PROVIDENCE CHURCH

December 19, 2021

 

Welcome

Passing of the Peace: Though we are separated by distance our hearts are one in Christ. The peace of Christ be with you!  And also with you!

 

Lighting of the Advent Candle

 

Call to Worship:   Revelation 5:6-13

Leader:  Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.   He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.   And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.  

Congregation:  And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign[b] on the earth.”

Leader:  Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.

Congregation:  In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”

Leader:  Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

ALL:   “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
forever and ever!”

 

Songs of Praise:

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (Edmund Sears, 1850; tune Richard Willis, 1850)

It came upon a midnight clear, that glorious song of old,

From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold:

“Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heav’n’s all-gracious King”;

the world in solemn stillness lay to heart the angels sing.

 

And ye, beneath life’s crushing load, whose forms are bending low,

Who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow,

Look now! For glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing:

O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing.

 

For lo, the days are hast’ning on, by prophet bards foretold,

When with the ever-circling years comes round the age of gold;

When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling,

And the whole world give back the song which now the angels sing.

 

Away in A Manger (Anon., Philadelphia, 1885; tune W. Kirkpatrick, 1895)

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,

The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head;

The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,

The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

 

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,

But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes;

I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,

And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

 

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay

Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;

Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,

And fit us for heaven, to live with thee there.

 

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (Polish carol)

Infant holy, infant lowly, for his bed a cattle stall;

Oxen lowing, little knowing Christ the babe, is Lord of all.

Swift are winging, angels singing, noels ringing, tidings bringing:

Christ the babe is Lord of all, Christ the babe is Lord of all.

 

Flocks were sleeping: shepherds keeping vigil till the morning new

saw the glory, heard the story, tidings of a gospel true.

Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing, greet the morrow:

Christ the babe was born for you, Christ the babe was born for you.

 

Angels We Have Heard on High (Traditional French carol)

Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains,

And the mountains in reply echo back their joyous strains.

Glo—ria in excelsis Deo,

Glo—ria in excelsis Deo.

 

Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?

Say what the glad tidings be, which inspire your heav’nly song?

Glo—ria in excelsis Deo,

Glo—ria in excelsis Deo.

 

Come to Bethlehem and see him whose birth the angels sing;

Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Glo—ria in excelsis Deo,

Glo—ria in excelsis Deo.

Confession/Assurance    

 

Respond in Praise:  Musical Offering

 

 

All Is Well (Michael W. Smith, Wayne Kirkpatrick, 1989) – Musical Offering

All is well, all is well,

Angels and men rejoice;

For tonight darkness fell into the dawn of love’s light

Sing Al-le, Sing Alleluia

 

All is well, all is well,

Let there be peace on earth.

Sing for Christ is come, go and tell

That He is in the manger

Sing Al-le, Sing Alleluia

 

All is well, all is well,

Lift up your voice and sing.

Born is now Emmanuel,

Born is our Lord and Savior,

Sing Alleluia, All is well!

Born is now Emmanuel,

Born is our Lord and Savior,

Sing Alleluia, Sing Alleluia, alleluia!

All is well, all is well.

 

Scripture Reading:    Luke 1: 26-38

 

Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed[a] to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”[b] 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

 

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”[c]

 

35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[d] will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant[e] of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

 

This is the Word of the Lord.   Thanks be to God!

Sermon:  ” Mighty Messengers”                                                                                                    

 

Hymn of Dedication

 

Heaven’s Here to Stay (Renee Allsbrook) – Musical Offering

To our stable of a world, to our poverty,

Into hunger and to thirst, to the chill of night,

Into sorrows, weakness, loneliness:

Stripped of heaven’s princely glory, he naked entered in.

 

Glory in the highest, for the Peace of Heaven comes to earth;

Glory in the highest, Hope itself was born in Jesus’ birth.

For Death is dying, Fear is cowering, Light is chasing Night away;

The burning love of heaven’s here to stay.

 

Come, you weary ones to Me, I will give you rest;

Trade your tattered rags for my robes of purest white.

Come, you hungry, eat, be satisfied:

You’re all need, but I’m all giving—be still and just receive.

 

Glory in the highest, for the Peace of Heaven comes to earth;

Glory in the highest, Hope itself was born in Jesus’ birth.

For Death is dying, Fear is cowering, Light is chasing Night away;

The burning love of heaven’s here to stay.

 

 

 

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.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil:

for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory.  Amen

 

Hymn of Thanksgiving

The First Noel (Traditional English carol)

The first Noel, the angel did say,

was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,

on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,

Born is the King of Israel.

 

They look-ed up and saw a star

shining in the east, beyond them far;

And to the earth it gave great light,

and so it continued both day and night.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,

Born is the King of Israel.

 

Then let us all with one accord

sing praises to our heav’nly Lord,

that hath made heav’n and earth of naught,

and with his blood mankind hath bought.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,

Born is the King of Israel.

 

Benediction 

 

KNOW

Welcome to Providence Church! We are glad that you are here, joining us in person or via Zoom!.

Sunday School:   Adult and Youth Sunday School is at 11:15. Paula Rhodarmer will be teaching.   Will/Christina are leading a study of The Risen Lord for couples/singles. Bill/Jerry are leading the Youth SS in a classic book by CS Lewis.

Fellowship Time: Between the end of our worship service and before SS

Children of all ages are invited to participate in the entire service of worship.  Childcare for children up to 6 years of age, in our downstairs Christian Ed wing (on the left) at the end of the hallway.

Nursery Worker Needed –     Providence is looking to hire a part time nursery worker for each Sunday from 9:45 to 12noon.  Please contact Edward Brouwer 828-550-4615, or Linda Wilson, 901-230-7178, providencechurchassistant@gmail.com, if you are interested or know of anyone that might be.  Also, please be in prayer that God will guide this process. Thank you!

Year-End Giving:  Year-end giving for the 2021 calendar year will be available via the offering plate through December 26th.  Year-end giving for 2021 via the mail must be postmarked December 31st or before to count towards 2021 givings.  Year-end giving can also be dropped off at Bruce Kingshill’s office before December 31st to count towards 2021 givings. Please turn in any reimbursement requests to Linda by December 26th.

Giving Update: Thank you, members and friends, for your faithful giving this year. Our name, Providence Church, speaks to our reliance on God for His provision. Two simple guides for us in giving: that we reflect a heart of generosity and joy. As you make your year-end giving decisions, kindly consider the financial needs of our church. May God’s rich favor and grace be upon us all. Pastor Edward

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GO

We wrapped up our ministry to children at Junaluska Elementary School with a Christ-centered Christmas party this past Tuesday. We had the joyful privilege of sharing the gospel with 40 children this semester. The children each received a Bible or devotional book as a reminder of God’s love in Christ to them. Thank you to all who have prayed for Renee Allsbrook, Linda Roberts, and Pastor Edward as we share the good news. We are so grateful to have this witnessing opportunity in the public school. And thank you to our mission team and all who helped make this possible.

 

Our missions team was able to send a financial gift to a local church we are connected to in Kentucky to help with the devastating damage and carnage from the recent tornadoes. Thank you for being part of our ministry of loving compassion in Christ’s name.

 

Open Door Soup Kitchen: This is an ongoing commitment of Providence Church to the least, the last, the lost and the lonely of our community.  While Open Door is no longer able to serve meals, we are still volunteering to cook the meals on the first Friday of each month.  If you can serve in this way, please let Linda Wilson know at 901-230-7178.  Thanks for your faithfulness.

 

Prayer Requests: Healing: Glenda White, Judd and Susanne Heriot, Robbie Hargrove, Mike Lear, Mike Lear’s brother Kenny; Chuck & Carole Torpy; Thom Morgan’s mother; Lisa Rhodarmer’s mother Ruth and brother Michael; Sarah Altman’s brother-in-law Dan