People Look East!

Serv i ce fo r the Lo rd ’s Da y

November 30, 2014

1st Sunday of Advent

Gathering Around the Word

Striking of the Hour

Welcome

Prelude Now the Heavens Start to Whisper David Cherwien (see Hymn 94 for text)

We Rise in Spirit and in Body

Call To Worship from A Declaration of Faith

People: Love the guest is on the way. Leader: Prepare! People: Prepare! Leader: Prepare the way of the Lord. Brothers, sweep the floors and set the tables. Sisters, tend the fires and light the candles. People: Let us make our houses as fair as we are able. Leader: Love the guest is on the way. People: Let us prepare the way of the Lord. Hymn 105 People Look East BESANCON

Advent Candle Lighting Ceremony

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession

Holy God, we confess that we do not walk in your light. We have not made ourselves ready

for your Advent; we stray from the paths of peace. We neglect even the simple gifts we have

to share with one another. Forgive us; deliver us; awaken us to your Word, so that we may be

ready to welcome you with joy, in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Silence for Personal Confession

Hymn KYRIE Lord, have mercy upon us,

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Declaration of Good News

Response Hymn 121 O Little Town of Bethlehem ST. LOUIS How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in.

Passing the Peace of Christ The risen Lord brought the gift of life-giving peace. Let us share it with one another.

All Sit

A Time with Young Disciples (11:00)

Hearing the Word

Prayer for Illumination

Psaltery Reading Psalm 122 I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’ And now our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem; Jerusalem, built as a city that is at unity in

itself. Thither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as is decreed for Israel, to give

thanks to the name of the Lord. For there are set the thrones of judgment, the thrones

of the house of David. O pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love

you. ‘Peace be within your walls and tranquility within your palaces.’ For my kindred and companions’ sake, I will pray that peace be with you. For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek to do you good.

Anthem The Call Z. Randall Stroope

All Stand

Gospel Reading Revelation 3:20-22 Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” All Sit

Sermon The King’s Surprising Standards Matthew Covington

At The Party of the

Resurrection

In the ordinariness

of the day-to-day

I looked most intently

at the faces of

the Poor,

consumed by hungry,

squashed by

humiliation,

and in them I

discovered Your face.

Dom Helder Camara

1986

Responding to the Word

All Stand

Response Hymn 105 People Look East BESANCON First Verse Only

Affirmation of Faith A Declaration of Faith (10.2) All things will be renewed in Christ. In Christ God gave us a glimpse of the new creation he

has already begun and will surely finish. We do not know when the final day will come. In

our time we see only broken and scattered signs that the renewal of all things is under way.

We do not yet see the end of cruelty and suffering in the world, the church, or our own lives.

But we see Jesus as Lord. As he stands at the center of our history, we are confident he will

stand at its end. He will judge all people and nations. Evil will be condemned and rooted out

of God’s good creation. There will be no more tears or pain. All things will be made new. The

fellowship of human beings with God and each other will be perfected.

All Sit

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer

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.

Offering

Offertory What Sweeter Music R. Vaughan Williams Beth Pope, soprano Wayne Pope, baritone/guitar

Doxology

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Bearing and Following the Word into the Created World

Closing Hymn 93 Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates TRURO

Benediction

Postlude Creator of the Stars of Night CONDITOR ALME SIDERUM ****************

WELCOME VISITORS! We invite you to pick up visitor’s information on your way out, either in the narthex or on the table on the right in the downstairs entrance hall. Ushers will be standing by to help you find them.

Always know that a cordial greeting is extended by ministers, officers, and congregation.

Our Church Elders: Franklin Berry, Charlie Capito, Julia Roberts, Nancy Carwell, Nancy English, Tom Maurer, Jeane Smith, Steve Todd, John Grise, John Fitts, Bobby Rabold, Michael Spencer, Margaret Stein, Susan Thomison, Larry Warden Our Church Deacons: Liza Ahrendt, Megan Algie, Gretchen Bettersworth, Kim Ferguson, Kelly Goad, Anna Sue Heller, Todd Hudson, Melissa Johnson, Frederica Kernohan, Todd Kessler, Katie Maurer, Donna Meredith, Faye Patton, Nick Rabold, Mark Schafer, Janet Schwarzkopf, Diane Simmons, Debbie Trickey, Ginger Van Ness, Kyda West, Judy Whitson

The Presbyterian Church, 1003 State Street, Bowling Green, KY 42101 270-843-4707 • www.bgpres.org

The Presbyterian Church Staff

Announcements

USHERS: Joel Brown and friends 8:30 The Kernohan family 11:00 LECTORS: Doug Humphrey 8:30 Stuart Kernohan 11:00 ACOLYTES: Charlie Reber and Nate Stein 11:00 ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTERS: Rob McAllister and Eleanor Short 8:30 Grace and Stephen Alexieff 11:00 SANCTUARY COMMITTEE: Charles Reid and Elinor Kline MEDIA PERSONNEL: David Muffett and Michael Spencer NURSERY ATTENDANTS: Alisia Mosley and Kimberly Watkins

LIBRARIAN: Arnie Petrus, arfranpe@msn.com

LECTIONARY FOR SUNDAY, Isaiah 40:1–11; Psalm 85:1–2, 8–13; 2 Peter 3:8–15a; Mark 1:1–8.

DEACONS OF THE WEEK this week will be Melissa Johnson and Kim Ferguson. Deacons assist the Pastors in caring for our congregation. You may contact them through the church office: 843-4707. THE FLOWERS AT THE COMMUNION TABLE are given to the glory of God and in memory of Sallie Shrewsbury on this, the anniversary of her death. The flowers are given by Ron Shrewsbury. DINNER AND WORSHIP Join us for Advent Meals on Wednesdays. Dinner is served from 5:15-6:00pm. You are welcome to come anytime during those 45 minutes. The meal cost is $6.00. Please make reservations by calling the church office or marking the pew pad. An Advent worship service follows at 6:05pm. CULTIVATING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL - 9:45am

PLEASE COME to Fellowship Hall at 9:45 for intergenerational Sunday School that will prepare our church family for Advent. Enjoy hearing the Bible story, singing carols, and making crafts that remind us of the coming of Christmas. See you there! All other adult classes will be joining this class during Advent.

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN CIRCLES CIRCLE 3 will meet at 11:00am on Monday, December 1 at Village Manor.

Pastor

Organist, Pastoral Assistant

Choir Director

Dr. Matthew W. Covington

Thomas N. Moody

Dr. Wayne Pope

Director of Youth Ministries

and Property Administration

David Muffett

Financial Administrator Richard Barefoot

Treasurer Steve Moore

Secretary Cheryl Gregory

Director, Preschool Learning Center Dana Patterson

Custodian Cedric Whitney

Children’s Music Ellie Osborne

Sunday Sexton Michael Spencer

Clerk of Session John Grise

Calendar

Sunday, November 30 8:30 a.m. Worship 9:10 a.m. Children’s Chimes 9:30 a.m. Children’s Choir 9:45 a.m. Sunday School

11:00 a.m. Worship 4:00 p.m. Advent Vesper

Monday, December 1 11:00 a.m. Circle 3

Tuesday, December 2

11:00 a.m. Special Care 2:00 p.m. Staff Meeting 6:30 p.m. Deacons at Covingtons

Wednesday, December 3 5:00 p.m. Youth Fellowship 5:15 p.m. Dinner 6:05 p.m. Advent Worship 6:45 p.m. Chancel Choir

Thursday, December 4 6:00 p.m. Room in the Inn 7:00 p.m. Theology Pub

Friday, December 5 10:30 a.m. Contemplative Prayers 5:00 p.m. Gallery Hop Saturday, December 6 8:30 a.m. Parade breakfast

Announcements (cont.)

ARTS ADVENT VESPER TODAY The congregation is invited to a first Sunday of Advent service of Word and music, at 4:00pm, in the setting of candlelight to prepare in reflection for the birth of Christ. Come and bring a friend.

GALLERY HOP Our annual ArtWorks Exhibit includes something special this year! Along with individual pieces, a special exhibit, entitled Dually Exposed, will feature photographs and art work hung side by side displaying interpretations of the same subject. The opening reception for this show will be December 5th from 5pm to 8pm during the Gallery Hop, with live music provided by pianist Mike Kanan from 5pm to 6:30pm and Ernie Small and Friends from 6:30pm to 8pm. The current display by Nancy English and her daughters, Kelly and Katie Wyrick, will continue through December 4th.

FELLOWSHIP CHRISTMAS PARADE Please join us in the fellowship hall for a light breakfast prior to the annual Bowling Green Christmas Parade! Saturday, December 6, at 8:30 am is the time for muffins and treats, coffee and hot cocoa, and a front row seat to the big show at 9:30 am! We will have children's activities and crafts too. Please join your church family in a great tradition! Questions? Contact Margaret Stein at margaret_f_stein@hotmail.com or 270-779-2579.

NEW MEMBER RECEPTION There will be a new member reception/breakfast on Sunday, December 7 from 9:30-10:30am in Fellowship Hall. Deacons are providing breakfast, and we encourage everyone to come and welcome our newest members of the congregation.

THE GORDONEERS Christmas party will be Sunday, December 14, 6:30 pm at the home of Betty Jo Beard, 1420 Euclid Ave. Please bring finger food for the buffet and a Christmas story or memory to share, if you wish. All adults of the congregation and friends are welcome. Those who are not regular Gordoneers members are asked to call Alicia or Joe McFarland @ 270-842-4578 for reservations.

THE PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN will be hosting a Tea on Sunday, December 7th from 2:00pm-4:00pm at the Covington’s house. All ladies are invited to attend. Donations of cash or canned food will be accepted to benefit the Presbyterian Church food pantry and Manna Mart.

YOUTH MINISTRY SUNDAY NIGHT YOUTH GROUP (6-8pm) Sunday Night Youth Group will not meet tonight, November 30. We'll resume on December 7!

THE ANGEL TREE will be set up today in the 10th Avenue foyer. This year we have 29 families and 57 children from McNeill Elementary. Angels are grouped by families. There are several families with one or two children. We are asking groups in the church such as circles, choirs, youth, etc. to adopt larger families. Please return wrapped gifts with the angel name and number to the church by Friday, December 19. The Youth Group will be delivering gifts Saturday morning, December 20 at 10:00am. We'll need a few adults to drive and help deliver. Thanks in advance to everyone who participates!

WEDNESDAY NIGHT YOUTH FELLOWSHIP (5-6:30pm) meets every Wednesday at Spencer's Coffeehouse (for Grades 6-12).

MISSIONS ROOM IN THE INN We sheltered 9 people Thursday, Nov. 20. Please consider volunteering for one of the roles in this important ministry. Sign up sheets are in the 10th lobby. Future training dates are December 9, 2014 at 7pm at Lakeview Fellowship Church (4550 Small House Rd.), and also January 10th, 2015 at 10am at The Presbyterian Church.

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR Looking for the perfect gift for classroom teacher, Sunday School teacher, neighbor, sister, brother, parents, aunt, uncle, grandparents. The perfect gift for everyone is the Legacy Christmas 2014 CD. It is a beautifully constructed album of Christmas music that everyone will find pleasing. In addition, the proceeds from the sale of this magnificent CD will be divided equally between Presbyterian Women (PCUSA) and Living Water for the World. You can’t go wrong with this gift!

THANKSGIVING AT THE BRIDGE Thanks to all of you in the congregation who bought supplies, cooked and prepared food, transported food and tables to the Bridge, served food and cleaned up. We were able to serve Thanksgiving dinner to 25-30 homeless and food precarious persons on Tuesday November 25. Susan Thomison led us in prayer prior to serving dinner. Thanks from Missions and Peacemaking.

FOOD PANTRY As winter closes in, the need for food increases. Canned goods are needed to keep our food pantry supplied. Help stock the pantry by participating in Kroger's and Meijer's community rewards programs. Go to krogercommunityrewards.com and use the group NPO# 56333 to register with your Kroger Plus card. Or register the group Ein #709218 with your Meijers1 card.

COLLEGE MINISTRY THEOLOGY PUB meets 7:00pm every Thursday at Mellow Mushroom. This is a casual discussion group for college students and young adults. Come join us! (It will not meet Thanksgiving night, but will resume on December 4.)

We express sympathy to Megan Algie and her family for the recent death of her uncle, Jim

Harding. We also express sympathy to Mary Ann Hext for the recent death of her father,

James E. Shirley.