THIS IS GOD'S HOUSE - ALL ARE WELCOME

 “Meeting people at their point of need, Inviting all into a dynamic relationship with Christ”

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“I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.”   Psalm 122, vs 1

Rebecca Darwin, Liturgist

Prelude Music                                                   

“O Christmas Tree”, arr. Kinyon

“Away in a Manger”, arr. Klein

“Bring a Torch”, arr. Hollis

Bell Choir

 Processional Hymn    

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!  Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee.
Holy, Holy, Holy!  Merciful and mighty!  God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

GATHERING AROUND THE WORD

Call to Worship

Leader:       Our souls proclaim your greatness, O God.

People:        And our spirits rejoice in you.

Leader:       We will praise you as long as we live.

People:        We will sing praises to you our whole lives long.

Leader:       We will not trust in the powerful of this world,

People:        But will trust in you–Creator of heaven and earth,

Leader:       the One who gives food to the hungry,

People:        the One who enacts justice for the oppressed.

Leader:       Our souls proclaim your greatness, O God

People:        As we worship you in this place, as we light these candles in hope, peace, and joy.

–written by Joanna Harader, and posted on Spacious Faith
(inspired by Psalm 146 and Luke 1:46-56)

*Lighting of the Advent Wreath

Watch and wait for Christ's coming!  Light candles of hope, peace, joy and love, remembering the promises of God with prayer. We light this candle in hope.      We light this candle for peace.      We light this candle in joy!

Rejoice! For our Lord is coming into the darkness of oppression's exile to lead us home, as we hear in Isaiah 35:1-10:

       The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing.  The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.  They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.    Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.  Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, do not fear!  Here is your God.  He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense.  He will come and save you."

       Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.  For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

       A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God's people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.  No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.  And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Let us pray:  (ALL)  O Lord, our redeemer, you lead us from languishing in sorrow's shadows into laughter's joy over your abundant restoration.  Thank you that you are coming for us to lead us home along your Way, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Dan and Peyton Tenpas

Hymn                                                                 

Good Christian Friends, Rejoice!

Good Christian friends, rejoice  with heart and soul and voice;
give ye heed to what we say:  Jesus Christ is born today;
ox and ass before him bow, and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today!  Christ is born today!

Good Christian friends, rejoice  with heart and soul and voice;
now ye hear of endless bliss:  Jesus Christ was born for this!
He has opened heaven’s door, and we are blest forevermore.
Christ was born for this!  Christ was born for this! 

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 everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save!  Christ was born to save!

IN DULCI JUBILO

Invocation and Lord's Prayer (Unison)

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.  Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen. 

CONFESSION OF SIN & ASSURANCE OF PARDON

Call to Confession (Unison)

God, you share with us words of hope, words of Good News.  But sometimes we are unable to hear them because the source is too familiar.  You call us to share the Good News with those around us.  But sometimes we are unable to share,  because the people know us too well.  You encourage us to send messengers to other places  where they will be heard better.  But we can be jealous, wanting the Good News to be for us, not them.  In the multitude of ways we can and have subverted your message of freedom and healing,  in all the ways we have kept the Jubilee year from happening, we have left the path of true wisdom  and call upon your Grace to lead us back on track. 

— posted by Rev. Gord on his blog, Worship Offerings.

Silent Confession and Assurance of Pardon     

Response:   Thanks be to God!

 Gloria Patri



 Affirmation of Faith, Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell*; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic** Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.  Amen.

  * ”hell” refers to the Hebrew word “Sheol,” a place of the dead, rather than the Hell of the final judgment.
** “catholic” is Latin for “universal,” implying the Christian unity that exists beyond all denominations.

Anthem                                   

“In the Bleak Midwinter” 

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan; earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, in the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain; heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign; In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed the Lord God incarnate, Jesus Christ.

Enough for him whom cherubim worship night and day, a breastful of milk and a mangerful of hay; Enough for him, whom angels fall down before, the ox and ass and camel which adore.

 What can I give him, poor as I am?  If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a wise man, I would do my part; yet what I can I give him: give my heart.

Kiri Taylor and Clarissa Rider, soloists
text:  Christina Rossetti (1872)
music:  Harold Darke

Pastoral Prayer of the People

Scripture Reading

John 1:6-8, 19-28

Sermon

News of the Day

Rev. Cress Darwin

Closing Hymn                                  

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

Hark! The herald angels sing,  “Glory to the newborn king.
Peace on earth and mercy mild,  God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise;  join the triumph of the skies;
with the angelic host proclaim,  “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Hark! The herald angels sing,  “Glory to the newborn king!”

 Christ, by highest heaven adored,  Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,  offspring of the virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;  hail the incarnate deity,
pleased in flesh with us to dwell,  Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Hark! The herald angels sing,  “Glory to the newborn king!”

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!  Hail the sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,  risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,  born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,  born to give us second birth.

Hark! The herald angels sing,  “Glory to the newborn king!”

MENDELSSOHN

Benediction and Choral Response                      

Rejoice!
Veni Emmanuel

Postlude                                                                

“In dulci jubilo” (Good Christian Friends, Rejoice!)
J.S. Bach

2nd Presbyterian CCLI Lic. #2046860

INFORMATION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Second Presbyterian is a church community where you will be known and nurtured. Have a prayer request? Please let us know here. Interested in joining Second? Find more about becoming a member here.

And get connected! Join a small group here. While we may be practicing social distancing these days, there are still ways to be involved and to offer your time, talents, and resources in service to others. Please reach out to our Director of Community and Communications Jordyn Pritchard to get connected.

Our guest musician today, Gretchen Roper is the Second Clarinetist of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and also plays in many other Lowcountry orchestras and ensembles.  She also runs a thriving private studio, and is a clarinet repair specialist.