Do Not Be Afraid ~ Angels Among Us

A preparation for worship: Fear not! For a few minutes every day this Advent season, pause and wonder, “God, what messengers are you sending my way?” In silence, simply sit and wait. God is doing the work; your job is to be present, and the redirection of your will and attention will be your preparation for the coming of the Christ Child. (Rev. Steve Garnaas-Holmes)

Welcome & Announcements Please sign & pass the Friendship pad

Opening Prayer

Opening Voluntary “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” arr. W. Held

The Advent Candle of Hope is lit by the Schuer Family

Smile On Us (Psalm 80, The Message - all read the bold)

Listen Shepherd, get all your sheep together. Throw beams of light from your dazzling throne so they can see where they’re going.

Smile your blessing-smile on us: it will be our salvation!

God-of-Angel-Armies, you put us on a diet of tears, and our enemies poke fun at us.

God-of-Angel-Armies, smile your blessing-smile:

it will be our salvation!

Remember how you brought a young vine from Egypt and planted your own vineyard. You prepared good earth and planted deep roots, and your vine soared high.

Take a good look at what’s happened to this vine now and give care to what you once planted so tenderly.

Breathe new life into our lungs so we can shout out your name.

God-of-Angel-Armies, smile your blessing-smile:

it will be our salvation!

*Hymn 106 “Prepare the Way, O Zion”

*Share the Peace of Christ ~ Children’s time with the Pastor ~

Wycliffe Presbyterian Church

Sunday, December 3, 2017 ~ Advent I

Rev. Garrett Bugg, pastor

The Confession (all read the bold)

God of Promised Coming, we confess that we close our eyes to your messengers of care, comfort - and surprising invitations.

Forgive us for failing to hear your voice in unexpected people, in unexpected places, at unexpected times.

(a time of silent confession)

All sing: O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray. / Cast out our sin and enter in: be born in us today. /

No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin, / where meek souls will receive him still / the dear Christ enters in.

The Assurance of God’s Grace & Pardon ~ and all say Thanks be to God.

An Unexpected Messenger (read as indicated)

Leader: In the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke, we read of a time when Herod was King of Judea, and there was a priest named Zachariah. His wife’s name was Elizabeth and they kept all of God’s commandments. They were quite old and had no children. One day when Zachariah was working in the temple, he had to burn incense. Suddenly, an angel of God appeared to him and Zachariah was paralyzed in fear. But the angel said -

WOMEN: Don’t be afraid, Zachariah - your prayers have been heard, and Elizabeth will have a son. Name him John. He’s going to be a great man in God’s kingdom and will get people ready for God.

MEN: You don’t expect me to believe this do you? I’m an old man; my wife is an old woman. We’re too old to have children.

WOMEN: I’m Gabriel, a messenger of God, sent especially to you to bring this great news. But since you don’t believe me, you won’t be able to say a word until your son is born.

Leader: The congregation who had gathered in the temple were getting restless waiting for Zachariah to finish burning the incense. When he came out and couldn’t speak, they knew he had seen a vision. And soon the time came for Elizabeth to give birth and when the baby was presented in the temple, the priest asked his name. Elizabeth said -

WOMEN: His name is John.

MEN: That can’t be. No one in your family is named John.

Leader: But Zachariah, who still couldn't speak, asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And just then, his voice returned and he praised God.

The Word of God is Opened to Us Colby Swanson & Zach Scheuer

The offering is received ~ “Christmas Lullaby” J.R. Brown Grace Fluharty, soloist

I’ll never have the power to control the land, or conquer half the world, or claim the sun; I’ll never be the kind who simply waves her hand and has a million people do the things

I wish I’d done, but in the eyes of heaven, my place is assured. I carry with me heaven’s grand design . . .

The Prayers of the People followed by The Lord’s Prayer (p.35-hymnal)

God our Father, we think of Jesus’ parents looking for shelter

and pray for the homeless . . .

We think of Jesus born in a stable,

and pray for all who live in poverty . . .

We think of shepherds on the hills at night,

and pray for all who are separated from their families.

We think of wise men following a star,

and pray for all who search for light in their darkness.

We think of Herod and his advisers who were troubled by Jesus’ birth,

and pray for all who have great power . . .

O God, we think of your presence among us in Jesus Christ. May we have the wisdom, strength, love, peace, and hope that are your gifts to us in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

This is the table not of the Church, but of the Lord. It is made ready for those who love him, and who want to love him more.

So come, you who have much faith and you who have little, you who have been here often and you who have not been for a long time,

you who have tried to follow and you who have failed.

Come, not because it is I who invite you: it is our Lord. And it is his will that those who want him should meet him here.

An Affirmation of Faith (all read the bold together)

People of God, in whom do you believe?

We believe in God the Father who sent John the Baptist as a voice crying out in the wilderness, who calls all persons to repentance and faith, who prepares the way for the coming of his Son.

We believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord whose first Advent was foretold by prophets and announced by angelic messengers,

whose birth at Bethlehem occurred among throngs of humble travelers; whose second coming will be in power and glory.

We believe in the Spirit of God who preserved the Christ Child from the wrath of King Herod, who directed Wise Men from the East to the baby Jesus, and who guides each of us in God’s True Way.

*Hymn 134 “Joy to the World”

*The Benediction

Please join us for coffee & conversation in the fellowship hall following the service

(to the left as you leave the sanctuary)

The following youth participated in the service:

Grace Fluharty

Jens Islev-Peterson

Rex Lemmon

Ryan Lemmon

Canon Robins

River Robins

Luke Scheuer

Zach Scheuer

Colby Swanson

Keegan Swanson

Megan Uittenbogaard

Wycliffe Presbyterian Church Weekly Announcements - December 3, 2017

www.wycliffepresbyterian.org

Celebrating God’s Love Sunday Worship at 10 am,

Communion celebrated monthly.

Children & Teen Sunday Schools

Preschool Class, 10:00 am, Room: 104

3rd - 5th grade Class, 10:00 am, Room: 103

Confirmation Class, 9:00 am Room: 107 (1st & 3rd Sunday)

High School Class, 9:00 am Room: 108 (1st & 3rd Sunday)

Youth Group, 5:00 pm (2nd & 4th Sundays)

Adult Sunday School Programs

The Birth of Christ as Told in the Gospels

Teacher: Bob Prestridge

Room: 210 9:00 am

Kitchen Forum

Teacher: Bill Austin

Room: 212 9:00 am

Come Grow With Us Growing Children - Serving Families

Today is Youth Sunday

Welcome to Youth Sunday. Today our young people

present a special worship service as we celebrate the

Advent season and begin to prepare for the coming of

Christ.

Youth Group - December 10

Get into the spirit of giving. We will deliver

cookies to our friends at Westminster

Canterbury to wish them a Merry Christmas!

We meet at 5 pm. Be sure to wear your favorite

Christmas sweater!

The Virginia Handbell Consort Today The Virginia Handbell Consort presents

“Glad Tidings We Bring” this afternoon at

4:00 pm here in our sanctuary. Under the

direction of Alan Reese, this impressive 15-

member ensemble of professional ringers will

present both sacred and secular holiday music

including “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “It

Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” “The Holly and the Ivy,”

and “Holly Jolly Christmas,” just to name a few. The

ensemble performs on 6 octaves plus 4 additional octaves

of Schulmerich handbells, 3 octaves of Petit and Fritsen

bells, 7 octaves of Malmark and Schulmerich chimes, and

assorted percussion instruments. The concert is presented

in memory of Harry Kuper and Lloyd Robertson with the

support of memorial gifts made in their memory. Both

were active members of the Wycliffe choir, and Harry was

a key player (and our ace repairer of bells) for the Wycliffe

Ringers.

Request for Christmas Cookies

Everyone has a favorite Christmas cookie.

Some are traditional goodies and some are

long-guarded family recipes. On Sunday,

December 17, the Fellowship Committee asks

everyone to bring a plate of their favorite cookies to share

at coffee hour. There is nothing like a Christmas cookie to

make an occasion festive!

Prayer List Please remember the following in your prayers:

Ron Kuhlman, Jean Prather, Barbara La Vigne,

Verna Brainard, Nelda Fink, June Beeler, Betty

Douglas, Bill Wilson, Harry Jeavons, Judy

Keeling, Tom and Betty Smith, Jay Maston, Bob Glisson,

Judy Rotch, Kellie Barker, Karen Haynie, and Delores

Griffin.

Those serving in the military: Chris Prybella, USN; Kurtis

Knox, USMC; Martha Adams, USN; Brad Johnson, USN;

Sean Trombly, USN; Ryan Hanson, USCG; Lance

Hecker, USN; Taylor Black, USA; Stephanie Osborne,

USN; William Daniel Cole, USAF.

Please take the list and pray for each other. To add or

remove names on this list, call Mary Lou at 496-2620.

Volunteers Needed for the Nursery Do you enjoy working with

young children (infants through

3 year olds)? Consider signing

up to spend a Sunday morning

in the church nursery. We offer

the youngest members of our church family a safe

environment in which to play (or sleep). Contact Rene

Hudgins or Lee Uittenbogaard if you are willing to help.

Thanks for Help with Vets House

Coffee and Conversation would like to thank everyone

who donated paper and cleaning products to Vets House.

These supplies were greatly appreciated. Special thanks to

the Steenburghs for delivering everything to the vets.

WEEKLY CALENDAR

Today Sunday School (Adult/Teen/Confirmation

Class) 9:00 am

Choir Rehearsal 9:30 am

Worship 10:00 am (Youth Sunday)

Children’s Church 10:00 am

Facilities Meeting 11:15 am

CS&M Meeting 11:15 am

Handbell Concert 4:00 pm

Cub Scouts 4:00 pm

Monday Girl Scouts 6:00 pm

Boy Scouts 7:00 pm

Young Life 7:00 pm

Christian Education Meeting 7:00 pm

Tuesday Coffee & Conversation 10:00 am

Wednesday Music Together 9:30 am & 4:00 pm

Yoga 7:00 pm

Thursday Music Together 9:30 am

Sandwich Making/Fellowship Mtg 10:00 am

Culture Club 6:15 pm

Hand bells 6:30 pm

Friday Music Together 9:30 am

AA 7:30 pm

Saturday Choir Rehearsal 10:00 am

Culture Club 3:30 pm

Worship Attendance Last Week: 98

The beautiful poinsettias in the chancel today were given to the glory of God by the generous members of Wycliffe Presbyterian Church.

(List will be published on Christmas Eve.)

As we look toward the collection of our final special offering of 2017, The Christmas Joy Offering, please consider the words of this beautiful modern hymn, "All I Have Is Yours", by Sojourn:

Creator, Giver of all things, All I have is Yours.

Accept my humble offering, All I have is Yours.

When I was chained to greed and pride,

Tight-fisted, destined just to die

You paid my debt and bought my life, All I have is Yours.

This offering is a means of grace: All I have is Yours.

You show me this to grow my faith: All I have is Yours.

The more I give the less I need,

I learn that you'll provide for me

Was blind to this, but now I see: All I have is Yours.

Your kingdom come, Your will be done, All I have is Yours.

You'll finish all that You've begun, All I have is Yours.

That You would use the gifts I bring

In service to the coming King

Is reason now to praise and sing! All I have is Yours.

Samaritan House Christmas Party ~ Dec 12

The Samaritan House Christmas Party will be hosted on Tuesday, December 12th. Lots of volunteers are needed to help with this annual event. Sign up sheets are now posted in the Fellowship Hall. Please sign up to volunteer and help spread Christmas cheer to children and their families.

Thanks to everyone who is supporting

our Angel Tree by providing Christmas

gifts to homeless children and their

families. Please remember to return all

the wrapped gifts by December 10th. Thanks again for

your kindness and generosity in providing for those in

need.

Outreach Opportunities

Happy New Year! Today we begin the season of

Advent - the beginning of the Church Year. It begins

on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, which is

the Sunday nearest November 30th, and ends on

Christmas Eve. Ironically, this year the fourth Sunday

of Advent actually is Christmas Eve.

Traditionally Advent is a time to prepare our hearts and

souls to receive and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Advent helps us move thematically from hope to joy.

You may notice that our paraments are blue and blue

fabric is hung in the sanctuary. Blue is the color of

hope. Blue symbolizes the sky or heaven, where heralds

proclaimed Jesus' birth. It also symbolizes the waters of

Genesis 1, the beginning of a new creation. Have a

blessed season of Advent.

Advent ADVENT

Fear Not: Messengers of Comfort and Joy

Advent begins today and Wycliffe has a host of great opportunities to deepen your walk to the manger plus special opportunities perfect for inviting a neighbor or friend to join you at Wycliffe!

Service of Hope & Light Sunday, December 10th, at 3:00 pm The Chancel Choir and members of the Virginia Symphony will offer a time of music and the spoken word for those who have suffered loss, are struggling to find the light in a world filled with darkness. The hour-long service will be followed by a reception by the Fellowship team. If you know someone who is challenged by the holidays, invite them to join you for the warmth of Wycliffe’s great fellowship.

Advent & Christmas Worship at Wycliffe Sunday services at 10:00 am

Advent II - Dec 10: Baptism

Advent III - Dec 17: A Celtic Christmas featuring the Christmas Pageant

Advent IV - Dec 24: There will be a morning service

CHRISTMAS EVE - Dec 24 3:00 pm - Children’s Christmas Eve Worship Carols and the Christmas story for little ones. Each child will receive a special Christmas blessing. 5:00 pm - Candlelight, Carols & Communion Wycliffe’s traditional Christmas Eve worship through congregational singing, choral anthems, the spoken word and the sacrament of communion. Families Invited to Culture Club Event

Saturday, December 9 at 3:30 pm

Once again King’s Grant Presbyterian Church, in

partnership with St. Nicholas Catholic, Lynnhaven UMC,

and St. Aidan's Episcopal Churches, is sponsoring the

Walk to Bethlehem, a meaningful Christmas experience.

It isn't a play or a pageant. It is encountering Christ and

the mystery of Christmas. Register your family with the

census taker, walk the crowded streets, visit the bustling

marketplace and talk with the busy vendors. Hear a story

at the well, worship with the rabbi in the synagogue, but

beware of the Roman soldiers who patrol the streets. See

the shepherds watching their flocks under the winter

sky. Listen to the villagers talking in hushed voices about

seeing angels and the birth of a very special baby. Keep

your eyes and ears open for miracles! But don't plan to

stay overnight - the inn is full! (King’s Grant PC, 745

Little Neck Rd., Va. Beach 23452) Contact Rene Hudgins

or Lee Uittenbogaard for more information.

Advent Bible Study

December 3, 10 & 17 This Advent the Adult Sunday School class will read the

Christmas stories in the Gospel of Luke and the Gospel

of Matthew. Each is a unique story with its own special

elements. Somehow through the years, the two stories

have been merged into one. Join us for a very thought-

provoking discussion and learn something new about

the Christmas story.

Wycliffe Presbyterian Church 1445 N. Great Neck Road

Virginia Beach, Virginia 23454

www.wycliffepresbyterian.org

Phone: 757-496-2620

Wycliffe Presbyterian Church

Welcome - To all who are spiritually weary and seek rest; to all who mourn and long for comfort; to all

who struggle and desire victory; to all who are strangers and seek fellowship - welcome in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Office Phone: 757-496-2620 Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Wycliffe is following Christ to renew our church & the community. Join in this mission through worship, by connecting with others, by contributing your talents and

resources in service to others, and through cultivating your spiritual and emotional health.

Staff Pastor: Rev. Garrett Bugg

Director of Music: Sandi Billy

Church Administrator: Mary Lou Crifasi

Session

Administration, Stewardship & Finance: Jim Haynie & Lisa Sowell

Christian Education: Rene Hudgins & Lee Uittenbogaard

Christian Service and Mission: Jackie Alcorn & Chuck Steenburgh

Facilities: Garland Miles & Cathy Rotch

Fellowship: Francie Brake & David Gangwer

Member Care: Darrell Kennedy & Bev Parker

Outreach & Mission: Robin LaVigne

Worship: Josie Collier & Mark Via

Planning & Review Bob Prestridge

Clerk: Gail Schwartzer

Do not be afraid

Angels are

among us!