W FOREST B CHURCH G M O R FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT … · Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

WAKE FOREST BAPTIST CHURCH FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

December 18, 2016 ________________________________________________________

Chiming of the Hour Preparation for Worship

There is a reason Mary is everywhere. I've seen her image all over the world, in cafés in Istanbul, on students’ backpacks in Scotland, in a market stall in Jakarta, but I don't think her image is everywhere because she is a reminder to be obedient, and I don't think it has to do with social revolution. Images of Mary remind us of God's favor. Mary is what it looks like to believe that we already are who God says we are. ~Nadia Bolz Weber

Prelude Pastoral from Messiah G.F. Handel (1685-1759) Choral Call to Worship Expect Ye the Lord W. Faulkner Godly Play Elizabeth Corney The Magi * Call to Worship

Four candles shine as God’s purpose is revealed in word and flesh. Possibility awakens in us, a spark to brighten the way.

* Hymn of Praise No. 119 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel VENI EMMANUEL

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, thou Wisdom from on high, and order all things, far and nigh; to us the path of knowledge of show, and cause us in her ways to go.


O come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind; bid envy, strife and quarrels cease; fill the whole world with heaven's peace.


* Invocation Lydia Cavanaugh Welcome and Passing of the Peace of Christ

Gathering Music All Are Welcome

First Lesson from the Gospels Luke 1:26-35, NLT

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.” Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. .

* Hymn of Offering No. 124 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence PICARDY Giving Our Tithes and Offerings

* Offertory Response Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow VENI EMMANUEL

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise God, all creatures here below. Praise God above ye heavenly hosts.

Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

ThechildrenmayexittotheChildren’sRoom(107B)forplaytime.

* Offertory Prayer Second Lesson from the Gospels Luke 36-49, NLT

A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town.

where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.45 You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.

How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.

Reader: This is the Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.

Prayers of the People Carol No. 155 Angels We Have Heard on High GLORIA

Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o'er the plains, and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heavenly song?


Come to Bethlehem and see Christ, who comes in lowly birth. Come, adore on bended knee Jesus, joy of heav'n and earth.


See within a manger laid, Christ, whom choirs of angels praise; Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,while our hearts in love we raise


Carol No. 153 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear CAROL

It came upon the 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 all, from heaven's all gracious King!" The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come, with peaceful wings unfurled,

and still their heavenly music floats o'er all the weary world; above its sad and lowly plains they bend on hovering wing,

and ever o'er its Babel sounds the blessed angels sing.

And you 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 hastening on, by prophet seen of old,

when with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold; when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling,

and the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing. Sermon For the Mighty One Is Holy and Has Done Great Things Lia Scholl * Hymn of Commitment No. 148 O Come, All Ye Faithful ADESTE FIDELES

We invite you to commit your life to Christ as a disciple and to join our church as a member. We receive members by transfer of church membership, confession offaithinJesusfollowedbybeliever’sbaptism,orbystatementofpreviousChristianexperience.YoumayalsowishtoreaffirmyourfaithinChristormakeothercommitments.Youarewelcometocomeforwardatthistime.

Announcements and Welcoming New Members * Choral Benediction No. 147 Away in a Manger verse 3 AWAY IN A MANGER * Benediction Postlude Variations on SWISS NOEL Claude d’Aquin (1694–1772)

___________________________*Pleasestandasyouareable.

WAKE FOREST BAPTIST CHURCH CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES

Sunday Schedule 10:00 Sunday School Classes, Rooms 206 and 202 Godly Play, Children’s Room 107B 11:00 Worship, Davis Chapel 12:00 Reception 12:15 Chancel Choir Rehearsal, Wait Chapel

Sunday, December 18 11:00 Fourth Sunday of Advent Worship, Wait Chapel Saturday, December 24 5:00 Christmas Eve Service, Davis Chapel Sunday, December 25 11:00 Christmas Day Worship, Davis Chapel No Sunday school or Reception Sunday, January 1 11:00 New Year’s Day Worship, Davis Chapel No Sunday school or Reception

COMMUNITY NEWS

Advent is the season of expectation. Let us expect good things in the world. Let us expect to share love with one another. Let us expect kindness and goodness to win. And when we are faced with things we don’t expect, the lack of justice or of mercy, let us resist and disrupt together.

The Finance Committee is working to complete the 2017 budget. As soon as possible, we need your 2017 pledge cards. If you have not yet completed your pledge, cards are available on the hymnal cart. Please place your card in today’s offering plate. As soon as pledges are in, we'll send out our proposed budget for 2017.

If you have end-of-year donations to be reflected in your 2016 giving statement, please try to have them postmarked by January 1, 2017.

Large print hymnals are available. Talk with an usher if you need assistance. Music and lyrics are reprinted with permission of OneLicense # A-719218.

STAFF

Elizabeth Corney………………………. Minister of Campus Engagement Woodson Faulkner, III……………………….. Organist and Choir Director Don Roberson……………………………………. Member Care Specialist Lia Scholl…………………………………………………………… Pastor

Wake Forest Baptist Church is a progressive, welcoming and affirming

Christian community committed to Jesus Christ. We value prophetic worship, thoughtful religious education, social justice, and peacemaking.

P.O. Box 7326, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27109-7326

Church Office Phone: 336-245-8914 Pastor Phone: 336-414-3640 www.wakeforestbaptist.org

WAKE FOREST BAPTIST CHURCH FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

December 18, 2016

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W FOREST B CHURCH G M O R FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT … · Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”