Order of Worship

GATHERING AROUND THE WORD

PRELUDE Away in a Manger arr. Albin C. Whitworth

Silent Night Franz Gruber

As with Gladness Men of Old Conrad Kocher

INTROIT He is Born Trad. 18th c. French Carol

Alan Bunn, solo

CALL TO WORSHIP Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

HYMN 147 The First Nowell THE FIRST NOWELL

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION Merciful God, in your gracious presence we confess our sin and the sin of this world. Although Christ is among us as our peace, we are a people divided against ourselves as we cling to the values of a broken world. The profit and pleasures we pursue lay waste the land and pollute the seas. The fears and jealousies we harbor set neighbor against neighbor and nation against nation. We abuse your good gifts of imagination and freedom, of intellect and reason, and have turned them into bonds of oppression. Lord, have mercy on us; heal and forgive us. Set us free to serve you in the world as agents of your reconciling love in Jesus Christ. (silence for personal prayer and reflection)

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE IN DULCI

Hymn 132, stanza 3 Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; now ye need not fear the grave: Jesus Christ was born to save! Calls you one and calls you all to gain the ev-erlasting hall. Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!

THE PASSING OF THE PEACE

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to all!” The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.

PROCLAIMING THE WORD

ANTHEM O Holy Night Adolphe Adam

Janet Carmichael, solo

THE WORD FOR CHILDREN All the children are invited to come forward for the Word for Children. Afterward, children kindergarten and younger may go to children’s activities downstairs.

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

SCRIPTURE READING Luke 2:1-7

SERMON My Lord! William B. Wade, Jr.

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

HYMN 146 TEMPUS ADEST FLORIDUM

Gentle Mary Laid Her Child

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH from A Declaration of Faith God sent the promised Deliverer to his people. Jesus, the long expected Savior, came into the world as a child, descended from David, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of Mary, a virgin. He lived as a Jew among Jews. He announced to his people the coming of God’s kingdom of justice and peace on earth.

We affirm that Jesus was born of woman as is every child, yet born of God’s power as was no other child. In the person of Jesus, God and a human life are united but not confused, distinguished but not separated. The coming of Jesus was itself the coming of God’s promised rule. Through his birth, life, death and resurrection, he brings about the relationship between God and humanity that God always intended.

CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

THE LORD’S PRAYER p. 35 in front of hymnal

THE OFFERING OF SUBSTANCE AND LIFE

OFFERTORY French Folk Tune, 16th c.

Angels We Have Heard on High

CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE DIX

(Hymn 150, stanza 3) As they offered gifts most rare at thy manger, rude and bare, so may we with holy joy, pure and free from sin’s alloy, all our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to thee, our heavenly king.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION How silently, how silently the wondrous Gift is given. Dear God, help us to listen, that we may receive the Gift and become gifts to others, in Christ’s name. Amen.

BEARING AND FOLLOWING THE WORD

INTO THE WORLD

HYMN 143 REGENT SQUARE

Angels from the Realms of Glory

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE arr. John F. Wade, c. 1711-1786

O Come, All Ye Faithful Please stand, if you are able.

In Our Thoughts and Prayers

†Jeanie Liem-kidney transplant

†Susan Boteler-surgery, home

†Chris White-Abbey Hospice

†Linda Pemberton-bad fall, surgery

at Atlanta Medical Center (mother of Tiffany McWaters, ELC Director)

†Tiffany McWaters-recovering from

back surgery (ELC Director)

†Catherine Horton-Madison (sister

of Maxine Blankenship

†Penny Hill-cancer (Executive

Presbyter for the Greater Atlanta Presbytery

†Warren Liem-home

†Mike Burns-home (brother of

Cathy Dobbs)

†Don Bollinger-home

†Tootles Tingler-home

†Ann Bouchillon-home

†Wally Bold-pneumonia (uncle of

Lori Ardis)

†Joe Schell-dialysis (father of

Krissy Jones)

†Shelby Childers-ICU at Emory

(son-in-law of Elizabeth Gadilhe)

†Bill Waterson-cancer (neighbor of

Bernice & Betty Bailey)

†Lisa Baker-cancer treatment

†Lucy Johnson-cancer (friend of the

Liems)

†Steve Hayner--cancer treatment,

(President of Columbia Seminary)

†Richard Carmichael-cancer treat-

ment (brother of Patrick Carmi- chael)

†Louis Katchko-serious condition

with cancer (friend of Warren and Jeanie Liem)

†Anderson Krieger-maintenance

chemotherapy (6th grade student at Providence Christian School.)

Assisted Living/Nursing Homes:

†Mary Cline-relocated

†Russ Cole -The Magnolias,

Conyers †Gretchen Buendia-Parkwood Rehabilitation Center, Snellville

Riverside

†Joy Knight

†Martha Borders

†Rita Harrell

Benton House †George Stamps †Doris Mote

Merryvale

†Bill Taylor

†Elizabeth Gadilhe

Hospital Visitor: Stephanie Fortson

Nursery Volunteers today

CJ & Caryn Thompson Next Week:

Josh & Holly Hughes & Family

Ushers Jan Giles, chair

Sound Engineer: Ken Walker

THANKS TO THOSE SERVING US TODAY

WELCOME TO FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF COVINGTON

If you would like information about membership or the programs, mission, and fellowship of the church, speak to one of the

pastors as you leave or call the church office at 770-786-7321.

E-mail addresses:

Pastor, Billy Wade: wbwade@bellsouth.net

Dan Walden: djwalden@mac.com

Church Office: penihaug@att.net

Website: www.fpccov.org

Mailing Address: 1169 Clark Street, SW

Covington, Georgia 30014-2314

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SESSION

Class of 2014 Debra Arnold

Bill Loeble Darcel Tabb

Roger Tingler Cy Wolverton

Class of 2015 Gary Boteler Billy Fortson

Jan Giles Jim Stillerman

Class of 2016 Charles Ardis

Joyce Ashworth Betty Bailey

Patrick Carmichael Perri Walden

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH STAFF

William B. Wade, Jr. Pastor Louly Fowler Hay Parish Associate Dan Walden Director of Youth and Children’s Ministry Peni Haug Secretary-Treasurer Alan Bunn Music Director

Alice Walker CAGO, AAGO Organist/Ambassador Choir Pauleen Green & Maria Serrato Nursery Tiffany McWaters Director of the Early Learning Center

First Sunday after

Christmas

December 28, 2014

Bring donations to the church or drop them off at the Community Food Pantry from 9:00-12:00 Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday. Call (770) 784-0037 for directions.

Special requests for January soups, chili, chicken & dumplings,

spaghetti sauce

This Week at FPC

Sunday, December 28 10:00 Sunday School 11:00 Worship Service

Wednesday, December 31 Church office closes at noon

Thursday, January 1 Church Office closed

Sunday, January 4 9:00 Handbell Choir 9:30 Children’s Choir 10:00 Sunday School

11:00 Worship 5:00 Youth Connection

ONGOING ACTIVITIES

IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH

Contributions for 2014 If you wish to make any more contributions to be credited to 2014, they must be brought to church on or before noon, December 31, or be post-marked by December 31 (you may have to ask the post office to put a post mark on your envelope). Parenting Workshops Parenting is one of the most important roles that many of us will take on in life. While it can be both exciting and terrifying at the same time, there is much that we can do to improve the outcome of our efforts. Join us for a series of workshops led by the Rev. Melanie Stanley-Soulen, LPC, staff counselor with the Care & Counseling Centers of Georgia.

Sunday, January 11, at 5:00-7:00 pm. Dinner and childcare provided

Sunday, January 18, at 10:00 am. During Sunday School, childcare provided

Sunday, January 25, at 5:00-7:00 pm. Dinner and childcare provided

Watch the e-news and weekly bulletins for more details to come.

Artists from Adventure Club have provided these drawings for the seasons of Advent and Christmas.