Lake Oconee Community Church Staff Team

Avis Williams, Pastor of Community Transformation 404.379.5561 awilliams@locc.co

Becky Matheny, Pastor of Spiritual / Communal Development 706.202.0124 bmatheny@locc.co

David W. Key, Sr. Founding Pastor 770.309.2394 dkeysr@locc.co

Gary W. Arnold, Pastor of Worship, Communication, Liturgical Arts 404.402.5542 garnold@locc.co

Kathi Urban, Ministry Coordinator 404.314.2491 kurban@locc.co

Copyrighted music reprinted under OneLicense.net A-718106 and CCLI 3204883.

LOCC Affiliations

The Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta

The Georgia Christian Council

The International Council of Community Churches

December 24, 2017

Advent IV ~ Sight

10:30 a.m.

Worship at The LOCC

*Hymn Come and See! Traditional Spiritual

Refrain: (First time Solo then ALL)

We believe this is Jesus. Come and see! Come and see!

We believe this is Jesus. Come and see! Come and see!

Solo: The light of God shines in His face. ALL: Come and see! Come and see!

Glory fills this lowly place. Come and see! Come and see! Refrain

The Holy One in swaddling clothes. Come and see! Come and see!

Hush! He's sleeping, don't you know. Come and see! Come and see! Refrain

O what wonder God has done! Come and see! Come and see!

He has given us His Son! Come and see! Come and see! Refrain

*Benediction the Prayer of St. Francis

*Response Do You Hear What I Hear? Regney/Baker

Said the night wind to the little lamb, Do you see what I see? (do you see what I see?)

Way up in the sky, little lamb, Do you see what I see? (do you see what I see?)

A star, a star, dancing in the night With a tail as big as a kite With a tail as big as a kite

Said the king to the people everywhere,

Listen to what I say! (Listen to what I say!) Pray for peace, people everywhere!

Listen to what I say! (Listen to what I say!) The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night

He will bring us goodness and light He will bring __ us __ goodness __ and Light!

Concerns of the Community

Jim Asbury (brother of Kathi Urban), Verdain Barnes, Sue & Greg Colson

(friends of Dottie Giesler), Chuck Forbes, Jim Hall, Denise Hammond

(daughter of Connie Oliver), Easley Hamner (brother of Jewell Crowe), Holly

Hepler, Jeanne Herrero (friend of the Martincics), Sheri Hess, Kate Hessen-

thaler (friend of the Gieslers), Tori Hosbrook (niece of Carla Thornton), David

Huggins (friend of Ginger Cargile), Lynne Majewski, David Murray (brother of

Ked), Ked Murray, Ricky Newsome, Janice O’Kelley (friend of Ginger

Cargile), Sonny Pineda, Dana Ryan (daughter-in-law of Patricia Walters),

Kathy Stephan, Caleb Trempe (nephew of Tim Merrill), Heather Urban,

Renee Vetter (friend of Roger Schurig), Brittney Vincent (daughter of the

Elzys), Bob & Linda Weisflog, Bob White

LOCC BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK

Dec 24 - Steve Harrold Greg Lawton

Dec 25 – Charles Middleton Dec 29 - Karen Kludt Sergio Sanchez

LOCC Hour Of Power - Mondays, 11:45 a.m. Greensboro FUMC

Dementia Caregiver Support Group ~ 2nd & 4th Tues at The LOCC

Support Group For Families dealing with Addiction

6:15 - 7: 45 p.m. at The LOCC; December 27

~ LOOKING AHEAD ~

CHRISTMAS EVE at the RITZ - 9 p.m.

Traditional Lessons and Carols ~ Celli - Atlanta’s Premier Cello Quartet

Alexis Ward & Gary Arnold

Dec 31 - ONE SERVICE - 10:30 a.m. at The LOCC

Pastor Avis Williams, Preacher

Mid-Day Bible Study resumes January 10

3 p.m. Selected Wednesdays at The LOCC

MOVIE NIGHT - JANUARY 19 - 6 P.M.

The Church Ladies meet next on January 24

Lake Oconee Moves - Parkinson’s Support

Saturday, January 27th - 1pm - 3:30pm - at The LOCC

Guest speaker: Dr. Julie Kurek, Neurologist; Augusta University's

Movement Disorders/Parkinson’s Disease Center of Excellence.

Alzheimer’s Workshop - Tuesday, January 30, 5 p.m.

~ Church as You Know it Can Be ~

Worshiping ~ Growing ~ Serving

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, Let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair,

hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy: O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Announcements ~ Week of December 24, 2017

THE WORSHIP OF GOD

- All are welcome here - We want to get to know you -

Please sign the Attendance Pads on the Tables near the Entrance

We ask that guests and first-time visitors provide an email address.

Members and regular attendees may check the appropriate box.

~ The Centering Bell ~ Lighting of the Light ~ The Life of LOCC ~

L: As we wait, we prepare in PEACE, in LOVE, in JOY and in HOPE together P: Let us worship God!

ADVENT IV ~ The Light of Hope 10:30 a.m. ~ Liz & Steve Kippells

Solo: The sun shall be no more your light by day; Nor for brightness shall the moon adorn the night. But the Lord will be your Glory; The Lamp to light your way; The Lord will be your everlasting light. Lift up your eyes and see the light surround you; With radiant love,

illuminate the night. Lift up your voice and sing; Let earth and heaven ring; Lift up your eyes and see the everlasting light.

L: During Advent, God’s promise illuminates with hope. P: On those living in the land of darkness, a light is dawning.

L: In times of fear, we place our hope in the One who brings PEACE. P: On those living in the land of darkness, a light is dawning.

L: In times of grief, we place our hope in the One who offers JOY. P: On those living in the land of darkness, a light is dawning.

L: In times of division and strife, we place our hope in the One who speaks LOVE. P: On those living in the land of darkness, a light is dawning.

On this forth Sunday of Advent, we light FOUR candles. We light again our first candle of PEACE as we long for the perfect PEACE of God to calm our souls

and end our wars. We also light the second candle of LOVE, which reminds us that we are to share with others the love God has shown us. The third Advent Candle is lit to remind us that no matter what our circumstances, JOY keeps our eyes open

to the Light around us. And today, we light our fourth candle of HOPE. God pierces the darkness of this world and reaches into the shadows of our lives.

We are now able to see the promise and hope of a new tomorrow.

L: Let us pray: ALL: God of HOPE, as we journey during Advent from darkness toward light, open our eyes so we will see the light of Your

presence. Guide us as we strive to become light for one another. We now live into and sing our refrain of PEACE, of LOVE, of JOY and of HOPE …

Response Lift Up Your Eyes Joel Raney

Gospel Lesson Mark 13: 24-37 Common English Bible

24 “In those days, after the suffering of that time, the sun will become dark, and the moon won’t give its light. 25 The stars will fall from the sky, and the planets and other heavenly bodies will be shaken. 26 Then they will see the Human One coming in the clouds with great power and splendor. 27 Then he will send the angels and gather together his chosen people from the four corners of the earth, from the end of the earth to the end of heaven.

28 “Learn this parable from the fig tree. After its branch becomes tender and it sprouts new leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, you know that he’s near, at the door. 30 I assure you that this generation won’t pass away until all these things happen. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away.

32 “But nobody knows when that day or hour will come, not the angels in heaven and not the Son. Only the Father knows. 33 Watch out! Stay alert! You don’t know when the time is coming. 34 It is as if someone took a trip, left the household behind, and put the servants in charge, giving each one a job to do, and told the doorkeeper to stay alert. 35 Therefore, stay alert! You don’t know when the head of the household will come, whether in the evening or at midnight, or when the rooster crows in the early morning or at daybreak. 36 Don’t let him show up when you weren’t expecting and find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to all: Stay alert!”

L: You have heard The Gospel of the Lord P: Praise to You, Lord Christ!

Sermon See the Future David W. Key, Sr.

Response Some Children See Him Alfred Burt

Some children see Him lily white, The baby Jesus born this night.

Some children see Him lily white, With tresses soft and fair.

Some children see Him bronzed and brown, The Lord of heav'n to earth come down.

Some children see Him bronzed and brown, With dark and heavy hair.

Some children see Him almond-eyed, This Savior whom we kneel beside.

Some children see Him almond-eyed, With skin of yellow hue. Some children see Him dark as they, Sweet Mary's Son to whom we pray.

Some children see Him dark as they, And, ah! they love Him, too!

The children in each different place Will see the baby Jesus' face

Like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace, And filled with holy light.

O lay aside each earthly thing And with thy heart as offering,

Come worship now the infant King. 'Tis Love that's born tonight!

The Giving, *Presentation and Blessing of our Gifts

L: We give thanks for all that God has given us. P: May God bless all that we offer: our prayers, our presence, our gifts and our service.

~ As we wait - We Gather as Community ~

*Passing of the Peace L: The Lord be with you! P: And also with you! Greet one another with signs of peace.

*Song of Fellowship Emmanuel Bob McGee

~ COME TO YOUR SENSES ~ A Sense-Sational Advent & Christmas ~ Sight ~

~ A Christmas Letter from Paul ~

~ We Gather in Prayer ~

~ Silent Prayer ~ Sharing Requests ~ ~ Pastoral Prayer ~ Lord’s Prayer ~

Response Star Child Murray/Young

Solo: Star-Child, earth-Child, go-between of God; Love Child, Christ Child, heaven's lightning rod. All Sing Refrain

Solo: Street child, beat child, no place left to go; Hurt child, used child, no one wants to know, [Refrain]

Solo: Grown child, old child, memory full of years; Sad child, lost child, story told in tears, [Refrain]

Solo: Spared child, spoiled child, having, wanting more, Wise child, faith child, knowing joy in store, [Refrain]

Solo: Hope-for-peace Child, God's stupendous sign, Down-to-earth Child, See the star that shines, [Refrain]

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 trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, And the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.