PREPARING TO HEAR GOD’S WORD CHIMES (The congregation is asked to pray for the blessing of God upon this service.)

God of power, may the boldness of your Spirit transform us, the gentleness of your Spirit lead us, and the gifts of your Spirit be our goal and our strength. Amen.

PRELUDE My Lord, What a Morning Richard Billingham

INTROIT My Lord! What a Morning African-American spiritual

The Sanctuary Choir

†ADVENT OPENING SENTENCES AND CANDLELIGHTING (based on Isaiah 64:1-4) Middle School Youth

†OPENING HYMN, No. 354 Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory BATTLE HYMN PRAYER OF CONFESSION

RESPONSE, No. 90 Wait for the Lord WAIT FOR THE LORD

(The congregation and choir will sing this twice.)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

†ACT OF PRAISE Gloria Patri MEINEKE

†PASSING OF THE PEACE

THE WORD

A TIME WITH CHILDREN Betty Henderson Leader: As you depart from us now, the children of God say: Children: God be with you as you stay. Congregation: God be with you as you go. RESPONSE, No. 137 He Came Down HE CAME DOWN

(The congregation and choir will sing this twice.) Children may exit at this time. Parents of children ages 3 years and younger may take their children to the CE building for Extended Session, Room CE 103. Children K4-1st grade will be escorted to the Worship Center on the third floor of this building, Room 322.

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

FIRST SCRIPTURE READING Isaiah 64:1-9 Pew Bible, page 652; large print, page 849

(Bibles are located in the racks beneath the pews.)

SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Mark 13:24-37 Pew Bible, page 47; large print, page 61

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

SERMON ‘Another Unstable Advent: Holiday Greetings from Mark’ Rev. Dr. Chris Currie

RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD

†AFFIRMATION OF FAITH - The Nicene Creed

†HYMN, No. 800 Sometimes a Light Surprises SALLEY GARDENS

MOMENT FOR DISCIPLESHIP

PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERING

Offertory One Day in All Time C. Hubert H. Parry The Sanctuary Choir Text: Sylvia Dunstan

†Doxology TALLIS’ CANON

(Sung to the tune of Hymn No. 675, All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night )

SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER Invitation Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

Stand, as you are able, and greet one another saying: “The peace of Christ be with you.”

Respond by saying: “And also with you.”

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.

(Continue your personal prayer of confession in silence.)

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 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 on 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.

Speaker: Isaiah the Prophet cried out to God, I wish you would open the heavens that separate us and come down, making the mountains quake because you are here. Make your name known to all who are against you. Make the nations tremble because of your presence.

Speaker: You came before and did awesome deeds that we did not expect; you made our world shake at the sight of you. In all the history of the world, no ears have heard and no eyes have seen any God other than you. Speaker: You work for those who wait for you.

People: We wait and hope for God’s peaceful kingdom, as we light this candle.

RESPONSE, No. 378 We Wait the Peaceful Kingdom MERLE’S TUNE

Congregation and Choir We wait the peaceful kingdom, when wolf and lamb shall lie In gentleness and friendship without a fear or sigh, When lion shall be grazing, when snake shall never strike; A little child shall lead us both strong and weak alike.

All Speakers: Loving God, come and shine your light in the world!

My Lord! what a morning, When the stars begin to fall. You will hear the trumpet sound

To wake the nations under ground, Looking to my God’s right hand, When the stars begin to fall.

Wait for the Lord, whose day is near. Wait for the Lord; be strong; take heart!

He came down that we may have love; He came down that we may have love; He came down that we may have love; Hallelujah forevermore.

One day in all time you entered our earth With humility, in poverty’s birth. The angels were chanting; the star, it shone bright; The world which was waiting rejoiced in delight. This day in all time, O Lord Jesus, come! Now enter our hearts, enliven each one. Your people are singing for love to shine strong; Creation is groaning —it hopes and waits long.

One day, to end time, you will come again With glory and might and honour to reign. The saints will be praising; the sky, it will shine; The earth be exalting salvation’s design. We praise you, O Christ of future and past, Of each of our days, of first and of last. We offer our blessing; we offer our praise; We offer our waiting through all of these days.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

At what seems the wrong time, in what seems the wrong place, among those who seem the wrong people, God has decided to bless, disturb, and visit us. As we prepare for your coming, forgive us for desiring comfort more than devotion. Forgive us for seeking to satisfy our wants above serving your will and worshipping a lesser god and settling for an easier gospel. Forgive us knowing the demands of discipleship and failing to live up to them. In your mercy, create in us clean hearts, enable us to prepare for Christ’s coming, that we may live as worthy and joyful disciples until your kingdom comes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

900 Jordan St. Shreveport, Louisiana 71101 318.222.0604 www.fpcshreveport.org

WORSHIP NOTES WE WELCOME FRIENDS AND VISITORS. This church is for anyone who wants to be counted as a disciple of Jesus Christ, and who wants to be included in its worship and work. Thank you for signing your name and address on the attendance pad. There is an information center with material about our church and Presbyterianism in the foyer of the Jordan Street entrance to the sanctuary. WORSHIP BAGS are available for children elementary age and younger. Inside each bag a variety of worship aids can be found to help children participate fully in worship, including bookmarks, children’s bulletins, crayons, pencils, and more! Worship Bags can be found in the narthex and at the front entrances of the sanctuary. Please return them at the end of the service. Children’s Bibles are also available for children’s use during worship and can be found at the end of every pew. CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS WELCOME IN WORSHIP! Childcare is provided if needed. The Infant and Toddler nursery is found in CE 106 & 108. Our staff provide a loving and safe environment where children can play and explore. Children ages 3 years and younger may go to the CE building for Extended Session, Room CE 103. A comfort and cry room is located on the same floor as the sanctuary, behind the gathering area, around the corner and down the hall from the elevators. The cry room is equipped with a speaker and volume control, so you will be able to hear the worship service while there. SERVING THE FARTHEST PEW: Our worship service today will not end with the benediction but will be “extended” so that church officers can take the sacrament to members of our worshipping community who are unable by reason of circumstance to be with us this morning. If you or someone you know would be interested in receiving communion on the days we celebrate The Lord’s Supper in worship, please contact Rhodes Stipp (222-0604).

A Service for the Worship of God Ten Forty-Five O’Clock

December 3, 2017 First Sunday of Advent

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us worship God.

The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. . .

The Lord’s Prayer

Communion of the People Anthem Remember, O Thou Man Thomas Ravenscroft The Sanctuary Choir Text: 16th cen. English

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.

Remember, O thou man, Remember, O thou man, thy time is spent: Remember, O thou man, How thou art dead and gone, And I did what I can: therefore repent!

. . .who forever sing to the glory of your name:

. . .All glory and honor are yours, almighty Father, now and forever.

†Prayer after Communion

†HYMN, No. 105 People, Look East BESANÇON

†CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

†RESPONSE One Day in All Time C. Hubert H. Parry The Sanctuary Choir Text: Sylvia Dunstan

†POSTLUDE O Savior, Rend the Heavens Wide Walther Haffner

† Worshipers standing if able.

Elder Reader: Julie Blewer Ushers: Neil Erwin, Glenda Erwin, Margaret Schuetze, Paul Schuetze, John Guth, Michelle Phelan, Donald Hall Worship Center Leaders: Melanie Rogers, Jacque Brinegar

Remember Adam’s fall, O thou man, Remember Adam’s fall from heaven to hell! Remember Adam’s fall, How we were condemnëd all In hell perpetual, there for to dwell.

The angels all did sing, O thou man, The angels all did sing upon the shepherd’s hill; The angels all did singe Praises to our heavenly King, And peace to man living with a good will.

Remember God’s goodnesse, O thou man, Remember God’s goodnesse, and his promise made! Remember God’s goodnesse; How he sent his Sonne, doubtlesse, Our sinnes for to redresse: be not afraid!

We praise you, O Christ of future and past, Of each of our days, of first and of last.

We offer our blessing; we offer our praise; We offer our waiting through all of these days.

Great is the mystery of faith:

by Susan Abney