wgpc.org · web view12/8/2019 · merciful god, you sent your messengers to prepare the way for...

WEBSTER GROVESPRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

2nd Sunday of Advent

Service for the Lord’s DayDecember 8, 2019

10:30 a.m.

OUR MISSIONWe seek to live Christ’s love,

welcome all people and joyfully serve God.

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Service for the Lord’s Day

When this symbol precedes an element of the service, please rise in body or spirit.

In the ancient world, various peoples lit fires to mark the turning of the light into winter’s season and to pray for the return of the light. The church has Christianized that practice in the lighting of the Advent wreath. To us,

these candles are signs of the growing light of Christ who is coming again in all fullness into the darkness of our world. Until the dawning of that Great Day, we watch and wait in Holy Spirit for Christ’s coming into the darkness of our world, lighting candles of hope, peace, joy, and love; and remembering the promises of God with prayer.

PRELUDE “Lord of Glory, who Hast Brought Us” SchackShawn Portell, organ

WELCOME & COMMUNITY LIFE

All are encouraged to sign and pass the Friendship Pads at the ends of the pews. as the music begins, let us use this time for quiet reflection and prayer, so that we, individually and as a great crowd of witnesses, may prepare ourselves to reaffirm our faith as the people of God.

ADVENT PAGEANT

Leader: Holy God, you have called your people in every age and every time to be messengers of your love and prophets of your good news.

All: You called Abraham and Sarah, and made a covenant.

Leader: You called people into courage, even when they were afraid.All: You called a girl named Esther, who saved her people.

Leader: You called people into love for those different than themselves.All: You called Ruth, who gave up everything for love, and you called Boaz, who

cared for the immigrant.

Leader: You called people despite their imperfections.All: You called David, a shepherd boy, a ferocious warrior, a proud king.

Leader: God has called messengers in every age to share the good news of salvation, to call love into being, and to proclaim the coming of the Messiah. Watch and wait for Christ’s coming!

All: We light candles of hope, peace, joy, and love, remembering the promises of God with prayer.

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HYMN “Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah” TIF IN VELDELE

Our story begins with Luke 1:5-23…

Leader: Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!All: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the

house of the Lord.

Leader: The Lord is God, and God has given us light.All: O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good, for God’s steadfast love endures

forever.

Elizabeth: O God, too often we are like Zechariah.All: We hear your good news, and we are afraid. We hear your good news, and we

become silent. We hear your good news, and yet cannot believe it, because it seems impossible, and the world around us seems too hard and sad. Open our hearts and help us believe, help us trust, help us hope. We know that even when we are unable to speak, you will never stop telling us the good news, no matter how afraid we are.

RESPONSE “O Lord How Shall I Meet You” VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN

O Lord, how shall I meet you, how welcome you a-right?Your people long to greet you, my hope, my heart’s delight!

O kindle, Lord most holy, a lamp within my breast,to do in spirit lowly all that may please you best.

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The story continues in Luke 1:26-38…

SONG “Be Not Afraid” WrightChildren’s Choir


HYMN #100 “Canticle of the Turning” STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN


RESPONSE “O Little Town of Bethlehem” ST. LOUIS

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.

Yet in thy dark street shineth the everlasting light;the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

THE INNKEEPER’S TALE

RESPONSE “Away in a Manger” CRADLE SONG

Away in a manger, no crib for his bed,the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.

The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.


SONG “More Than a Baby” Schram Children’s Choir


RESPONSE “Angels We Have Heard On High” GLORIA

Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains,and the mountain in reply echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria in excelsis Deo!Gloria in excelsis Deo!


SONG “For Unto Us” AllenChildren’s Choir


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RESPONSE “Angels We Have Heard On High” GLORIA

Shepherds why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heavenly song?


Come to Bethlehem and see him whose birth the angels sing;come, adore on bended knee, Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.


PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

The story continues in Matthew 2:1-12…

OFFERTORY “Carols Sing, Praises Bring” Children’s Choir

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

Leader: Let us pray.All: Merciful God, you sent your messengers to prepare the way for our salvation. Use

our gifts and lives for the building of your kingdom, so that we too may be your messengers, and joyfully greet the coming of Christ Jesus, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

HYMN # 107 “Awake! Awake and Greet the New Morn” REJOICE, REJOICE

BLESSING AND SENDING

Our story concludes today with Luke 3:1-6.

POSTLUDE “Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones” SCHACKShawn Portell, organ

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Worship NotesSome prayers and liturgical texts for worship are provided by:

BIBLIOGRAPHY Book of Common Worship. (2016). Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press.Call to Worship. (2018). Louisville: Office of Theology and Worship of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Feasting On The Word. (2012). Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press.

THOSE WHO SERVE TODAYUshers: Linda & Gary Pacey, Kin Watkins, Becky Bopp, Robin Reynolds, Sudie Schickedanz,

Sam Stoll, Leader

Greeters: Jim Gloeckner, Linda & Tom McNeely, Emmy & Alan McClelland

Office Volunteer: Mary Gloeckner, Jon Schickedanz

Sunday Snack: Advent Café

Liturgist: The Haxel Family; Shannon & Phil, Wyatt and Scarlett

The large red Chancel poinsettias are given to the Glory of God, in loving memory of her husband, her parents and her son-in-law, the gift of Edie Curtis; and in loving memory of

Kathy Gerber Porter, Ally Porter and Andrew Romer, the gift of Don and Gretchen Gerber.

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ADVENT PAGEANT PARTICIPANTS

Abraham – Tom McNeely Innkeeper – Van Roudebush

Sarah- Linda McNeely John the Baptist – Matt Putnam

Esther – Anne Mabie Herod – Jack Korte

Boaz – Mark Bartels Gabriel – Elizabeth Young, Claire Morff, Abbey Stokes

Ruth – Jenna Bartels Mary – Frankie Stocke, Briley Kohring

David – Westen Thurmon Donkey – Peter George Odum

Elizabeth – Liz Watkins Zechariah- John Dames

Magi – Ethan Weihl, Dylan Stokes, Wyatt Haxel Holy Family – Pete, Emily, and Millie Odum

Congregation Voices – Pete Putnam, Betsy Wacker

Narrators – Carina Dickie, Spencer Roudebush

Leader – Shannon Haxel

Costumes – Amy Morff, Abby Byrne

Director – Julie Burchett

Angels Sheep Shepherds

Regan Kohring Claire Mabie Trudy OdumLinnea Byers Hudson Austermann Axel ByersScarlett Haxel Henry Escott Andrew MorffAudrey Young Eli Escott Annie DuckworthTaylor Smutz Nora Ringkamp Carter AustermannPhoebe Stocke Charlie RingkampGracie Roudebush Luke PincusAda Oncken Bryce Thurmon

Dylan Pincus

Advent Candle Lighters: The Haxel Family; Shannon & Phil, Wyatt and Scarlett

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WORD OF WELCOMECHILDREN ARE ALWAYS WELCOME IN WORSHIP AT WGPC! Worship Activity Bags are located at each entrance to the Sanctuary.

NURSERY CARE While some children prefer to stay with their parents in worship, others enjoy the opportunity to meet new friends, play and learn stories from the Bible. Mrs. Robin is ready to greet your child with a happy smile and a generous spirit. The nursery is open from 8:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. If there are no children in the nursery by 11:30 a.m., the nursery room will remain open for parents and children to enjoy together. There will be no nursery attendants on duty.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRIES Children and youth are not forgotten at WGPC! Classes, activities and fellowship opportunities designed with them in mind happen most Sunday evenings. Please refer to the calendar for ages and times, or contact Cherstin Byers at [email protected] for more information.

LARGE-PRINT BULLETINS AND HYMNALS, hearing devices, and cushions are also available. One of our ushers would be happy to assist you.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SIGN THE FRIENDSHIP PADS located at the end of each pew.

WATER AND LOZENGES Got a tickle in your throat? Relax. Just head to the Narthex (back of the sanctuary) where the ushers have water and lozenges for your comfort.

MINISTRY STAFF

Pastor: Rev. Edwin Zumwinkel IIIAssociate Pastor: Rev. Hannah ZylaPastoral Assistant for Congregational Care: John RawlingsDirector of Music Ministries/Organist: Shawn PortellMusic/Organist Assistant: Ted CronbaughDirector of Youth and Family Ministries: Brian KuhnInterim Director of Youth and Family Ministries: Summer KohringDirector of Early childhood Center/ Nursery Coordinator: Robin CannonMission Outreach Coordinator: Beth KazlauskasConnections Coordinator: Tracey RapisardoBusiness Administrator: Jan ScheurerSenior Staff Assistant: Valerie HamptonAssistant for Children, Youth, and Family Ministries: Cherstin ByersCustodial Supervisor: Pete Brennan

[email protected] [email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected](314)-962-9210 ext 3212

45 West Lockwood AvenueWebster Groves, MO 63119

www.wgpc.org(314)-962-9210

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OUR COMMUNITY LIFE TOGETHER

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR POINSETTIAS ORDERS!! Order forms are available in the pew pockets, the bulletin, church office and Fellowship Hall. The cost is $10. You may order flowers for the sanctuary and your home. Poinsettias for your home (which benefit the Nicaraguan scholarship fund) must be picked up, Thursday December 12th from 3 to 7pm in Fellowship Hall.

Flowers purchased for the sanctuary may be picked up and brought home after the 11pm service on Christmas Eve.

When paying by check, indicate “poinsettia order” in the memo line. You may also order and pay online – if you do, please indicate the number of plants, whether they are for the sanctuary, the home/ scholarship fund, or both. If your order is for the sanctuary and you’d like, please indicate whether it’s in memory of or in honor of someone special.

Poinsettia Order Form Name of

purchaser:_________________________________________________ _____ Number of poinsettias @ $10 each for SANCTUARY (please fill in information below) _____Number of poinsettias @ $10 each the Home / Nicaraguan scholarship fund

In Honor of: ___________________________________________________________________

In Memory of: __________________________________________________________________

Please place the form and your payment in the offering plate or in Valerie Hampton’s mailbox in the church office.As an alternative, you may order and pay online. Please indicate all information above when placing the order.

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DEADLINE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8

Please join us for a Christmas Luncheon in Fellowship Hall on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 beginning at 11:00 am. There will be food, fellowship and fun! Entertainment will be provided by the Joyful Notes, a choral group that began as St. Luke’s Hospital Chorus in 1994

and has since become an independent music group, comprised of senior citizens who love to sing.

RSVP to Donna Bellows at [email protected] or sign up in Fellowship Hall.

If you purchased an item for the Giving Tree and it says Beyond Housing, International Institute or Presbyterian Children’s Homes, but you forgot to bring it to church, please drop it off in the front office tomorrow morning and include your wish card. Other items are welcome until Sunday, December 22nd. Donations of cash or check will be accepted until December 30 th and can be made by stopping by our table in Fellowship Hall, or including your contribution with today’s offering with “Giving Tree” in the memo line. Thank you! International Institute’s Holiday Bazaar continues today from 10-5 at the International Institute Gym (3401 Arsenal St. 63118). Come do some holiday shopping at this unique boutique featuring globally-inspired arts and crafts, as well as food trucks. There is a $5 entrance fee which supports IISTL’s programs. December Give-A-Meal-A-Month menus include a donation to help agencies purchase turkeys for their clients. Contributions can be included in the offering by writing a check to WGPC with “GAMAM-turkey” in the memo, or by placing cash in an offering envelope and writing “GAMAM-turkey” on the outside.

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Festival of Lessons and CarolsDecember 15, 2019 during 10:30 am service“What Sweeter Music”, composed by Mark Hayes will feature WGPC Chancel Choir, soloists as well as a guest orchestra. Please don’t miss this wonderful expression of the Christmas story brought to life!

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A Message From Environmental Stewardship…

Christmas Tree - German Origins

The Christmas tree, specifically, is said to have originated in Germany. One legend attributes the tradition to Martin Luther. Walking in the woods one evening, he wanted to share with his wife the beauty of the stars shining through the trees. He cut down a fir and brought it home, placing lighted candles on the branches as a symbol of the beautiful

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Christmas sky. More likely is that the Christmas tree emerged from two German customs. The primary prop of a popular Medieval play about Adam and Eve was a “Paradise Tree,” a fir tree hung with apples, that represented the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden. The Germans set up a Paradise Tree in their homes on December 24, the religious feast day of Adam and Eve. They hung wafers (later replaced by cookies), symbolic of the Eucharist host. Candles, symbols of Christ, were often added. In the same room was the Christmas Pyramid, a triangular construction of wood that had shelves to hold Christmas figurines and was decorated with evergreens, candles and a star. By the 16th century, the Paradise Tree and the Christmas Pyramid merged, becoming the Christmas tree. The custom gradually became deeply rooted in Germany, and was taken to North America by early German settlers.

Sources: Encyclopedia Britannica, “Christmas tree, Holiday decoration,” www.Brittanica.com; History of Christmas Trees, Original October 27, 2009, updated September 12, 2018, History Channel, www.history.com.

Recycle your Holiday Lights!Environmental Stewardship is collecting holiday lights for recycling again this year. There’s a bin inside the Hale entrance to place strands of lights and will remain there until Jan. 6. Please help keep plastic and copper wire out of our landfills. Thank you!

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FAITH FORMATION INFORMATIONCHILDREN & YOUTH MINISTRIES meeting today

Infant – PreK:

Nursery 8:15 a.m. - noon 1st floor nursery

PreK – 5th Grade:

Children’s Evening Ministries will resume in January

6th – 8th Grade:

Celtics 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. Youth Lounge

9th – 12th Grade:

Agape 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Youth Lounge

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Visit wgpc.org or contact Cherstin Byers ([email protected]) for more information and to receive newsletter emails about children’s and youth activities.

Webster Groves Presbyterian Church2019 Christmas Wish List

Boy Scout Storage Roof Repair-Our Boy Scout Troop 310 stores equipment in the small building at the end of the Moody parking lot. Last spring’s significant rain caused a leak and some of its equipment was destroyed. Plans are being made to repair the roof so this does not happen again. Gift $500 – Gift A

Early Childhood Center-Our ECC is making changes to better serve children and would like to update some of its classrooms. Your gift will help the ECC make those updates fresh and welcoming to new families and children choosing to spend time at our church. Gift $1200 – Gift B

WGPC Christmas Decorations-As we pulled out our Christmas decorations we noted this would need to be the last year for some of them as they have worn out. Obviously celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ is “our thing”! Replacement of some of the decorations is needed. Gift $475 – Gift C

WGPC Connector-The new format of the WGPC connector has proven to be very popular! We think it is a great way to tell our mission story. Let’s keep it going in 2020! Gift $5000 – Gift D

Web Site -In the 21st century our website is the front door of our church. It does not require paint and polished brass kickboards but it still requires maintenance. Your special gift will help us continue to look our best for visitors who come to our door. Gift $6000 – Gift E

To make a gift in any amount:

1. Go on line to WGPC.org and click the blue “give” button.2. Select special fund and choose “Special Gift”.3. Type the corresponding letter (A, B, C, D, E) in the optional memo field.

or If you write a check, write special gift and the corresponding letter in the memo. Give Jan Scheurer a call in the office at (314) 962-9210 ext 3206, if you have any questions. Thank you!

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Update in Stewardship

As of 12/04/2019, we still have 75 of our regular pledgers outstanding. We are $296,887.00 short of our goal of $1,078,706.00. The Budget Committee meets the first Sunday in January, and as per past practice, their preliminary budget for next year will be based on pledges received. For those who have pledged, thank you. For those who still have not son so but desire to do so, please call or email Jan Scheurer at 314-962-9210, ext 3206 or [email protected] this coming week.We are doing great work at our Church. Let’s keep our resources sufficient to meet our mission. Thank you!

Your Stewardship Committee

WGPC Audit PerformedOn October 14, 2019 the board of trustees received the following financial opinion from the firm of Anders CPAs and Advisors: "In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Webster Groves Presbyterian Church as of December 31, 2018 and the changes in its net assets and its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America." In other words, the results are "clean" which is what you want! Special thanks to Business Administrator Jan Scheurer and financial assistant Joyce Kimmons for the many hours coordinating with the audit firm.

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mailto:[email protected]

Sunday, December 08

8:30 am – Informal Worship 9:30 am – Advent Cafe10:30 am – Traditional Worship: Advent Pageant4:30 pm – Celtics7:00 pm – Agape Kitchen Event

Monday, December 09

10:30 am – Ely Ringers4:00 pm – Prayer Ministry6:30 pm – Finance Committee6:30 pm – Property7:00 pm – Court of Honor Scouts7:30 pm - Trustees

Tuesday, December 10

6:30 am – Tuesday Prayer Meeting9:30 am – Staff Meeting

Wednesday, December 11

9:00 am – Mom’s Group9:00 am – Kids Day Out11:00 am – Deacon’s Christmas Luncheon5:00 pm – WGHS Flute, Choir and Jazz Band6:00 pm – Wolf Cub Scouts7:00 pm - Deacons

Thursday, December 12

7:00 am – Men’s Bible Class8:30 am – Men’s Bridge Group10:00 am – Disciples Bible Study12:00 pm – Noon Choir Practice3:00 pm – Poinsettia Pickup7:00 pm – Chancel Choir7:00 pm – Praise Ringer Alum Rehearsal

Friday, December 13

12:00 pm – Rotary6:30 pm – Thimble and Thread

Saturday, December 14

9:00 am – Al Anon

Sunday, December 15

8:30 am – Informal Worship/Prayer Service 9:30 am – Advent Café9:30 am – Environmental Stewardship10:30 am – Music In A Great Place10:30 am – Traditional Worship12:00 pm – Eagle Scout Ceremony4:30 p.m. – Celtics7:00 p.m. – Agape

Give-A-Meal-A-Month December Menu

Donation towards a holiday turkey($2.50 or any amount to WGPC memo Turkey)Canned Sweet PotatoesCanned Peas – no or low saltCanned Mixed Fruit – lite or in fruit juiceBox of au gratin potatoes

Additional NeedsBaby foods

(fruits, vegetables, cereals, meats)

“I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11

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CHILDREN'S OFFERING:.

This winter, the children's offering will be collected to purchase two trees through Forest ReLeaf of Missouri. Our goal is to gather $50 - enough for two 3 gallon 4-6' tall trees to be planted in Missouri to make a community healthier, safer, and greener. Total collected for Piglets was $210.00.

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wgpc.org · web view12/8/2019 · merciful god, you sent your messengers to prepare the way for...

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