www.tbcrichmond.org 1925 Grove Avenue | Richmond, VA 23220 | 804.355.0134

THIS WEEK’S MINISTRY LEADERS Tim Reddish…..………………………………………………………....Deacon of the Week John Burgess and Sah Hay Moo…….…....…………………………………………..Infants Sarah and Ben Petty……..…….…..………………..………….…...Toddlers/Preschoolers Say Kapaw………….….………………………………………………………...Youth Helper Maria McGraw…................…………….……….………………….……..Worship Explorers

The Chrismon that we are focusing on today is a symbol of love. The Hebrew word that is often translated love or loving kindness describes the kind of love that God has for God's people. In scripture God displays a stubborn love and extraordinary faithfulness to unfaithful people. Oftentimes God's love is the thing that brings about the Kingdom on earth. At other times it is the love and action of God's people that makes the Kingdom visible. We are called as follow-ers of a stubborn God to display extraordinary love and faithfulness to each oth-er and everyone around us.

December 9, 2012

CHRISMON TREE The first Chrismon tree was at Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, Virginia. In 1957, decorations were designed for a tree in this church using designs and monograms used by early Christians. The decorations are made in white and gold to symbolize the perfection and majesty of Christ. The white lights remind us that Christ is the light of the world. The decorations on the Tabernacle Chrismon tree were made in 1978 by the la-dies of the WWW Sunday School Class. The tree was dedicated on December 5, 1978. This Chrismon tree has been a part of the Tabernacle Christmas celebration for the past 34 years.

WORSHIP Second Sunday of Advent

Eleven o’clock Sunday, December 9, 2012 PRELUDE Judy Fiske WESTMINSTER CHIME (Please prepare for worship.) LIGHTING OF THE LOVE CANDLE Anthem Sanctuary Choir “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord”……………………………....Rodriguez One: The wait is hard. The silence is deafening. From where will our help come? All: We wait in hope for the God who comes. Last week we lit the candle of hope. One: Our hope rests in a God who fills the empty spaces of our lives with love. All: God, help us to accept and walk in your love during this Advent season as we seek to live out your kingdom here on earth. So now, we light the candle of love. HYMN #90 “People, Look East”…………………………………..……..BESANCON WELCOME TO GUESTS AND VISITORS Sterling Severns ANTHEM Lisu Choir PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE/LORD’S PRAYER William and Megan Strollo

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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen

BUDGET APPROVAL Copies of the proposed 2013 church and TCCC budget have been placed in the back of the Sanctuary for your review. You will also find a copy of the budget in next week’s issue of The Religious Herald. Any comments/suggestions may be directed to any member of the Administrative Board (Jim McMurray, Chair) by Tuesday, December 11. A vote on the final church and TCCC budgets will be taken on December 30, 2012. Please prayerfully consider both budgets.

CHRISTMAS CARD SYSTEM AT TBC Many of our church members exchange Christmas cards through the use of our church mailboxes. Please feel free to place and receive cards in the mailboxes located just outside the Church Office. We alphabetize by the first initial of the last name.

CHRISTMAS BASKETS—DEC. 22 Dozens of family and friends will gather on December 22 to deliver 100 Christmas Baskets throughout the Richmond Metropolitan area. Each bas-ket costs $42. Your financial contribution can help make a family’s Christ-mas quite special as they gather around dining room tables and enjoy a warm meal together. We hope you will make plans to join us on the 22nd as we make the deliv-eries. Breakfast is served at 9:00 a.m.—deliveries begin at 9:30 a.m. Join us as we come together to deliver food baskets to families who have indi-cated a need. We will meet together in the Fellowship Hall early that morn-ing, receive delivery assignments with addresses. This is a great opportunity to donate your time, energy, and love as a gift to someone for Christmas. Invite your friends, coworkers, and neighbors to join us!

POTLUCK CHRISTMAS PARTY—DECEMBER 19—5:30 PM The social work interns of TBC would like to invite you to a potluck Christ-mas party and Christmas tree ornament making in our Fellowship Hall for families of all nationalities! Each family may bring a dish of their choice. If you would like to join us, please e-mail Leigh Anne Zylstra at Zylstra@tbcrichmond.org or text/call her at (540) 874-8848 and let her know if you would prefer to bring a dessert or a dish so there will not be more dessert than food. Please contact her if you have any other ques-tions as well.

2013 OFFERING ENVELOPES Your offering envelopes for 2013 are in the back of the Sanctuary for pick-up.

*CHILDREN AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: Today, any school-age child is invited to assist the Deacons as they collect offering. During the last verse of the offertory hymn, noted with an asterisk (*), children are invited to make their way to the front pew to stand in front of a Deacon during the last stanza of the invitation hymn. This Deacon will then guide the child step by step through the pro-cess of collecting the morning’s offering. When the choral doxology has ended, children and Deacons alike return to their seats with family members.

BENEDICTION POSTLUDE

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THE RETURN OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS Offertory Prayer ……………………………………………….Tim Reddish Offertory………………...………………………………...…….Ryan Corbitt Doxology Hymn #706, #538 in Karen, #508 in Chin……...….OLD 100th

Chin Language Version: Thluachuah a kan petu Pathian, A Fa Jesuh le Thiang Thlarau, Vanrang toi le vancung khuami, Mi zakip nih thangthat usih. Amen.

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.

INVITATION HYMN #82, v. 1 and 4* “Light the Light, the Fire of Life”………………………………..IL EST NE

SERMON “A Flame of Love” Sterling Severns INTERLUDE Ryan Corbitt

WORSHIP EXPLORERS (Children Grades K-3) All children, Grades K-3, may now leave the Sanctuary with Maria McGraw. Today, the children will participate in an activity centered on the scripture reading.

ANTHEM Sanctuary Choir “Love Came Down at Christmas”…………………..…..………..Grundahl

OLD TESTAMENT READING Chuck Pflugrath Ruth 1:22-2:4a (p. 231 in pew Bible)

This Week a t T a b e r n a c l e B a p t i s t C h u r c h

Monthly Mission Project: Help us serve our community

For the month of DECEMBER we are collecting CANNED GOODS. All donated items will be shared at our weekly Clothes Closet and Food Pantry Min-istry.

SUN 9

9:45 10:00

10:30 11:00 12:15 1:00 5:00 6:30

Sunday School for All Ages Budget Discussion (Parlor) Fellowship (Sanctuary) Worship Service Deacon Meeting Fan Holiday House Tour TCCC Christmas Pageant Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal

MON 10

12:00 1:00 5:30

5:30

Pastoral Staff Meeting Church Staff Meeting Intercultural Women’s Fellowship Group (Colonial Apts.) Ladies’ Ensemble Rehearsal (Choir Room)

TUES 11

12:00

Brown Bag Bible Study

WED 12

5:00

5:45 6:30

7:40

Homework Assistance Pre-school and Kindergarten music activities Fellowship Meal Children: Godly Play/Pageant Rehearsal Youth: Handbells/Choir Contemplative Advent Worship Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal

THURS 13

1:30

Food Pantry/Clothes Closet

FRI 14

7:00 Youth Christmas Party

SAT 15

5:00 Living Nativity at Ginter Park Baptist Church

IN OUR PRAYERS

Recent Addions

Reese Hinson, friend of Turner Smith, facing heart surgery We mourn with the Dibble Family in the death of Megan Dibble on November 30. Jane Denzler, recovering from knee surgery Maria Ngwa’s parents in Burma and for their ba-by due in April Our students and teachers as they study and pre-pare for end of semester tests and grading Lydia, for safe travel due to working at night All those who have remembrances of Christmas with family members in Burma, Thailand, Malay-sia Mike Sizemore, Nicky Zamostny's boyfriend, as he recovers from his final surgery

Continued Care

Thwen Say, Eh Say, Dick Spain, Adella Watlington, Mike Sizemore, Joe Vedetta, Mike Buchanan, Karen Bailey, Connie Wheeler, Lee Irving, Emma Wright, Sen Zin Nsang, Archie Huffstetler, Kier Family, Dean Phillips, Tammy Denton, Michael Tucker, Jonathan Hartman, Steven Coe, Ruth Kane, Valorie Andrist, Robyn Mosley, Ken Kinchen