ORDER OF WORSHIP FOR
THE FAITH REFORMED CHURCH
215 MIDDLE ROAD, HAZLET, NJ 07730
(* indicates to stand if you are able)
Sunday, November 29; First Sunday of Advent
VOTUM AND SALUTATION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19)
Pastor: Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manassah! Stir up your might and come to save us!
People: Restore us, O God; let your face shine that we might be saved!
Pastor: O Lord, God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
People: Restore us, O God; let your face shine that we might be saved!
Pastor: Let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,
People: The one whom you made strong for yourself.
Pastor: Then we will never turn back from you; give us life and we will call on your name.
All: Restore us, O God; let your face shine that we might be saved!
PRAYER OF PRESENCE
All: Holy Lord, we welcome your blessing this morning. Your presence is with us from the rising of the sun to its setting, and in all hours of darkest night. Yet even in those dark hours you are a shining light to guide us and direct our paths. We pray to you in humble gratitude for your constant love in all of our lives. Be with us today as we join together in your worship. Through Jesus Christ our savior, we pray. Amen.
LIGHTING OF THE FIRST ADVENT CANDLE
* HYMN OF PRAISE “Jesus, Name Above All Names” (two times)
(hummed – not sung)
Jesus, name above all names, beautiful Savior, glorious Lord.
Emmanuel, God is with us, blessed Redeemer, Living Word.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
(Please remain in place, and greet your nearest neighbors with a wave and a blessing of peace)
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
All: All: Lord of mercy and God of grace, we give thanks to you with one voice for the joy and the hope this season brings. At times we find ourselves distracted by all the preparations and stresses that surround us. Help us to focus on you, our Rock and Redeemer. Restore our hearts to your message of love and your call to peace. In the holy name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
(Responsive Hymn #817 – to be hummed, not sung) - Hear our prayer O Lord. Hear our prayer O Lord. Incline thine ear to us, and grant us Thy peace. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE (Ephesians 2:8)
All: “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
*Gloria Patri: Glory be to The Father (hummed – not sung)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
World without end, Amen, Amen.
SUMMARY OF THE LAW (1 John 3:10-11)
This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
HYMN FOR ILLUMINATION (seated) “Spirit of the Living God” Verse 1 (hummed – not sung) Hymn #297
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me;
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SERMON HYMN “Christ is Coming! Let Creation”
Hummed- not sung
Christ is coming! Let creation bid her groans and travail cease;
Let the glorious proclamation hope restore and faith increase;
Christ is coming! Christ is coming! Come, O blessed Prince of Peace! (Prince of Peace!)
Come, O blessed Prince of Peace!
We can now but tell the story of your bitter cross and pain;
We shall yet behold your glory in your coming back to reign;
Christ is coming! Christ is coming! Let each heart repeat the strain (sing the strain.)
Let each heart repeat the strain.
With that “bless-ed hope” before us, let no harp remain un-strung;
Let the mighty advent chorus onward roll from tongue to tongue:
Christ is coming! Christ is coming! Come, Lord Jesus, quickly come! (quickly come!)
Come, Lord Jesus, quickly come!
SCRIPTURE READINGS – Mark 13:24-37
THE MORNING MESSAGE - “Gathering Clouds“
*OFFERTORY PRAYER AND DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*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 Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried.
The third day he rose from the dead
He ascended into heaven
And sitteth at 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 Spirit,
The holy catholic church, the communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting. Amen.
JOYS & CONCERNS – MORNING PRAYER – THE LORD'S PRAYER
(Lord’s Prayer – “…sins / …those who sin against us…”)
*CLOSING HYMN “Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated”
(hummed – not sung)
Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee;
Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love,
At the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee;
Take my voice and let me sing always only, for my King,
Always only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be filled with message for thee;
Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my love, my God, I pour at thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself and I will be ever, only, all for thee,
Ever, only, all for thee.
*CLOSING PRAYER & BENEDICTION
*CHORAL POSTLUDE: "Lord, Dismiss Us with your Blessing"
(hummed – not sung)
Lord, dismiss us with your blessing; fill our hearts with joy and peace;
Let us each, your love possessing, triumph in redeeming grace;
O direct us and protect us, traveling through this wilderness.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
There will be a short Congregational Meeting after the service on Sunday, December 6. The following individuals have been nominated to serve 2-year terms on the Consistory:
Elders: Betty Erbig & Madeline Russo Deacons: Patty Altland & Jim Aumack
THE FAITH REFORMED CHURCH
215 MIDDLE ROAD, HAZLET, NJ 07730
(* indicates to stand if you are able)
Sunday, November 29; First Sunday of Advent
VOTUM AND SALUTATION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19)
Pastor: Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manassah! Stir up your might and come to save us!
People: Restore us, O God; let your face shine that we might be saved!
Pastor: O Lord, God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
People: Restore us, O God; let your face shine that we might be saved!
Pastor: Let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,
People: The one whom you made strong for yourself.
Pastor: Then we will never turn back from you; give us life and we will call on your name.
All: Restore us, O God; let your face shine that we might be saved!
PRAYER OF PRESENCE
All: Holy Lord, we welcome your blessing this morning. Your presence is with us from the rising of the sun to its setting, and in all hours of darkest night. Yet even in those dark hours you are a shining light to guide us and direct our paths. We pray to you in humble gratitude for your constant love in all of our lives. Be with us today as we join together in your worship. Through Jesus Christ our savior, we pray. Amen.
LIGHTING OF THE FIRST ADVENT CANDLE
* HYMN OF PRAISE “Jesus, Name Above All Names” (two times)
(hummed – not sung)
Jesus, name above all names, beautiful Savior, glorious Lord.
Emmanuel, God is with us, blessed Redeemer, Living Word.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
(Please remain in place, and greet your nearest neighbors with a wave and a blessing of peace)
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
All: All: Lord of mercy and God of grace, we give thanks to you with one voice for the joy and the hope this season brings. At times we find ourselves distracted by all the preparations and stresses that surround us. Help us to focus on you, our Rock and Redeemer. Restore our hearts to your message of love and your call to peace. In the holy name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
(Responsive Hymn #817 – to be hummed, not sung) - Hear our prayer O Lord. Hear our prayer O Lord. Incline thine ear to us, and grant us Thy peace. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE (Ephesians 2:8)
All: “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
*Gloria Patri: Glory be to The Father (hummed – not sung)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
World without end, Amen, Amen.
SUMMARY OF THE LAW (1 John 3:10-11)
This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
HYMN FOR ILLUMINATION (seated) “Spirit of the Living God” Verse 1 (hummed – not sung) Hymn #297
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me;
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SERMON HYMN “Christ is Coming! Let Creation”
Hummed- not sung
Christ is coming! Let creation bid her groans and travail cease;
Let the glorious proclamation hope restore and faith increase;
Christ is coming! Christ is coming! Come, O blessed Prince of Peace! (Prince of Peace!)
Come, O blessed Prince of Peace!
We can now but tell the story of your bitter cross and pain;
We shall yet behold your glory in your coming back to reign;
Christ is coming! Christ is coming! Let each heart repeat the strain (sing the strain.)
Let each heart repeat the strain.
With that “bless-ed hope” before us, let no harp remain un-strung;
Let the mighty advent chorus onward roll from tongue to tongue:
Christ is coming! Christ is coming! Come, Lord Jesus, quickly come! (quickly come!)
Come, Lord Jesus, quickly come!
SCRIPTURE READINGS – Mark 13:24-37
THE MORNING MESSAGE - “Gathering Clouds“
*OFFERTORY PRAYER AND DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*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 Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried.
The third day he rose from the dead
He ascended into heaven
And sitteth at 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 Spirit,
The holy catholic church, the communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting. Amen.
JOYS & CONCERNS – MORNING PRAYER – THE LORD'S PRAYER
(Lord’s Prayer – “…sins / …those who sin against us…”)
*CLOSING HYMN “Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated”
(hummed – not sung)
Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee;
Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love,
At the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee;
Take my voice and let me sing always only, for my King,
Always only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be filled with message for thee;
Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my love, my God, I pour at thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself and I will be ever, only, all for thee,
Ever, only, all for thee.
*CLOSING PRAYER & BENEDICTION
*CHORAL POSTLUDE: "Lord, Dismiss Us with your Blessing"
(hummed – not sung)
Lord, dismiss us with your blessing; fill our hearts with joy and peace;
Let us each, your love possessing, triumph in redeeming grace;
O direct us and protect us, traveling through this wilderness.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
There will be a short Congregational Meeting after the service on Sunday, December 6. The following individuals have been nominated to serve 2-year terms on the Consistory:
Elders: Betty Erbig & Madeline Russo Deacons: Patty Altland & Jim Aumack