, 26-31

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a

formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from

God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and

there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the

light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called

Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. Then God

said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let

them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and

over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creep-

ing thing that creeps upon the earth.” So God created humankind in his image,

in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God

blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth

and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of

the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” God said, “See,

I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth,

and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every

beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on

the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant

for food.” And it was so. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it

was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Leader: God’s Word is a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path.

People: Thanks be to God!

Choir: Is Your Heart Prepared for a King? Robert Lau In the quiet of the night, or in morning’s early light, is your heart prepared for a King?

Will you hear an angel sing. Will your own hosannas ring? Is your heart prepared for

a King? Wait! Watch! Pray for the One who brings hope to a wearied earth. Wait!

Watch! Pray for the One who brings peace by his birth. Can you see the shining star

Does it call you from afar? Is your heart prepared for a King? Will you watch? Is the

babe of whom we sing born to be our God and King? Will you pray? Is your heart

prepared, is your heart prepared for a King?

Sermon: LIGHT AND LIFE TO ALL HE BRINGS Pastor Randal L. Bremer

RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD

*Affirmation of Faith: The Nicene Creed (Unison)

We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,

and of all things visible and invisible;

And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten

of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of

Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by

whom all things were made; For us and for our salvation he came down

from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and

was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suf-

fered and was buried, and the third day he rose again in according to the

Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the

Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and

the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord the Giver of Life, who pro-

ceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son to-

gether is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And we

believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one

baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the

dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Offering of Our Gifts and Lives

Offertory: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Gustav Holst

Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand; Ponder nothing earthly

minded for with blessing in his hand, Christ our Lord to earth descendeth our full homage to

demand. King of Kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth He stood, Lord of Lords, in hu-

man vesture in the body and the blood He will give to all the faithful His own self for heavenly

food. Rank on rank the host of heaven spreads its vanguard on the way as the light of light

descendeth from the realm of endless day. That the power of hell may vanish as the darkness

clears away. At His feet the six winged seraph; Cherubim with sleepless eye, Veil their faces to

the presence, as with ceaseless voice they cry, Alleluia Lord most high. Amen.

*Congregational Response 36: In the Bleak Midwinter CRANHAM

What can I give Him, Poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring him a lamb;

If I were a wise man, I would do my part;

Yet what I can I give Him: Give my heart.

*Prayer of Dedication

Invitation to the Lord’s Table

*Communion Hymn 507: I Come with Joy DOVE OF PEACE

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

Leader: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Leader: Lift up your hearts.

People: We lift them to the Lord.

Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Leader: It is truly right and our greatest joy to give you thanks and

xxx praise, O Lord our God, creator and ruler of the universe…

xx

...Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with the

xxxxxx celestial choirs and with all the faithful of every time and

xxxx place, who forever sing to the glory of your name:

Congregational Response: Sanctus Richard Proulx

Leader: You are holy, O God of majesty, and blessed is Jesus Christ,

xx your Son, our Lord. You sent him into this world to satisfy

xxxx the longings of your people for a Savior...

...With thanksgiving we offer our very selves to you to be a

xx living and holy sacrifice, dedicated to your service.

Congregational Response: Memorial Acclamation Richard Proulx

Leader: Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon

xx these your gifts of bread and wine...

...Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the

xxx Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God,

xxxxx now and forever.

Congregational Response: The Great Amen Richard Proulx

§

The Lord’s Prayer (unison)

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 Words of Institution

Distribution of the Elements

(We will come to the table to receive the elements of bread and wine/juice.

Come forward using the center aisle, consuming the elements as you receive

them, and return to your seat by the side aisle. Remember that the cups on the

outside ring of the tray hold grape juice and the cups within the outside ring

contain wine.)

Prayer After Communion (unison)

We thank you, O God, that through Word and Sacrament you have given

us your Son who is the true bread from heaven and food of eternal life. So

strengthen us in your service that our daily living may show our thanks;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

GOING FORTH IN GOD’S NAME

*Hymn 12: People, Look East BESANÇON

*Charge and Benediction I Peter 4:10-11

Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with

whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one

speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength

that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus

Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

May the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, fill you and

remain with you always.

*Choral Response 585: Threefold Amen McNeil Robinson II

Organ Postlude: Praise Ye The Lord of Hosts from Christmas Oratorio Saint-Saens arranged by Diane Bish

WELCOME: If you are visiting with us today, please sign the Fellowship Pad at the end of your

pew. We pray the hour will be meaningful to you and you will come and worship with us again.

Everyone is cordially invited to a time of fellowship in the Longstreth Auditorium following the

worship service.

THIS WEEK’S COFFEE HOUR HOST: Presbyterian Women. Next week’s host: Congres-

sional Development and Fellowship Committee

COFFEE HOUR: The Congressional Development and Fellowship Committee thanks the Mis-

sion and Outreach Committee for supplying the munchies and helping with setup and cleanup for

last Sunday's coffee hour. Please consider taking a turn. You provide the goodies/munchies of your

choice. The Congressional Development and Fellowship Committee provides the Half and Half and

juice. A member of the committee will make the coffee and assist you with setup and cleanup.

DECEMBER CHALLENGE OFFERING: The Christmas Joy Offering has been collected in

Presbyterian churches for almost seventy years. Half of the monies collected in this offering are

used to support Presbyterian racial ethnic schools and colleges. The other half is distributed by the

Presbyterian Board of Pensions in its assistance programs which help retired church workers and

their spouses through difficult times. Please give generously to this important mission.

CHRISTMAS DINNER: This year's Christmas dinner will be held Sunday, December 7 follow-

ing the Messiah Concert. Tickets may be purchased during coffee hour or by calling the church of-

fice at 215-843-8811. This year’s menu: Main Course: Sliced roast beef, or Sliced turkey (both with

gravy.) Sides: Stuffing, Whipped potatoes, Vegetable Medley, Macaroni and Cheese, Cranberry

Sauce, Garden Salad, Roll. Dessert: Fruit Crisp. Ticket prices: Adults (12 and up) $12.00, Youth (5 -

11) $6.00, Children under 5 - Free.

CHRISTMAS DINNER SET-UP: Please see Madeline Valentine or any Congregational Devel-

opment and Fellowship Committee member if you are able to help with the set-up for the Christmas

Dinner on Saturday morning December 6, 2014.

2015 CALENDAR: Heidi Mercado-Littles has designed 2015 calendars featuring original photo-

graphs of Chile with inspiring scripture passages from 23rd Psalm. Calendars will be available for

$15 as a fund raiser for the Deacons. You can see a sample calendar and place an order with Heidi

during coffee hour or call her at 215-888-7723. Orders will be taken till December 7, 2014.

CHRISTMAS MEMORIALS: The poinsettias in the sanctuary during the Christmas season are

in memory and honor of our loved ones. As is our custom, these flowers will be delivered after

Christmas to the sick and shut-in of our congregation. Please contact David Daugherty during office

hours if you would like your family members’ or friends’ names included in the worship bulletin.

The cost is $15 per line. Listings will be accepted until Tuesday, December 16, 2014.

STAFF APPRECIATION CHRISTMAS GIFT: Christmas is a time we can show our apprecia-

tion to our staff for all they do during the year as they serve our congregation and community. Most

of us have experienced the “extra” each of these staff members put into their job. Staff Appreciation

Christmas Gifts will be given to Kevin, Eileen, David, Christian, Heidi, Jesse, Terry, Illya (JR) and

Melissa just prior to the holiday. You can share in these appreciation gifts by mailing your contribu-

tion (checks made out to The First Presbyterian Church in Germantown) to the Personnel Commit-

tee, The First Presbyterian Church in Germantown, 35 West Chelten Avenue, Philadelphia, PA

19144 or by placing the check in the mailbox by the church office. There will also be opportunities

to make a contribution during the Sunday coffee hours.

LEAD THE WAY BEYOND TEAM (LTWB) will begin monthly Congregational Conversations

in January 2015. The meetings will take place the third Saturday of each month and will be held

from 9:00am – 11:00am. A lite continental breakfast will be available from 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM,

with the conversations set to begin at 9:30. The scheduled 2015 meeting dates are as follows: 1/17, 2/21, 3/21, 4/18, 5/16, 6/20. Topics to be discussed: Worship, Music and The Arts; Becoming More

Family Friendly; Communication & Technology; The Endowment; Community Outreach; and Our

Building. Rev. Randy will lead these discussions and be supported by those within the life of the

church with connections and close ties to each scheduled topic. More detailed information will be

forthcoming as each meeting date approaches.

WINDOW ON THE WEEK

Sunday, November 30

8:45 AM

10:00 AM

11:00 AM

11:10 AM

11:30 AM

11:30 AM

11:30 AM

1:00 PM

Monday, December 1

7:00 PM

Tuesday, December 2

9:30 AM

7:00 PM

Wednesday, December 3

2:45 PM

4:00 PM

7:00 PM

Thursday, December 4

6:00 PM

6:30 PM

7:45 PM

Friday, December 5

1:00 PM

3:30 PM

6:30 PM

Saturday, December 6

9:00 AM

10:00 AM

Sunday, December 7

8:45 AM

9:15 AM

10:00 AM

11:00 AM

11:10 AM

11:30 AM

11:30 AM

1:00 PM

3:00 PM

5:15 PM

Advent I

Chancel Choir—Sanctuary

Worship—Communion

Coffee Hour

Children’s Choir

Adult Bible Study

Sunday School

Chancel Choir

Basketball Practice

Bible Study - Faith Odysseys—Don Carlin

Classic Towns

Messiah Chorus Rehearsal—Music Room

Staff Meeting

Keystone State Boychoir

Session

Keystone State Boychoir

Gospel Choir

Voices in Bronze

Bible Study - Faith Odysseys—Don Carlin

Drop-in-Center

Christmas Play Rehearsal

Messiah—Dress Rehearsal

Open Gym

Advent II

Chancel Choir—Sanctuary

Gospel Choir

Worship

Coffee Hour

Children’s Choir

Adult Bible Study

Sunday School

Basketball

Concert—Messiah

Christmas Dinner

First Church Staff

Church Officers

Elders

2015

Sherry Archer

Carolyn Ballard-Freeman

Madeline Valentine

Madeline Valentine

Clerk of Session

2016

Denise Cowie

Contina Lundy

Lois Nafziger

Faith Wolford

2017

Andrew Hood

Christopher Scott

Deacons

2015

Sarah Andrews

Donald Carlin

Ruth Cato

Veda Gibbs

Evadney Miller

2016

Delores Solomon

David Wolford

2017

Randy Clever

Susan Mills Farrington

Interim Pastor

Director of Adult Education and Community Life

Director of Urban Ministry

Director of Music and Communication

Director of the Gospel Choir

Director of Christian Education

Parish Visitor

Facilities Superintendent

Bookkeeper

Sextons

Randal L. Bremer

Kevin L. Porter

Eileen Jones

David C. Daugherty

Sara Carter-Blanford

Christian Heyer-Rivera

Heidi Mercado-Littles

Jesse Jacobs

Cindy Osborne

Terry Boyer, Melissa Forrest, Illya (J.R.) Pasture

.

The First Presbyterian Church in Germantown

35 West Chelten Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19144 Phone 215-843-8811 FAX 888-333-5032

www.fpcgermantown.org