The Church of the Nativity

& St. Stephen Second Sunday of Advent

December 4, 2016

Called to Grow: in service, in numbers of disciples, and in grace

Please remember a reverent silence and respect for those who wish to pray before mass.

Before Mass, we speak to God. During Mass, we listen to God.

After Mass, we listen and speak to each other.

The Rev. Rebecca Myers, LSW - Rector

Rebecca is available Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and

Saturday. Her sabbath days will typically be Monday and Fri-

day. You can reach her via email at nativityrector@pa.net or by

phone 717-433-1556 (cell) or 717-567-0404 (home).

Michele Neibert - Parish Administrator

The Episcopal Church of the Nativity & St. Stephen 159 South Second Street, Newport, PA 17074

Office: 717-567-6514 E-mail: chnatss@pa.net

www.nativityandststephen.diocpa.org

Service Participants

Greeters: Bill and Wendy Day Lector: Susan Rice

Prayers of the People: Shannon Burns Sponsors: Shannon Burns and Mary ‘Tootser’ Davis

Eucharistic Minister: Lynne Mitchell Acolyte: Lillian Hoover Organist: Seth Jacoby

Verger: Bill Rohm Refreshments: Joanne Pinaire and Tootser Davis

Counters: Jill and Miguel

Vestry Members

Shannon Burns - Sr. Warden Bill Day

Tootser Davis - Jr. Warden Jill Brownfield

Miguel Gonzales Lynne Mitchell

Joanne Pinaire Gail Shull

Becky Gephart-Crup- Secretary

Wendy Day-Treasurer

Announcements cont.

Prayer Shawl Ministry of Newport meets December 29, 10-11:30am, Church of the Nativity.

Bring your yarn projects and also learn how to knit or crochet.

The Rolands are taking donations of adult coats. If you have any suitable for giving, please bring them to church.

Baking needs and chocolate items available through Equal

Exchange. See the cart in the parish hall. We are now a wholesaler for Equal Exchange, a company that supports

small farmers who use sustainable practices for chocolate, cocoa, coffee, tea, nuts, olive oil and other baking items. A price list and basket are

available to pay for the items you choose to buy. Also, be sure to write down what you’ve purchased to help us maintain our inventory. A

catalogue is also available. If there’s an item you’d like us to order, please see Jane Hoover.

Let Rebecca know if you’d like her to come visit. She can come to your home or another location you suggest. This helps her to know you better and hopefully you will also know her a little better. Let Rebecca

know your availability on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday days or evenings and she'll be in touch to arrange a time to get together.

You can send an email to her at nativityrector@pa.net or leave a message at the church at 717-567-6514.

Help people in need around the world! A Thankoffering box is available by the coffee pots in the kitchen if you'd like to make donations that way. United Thankoffering is a project of the

Episcopal Church Women of The Episcopal Church. Boxes are available to collect your offering, which is brought to church twice a year. A

wonderful spiritual practice is to put something in the box each time you are thankful to God. If possible, count the money in your box and write a

check to the church in that amount.

Food Bank Donations are needed! For a list of the items needed by the Food Bank, go to their website at

http://www.perrycountyfoodbank.org/ and click on their wish list. Canned vegetables, fruit, nut butters and protein are always needed.

Honor or Remember a loved one or a special occasion with flowers on the altar!

Flowers help make our worship space more beautiful and remind us of the blossoming life we have in Christ. Please consider sponsoring the flowers

in memory of a loved one, or to celebrate your thanksgivings. Flowers are $30. A sign-up chart is in the Undercroft.

Help People in Need when you buy your Groceries! See Gail Shull or Pat Szabo to purchase cards in various amounts to use

at Giant, Mutzabaugh's, or Weis Stores. 5% of the cost of each card stays with the church and is used for outreach and mission projects.

Organ Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

Lighting of the Advent Wreath Celebrant: Our King and Savior now draws near. People: Come let us adore him. As candles are lit, all say: Lord, grant us your light, that being rid of the darkness of our hearts, we may come to the true light which is Christ. Processional Hymn “The King shall come when morning dawns” No. 73

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD OF GOD

Opening Acclamation and Response Prayer Book, p. 355

Collect for Purity Prayer Book, p. 355

“Trisagion” S 100

Collect of the Day insert

First Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10 insert

Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 insert Second Reading: Romans 15:4-13 insert

Gradual Hymn “Comfort, comfort ye my people” No. 67

The Holy Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12 insert

Sermon The Rev. Rebecca Myers

The Examination Celebrant: Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, we are all baptized by the one Spirit into one Body, and given gifts for a variety of ministries for the common good. Our purpose is to commission these persons in the Name of God and of this congregation to a special ministry to which they are called.

The Celebrant asks the sponsors: Are these persons you are to present prepared by a commitment to Christ as Lord, by regular attendance at worship, and by the knowledge of their duties, to exercise their ministry to the honor of God, and the well-being of his Church?

Sponsors: We believe they are.

Celebrant: You have been called to a ministry in this congregation. Will you, as long as you are engaged in this work, perform it with diligence?

Candidate: I will.

Celebrant: Will you faithfully and reverently execute the duties of your minis-try to the honor of God, and the benefit of the members of this congregation?

Candidate: I will.

Sponsors: We present to you these persons for the ministry of Lay Reader in this parish.

All say: There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in everyone.

V. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly:

R. Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Let us pray (Silence)

Look with favor upon those whom you have called, O Lord, to be Lay Readers in your Church; and grant that they may be so filled with your Holy Spirit that, seeking your glory and the salvation of souls, they may minister your Word with steadfast devotion, and by the constancy of their faith and the innocency of their lives may adorn in all things the doctrine of Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Celebrant: In the Name of God and of this congregation, I commission you as Lay Reader.

The Nicene Creed Prayer Book, p. 358

Prayers of the People, Form III Prayer Book, pg. 387

Confession and Absolution Prayer Book, pg. 360

The Peace Prayer Book, p. 360 (Stand and greet each other.)

MINISTRY OF THE SACRAMENT

The Offertory Sentence Prayer Book, p. 376

Offertory Hymn “God is working his purpose out” No. 534

The Doxology No. 380, v3

The Great Thanksgiving Prayer A Prayer Book, p. 361

The Sanctus S 125

Consecration Prayer Book, p. 362

The Lord’s Prayer Prayer Book, p. 364

The Breaking of the Bread Prayer Book, p. 364

Fraction Anthem S 160

Ministration of Communion

Prayer after Communion Prayer Book, p. 366

Recessional Hymn “Christ is the world’s true Light” No. 542

The Dismissal Prayer Book, p. 366

Announcements

Join us for Coffee Hour after the service.

Today we commission the Lay Readers in our Parish. They read the lessons and Prayers of the People.

Thank you for your ministry. Suzanne Beamer, Jill Brownfield, Becky Crup, John Cramer, Kay Cramer,

Wendy Day, Marion Fluchere, Jane Hoover, Julie Johnson, Joanne Pinaire, Dick Price, Mary Price, Susan Rice, Ann Roland,

Bill Rohm, Gail Shull, Jean Tuzinski and Janice Yocum.

Parlor People, Sunday, 11am – noon. All adults are welcome to participate in Parlor People nearly every Sunday.

See our Christian Formation page for more information. Todd Saner will lead our continuing discussion on Practicing

Simplicity with all of your soul. Next Sunday, Kay Cramer will lead the discussion on practicing simplicity with all of your strength, which

concludes this series.

Men’s Breakfast - each Wed., 9am, Espresso Yourself Café. Women’s Breakfast - Wednesday, December 14, 9am,

May’s Railside Grill.

Upcoming Meetings Today, 1:00pm Racism Awareness Group

December 11, noon, Worship Committee Meeting

Taize’ Tuesdays, 5:00pm. Twenty minutes of Centering Prayer followed by a Taize’ service.

Advent Lessons and Carols led by the choir of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Lebanon, today, 4pm.

Once again, St. Luke’s choir under the direction of Bill Claxton, will lead us in this service of lessons and hymns of preparation for the birth of the

Christ child. A dinner will follow. If you can help with the dinner, please let Sue Beamer know.

Practicing Simplicity with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength is our Advent devotional booklet. Pick up a copy at the back of the

church or go online at https://www.flipsnack.com/ebraeger/advent-2016.html. This book will be the focus of our Advent Parlor People series.

Poinsettias for Christmas. Donations due by December 11. If you’d like poinsettias for Christmas Eve and Christmas in memory or honor of a loved one, please let us know. If you use envelopes, there is one for December 11 that allows you to include the memorial or honor.

Toys for Perry County Christmas Cantata, Invitation to a Miracle. Sunday, December 11, 2pm and 7pm, Christ Lutheran Church,

46 W. High Street, New Bloomfield, PA. Bring an unwrapped new toy in its original packaging.

Beat the Rush, Friday, Dec. 16, 7-10pm, The Maples, New Bloomfield. This fun event allows you to taste and vote for your favorite appetizers,

desserts and cocktails. Bring your quarters - or folding money – and enjoy a relaxing holiday evening at Carson Long's beautiful 1840 Maples,

complete with 50-50, door prizes, silent auction, and live auction. Proceeds benefit local Rotary scholarships and community programs.

Tickets are $20.