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Wednesday, May 14, 2008 ..:: Sunday Worship, December 2, 2007 ::.. Register  Login

Sunday, December 2, 2007

First Sunday of Advent

 
Rev. Nancy Graham Ogne
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 Due to the sensitive nature of prayer requests, our prayer list below is available to members only.
 A Note from the Associate Pastor Minimize

 And a great good morning to you!

It’s the season for over-indulgence … at least if we believe the implicit message of our culture. Spend more! … Eat more! … Party more! … Stay up longer! … Buy now, pay later!
If we listen to the heralds of our indulgent culture, we give self and pleasure pre-eminence … And the “pay later” part always seems more costly when the pretty ribbons have been ripped and the kitchen sink is piled high with dirty dishes. Ugh. It seemed like such a good idea at the time.
What to do?
Once again, CommPres invites all of us to listen instead to the heralds of the counter-cultural Gospel … the angels who sing of a God adorned with simplicity and self-giving … a God whose greatest gift appears in unsophisticated, for-others-first packaging …
In an effort to embrace this reality, my husband Paul and I have established a tradition, and we invite you to join us. At the beginning of the Christmas season, we identify a modest amount that we will spend on each other (say $150); then we divide that number in half. We spend one-half of the total amount on gifts tailored to the other: an item of clothing, books, etc. – keeping it simple!
Then we invest the other half of the designated amount by using the CommPres “No More Fruitcake” alternative giving catalog. This catalog describes two CommPres-specific ministries, two Central Florida ministries and two international ministries.
I bring home a catalog and Paul, who serves as Pastor at Oviedo Presbyterian, identifies which of the six charities he would like to benefit as my gift to him; I identify the one I’d like to benefit from Paul’s gift to me. Then we write a check.
We both feel great about this three-year-old tradition … gifts to make a positive difference in the world rather than collecting dust on our coffee table. I think you’ll like it, too.
Let’s follow the simple, for-others-first example of Jesus Christ. I encourage you to pick up your copy of the “No More Fruitcake” catalog outside today. When you make a donation, you’ll receive a beautiful “gift card” that you can send to the person you’re honoring – to let them know that you’re trying to reclaim the real meaning of Christmas.
And even if you don’t use this catalog, let’s remember to keep it simple and focused on God and others this season. Friends, let’s live like we get it!
You are loved,

Nancy Graham Ogne

 
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 Order of Worship December 2, 2007 Minimize
Chiming of the Hour
Call to Worship                                                                                                                 Nancy Graham Ogne
Lighting of the Advent Candles
The Candle of Hope
8:30 Kathy Sedberry
11:00 Dan, Leah, Mary Kathryn & Ross Sams
▲ Hymn No. 245                                                                                        O Come, O Come Emmanuel
▲Reconnecting to God—Our Prayer of Confession                                                        Shaun Hartsell
                 O God, we admit that we have drawn lines in the sand.
                 We have held our neighbors at arms-length
and cast blame on those who differ with us.
We have fed our pain instead of promoting peace …
We have forfeited joy
and tried to steal the joy of others.
We have sullied your name with our choices
and acted like people who have no hope.
God have mercy.
Set us free from our bondage to pain and hopelessness.
Release us from our allegiance to sin and self.
Forgive us, Lord, and make us new. Amen.
Singing What We Believe
8:30       Hymn No. 251                                                      It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
11:00 ▲ Worship Through Praise     
Moments with Children                                           JoAnn Tennant
After Moments with Children, kids ages 3 years old to 5 are dismissed to Kids Room
Sharing the Story                                       No More Fruitcake                                               Russ Kraft
Pastoral 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 sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory forever! Amen.
11:00 Congregational Response - All Creation Worships You
The Ritual of Friendship                 
If you are a first or second time guest, we invite you to fill out the Welcome Cards located in the seatbacks. Also, please sign and pass the Friendship Pad at this time.
Offering - Giving to God as God Has Given to Us               
The Offertory                 
   8:30                                       Mary Did You Know                                                 by Lowrey
Maddie Fosmo, Soloist
11:00                                  In the Bleak Midwinter                                          by Courtney
CommPres Vocal Choir
▲The Doxology No. 815
▲ Prayer of Dedication
Teaching The Story                                                                        Nancy Graham Ogne
     A Tall Glass of Hope
       Romans 15.4-13, Page 805 in the pew Bible
        Leader: This is the word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God!
Living the Story — The Lord’s Supper
This is the Lord’s Table; it is not a Presbyterian table. This meal is prepared for all those who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and are baptized. If you wish to participate, please come forward when invited. Take a piece of bread, dip it into the chalice and partake of the meal at that time.
▲ Hymn No. 244                              Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
▲ Invitation & Blessing
▲ Departing in Celebration!            Hymn No. 270 verse 1                                        Joy to the World  
Go now and be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ  in a broken and hurting world
 
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