GUILFORD PARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Traditional Worship Service

November 29, 2020

Celebrating Christ with

open minds, loving hearts, and serving hands.

TRADITIONAL WORSHIP SERVICE

First Sunday of Advent November 29, 2020 WELCOME, all who come to worship with us this day! May you discover the spirit of Christ in this place and among this church family.

ASSEMBLE IN GOD’S NAME

PRELUDE Es ist ein' Ros' Johannes Brahms The prelude is a time of transition, from hurried lives into the eternal presence of God.

We invite you to make this a time of prayerful preparation for worship.

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS

LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE Peter, Leslie, Zaniah, and James Isakoff First reader: The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. Second reader: We are easily distracted by the darkness that comes with unease and anxiety. All: Source of Light, shine in our lives and in your world with your renewing hope.

ADVENT PRAYER Eternal God, as we await the coming of our savior, give us the courage to hope. Give us grace to see your plans of redemption for our lives, for this community, and for the world. Through Jesus Christ, the source of our redemption and hope. Amen.

OPENING HYMN Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn REJOICE, REJOICE

PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Isaiah 35:1-10 Pat Kimel The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus 2 it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.” 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; 7 the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. 8 A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. 9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. 10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

TIME FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES Kim Row

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Matthew 11:2-6 2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6 And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

THE SERMON “Destry Rides Again!” Dr. David Cagle

GIVE THANKS TO GOD

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH A Declaration of Faith Jesus, the long expected Savior, came into the world as a child, descended from David, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of Mary, a virgin. He lived as a Jew among Jews. He announced to his people the coming of God’s kingdom of justice and peace on earth. We affirm that Jesus was born of woman as is every child, yet born of God’s power as was no other child. In the person and work of Jesus, God himself and a human life are united but not confused, distinguished but not separated. The coming of Jesus was itself the coming of God’s promised rule. Through his birth, life, death, and resurrection, he brings about the relationship between God and humanity that God always intended.

PASTORAL PRAYER and THE 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; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

GIVING OUR GIFTS TO GOD

OFFERTORY ANTHEM Excerpts from Messiah G.F. Handel Travis Gilliam, tenor Comfort Ye; Ev'ry Valley; And the Glory of the Lord

GO IN GOD’S NAME

HYMN Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming ES IST EIN’ ROS’

GUILFORD PARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

2100 Fernwood Drive | Greensboro, NC 27408 | 336-288-5452

www.guilfordpark.org | Find us on Facebook and YouTube

BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE Sleepers Awake! J.S. Bach

END OF WORSHIP ..............................................................................BEGINNING OF SERVICE

One License.net #A701702 CCLI License #1675218

SERVING IN WORSHIP

Liturgist: Pat Kimel

FLOWERS ON THE LORD’S TABLE today are given to the glory of God.

Ministers: All the members of the Church Transitional Pastor: David Cagle Christian Educator for Children and Youth: Kim Row Director of Music Ministries and Organist: Bill Allred Music Director for YES Worship Service: Brian Fitts Church Administrator: Jane Sharpe Congregational Nurse: Susan Smith YES Accompanist: Jordan Hart Missionaries we support: Pablo and Jan Feliciano in Mexico Tracey King-Ortega in Nicaragua