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Welcome-Announcements Steve Nitz
TIME OF SILENCE
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. – Isaiah 11.1
OPENING PRAYER
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
HYMN 290 – “As with Gladness Men of Old” Dix
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES
The people shall beat their swords into plowshares,
And their spears into pruning hooks;
nations shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON – St Matthew 3.1-12
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with[b] water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
SERMON “ADDITION BY SUBTRACTION”Pastor Tung
OFFERTORY Honor the Lord with your stewardship offerings to sustain our worship and work in our community and world. By mail: Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church, 500 Midvale Road, Upper Darby, PA 19082 Online: You may now also choose to contribute through an online giving form.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
PRAYING GOD’S KINGDOM IN OUR COMMUNITY / OUR Lord’s Prayer (Hymnal, inside front cover)
HYMN (insert)Picardy
“Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”
communion prayer
COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE
Hymn 270 – “Joy to the World” Antioch
Blessing and Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
Announcements
PARTNERS FOR SACRED PLACES this week begins work with our congregation with a site visit — a comprehensive walkthrough and inventory of our facilities and property. This is the first step toward a strategic space-sharing plan that is “value-aligned, mutually-beneficial, and requires minimal capital improvement.”.
THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT – DECEMBER 14 10:00 a.m. – Service of Holy Communion “HERE IS YOUR GOD” Isaiah 35.1-10; Psalm 146.5-10; James 5.7-10; St. Matthew 11.2-11 Pastor Tung preaching
– A PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP –
Bless us, O God, with a reverent sense of Your presence, that we may be at peace and may worship You with all our mind and spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
You are welcome to contact Pastor Tung directly for pastoral needs. Tel. 610.246.8240 • Email – arttung@gmail.com
