GRACE COVENANT

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Awakening a Love for Christ in the Heart of the City
December 16, 2012 Third Sunday of Advent 10:55 a.m.

WE GATHER TO GLORIFY GOD

Please fill out the communication card and place it in the offering plate during the offertory. PRELUDE Chorale Prelude on In dulci jubilo WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS LIGHTING OF THE THIRD ADVENT CANDLE Jake and Laura Leigh Savage

Dietrich Buxtehude, 1637-1707

OPENING PRAYER We praise You, O Lord, for the fulfillment of Your promise of a Savior, and rejoice in the gift of salvation through the birth of Your Son, Jesus Christ Emmanuel. Create us anew as we await Your coming, and grant us to see Your glory by the indwelling light of Your Holy Spirit. Amen. HYMN 10 (Blue Hymnal) On Jordans Bank the Baptists Cry Winchester New

PRAYER OF CONFESSION Lord Jesus, Emmanuel, Our hope and our salvation, We confess that we have sinned against You and against neighbor in thought, word, and deed. We have grown callous to the message of Your coming; We have not expected Your appearance; We have not prepared our hearts to receive You,

but we have sought first to satisfy our own appetites, rather than seek and watch for Your coming Kingdom. Lord, have mercy upon us; Christ, have mercy upon us; Lord, have mercy upon us. Forgive us our sins; Chastise our hearts; And lead us to effectual repentance, That we may awake to the glory, the majesty, and the promise of Your coming, offering ourselves as a living sacrifice; To love and serve You and our neighbor with the humility of the Christ child, Emmanuel; In whose holy Name we pray. Amen. ASSURANCE OF PARDON CHRISTMASTIME ALLELUIA James Chepponis

Alleluia, music by James Chepponis 1997 by G.I.A. Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-715262.

WE GIVE THANKS TO GOD

PRESENTATION OF TITHES, OFFERINGS, AND GIFTS ANTHEM O Come, Divine Messiah Howard Helvey, b. 1968

O come, divine Messiah! The world in silence waits the day When hope shall sing its triumph, And sadness flee away. Dear Saviour haste; Come, come to earth, Dispel the night and show your face, And bid us hail the dawn of grace.

You come in peace and meekness, And lowly will your cradle be; All clothed in human weakness Shall we your Godhead see. Dear Saviour haste; Come, come to earth, Dispel the night and show your face, And bid us hail the dawn of grace. O Christ, whom nations sigh for, Whom priest and prophet long foretold, Come break the captive fetters; Redeem the long-lost fold. Dear Saviour haste; Come, come to earth, Dispel the night and show your face, And bid us hail the dawn of grace. O come, divine Messiah! The world in silence waits the day When hope shall sing its triumph, And sadness flee away. Dear Saviour haste; Come, come to earth, Dispel the night and show your face, And bid us hail the dawn of grace.
French Carol; text Abb Simon J. Pellegrin, 1663-1745

DOXOLOGY 592 (Blue Hymnal) PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Old Hundredth Afua Ossei

WE HEAR THE WORD OF GOD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION OLD TESTAMENT READING Zephaniah 3:14-20 Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. CHILDRENS SERMON SECOND READING Isaiah 12:2-6 Afua Ossei Holy Bible, p. 829 OT

Nicole Williams Holy Bible, p. 610 OT Holy Bible, p. 59 NT

GOSPEL READING Luke 3:7-18 Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. SERMON In Our Midst

Brint Pratt Keyes

WE RESPOND TO GODS WORD

HYMN 146 (Red Hymnal) Hail to the Lords Anointed RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS THE APOSTLES CREED GLORIA PATRI 579 (Blue Hymnal) PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORDS PRAYER Red Hymnal, p. 12 Greatorex Red Hymnal, p. 12 Rockport

WE GO FORTH TO LOVE AND SERVE

HYMN 1 (Blue Hymnal) Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus BENEDICTION AND CHORAL RESPONSE In the Lord Ill Be Ever Thankful POSTLUDE On Jordans Bank the Baptists Cry (Puer Nobis) Stuttgart Taiz Aaron David Miller, b. 1972

Please join us in the Social Room following worship for refreshments and fellowship. The poinsettias and greenery are given to the glory of God by members and friends of the congregation.
1627 Monument Avenue Richmond, Virginia 23220 804-359-2463 Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Email: info@grace-covenant.org Website: www.grace-covenant.org Radio: WLES 590 AM Interim Pastor: The Reverend Mr. Brinton Keyes Director of Music: Christopher Martin Administrative Assistant: Vanessa Strait Bookkeeper: Martha Rubin Custodian: James Greene Child Development Center Director: Nicole Williams Seminary Intern: Christopher Tweel