Service Bulletin

Sunday, December 10 at 10:15 a.m. Church Gathering with Dr. Keith Ray

2nd Sunday of Advent 

Today’s service may be viewed on Facebook Live Stream at this link in the comfort of your own home or in person in the sanctuary.  Join us!

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Gathering Music                      Polly Dunford                

Welcome and Announcements           Sharon Fowler

Anthem     “Carol for Advent” Words by Nancy Price & Don Besig and Music by Don Besig

Advent Song “When God is a Child”  (verses 1 and 2)                   Handout

        Words by Brian Wren; Music by Joan Collier Fogg

1989. Hope Publishing Co.  All rights reserved.

Hope is a star that shines in the night, leading us on till the morning is bright.

When God is a child there’s joy in our song. The last shall be first and

the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.

Peace is a ribbon that circles the earth, giving a promise of safety and worth.

When God is a child there’s joy in our song.  The last shall be first and

the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.

Second Sunday of Advent — Lighting the Second Advent Candle of Peace  Barb Barham

Sharon Fowler

(Begin with the first candle relit.)

Voice 1:  “The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion will feed together, and a little child shall lead them.” (Isaiah 11:6)

Voice 2:  What does peace look like in the new world?

All:  Peace looks like a flowing river where every living thing has what they need to flourish.

Peace looks like a place where those who are weak are not afraid of those who are strong.

Peace looks like good conversations around big tables.

Voice 2:  Advent is the beginning of this new world, a better world,

where we can boldly build a good life together.

Voice 1:  May it be so.

Voice 2:  (Second Advent candle is lit.)   Amen.

Opening Hymn       “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” Verses 1, 2, 5, 6, 7       Hymnal #88

    Words - Latin prose; Music - Plainsong, adapt. by Thomas Helmore

1)  O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,

that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

2)  O come, thou Wisdom from on high, who orderest all things mightily:

to us the path of knowledge show; and teach us in her ways to go.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

5)  O come, thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home;

make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

6)  O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here;

disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

7)  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.

             

Scripture Lesson Isaiah 40:1-11

Sermon             “Dreams or Possibilities?”                Dr. Keith Ray

Advent pondering: Advent waiting is an invitation to consider the possibilities of a world of justice, love, and peace.  And yet, is such thinking simply utopian fluff?

The prophet encouraged us to hold fast to dreams. As does Langston Hughes:

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

(Langston Hughes, 1901-1967)

Special Music “Immanuel”                Kristin Cascio, soprano

              by Point of Grace                David Johnson, guitar

Arranged by David Johnson                   Polly Dunford, piano

No decorations  No tree with tinsel No lights this year at home

The rooms are silent  No carols play It’s the first time she is alone

But what a wonder  She says “There’s comfort”

Immanuel  Our God is with us Yes he is with us still

Immanuel He has not left us  And he never will

They may be next door Maybe the next row But there’s someone with a heartache

They face the seasons The happy greetings With no joy in this holiday

For all the broken Here in this moment

Immanuel  Our God is with us Yes he is with us still

Immanuel He has not left us  And he never will

Communion        Invitation to the Table            Rev. Nancy Blakely

                            The Great Thanksgiving

                            The Breaking of the Bread

                            Prayer after Communion

Prayers of the People

Closing Hymn and Offertory               Hymnal #89

      “For You, O Lord, My Soul in Stillness Waits”  (verses 1-4)

Words and Music by Marty Haugen

Refrain:  For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits; truly my hope is in you.

1)  O Lord of Light, our only hope of glory,

your radiance shines in all who look to you;

come, light the hearts of all in dark and shadow.    Refrain

2)  O Spring of Joy, rain down upon our spirits;

our thirsty hearts are yearning for your word;

come, make us whole, be comfort to our hearts.    Refrain

3)  O Root of Life, implant your seed within us,

and in your advent, draw us all to you,

our hope reborn in dying and in rising.          Refrain

4)  O Key of Knowledge, guide us in our pilgrimage;

we ever seek, yet unfulfilled remain;

open to us the pathway of your peace.       Refrain

Benediction

Discussion

Congregational Meeting

Shalom       (“May you be well and whole and in communion with all creation.”)

                          Shalom, my friends, Shalom, my friends, Shalom, Shalom.

                            Till we meet again, Till we meet again, Shalom, Shalom.

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Calendar of Service -

December 17 - Dr. Keith Ray; Christmas Pageant

December 24 -Dr. Keith Ray (Lessons and Carols at 10:15; Candlelight Service at 7 pm)

December 31 - Rev. Dr. Steve Morgan

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Music Abounds — On Friday, December 8 at 7:00 pm, GAMAC presents Christmas in Anderson at Anderson University’s Rainey Fine Arts Center.  $23 per person and children are free with the donation of a new, unwrapped toy to benefit the Upstate Fatherhood Coalition.

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Church Clean-up days are the 2nd Saturday of the month at 9:30 am and usually take no more than 90 minutes.  The sign-up sheet is in the church.  Our next clean-up day will be Saturday, December 9, 2023, at 9:30 am. 

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The Keenagers Christmas Party and lunch will be on Wednesday, December 13 at 11:30 at church.  Meats will be provided.  Please bring a side dish and/or dessert to share.  Bring a white elephant gift for a fun game.

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The next PFLAG meeting will be Thursday, December 14, at 7:00 pm.  All are welcome!

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New Foundations Home for Children will have a Christmas Bingo party on Sat., Dec. 16, at 3:00 pm.  Donations of prizes would be greatly appreciated.

Community Outreach — New Foundations is also asking for Christmas gifts for the children who live at the home.  Below is a list of gift suggestions.  Please bring your unwrapped gifts to church.

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We will have a Winter Solstice Labyrinth walk on December 21 at 4 pm.

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PAWS is currently in need of blankets.  Please bring them to church if you have donations.

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Choir practice each Sunday through Dec. 24. No practice on December 17.  Please be seated and ready to rehearse at 9:25 am so we can make full use of our practice time.   Questions? Contact Polly at (864) 940-0640.

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Theatre opportunity — This show features our NACCP family: “Willy Wonka” at Greenville Theatre, Dec. 2 - 17.  Go to greenvilletheatre.org for booking tickets.

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The Bible Study Group (BSG) meets Mondays at 6:30 pm via Zoom. Dave Johnson is guiding us through the book of Exodus. If you’d like to be added to the Zoom invite list then contact Cynthia at cynthiakwarner@mac.com. We’d love to have newcomers!

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Joanne reminds us all to keep up the food donations for AIM (Anderson Interfaith Ministries)!  Bring your non-perishable items to the church.  This is an on-going need that should become part of everyone’s shopping routine.

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Are you interested in becoming a member of NACCP?  Would you like to make this community your spiritual home?  Please contact Keith at keithdray@gmail.com or at 864-508-1530.

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Remember in prayer:  Ann Blackwood; Linda McFall; Bonnie Marsden and son Michael; Jackie Moore; Glennie Burns; Mary Alice Mundy; Jason Harding; Madison Bishop (Whitney’s niece); Latha and Cheryl Semones; Immigrant families; Victims of all violence, oppression, and injustice; People of Ukraine; People of Israel and Palestine.

New Foundations Home for Children

Suggestions for Christmas Gifts

Art supplies                                        Hygiene products - Always a need!

#2 pencils                                           shampoo and hair conditioner

mechanical pencils and extra lead        body wash and body lotion

sketch books                                              toothpaste and toothbrushes

watercolor paper                                        hair brushes and combs

canvases                                                      feminine products

acrylic paints and brushes

colored pencils                                              Garments for males and females

paint by number kits                                   sports bras

simple cross stitch kits                                 socks

watercolor paints                                           t-shirts

other craft kits appropriate for teens           underwear

                           solid color Polo shirts

$25 Gift Cards                                         black belts

Walmart joggers

Amazon

QT                                                                Cleaning supplies

Chick-Fil-A                                                      wipes

Old Navy                                                         disinfectant spray

                       bleach and laundry detergent

MP3 players and headphones          dryer sheets

NACCP is an inclusive Faith Community that values questions

and the journey to the answers.

Ministry Leader: Dr. Keith Ray
keithdray@gmail.com

Pianist and Choir Director: Polly Dunford

Mailing address: P.O. Box 4346, Anderson, SC 29622

Phone: 864-225-3575

Website:  naccpchurch.org

Church News:  naccpnews@yahoo.com

Instagram:  northandersonccp

Facebook:  NorthAndersonCommunityChurchPresbyterian