St. Andrew’s Presbyterian ChurchSunday, December 20, 2020

Fourth Sunday Of AdventOur Reason for Being

As a community of the people of God,called by Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Our purpose is to reach the hearts, minds, bodies and souls of individuals,

thus bringing the Kingdom of God upon ourselves and others.We do this through worship, nurture and outreach.

We Gather to Worship

CALL TO WORSHIP The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.God comes to us in the cry of a child:Let every heart prepare a welcome.God comes to us in the whisper of a loving mother:Let every heart prepare an embrace.God comes to us, abides in us:Let every heart prepare to receive the Christ.

PRAYER OF APPROACHGod of majesty and mercy,Creator, Christ, and Spirit,you are powerful, you are holy, and you are loving.You come among us not as a warrior or a tyrant, but as a child, a new life born among us and for us.And so we come to worship you this day,trusting your wisdom with Joseph,pondering your mystery with Mary.We offer you our love for all that you have been, all that you are, and all that you will be,one God, holy and loving, now and forever. Amen.

MINISTRY OF MUSIC “Love Came Down at Christmas”

THE CANDLE OF LOVEIn this season of Advent, we celebrate God’s love.Soon we will welcome the beautiful and radical love of Godas Jesus Christ comes to live among us.In our homes and in our church we offer our love for the stranger,those who are in need, and those who are different from us.Together we are a sign of God’s love for the world.

(The fourth candle of Advent is lit.)

RESPONSE 119 v.4 “Love is a flame” (solo: Suzanne Quick)

PRAYER OF CONFESSION Lord of Advent, whose love enfolds usand whose mercy redeems us,we have dealt casually with your coming.In the presence of your love and largessewe have put on the closed mind and shown the closed fist.Now in you may our selfish ways be scatteredand our sins dispersed.Put us far from the vain pursuits that harass usand the greed that controls us.Help us to say with Mary, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord.”Help us to live as she did, as obedient servants of your blessed plan.Amen.

DECLARATION OF PARDONThe love of God enfolds you. The mercy of God surrounds you. Know that in Jesus Christ you are forgiven.

We Hear God’s Word

EPISTLE LESSON Romans 16:25-27

GOSPEL LESSON Luke 1:26-38

GOSPEL LESSON Luke 1:46-55

SERMON “The First Disciple” MINISTRY OF MUSIC 130 “To A Maid Whose Name Was Mary”

We Respond in Love

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND DEDICATIONSpirit of Hope, whenever the world seems confusing and bleak, you pierce the darkness with light, bringing hope and vision for the way ahead.God of love,whenever the world seems filled with hateyou come with love through the kindness and compassion of others. This has been a difficult and confusing year of pandemic, and so we thank you for the light and love that you have given us through it. We know that you will continue to strengthen us as we go forward and will bring us to a new and better place.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Hear us, as we pray for your world and your children in it:

As nature around us prepares for the long sleep of winter, we pray for those who are ill or dying, and for those who are bereaved or feel any burden of loss.

As the rollout of the new vaccine for this pandemic begins, we pray for the military and health care workers who are doing this wonderful work of mercy.

As Christmas celebrations are coming, we pray for those who will find this a lonely time due to the pandemic.

As the lockdown continues, we pray for those who find it a strain on their mental health.

As the lockdown continues, we pray for businesspeople who are finding it difficult to stay afloat and those who have lost their business.

As the weather becomes colder, we pray for the homeless and the poorly housed.

As church givings get smaller, we pray for churches struggling to meet their expenses.

As hospitals postpone surgeries due to the pandemic, we pray for those who must wait.

We pray for all for children everywhere. Come into their lives, Lord Jesus. Help them to see your light in the darkness.

In faith, we are bold to pray, the words that Christ taught us:Our Father in heaven,Hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done,On earth as in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.Forgive us our sins,as we forgive those who sin against us.Save us from the time of trialAnd deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power, And the glory are yoursNow and forever. Amen

MINISTRY OF MUSIC “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” arr. Kevin McChesney (Bells, David & Fiona Miller)

BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE

The Life and Work of the ChurchWorship services will continue to be shown on Shaw Spotlight Channel 9 or Channel 105 on BlueCurve TV, 11:00 am & 6 pm. These same services are also

now available on the St. Andrew’s Facebook page with a link to YouTube (search for St. Andrew’s, Lethbridge). Since they are large files, they have to be posted in two parts, so look for Part 1 and Part 2 each week up.

Christmas Eve Service Unfortunately, there will be no in-person Christmas Eve service this year, due to our pandemic restrictions. Rev. Hugh, Lavinia, Corrie, Dillon, Gary & Gerda will pre-record a Christmas Eve Service. Shaw will broadcast the Christmas Eve Service on December 23 after 5:00 pm. It will also be available on YouTube (search for St Andrew’s Lethbridge)at 7:00 pm on Christmas Eve, December 24.

Presbyterian Daily Devotionals: If you go to www.presbycan.ca you will find devotionals for each day of the week.  Scroll to the bottom and you will be able to play an audio

version of the devotional as well as a hymn for each day. 

Prayer Wall: Please keep in prayer Frank Fudra who is in hospital. He is the brother of Louise Balderston.

Thank you to Suzanne Quick and David & Fiona Miller for their participation in the Sunday Service . Thank you to Marion Gouw for her participation in the

Christmas Eve Service. It was greatly appreciated.

Tuesday, December 22/2020 is our turn at the soup kitchen. They have protocols in place to protect volunteers. If you would like to assist in the

preparation of lunch on the 22nd please contact Terry Basaraba 403-308-1264.Ecumenical Campus Ministry is partnering again with Cuppers to provide you with great coffee and tea while also supporting our ministry. They have worked out a covid safe way for you to order on line and arrange pick up! This will continue after Christmas too so you

can keep the great drinks flowing! Please check out their website at https://www.cuppers.ca/product-category/fundraising-partner-products/ecm-lethbridge/ECM will also continuing our year long subscription offer - a pound of coffee a month for 12 months for only $225. To arrange that please email Erin at ecm.erin@gmail.com.

The 2021 offering envelopes are available. Please call the church, 403 327 2582, between 9 -12 Monday to Friday to schedule a pick up time. We can also arrange another way to get them to you if you are unable to come in. A few methods are available for continuing one’s offering and donations to St. Andrew’s:

Drop off cheques in the church’s mailbox. e-transfer (call the church office 403-327-2582) Mail cheque to St. Andrew’s PAR program (call the church office 403-327-2582

Date December 20 th December 27 th January 3 rd 2021

Outside Care Terry BasarabaDec 21-27

Degner FamilyDec28- Jan 3

Peter DeKokJan 4-10

Security Bob Epp

Gary Van Voorst

Terry Basaraba

The Poinsettias in the Sanctuary are in loving memory of:

John, Calliope, Alexander & Helen Afaganis, given by Tony Afaganis

Mary MacLean, Duncan & Rosemarie Maclean, given by John & Isabelle Plomp & Family

Glenda Fleming, given by Blois & Diane Fleming

Garry Pound, given by Margaret Cook Pound and the Lawlor Family

Bill & Audrey Cook, given by Margaret Cook Pound

Gus & Roger Vander Linden and Gerri Gullage, given by Hennie Vander Linden and Family

Cheryl and Connor Henlisia, Joe and Mary Van Peer & Arie and Bastiaantje Gouw, given by Ed & Marion Gouw

George Vanee, given by Irene Vanee & Family

Henry & Audrey Van Dyk and Cor & Lena Van Pelt, given by Carol Van Dyk , & Family

Adrian & Gerry Oostlander, brother Adrian Oostlander, Frank & Hermina Van Voorst,

given by Gary & Gerda Van Voorst

Paul, Rose & Dick Roest, given by John & Connie Faassen & Family

Thomas Wevers, given by the Wevers & Degner Families

Jim Sherman, Rebekah McIntyre& Rev. Hector Rose, given by Bill & Eleanor Sherman

Rev J. Karl English, given by the Basaraba and English Families

Steve & Annie Fudra, given by Gordon & Louise Balderston

Mom, Dad, Bas & Joe Groenenboom, Marvin Bolokoski, Adriaan deKreek, Dick deKreek, Herb Wiskerke,

Huib &Jake Groenenboom, given by their Families

Alan, Netta, Gordon, Jim, Nancy, and Jill, given by the Miller Family

Allan Corbett, given by Isabelle Corbett and Family

June deGroot, Reg Luchyshin, Shirley MacMillian,  Sonny & Fred Williams, Kory and Gert de Groot, and Peter and Helen Epp

given the Bob & Deb Epp & Family

Olive Massey, given by AJ & Karen McKenzie

John Trennery and Dorothy Trennery, given by Tom & Donna Trennery