3rd Sunday of Advent
Christmas Pageant
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 Tom and Vicki Wright
Advent Song “When God is a Child” (verses 1-3) 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.
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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.
Joy is a song that welcomes the dawn, telling the world that Jesus is born.
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.
Third Sunday of Advent — Lighting the Third Advent Candle of Joy Tom Wright
Vicki Conrad-Wright
(Begin with the first two candles relit.)
Voice 1: “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and shouting.” (Isaiah 35:1‒2)
Voice 2: What does joy feel like in the new world?
All: Joy feels like everlasting love. Joy feels like the freedom to be who God created me to be. Joy feels like sharing love and kindness.
Joy feels like pride.
Voice 2: Advent is the beginning of this new world, a better world, where joy boldly bubbles up in unexpected places.
Voice 1: May it be so.
Voice 2: (Third Advent candle is lit.) Amen.
All: Amen.
Hymn and Offertory “Now the Heavens Start to Whisper” Hymnal #94
1) Now the heavens start to whisper, as the veil is growing thin.
Earth from slumber wakes to listen to the stirring, faint within:
seed of promise, deeply planted, child to spring from Jesse’s stem!
Like the soil beneath the frostline, hearts grown soft to welcome him.
2) Heavy clouds that block the moonlight now begin to drift away.
Diamond brilliance through the darkness shines the hope of coming day.
Christ, the morning star of splendor, gleams within a world grown dim.
Heaven’s ember fans to fullness; hearts grow warm to welcome him.
3) Christ, eternal Sun of justice, Christ, the rose of wisdom’s seed,
come to bless with fire and fragrance hours of yearning, hurt, and need.
In the lonely, in the stranger, in the outcast, hid from view:
child who comes to grace the manger, teach our hearts to welcome you.
A Poem for Advent Rev. Keith Ray
Prayers of the People
Pageant “The Jingle Bell Miracle” Directors: Drew Whitley,
Rosie Thompson, Thor Raines
“Angels We Have Heard on High” Hymnal #113
1) Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains,
and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains.
Glo-ri-a in excelsis De-o! Glo-ri-a in excelsis De-o!
2) Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heavenly song?
Glo-ri-a in excelsis De-o! Glo-ri-a in excelsis De-o!
3) Come to Bethlehem and see him whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.
Glo-ri-a in excelsis De-o! Glo-ri-a in excelsis De-o!
“O Little Town of Bethlehem” Hymnal #121
1) 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 streets shineth the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
2) For Christ is born of Mary and, gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the king, and peace to all on earth.
3) How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.
4) O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us; abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!
“The Angel Song” Lilliana Sanchez, soloist
“While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks” Hymnal #118
1) While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
all seated on the ground, the angel of the Lord came down,
and glory shone around, and glory shone around.
2) “Fear not,” said he, for mighty dread had seized their troubled mind:
“Glad tidings of great joy I bring to you and humankind,
to you and humankind.
3) “To you, in David’s town this day, is born of David’s line the Savior,
who is Christ the Lord, and this shall be the sign,
and this shall be the sign:
4) “The heavenly babe you there shall find to human view displayed,
all humbly wrapped in swathing bands,
and in a manger laid, and in a manger laid.”
5) Thus spoke the seraph, and forthwith appeared a shining throng
of angels praising God, who thus addressed their joyful song,
addressed their joyful song:
6) “All glory be to God on high, and to the earth be peace;
good will to all from highest heaven begin and never cease,
begin and never cease!”
“We Three Kings of Orient Are” Hymnal #151
1) We three kings of Orient are; bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.
Refrain: O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light!
2) Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain, gold I bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never over us all to reign. Refrain
3) Frankincense to offer have I; incense owns a deity nigh;
prayer and praising gladly raising, worshiping God Most High. Refrain
4) Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb. Refrain
Benediction
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.
Gathering for Punch
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Calendar of Service -
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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Our Christmas pageant will be on Sunday, December 17 during the service. If you signed up to be play a part, please remember to arrive at 9:15 am for costumes and a run-through.
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Community Outreach — New Foundations is also asking for Christmas gifts for the children who live at the home. Please bring your unwrapped gifts to church by Sunday, Dec. 17.
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Congratulations to our three new Elders - Andi Nelson, Ann Blackwood and Joanne Batten. They will join with Session beginning January 2024.
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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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Two choir practices on December 24 - one at 9:25 AM and the second at 6:15 PM. Please be seated and ready to rehearse at the starting time. There is no choir practice on Dec. 17. Questions? Contact Polly (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
