PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Dr. Mounger THE LORD’S PRAYER (all sing; tune #25, MUELLER; Away in a Manger):

OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS AND HEARTS OFFERTORY ANTHEM To You is Born a Child by Dana Mengle

*RESPONSE (words Frances R. Havergal; tune MENDELSSOHN, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, #31):

*HYMN #53 What Child is This? GREENSLEEVES

*BENEDICTION *RESPONSE (all sing; tune PUER NOBIS NASCITUR, Hymn #68, What Star is This):

POSTLUDE Joy to the World! I. Watts and G.F. Handel

*All who are able, please stand. Bold denotes participation by the congregation.

New Hope Presbyterian Church PRELUDE Silent Night, Holy Night J. Mohr and F. Grüber

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH (Isaiah 35:1,2) The Burkins Family L: Let us worship God. The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, P: The desert shall rejoice and blossom; L. like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, P. and rejoice with joy and singing. L. Praise the Lord. All: The LORD’s name be praised.

WREATH-LIGHTING SONG (all sing; tune Good King Wenceslas or Gentle Mary Laid Her Child, Hymn #27; accompanied by Jim Tindell, Guitarist. Please remain seated.):

1705 Merchants Drive Knoxville, Tennessee 37912-4711

(865) 687-3911 - www.newhopeknoxville.org

December 11, 2016 - 10:45 a.m. Third Sunday of Advent

Gaudate (“Rejoice”) Sunday

PRAYER led by the Burkins family L. Almighty God, you have made us and all things to serve you. Now prepare the world for your rule. Come quickly to save us, so that wars and violence shall end, and your children may live in peace, honoring one another with justice and love; through Jesus Christ, who lives in power with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. P. Amen.

DRAMATIC READING FOR ADVENT Readers Bob Coffield and Lucille Sweet; Soloist, Choir, Congregation (From Psalm 42, news headlines of today, and O Come, O Come, Emmanuel; NOTE: after soloist and Choir sing first stanza of this hymn, all who are able in the congregation please stand and join in singing the rest.)

3. O come, Desire of nations, bind All peoples in one heart and mind; Bid envy, strife, and discord cease; Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) led by the Rev. Bill Westmoreland Al Almighty God, you caused light to shine out of darkness in the advent of Jesus Christ, our

Lord. Continually you call us to prepare for his coming into our hearts and lives and for the salvation of the world. Yet we have been blind to the needs of others and have wandered from the paths of justice and peace. Forgive our unwillingness to see your light and to walk in your ways. In your mercy, let Christ’s Spirit come to birth anew within us, that our hearts may honor his nativity by acts of compassion and service in his name.

*CHORAL PRAYER Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne by E. Elliott and T. Matthews

*SILENT PRAYER

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON Dr. Dwyn Mounger

*RESPONSE (all sing; Away in a Manger, # 24, stanza 3):

PASSING OF THE PEACE DISCIPLES’ MOMENT James Rogers

SCRIPTURE –

First Lesson Isaiah 35:1-10, p. 695, pew Bible read by the Rev. Bill Westmoreland

Psalm 98:4-8, Hymn #40, Joy to the World ANTIOCH (Please remain seated as we sing God’s Word.)

Second Lesson Matthew 1:18-25, p. 931, pew Bible read by Dr. Mounger

SERMON When Christmas Hurts Dr. Mounger

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH [unison; from A Declaration of Faith, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 1977: 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 . . . . 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 and work of Jesus, God himself and a human life are united but not confused, distinguished but not separated . . . .Jesus was what we are. He grew up in a family and a society troubled by the common problems of the world. His knowledge was limited by his time and place in history. He felt deeply the joy of friendship and the hurt of being rejected. Jesus prayed, struggled with temptation, knew anger, and was subject to suffering and death. He was like us in every way except sin.

*GLORIA PATRI Hymn #579

What’s a “Longest Night” service? –For weeks we’ve heard it everywhere: the myth, “Everyone’s happy at Christmas!” Heading “Home for the Holidays.” Finding that perfect present to make spouse, lover, or ourselves completely content. The truth is that Christmas tends painfully to remind us of what we’ve lost or never had. Some of us are suffering the anguish of broken relationships.

Unemployment. Ill health. The loneliness of no longer having a spouse with whom to share each day. The death of a dear family pet. Some of us set superhuman goals for ourselves in this season that we can’t possibly meet, then berate ourselves when we fall short. There are years when we hurt at Christmas time and can't join the festivities that seem, we assume, to come so easily to others. It's then that we need to acknowledge our sadness and concern and to realize we’re not alone—far from it! Come to the church at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 21, literally the longest night of the year. Dr. Mounger and the Rev. Bill Westmoreland, with the assistance of Ron and Avery Cashwell, will lead us. This informal, brief event will include silence, Scripture, prayers, music—all promising God’s special love for and presence with those who struggle. Bring friends, neighbors, relatives. Four candles will be lit as we meditate quietly: (1) To remember our loss, (2) To redeem the pain of loss; (3) To recall perhaps forgotten people who were there for us and also events that may help to ease our pain; and (4) To fan our flickering faith and remind us that the very first Christmas was grim, too—but, nevertheless, brought true joy into the darkness of this world. Holy Communion will be open to all the baptized, and anointing for healing, with laying on of hands, to those who wish it.

What’s a “Longest Night” service? –For weeks we’ve heard it everywhere: the myth, “Everyone’s happy at Christmas!” Heading “Home for the Holidays.” Finding that perfect present to make spouse, lover, or ourselves completely content. The truth is that Christmas tends painfully to remind us of what we’ve lost or never had. Some of us are suffering the anguish of broken relationships. Unemployment. Ill health. The loneliness of no longer having a spouse with whom to share

each day. The death of a dear family pet. Some of us set superhuman goals for ourselves in this season that we can’t possibly meet, then berate ourselves when we fall short. There are years when we hurt at Christmas time and can't join the festivities that seem, we assume, to come so easily to others. It's then that we need to acknowledge our sadness and concern and to realize we’re not alone—far from it! Come to the church at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 21, literally the longest night of the year. Dr. Mounger and the Rev. Bill Westmoreland, with the assistance of Ron and Avery Cashwell, will lead us. This informal, brief event will include silence, Scripture, prayers, music—all promising God’s special love for and presence with those who struggle. Bring friends, neighbors, relatives. Four candles will be lit as we meditate quietly: (1) To remember our loss, (2) To redeem the pain of loss; (3) To recall perhaps forgotten people who were there for us and also events that may help to ease our pain; and (4) To fan our flickering faith and remind us that the very first Christmas was grim, too—but, nevertheless, brought true joy into the darkness of this world. Holy Communion will be open to all the baptized, and anointing for healing, with laying on of hands, to those who wish it.