First Sunday of Advent
December3, 2023 | 10:00am
Rev. Jeremy Campbell, Temporary Pastor | Larry J. Carey, Director of Music
Thought for Worship: “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me.” | Ebenezer Scrooge, in Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
GATHERING
Welcome
Prelude Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus | Penfield
Call to Worship
Votum
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Amen
Salutation
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Amen.
Advent Candle of Hope Lighting
Congregation: What is worship?
Lay Reader and Clergy: Is it something we do once a week?
Choir: Is it about us or about God?
Light the Candle of Hope
Luke 2:16-20
The shepherds went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.
Women: We worship the Creator, the Messiah, the wind of the Spirit, the newborn King.
Men: We worship with all that we are and all that we have, our hearts, our minds, our souls and our strength.
Congregation: Worship is here, and we worship everywhere, bringing to others of the good news of the Prince of Peace.
Let us pray: Creator of all, as we begin this holy season, filled with the hope of the coming of the Messiah, quiet our hearts and minds that we may worship you fully, love you more dearly and see you more clearly. Amen.
*Hymn of Praise: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession
O GOD, the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning; We beseech Thee to look in mercy upon us, Thy sinful and wayward children : and so direct the eyes of our faith unto Thee, that at all times we may receive a heavenly illumination, through Thy Word and Spirit; and walk securely, in confidence and peace, amid the shadows of this mortal life. And more especially at this hour of the morning sacrifice, bestow upon us the pardon of our sins, and such a vision of the truth as it is in Jesus, that the darkness of evil may be driven from our hearts, and we may render unto Thee songs of praise; through Christ our Lord. Amen. (from the 1906 Book of Common Worship)
Silent Confession
Assurance of Pardon
The Law of God:
*Gloria Patri | #579
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.
*Commitment to Peace Keeping and Peace Seeking
One: May the peace of Christ be with you!
All: And also with you!
Share a sign of peace with one another. After sharing the peace, let us all sing together:
Together, by grace, we witness and work, remembering Jesus, in whom we grow strong. Together we serve in Spirit and truth, remembering love is the strength of our song.
THE WORD OF GOD
Anthem The Snow Lay on the Ground | arr. Sowerby
Prayer for Illumination
Speak to us, Lord. Speak to us in the waiting, the watching, the hoping, the longing, the sorrow, the sighing, the rejoicing. Speak to us by your Word in these Advent days, and walk with us until the day of your coming. Amen. written by Rev. Andy James
First Reading: Isaiah 64:1-9
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Children’s Sermon
Hymn: Savior of the Nations, Come
Second Reading: Mark 13:24-37
Sermon: “Christmas Past (Worship Fully)” | Rev. Campbell
Silent Reflection
THE RESPONSE TO GOD
*Affirmation of Faith
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Offering Carol of the Bells | Leotovich/Wilhousky
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him all creatures here below;
Praise him above ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen!
Prayer of Dedication
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
Communion Hymn I Come with Joy
Prayer of Great Thanksgiving
One: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
One: Holy and right it is and our joyful duty to give thanks to you at all times and in all places, O Lord our Creator, almighty and everlasting God...
With your whole Church on earth and with all the company of heaven we worship and adore your glorious name.
Sanctus Holy, Holy, Holy Lord #581
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of
your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of
the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!
Remembering the Work of Christ
One: Most righteous God, we remember in this Supper the perfect sacrifice offered once on the cross by our Lord Jesus Christ for the sin of the whole world. Together we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Memorial Acclamation
All: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Invocation of the Spirit
One: So send your Holy Spirit upon us we pray… Even so, come Lord Jesus we pray.
All: Amen
Holy Communion
Words of Institution and Invitation
One: The body of Christ is broken for you.
One: The blood of Christ is shed for you.
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession (ending with Lord’s Prayer)
In Jesus’ Name, we pray as you taught us…
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, the Power, and the Glory forever. Amen.
SENDING
Hymn: Joy to the World
Benediction
Postlude Angels We Have Heard on High | arr. Bock
DEAR FRIENDS
Welcome to worship here at Peapack Reformed Church! If you are visiting with us, welcome! If you are a member, welcome back! Our mission is to be a congregation called by God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and committed to being the very presence of Jesus Christ in the world. This mission is the catalyst for all that we do, and is our aim for who we want to be.
If you are visiting with us via Facebook Live and would like more information about our church, send us a message on Facebook or email office@peapackreformed.org and we will be in touch with you. Even under these odd and anxious circumstances, we would love to be your church home. Our virtual doors are always open wide and our hearts are always ready to welcome new faces into our fellowship.
FOOD PANTRY NEWS
Many thanks for all those who have shared their abundance with neighbors in need.
Our church refrigerators have plenty of space to hold even more!
Mark your calendars now to pick up these important items
and bring to church by the dates listed:
Sunday, December 3- gallon(s) whole milk
Sunday, December 10 - eggs
Sunday, December 17 - gallon(s) whole milk
Peapack Reformed Church is a congregation called by God, empowered by the Holy Spirit and committed to being the very presence of Jesus Christ in the world.
CALLED • EMPOWERED • COMMITTED