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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, LAKELAND, FL 1st Sunday of Christmas

9 A.M. CLASSIC ONLINE WORSHIP, DECEMBER 27, 2020 GATHERING MUSIC Prelude in E Major 566 J.S. Bach

Tom Ingui, Organ WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Dr. Paul Suich

~ GATHERING BEFORE THE WORD ~ PRELUDE The King Shall Rejoice G.F. Handel

Tom Ingui, Organ CALL TO WORSHIP PSALM 45 Rev. Dr. Paul Suich

Liturgist: In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and

righteousness.

Congregation: Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness.

Liturgist: You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness, therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness.

Congregation: We will cause your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.

Liturgist: Let us worship God.

INVOCATION Rev. Dr. Paul Suich

*HYMN # 22 Please sing! Angels from the Realms of Glory REGENT SQUARE INCLUDED IN WORSHIP GUIDE *CONFESSION OF SIN in unison Rev. Dr. Paul Suich

Please join me now in the prayer of confession as it is printed in the worship guide followed by our individual prayer of repentance. Though you ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness, and righteousness, we often look for the path of least resistance and avoid inconvenient confrontation. Our silence allows wickedness to flourish. You love righteousness, but we often love what is near to us. In our retreat, we have not loved our neighbors with a steadfast love, nor honored your love for us. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be with us, even as we put our trust in you.

*SILENT PRAYERS OF REPENTANCE

Hear our prayers, restore to us the joy of salvation, for we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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*ASSURANCE OF PARDON Rev. Dr. Paul Suich *RESPONSE OF PRAISE Please sing! GLORIA PATRI

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, And to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, World without end. Amen. Amen

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER Rev. Dr. Paul Suich

O God, our Rock, through the prophet Isaiah you said, “do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear”…

God of Grace: Congregation: Hear our prayers!

O God, fulfiller of dreams, we read in the Christmas story of Simeon, the man who waited a lifetime to see the consolation of Israel…

God of Grace: Congregation: Hear our prayers!

Jehovah Rapha, the God who Heals, we lift up before you those among our number who are ill, injured, and recovering from difficulty…

God of Grace: Congregation: Hear our prayers!

And now, as maturing disciples of Jesus Christ, we pray the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray, saying, 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; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

OFFERING OF TITHES AND GIFTS Rev. Dr. Paul Suich OFFERTORY Prelude on "Once in Royal David's City” T. F. Candlyn

Tom Ingui, Organ *DOXOLOGY Please sing! OLD HUNDREDTH Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. *PRAYER OF DEDICATION Rev. Dr. Paul Suich SPECIAL MUSIC Oh What a Wonderful Child arr. Mark Hayes

Ron Hatley, Bass Thomas Ingui, Piano

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~ PROCLAIMING THE WORD OF GOD ~ SERMON “Peace Ushered in Through Conflict” Brian Morgan

Luke 2:25-35

~ RESPONDING TO THE WORD OF GOD ~

* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Nicene Creed Rev. Dr. Paul Suich Now as we have heard the word of God proclaimed, let us respond in belief with the words from the Nicene Creed.

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

Amen. * HYMN # 27 Please sing! Gentle Mary Laid Her Child TEMPUS ADEST FLORIDUM

INCLUDED IN WORSHIP GUIDE BENEDICTION Brian Morgan POSTLUDE Fugue in E Major BWV 566 J.S. Bach Tom Ingui, Organ

* In reverence for God, please stand as you are able in awe of Him for all that He has done to redeem us.

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Thank you for worshipping with us this Sunday! FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, LAKELAND, FL

Pastors and staff serving in this worship service: Brian Morgan, Director of Student Life Ministry

Rev. Dr. Paul Suich, Director of St Andrew Ministry

Dr. Daniel A. Gordon, Director of Fine Arts Ministry Tom Ingui, Organist

Special Guest Musician:

FPC thanks Ron Hatley for his offering today.

How Can I Give? TEXT TO GIVE: For an easy and convenient way to contribute electronically toward our mission and ministries, we offer a Text to Give option. Simply text GiveFPC to 50155. You can still give online at anytime.

Flower Dedication The flowers are given to the Glory of God by Pete & Nancy Peterson.

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