Thank You Gifts to God

WESTPORT RISING WORSHIP SERVICE
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
December 10, 2023

(Video will be posted LIVE on the church’s FB page at 11am and then cross-posted here afterward.  If the video doesn’t load properly here, you should be able to click on the Watch on Facebook link and watch as a guest, even if you don’t have Facebook)

PRELUDE: Ave Maria d’Arcadelt Franz Liszt
OPENING HYMN:   My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout   GTG#100  (paraphrase of the Magnificat)
ADVENT SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 1: 26-38
LIGHTING OF THE 2ND CANDLE OF ADVENT: The Capps Family

Leader: Today we re-light the first candle and light the second candle, Mary’s candle. This candle is offered in honor of Mary, the young Jewish girl who took the time to notice the angel Gabriel standing before her, who sought the meaning of God’s request to embody and birth Divine Love, then, despite the risk to her life and reputation, freely embraced God with her complete being and whose joy burst forth in song. We remember Mary who became the mother of Jesus the Christ, and gave him his human body. Mary teaches us to open our bodies and souls so fully to God, that Divine Love may be born in us and shared with others. In honor of Mary we light this candle.

LIGHT TWO CANDLES
UNISON PRAYER:

Holy God, you invite us to welcome you into our lives as completely as we can. Help us to take the risk to fill our lives with your love, that in loving our neighbors and ourselves, we might bear witness to your love for us. Amen.

SUNG RESPONSE:   Prepare the Way of the Lord (SING TWICE)   GTG#95
PASSING OF PEACE:

Pastor: The grace, peace, love and joy of Jesus Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Let us share the peace of Christ with each other.

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:

Pastor: Let the words of my mouth
People: And the meditations of our hearts
Pastor: Be acceptable to You,
People: O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.
Amen.

SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Hebrew Bible: Psalm 85: 1-2, 6-13
New Testament: Luke 1: 39-56

CHORAL ANTHEM: The Advent of Our God (SOUTHWELL) arr. Richard Shepherd

The Advent of our God shall be our theme for prayer.
Come let us meet him on the road, and place for him prepare.
The everlasting Son incarnate deigns to be,
Himself a servant’s form puts on, to set his servants free.

Oh, Zion’s daughter, rise to meet your heavenly King,
Nor let a faithless heart despise the peace he comes to bring.
All glory to the Son who comes to set us free,
With Maker, Spirit, ever one, through all eternity.

MESSAGE: Mary’s and Elizabeth’s Thank You Gifts to God
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:   My Soul Gives Glory to My God  GTG#99
WELCOMING, NEWS IN AROUND AND BEYOND THE COMMUNITY
PLEDGE DRIVE UPDATE  – Deanna Capps
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER:   Come, Bring Your Burdens to God (SING TWICE)  #851
MORNING PRAYER, LORD’S PRAYER
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
                 Offering link
OFFERTORY: Magnificat (from THREE GOSPEL CANTICLES) Norah Duncan IV The Section Leaders
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
CLOSING HYMN:   People, Look East   GTG#105
BENEDICTION
SUNG BENEDICTION RESPONSE:  Insert Magnificat (stanza 1)— Norah Duncan IV
POSTLUDE: Now Thank We All Our God setting by Larry Shackley

A WESTPORT WARM WELCOMING!

• WELCOME! MEMBERS! NEWCOMERS! FRIENDS! We are so glad you could join us for worship today!
• VISITORS, please take a moment to let us know you were here by picking up an attendance card (in the pews) and filling out whatever information you would like to share with us.
• WELCOME FAMILIES! Children’s Sunday School is back in action in the redesigned 2nd floor Children’s Space, teaching & learning will emphasize Care for the Earth, Sky and all God’s creation. Sunday mornings during the 1st half of worship, beginning at 11:00 am.
• LAST CALL FOR PLEDGES – Our FALL PLEDGE DRIVE is coming to an end. We have received $78,340 in pledges so far. Our goal is $112,000. The session will meet on Tuesday night to set our budget for next year. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SUBMITTED A PLEDGE, PLEASE CONSIDER DOING SO! TODAY IS THE DAY! Thanks to all who have generously pledged to support our church and its missions in the coming year!
• Our HOLIDAY COOKIE SALE will be Sat., Dec. 16 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. This is an annual fundraiser for our Westport Concert Series & Music Program. Volunteers are needed to bake cookies and other Christmas treats and to volunteer at the sale to box and weigh cookies! If you can help please sign up to let us know! Setup will begin at 10 a.m. and cookies can be dropped off on the Friday before the sale.

MISSION & OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES:

• Bread, Buns, Fruit, Water, Meat, Peanut Butter, Cheese are always needed for our INTERRUPT HUNGER work.
• WESTPORT SHOWERS happens on Sundays & Thursday nights. Men’s boxer brief underwear needed. Men’s and Women’s shoes. Backpacks! Jackets, Sweatshirts, Warm Clothes for this cold weather!
• Thanks to everyone for all you do to make our missions happen all year round! For the Christmas Season, we will be collecting MITTENS, GLOVES and HAND WARMERS over the next few weeks to give out to our Westport Showers guests as a special gift on Christmas Eve morning. If you would like to help, please bring these items in by Dec. 17. (Adult Men’s & Women’s Sizes Needed)

COMING WEEK:  (All Events are at the Church, 201 Westport Rd – unless noted)

• Monday, Dec. 11 10:00 a.m. Elisa Bickers, organ practice (Sanctuary)
  • • 4:30 p.m. FREDitation – a centering prayer experience – 20 min (Chapel)
    • 6:30 p.m. Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
    • 7:30 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
• Tuesday, Dec. 12 6:00 p.m. Irish Dance (Westport Rising Room)
  • • 7:00 p.m. Session Meeting (Fellowship Room)
• Wednesday, Dec. 13 10:00 a.m. Elisa Bickers, organ practice (Sanctuary)
  • • 7:00 p.m. Zoom Bible Study – contact church office for link (Online)  *meets every other week*
• Thursday, Dec. 14 5:30 p.m. Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non- conforming people (Basement)
• Friday, Dec. 15 12:00 p.m. Westport Center for the Arts Brown Bag Concert Series:  Elisa Bickers, organist (Sanctuary) & Holiday Cookie Pre-sale
  • • 4:00 p.m. Willow Woods Christmas Program (Sanctuary)
• Saturday, Dec. 16 8:30 a.m. Living Integrated (Men’s Support Group) (Storefront)
  • • 10:00 a.m. Cookie Sale Setup (Fellowship Room)
    • 11:00 a.m. Holiday Cookie Sale: Fundraiser for Westport Concert Series -2:00 p.m. (Fellowship Room)
• Sunday, Dec. 17 8-9:30 a.m. Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
  • • 11:00 a.m. Service of the Lord’s Day: 3rd Sunday of Advent (Sanctuary)
• Children’s Sunday School (Upstairs Children’s Room)
  • • 12:15 p.m. Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)

LOOKING AHEAD:

• Wednesday, Dec. 20 7:00 p.m. Zoom Bible Study – contact church office for link (Online) *meets every other week*
• Sunday, Dec. 24 11:00 a.m. 4th Sunday of Advent: Carol Singing Service (Sanctuary)
  • • 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (Sanctuary)