First Presbyterian Church Growing in Faith and Love

Third Sunday of Advent December 15, 2019

125 S. 3rd Street Wilmington, NC 28401 (910) 762-6688 www.firstonthird.org

Leading in Worship this morning:

Dan Lewis, Pastor Richard Aylor, Associate Pastor Nicole Newton, Associate Pastor John Tabler, Director of Music Benjamin Horrell, Asst. Director of Music

We also welcome guest musician, Amy Sandlin, oboe

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP

The music of the Opening Voluntary draws us from the outside world Into the presence of God. In preparation for worship, you are invited

to use this time for prayerful reflection.

OPENING VOLUNTARY “Nun kom der Heiden Heiland” BWV659 J.S. Bach “Wachet auf”

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS [Please pass the friendship register down the row for each person to sign.]

CONGREGATIONAL INTROIT 92 While we are waiting, come; while we are waiting, come. Jesus, our Lord, Emmanuel, while we are waiting, come. LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES Ashley Swavely and Kathryn Schey 8:45am Nancy Carnegie & Salena Warlick 11:00am +HYMN 611

“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” HYMN TO JOY

CALL TO CONFESSION (from Romans 8) For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one that who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

For in hope we were saved. Now, hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes in what is seen? But if we hope for what we do

not see, we wait for it with patience. Let us confess our sins to God…

Blended Service Gilmour Hall 9:00 AM GATHERING MUSIC WELCOME LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES Lewis, Sarah Beth, Sam & Chandler Deans MUSIC CONFESSION, FORGIVENESS, AND PEACE MUSIC PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE TIME WITH THE YOUNG CHURCH [Three year olds through second graders are invited to come forward, place their offering

in the plate and have prayer with the minister before leaving with their teachers for Children’s Worship in Room 205.]

SCRIPTURE AND SERMON Dan Lewis

First Lesson - Matthew 11: 2-11 Second Lesson - Isaiah 35: 1-10

Sermon - Borrowed Joy

OFFERING

MUSIC

BENEDICTION

SENDING MUSIC

Pastor on Call - (910) 338-9109 *Please leave a message and the Pastor will return your call.

REMINDER: Please be sure to silence all electronic devices upon entering the sanctuary.

ADM & Mrs. Richard S. Andrews Franklin Murphy Averitt, Jr. William Benjamin Beery, III William Benjamin Beery, IV Mildred and Edward Beman Richard von Biberstein, Jr. Edward and Esther Bloedorn Mr. Charles H. Boney, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. William J. Boney Bill and Betty Loweth Brame Dr. Walter Lee Crouch Margaret Cameron Edge Alexander Sprunt Hall

Mrs. Miriam Allen Randolph “Randy” Fairfax Allen Richard Andrews, Jr. Tahlia Andrews Rose Artin Edward Callaway Austell Kay Smart Batts Mr. and Mrs. August M. Blomberg Mr. and Mrs. James B. Brame Claudia J. Briner Ruth and George Buckbee Mrs. Laura Campbell Carl Carlson Annie M. Collins Josephine Lanier Cotton Melvin Jackson Cotton Charlotte Crawford Florence R. Cromartie Luther M. Cromartie L. Martin Cromartie, Jr. John and Ruby Crow Dorothy Seger Dineen Dr. James R. Dineen Mary B. Divine Vivian Donnell Mr. and Mrs. James Duffy Mr. and Mrs. William H. Dunlap James Bruce Edmunds Margy Duffy Edmunds Kathy Edwards Harry Lee Fields Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Finan, Sr. Thomas Allred Garvey Leon and Cleo Gay Anne Calhoun Gentry Ray and Charlotte Green Karl and Helen Griffith Alice Patterson Harris Louise Fairfax Harris

Robert H. Hutchins, MD Dr. Robert B. Jones Dale F. Keller, Jr. Jeanne Lambert Rick Lawson Kathryn and Owen McMillan Mrs. Bertha P. Meier Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Meier, Jr. Cora Morrison Suzanne Smith Nash Joan Wadsworth Pray Quinn Margaret Riley

Timothy Johnson Roberts Mr. & Mrs. Grady W. Shuford Dr. Richard Bembry Smith John and Wilma Stanford Betty Holden Stike Ray L. Stike John W. Thomas, Jr. Sherry Weaver George J. Weidenhammer Mr. & Mrs. Harold W. Wells, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Clarence G. Westendorff Dale Young

W. Hall Harris, III Mr. and Mrs. W. Hall Harris, Jr. D.G. and Ruth Harwood Mr. & Mrs. Henry C. Hawthorne, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie Hoyt Ralph and Nancy Hoyt Dr. and Mrs. Deane Hundley Dorothy Morgan Hutchins Harold R. Hutchins Mr. and Mrs. John Mack Isley Mr. and Mrs. J. Donald Johnson, Sr. Samuel C. and Kathleen Jones Mary Elizabeth Toms Kelly Robert Yocum Kelly Mr. Jimmy Kenny Mr. and Mrs. Horace T. King, Jr. Gertrude Krichner Charlotte Klein JoAnne M. Knapp Albert LeBrun, Jr. Albert LeBrun, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert N. Lewis Gordon and Lisa Lewis Jeff Lewis Cal and Peggy Marles Margaret and James Frank McCall Hester J. McDaniel Mr. and Mrs. Hugh A. McEachern Mr. and Mrs. Herbert McKeithan Anita McNamara Colleen McNamara A. Vance and Edna Meanor Nancy C. Monroe Mary Nelson Myers My Mother’s Hands Suzanne Smith Nash Ann and Bob Neill Pauline and Henry Taylor Newland Scott O’Malley

OUR POINSETTIAS WERE GIVEN IN LOVING MEMORY OF

OUR OUTSIDE WREATHS WERE GIVEN IN LOVING MEMORY OF

OUR CHRISMON TREE was given to the glory of God by Bert and Melanie Williams and Family. It is dedicated in loving memory of Harper Beall Williams

and in tribute to his abiding faith and love for others.

THE WREATHS PLACED IN THE SANCTUARY were given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Ferd Olbert Lawson, Jr. and Martha Best Lawson by their son, Yorke Lawson.

THE CHRISTMAS WREATHS ON THE CHURCH DOORS were given to the glory of God and in grateful remembrance of John Douglas Taylor & Mary Hill Taylor by

their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Fannie and Louis Jackson Parker Mr. and Mrs. Austin Peay Lavina Selden Harris Pigford Robert T. Pigford, M.D. Anna Seward Ragsdale Gregory Langston Ragsdale Mary Wickwire Ragsdale Mr. and Mrs. Edward R. Ryals, Jr. Carolyn Ragsdale Salzwedel Mr. and Mrs. Milton Scott Grace W. Sharkey Edith and George Sherman Mr. and Mrs. W. Ferrell Shuford, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Edwin F. Sigmund Thomas Sims James and Alene Smith Mr. & Mrs. Percy R. Smith, Jr. Henri Van Order Stabler Inge Bjerre Stites Mr. and Mrs. James A. Stokes James B. and Clara Stokley, Sr. Chris Stone Julie Stone Nancy Holladay Crow Stovall John T. Talbert, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. J.T. Talbert Karen Talley Hock-Seng Tan Mr. and Mrs. Joseph O. Taylor Margaret and E. Marion Taylor Rita R. Taylor William Alan Thomasson Edith Graham Toms Elmo Keid Toms Miss Beth Troy Mr. and Mrs. Sam Troy Dr. and Mrs. Van Order Annie and William B. Walton Sherry Weaver

+DOXOLOGY (606) 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 THANKSGIVING 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.

WE GO IN GOD’S NAME

+HYMN 107

“Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn” REJOICE, REJOICE

+CHARGE & BENEDICTION CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE (545) Lord, bid your servant go in peace; your word is now fulfilled. These eyes have seen salvations dawn, this child so long foretold. CLOSING VOLUNTARY

“Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending” Lloyd Webber

The “Closing Voluntary” marks the conclusion of the Service of Worship. If you

leave before worship’s conclusion, please do so silently in consideration of others. Please refrain from photography and videography during the worship service.

The flowers in the Chapel are given to the Glory of God and in Loving memory of Mrs. Pat Grigg Fountain, Mr. and Mrs. John Cleveland Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Worth Merritt and in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Claude Armstrong Plumlee and Mr. Vinton Earl Fountain, Jr. who are grandparents of the bride and groom. Elizabeth Clayton Fountain and Eugene Worth Merritt, III were joined in marriage on Saturday, December 14, 2019.

Max David Falcinelli, child of David Phillip Falcinelli, Jr. and Jenna Lynn Fike

Falcinelli, will be baptized during the 11:00am worship service this morning.

We rejoice with the family!

Please join us for a special service of worship, Thursday, December 19th

at 6pm in the Kenan Chapel. The Longest Night Service is not just for those

who may be struggling this time of year but for sisters and brothers in Christ to

come together sharing prayers of hope, peace, joy and love for all. A reception

will be provided in the Gathering Place immediately following the service.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION Holy God, we confess that we have so often failed to look for signs of your coming and failed to prepare for your arrival. We have not listened to the prophets as they called us to repentance; we have not established justice and righteousness; we have not worshipped you with pure hearts. Cleanse us, O God, and rehabilitate our hope. Teach us to eagerly await your arrival and prepare for it with diligence and grace, as we pray...

SILENT PRAYER

RESPONSE (121) O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;

Cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us; abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!

ASSURANCE OF PARDON Brothers and Sisters, hope does not disappoint us, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. Let us all believe this good news! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!

RESPONSE (113) Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

PASSING OF THE PEACE

The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all! And also with you!

TIME WITH THE YOUNG CHURCH [Three year olds through second graders are invited to come forward, place their offering in the plate and have prayer with the minister before leaving with their teachers for Children’s

Worship. Preschool ages meet in Room 208; Grades K - 2 meet in Room 311.]

THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM (11:00)

Max David Falcinelli

RESPONSE (486) Child of blessing, child of promise, baptized with the Spirit’s sign, with this water God has sealed you unto love and grace divine.

Child of joy, our dearest treasure, God’s you are, from God you came. Back to God we humbly give you: live as one who bears Christ’s name.

[+You are invited to stand. For each hymn, please stand as the last line of the introduction is played.]

WE PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION FIRST LESSON Matthew 11: 2-11

The Word of the Lord. Pew Bible P. 11 Thanks be to God.

SECOND LESSON Isaiah 35: 1-10 The Word of the Lord. Pew Bible P. 663 Thanks be to God.

SERMON Dan Lewis “Borrowed Joy”

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

+HYMN 79 “Light Dawns on a Weary World” TEMPLE OF PEACE

+AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from The Nicene Creed) 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. Amen.

+PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE 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.

OFFERING OFFERTORY ANTHEM “The Desert Shall Rejoice” - Malcolm Archer The desert shall rejoice and blossom as a rose; it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with praise and singing. For the ears of the deaf shall hear, and the eyes of the blind shall be opened. For the tongue of the dumb shall sing, and the lame shall dance for joy. For the ground will become a pool and the dry land will become springs of water. As the ransomed return to the Lord, they shall come back singing unto Zion with joy.

-Isaiah 35