White Christmas

December 15, 2013 - Third Sunday in Advent

White Christmas Service

PRELUDE:  In Dulci Jubilo, Johann Sebastian Bach

WELCOME, Debra Rossi
* CELEBRATION OF FRIENDSHIP
* SANCTUS (pew card)

* CALL TO WORSHIP, Yessenia Iovale

Leader:  Rejoice in the Lord always.
People:  I will say it again: Rejoice!
Leader:  Let your gentleness be evident to all.
People:  The Lord is near.
Leader:  We rejoice in the hope of Christ’s coming.
People:  Let us worship God!

—based on Philippians 4:4-5, NIV

 * HYMN No. 163:  Lo! How a Rose E’er Blooming

 * PRAYER OF CONFESSION  (unison), Steve Sarran

Lord God, our lives are filled with sin.  We forget our neighbor’s needs and do not love you above all else.  We need a Savior.  Help us to be ready for Jesus in our own hearts.  O come, O come, Savior of the world.  Amen.

* KYRIE (pew card)
* ASSURANCE OF PARDON
* SALUTATION
* SUMMARY OF THE LAW
        * Gloria Patri  (pew card)

LIGHTING OF ADVENT WREATH, Iovale Family

MORNING PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYERDorien Day
        Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
        Prayer Response, Johann Wolfgang Franck

O Jesus, with Thy advent quiet my restless soul and anxious mind. In true humility I welcome Thee, Jesus Christ, my Joy divine. My thought, desires, and all my longings I dedicate, O Christ, to Thee. O come, Thou precious Sun most radiant, Thy beams illumine my heart and soul.

 WORSHIP OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS, Debra Rossi
        Offering
        Offertory:  As Lately We Watched, arr. Charles Black

As lately we watched o'er our fields through the night, a star there was seen of such glorious light; all through the night angels did sing sweet carols in praise of the birth of a King.

A King of such beauty was ne'er before seen, and Mary, His Mother, so like to a queen. Blest be the hour, welcome the morn, for Christ our dear Savior, on earth now is born.

His throne is a manger, His court is a loft, but troops of bright angels, in lays sweet and soft, Him they proclaim, our Christ by name, and earth, sky and air straight are filled with His fame. Alleluia, alleluia, be joyful and sing.

Then, shepherds, be joyful, salute your liege King, let hills ring and dales to the song that ye sing; blest be the hour, welcome the morn, for Christ, our dear Savior, on earth now is born.

        * The Doxology  (pew card)                
        * Prayer of Dedication

* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH,Steve Sarran

Our only hope is Jesus Christ.  After we refused to live in the image of God, he was born of the virgin Mary, sharing our genes and our instincts, entering our culture, speaking our language, fulfilling the law of God.  Being united to Christ’s humanity, we know ourselves when we rest in him.  Come, Lord Jesus: We are open to your Spirit.  We await your full presence.  Our world finds rest in you alone.

—Our Song of Hope, st. 3, closing prayer

TABLEAU OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST

Some music selections will include the congregation and they will be announced at the appropriate times in the story:

Sunday School and Chancel Choir:

Who Would Send a Baby?, Chancel Choir
How Quietly, Sunday School and Chancel Choir

Love Came Down at Christmas, Sunday School and Chancel Choir
Silent Night, Sunday School and Chancel Choir

Congregational Hymns:

O Little Town of Bethlehem, No. 155, stanza 1
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, No. 133, stanza 1
O Come, All Ye Faithful, No. 173, all stanzas

(During this hymn, White Christmas gifts will be brought forward as directed.)

* BENEDICTION
        Response:  Alleluia, Amen!, Charles Villers Stanford

POSTLUDE:  In Dulci Jubilo, Johann Sebastian Bach


ANNOUNCEMENTS

2014 offering envelopes are at the entrance of the church.  If you do not see your box and would like one, sign your name on the clipboard.  A set will be prepared and available for you.

OUR APPRECIATION FOR TODAY’S VOLUNTEERS:

Van Drivers: Jorge Alamilla (AM) and Ray Durney (PM)
Coffee Hour Hosts: Glenn Alamilla and Tricia Ho
Greeters: Vivian and Peter Sclafani
Ushers: Dana Chan, Cascille Hampton, Jennifer Hopper, Stephanie Parker and Jerry Good
Childcare: Jayne Halley

PRAYER REQUESTSRuth Bailey, Letty Delgado, Ed Diercks, Dombrowski Family, Edythe Durney, Alfred Gessner, Lisa Gessner, Robert Keller, Hope Kingman, Fritz Kunisch, Ann Martin, John Molino, Josephine Rivera, Gloria Scrivano, Janice Serra, Mary Wainwright.