*Please rise in body or in spirit.

*CHARGE AND BLESSING

*BENEDICTION RESPONSE Hymn #134 “Joy to the World”

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her king: Let every heart prepare him room,

And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and heaven and nature sing.

*POSTLUDE “In Dulci Jubilo” by G. Martin

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 503 West Sixth Street PH: 388-9584

December 31, 2017—10:30 a.m.

WORDS OF INSPIRATION

The child of God became a human, so that humans could become children of God.

-Nathan Nettleton, LaughingBird.net

ORGAN PRELUDE “What Child Is This?” setting, R. R. Raybold ”What Shall I Give to the Child in the Manger?” by D. E. Wagner

“The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy” arr. O. Griffin

RINGING OF THE CHURCH BELL

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHORAL INTROIT

CALL TO WORSHIP One: Come, sing praises to God! Rejoicing in the Holy presence! Many: For God is our God: One: A Father to the fatherless, a Mother to the motherless Many: The One in whom the lonely find a family One: Bless the Lord, the God of our salvation, Many: Who sustains and strengthens us, day after day! One: Let us worship God together! (based on Psalm 68:4-5, 19)

*HYMN OF PRAISE Hymn #119 “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Loving and merciful One, we thank you for the family in which you have placed us, for the sisters and brothers with whom we walk this pilgrim journey. Yet, we confess that we fail to love as you love. We push aside those whom we believe are the least in your Kingdom. We fail to see your Kingdom in parables because we fail to see your Kingdom in each other. Form in us a new vision of family in which there is neither East nor West, neither South nor North. We pray for the sake of your Kingdom that both is and is not yet. Amen.

*SILENT PRAYER

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON One: God is loving; God is merciful; God does not hold

our sins against us! For this we give you thanks, Many: O Lord. Receive the assurance of your deliverance by the

One who promised from of old to set us free, and who seeks and finds us to this very day. Alleluia! Amen.

*PRAYER RESPONSE Hymn #132 ”Good Christian Friends, Rejoice”

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.

Chris was born for this! Christ was born for this!

A TIME FOR YOUNG DISCIPLES

SONG OF PREPARATION “Down From Heaven Came” (insert)

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Isaiah 61:10-62:3

CHOIR ANTHEM “Noel, Noel, arr. Linda Spevacek” (insert)

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Galatians 4:4-7

One: The Word of the Lord.

Many: Thanks be to God!

SERMON “Welcome to the Family” Rev. Denise Dunbar-Perkins

*HYMN OF HOPE

Hymn #126 “Jesus, Jesus, O What a Wonderful Child”

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Christmas Affirmation)

We believe in God, the creator and giver of life, who brought all

creation to birth, who mothers us and fathers us, protecting,

nurturing, and cherishing us. We believe in Jesus Christ: God

born among us as a fragile baby, embodying both love and the

need for love, and calling us to rest in God as trustingly as a tiny

child. We believe in the Holy Spirit, breathed into us at our birth,

always drawing us on to be born again, encouraging, exhorting,

comforting, nourishing our growth and inspiring our living…And

we believe that each new child is a glimpse of the face of God, a

sign of the life to come, and a call to live in peace and celebrate

living together. Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God's

people on earth. Amen.

— written by Nathan Nettleton, 1999

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Petitions Pastoral Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer Hymnal p. 11 Response

WORSHIP THROUGH TITHES AND OFFERINGS Offertory “Rejoice! Our Redeemer Is Born!” by G. Peterson

*Doxology Hymn #606 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ, all people here below; Praise Holy Spirit Evermore; Praise triune God, whom we adore. Amen.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION One: Lord, hear our prayer

Many: God, you’ve entrusted us with the care of this family, therefore with this offering, we commit ourselves in a small way of showing to you what we are willing to do, and to be. Please accept this meager offering and trust that in greater ways we will continue to care for one another, in your name we pray Amen.

*HYMN OF TRUST Hymn #136 “Go Tell It on the Mountain”

THE CONGREGATION’S MISSION: “First Presbyterian Church of Red Wing is a congregation that seeks to grow in the love of Jesus Christ and to share that love with the community and the world.”

PARTICIPANTS

In Ministry The Congregation Choir Director Peter Dulak Pianist Lynn Dulak Organist JoAnne McNamara Pastor The Rev. Heidi Bolt Pastor The Rev. Greg Bolt Guest Pastor The Rev. Denise Dunbar-Perkins Liturgist Brenda Hendrix

GREETER: Mary Ellen Halverson USHER: Don Olson FELLOWSHIP: David & Sylvia AndersonFLOWERS: Brenda Hendrix

ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS WEEK’S FIRST PRESBYTERIAN HAPPENINGS:

TODAY, 9:15 a.m. Christian Education 10:30 a.m. Worship 11:30 a.m. Fellowship MON 1/1, Office Closed TUES 1/2, 5:30 p.m. Deacons 6:55 p.m. JuBELLation Ringers WED, 1/3, 6:30 a.m. Men’s Book Study 9:00 a.m. Building and Grounds 7:00 p.m. Choir Practice THURS, 1/4 7:30 a.m. Women’s Book Study

FOOD SHELF –Thank you for your thoughtful donations and your generosity in helping others have healthy meals. Our goal for January is to collect 75 boxes of Tuna/Hamburger Helper.

REMINDER - Please inform the office of any changes to the dates and times of monthly meetings or practices.

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN - Will meet on January 9th 2018 at 9:30 a.m. Lesson will be Heidi Bolt. We will be discussing the introduction and Eve from our new text – Women of the Bible. – Coffee and snacks will be served. Hosted by Joy Krajna.

*Please rise in body or in spirit.