PROVIDENCE CHURCH

December 20, 2020

 

Welcome

 

Passing of the Peace: Though we are separated by distance our hearts are one in Christ. The peace of Christ be with you!  And also with you!

 

Lighting of the Advent Candle

 

Call to worship:   Psalm 27 (selected verses)

Leader:  The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?
People:  The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?

Leader:  One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
People:  to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
Leader:  For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
People:  he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.

Leader:  Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.

People:  My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.

Leader:  Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors

People:   I remain confident of this: will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.

ALL:  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.

 

Songs of Praise:

While By the Sheep We Watched at Night (German carol)

While by the sheep we watched at night,

Glad tidings brought an angel bright.

How great our joy! Great our joy!

Joy, joy, joy! Joy, joy, joy!

Praise we the Lord in heav’n on high!

Praise we the Lord in heav’n on high!

 

There shall be born, so he did say,

in Bethlehem a child today.

How great our joy! Great our joy!

Joy, joy, joy! Joy, joy, joy!

Praise we the Lord in heav’n on high!

Praise we the Lord in heav’n on high!

 

There shall the child lie in a stall,

this child who shall redeem us all.

How great our joy! Great our joy!

Joy, joy, joy! Joy, joy, joy!

Praise we the Lord in heav’n on high!

Praise we the Lord in heav’n on high!

 

This gift of God we’ll cherish well,

That ever joy our hearts shall fill.

How great our joy! Great our joy!

Joy, joy, joy! Joy, joy, joy!

Praise we the Lord in heav’n on high!

Praise we the Lord in heav’n on high!

 

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (Edmund Sears, 1850; tune Richard Willis, 1850)

It came upon a midnight clear, that glorious song of old,

From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold:

“Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heav’n’s all-gracious King”;

the world in solemn stillness lay to heart the angels sing.

 

And ye, beneath life’s crushing load, whose forms are bending low,

Who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow,

Look now! For glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing:

O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing.

 

For lo, the days are hast’ning on, by prophet bards foretold,

When with the ever-circling years comes round the age of gold;

When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling,

And the whole world give back the song which now the angels sing.

 

Away in A Manger (Anon., Philadelphia, 1885; tune W. Kirkpatrick, 1895)

Away in a manger, no crib for a 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.

 

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,

But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes;

I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,

And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

 

 

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay

Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;

Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,

And fit us for heaven, to live with thee there.

 

 

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (Polish carol)

Infant holy, infant lowly, for his bed a cattle stall;

Oxen lowing, little knowing Christ the babe, is Lord of all.

Swift are winging, angels singing, noels ringing, tidings bringing:

Christ the babe is Lord of all, Christ the babe is Lord of all.

 

Flocks were sleeping: shepherds keeping vigil till the morning new

saw the glory, heard the story, tidings of a gospel true.

Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing, greet the morrow:

Christ the babe was born for you, Christ the babe was born for you.

 

 

Confession/Assurance   

 

Responding in Praise:

 

Angels We Have Heard on High (Traditional French carol)

Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains,

And the mountains in reply echo back their joyous strains.

Glo—ria in excelsis Deo,

Glo—ria in excelsis Deo.

 

Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?

Say what the glad tidings be, which inspire your heav’nly song?

Glo—ria in excelsis Deo,

Glo—ria in excelsis Deo.

 

 

Come to Bethlehem and see him whose birth the angels sing;

Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Glo—ria in excelsis Deo,

Glo—ria in excelsis Deo.

 

 

Scripture Reading:    Revelation 3: 14-22

 

To the Church in Laodicea

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:  These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

This is the Word of the Lord.   Thanks be to God!

Sermon:  “Lukewarm Much?”     

Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil:

for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory.  Amen

 

 

Hymn of Thanksgiving:   

 

The First Noel (Traditional English carol)

The first Noel, the angel did say,

was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,

on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,

Born is the King of Israel.

 

They look-ed up and saw a star

shining in the east, beyond them far;

And to the earth it gave great light,

and so it continued both day and night.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,

Born is the King of Israel.

 

Then let us all with one accord

sing praises to our heav’nly Lord,

that hath made heav’n and earth of naught,

and with his blood mankind hath bought.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,

Born is the King of Israel.

 

Benediction

 

 

 

KNOW

Welcome to Providence Church! We are glad that you are here, joining us in person or via Zoom! We invite you to stop by our Welcome Center where you can receive more information about our church.

 

Children of all ages are invited to participate in the entire service of worship.  We will have

childcare for children up to 6 years of age, upstairs in our new room.

 

Tithes and Gifts: An offering plate is not passed during the service.  Plates for your tithes and

offerings are located at the back of the sanctuary. If you are joining us via Zoom, your tithes and gifts can be mailed to P.O. Box 65, Clyde.  We thank you for your prayerful financial support for our church.

 

Year End: A reminder to everyone that tax deductible donations for 2020 can be made via the      offering plate until December 27th; postmarked or handed delivered to Bruce by December 30th..  Please turn in any church related expenses for reimbursement by Sunday December 27th to Linda.

 

 

GROW

Would you like to grow in the joy and work of prayer? Join our women on Wednesday mornings or our men on Thursday mornings. These seasons of weekly prayer are rich in fellowship and in prayers. Want to know more about the time and place for Women’s Prayer? Contact Linda Roberts. Would you like to join our ZOOM prayer times at 7:30 am Thursday’s call Sam Mitchell and he will send you the link to the meeting.  NOTE:  All these groups will resume in January.

 

Are you longing to grow in your connection with God through Scripture reading? Pastor Edward recommends Bible In One Year (by Alpha International), a 20 minute reading of Scripture and commentary written by Nicky Gumble leader of Alpha (an international evangelism ministry).  Just look it up under your apps on your phone/computer.

 

 

GO

 

Open Door Soup Kitchen: This is an ongoing commitment of Providence Church to the least, the last, the lost and the lonely of our community.  While Open Door is no longer able to serve meals, we are still volunteering to cook the meals on the first Friday of each month, If you can serve in this way, please let Phil and Pat know at 828- 476-5130. Thanks for your faithfulness.

 

Prayer Requests: Healing: Wally, Eleonore, Sarah, Barb, Bob’s parents (hospitalized with COVID); Robbie Hargrove; Chuck & Carole Torpy; Glenn & Laura Glad; Thom Morgan’s mother; Caroline (Bev’s Mom); Sarah’s brother in law Dan – cancer; Lisa Rhodarmer’s brother Michael – cancer.