December 15, 2024 – Westminster Presbyterian

PRELUDE
“Carillon” Geoffrey Bush
“A Ship There Comes A-laden (Passacaglia)” Tune: German 1608; Setting: J. William Greene

GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS The Rev. Gregg Neel
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

AN ACT OF PRAISE

*WESTMINSTER CHIMES

*INVITATION TO WORSHIP AND LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES Megan and Kasey Larson, Alice, Sawyer, and Marlow
Friends, rejoice in the Lord always!
Again we will say, Rejoice!
Sing aloud! Rejoice with all your heart!
We recognize the joy that the one who is more powerful than all is coming.
“I will be your God, and you will be my people.”
On this third Sunday of Advent, we light these candles as a sign of our joy.
(the candles are lit)
Let us worship God.

*HYMN #104
“O Lord, How Shall I Meet You” VALET WILL DIR GEBEN

O Lord, how shall I meet you, how welcome you aright?
Your people long to greet you, my hope, my heart’s delight!
O kindle, Lord most holy, a lamp within my breast,
To do in spirit lowly all that may please you best.

Love caused you incarnation; love brought you down to me;
Your thirst for my salvation procured my liberty.
O love beyond all telling, that led you to embrace
In love, all loves excelling, our lost and fallen race.

You come, O Lord, with gladness, in mercy and goodwill,
To bring an end to sadness and bid our fears be still.
In patient expectation we live for that great day
When your renewed creation your glory shall display.

*INVITATION TO CONFESSION Elder Eliz Roser
This Sunday, all of us are invited to consider joy during this season of Advent. I invite all of us to consider what we need to admit to ourselves about our lives so that there is room for joy once we experience God’s forgiveness. We are invited together to confess, then open ourselves for joy. Let us confess, first in silent prayer.

*SILENT PRAYER

*UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Merciful God, we admit the mistakes of our life which we cannot undo. Help us to accept their consequences without bitterness, and within their limits to see to our immediate understanding, and act upon it with joy. We ask this through Jesus Christ.

*ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Confession is not the end but a new beginning. Joy is on the way. Joy is already here!
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God.

*THE PASSING OF THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.

AN ACT OF PROCLAMATION

THE SCRIPTURE READING The Rev. Gregg Neel
Phil. 4:4-7
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

MOMENTS WITH CHILDREN Junha Kim

ANTHEM Westminster Concert Bells
“Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” arr. Fred Gramann

SERMON The Rev. Gregg Neel
“Joy”

A MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION

AN ACT OF RESPONSE

*HYMN #611
“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” HYMN TO JOY

Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love!
Hearts unfold like flowers before thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day.

All thy works with joy surround thee; earth and heaven reflect thy rays;
Stars and angels sing around thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain, call us to the rejoice in thee.

Mortals, join the happy chorus which the morning stars began.
Love divine in reigning o’er us, joining all in heaven’s plan.
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife.
Joyful music leads us sunward in the triumph song of life.

SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS The Rev. Gregg Neel
(At the conclusion of spoken joys, let us pray together, “Thanks be to you, O God.”
For concerns, let us make them our own by praying, “Lord, hear our prayer.”)

PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE 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;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

MINUTE FOR MISSION
Christmas Joy Offering

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
(Text 73256 the word WESTPRESPDX to give using your mobile device. This number will never send unsolicited texts to you. To cancel further messages, text STOP. If you need assistance with text giving, text HELP. Standard text message and data rates may apply. If you’re new to Westminster, please let us know by filling out a pink visitor card and dropping it in the offering plate. Thank you.)

OFFERTORY ANTHEM
“I Wonder as I Wander” Michael Helman

*DOXOLOGY – Hymn #606
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.
-OR-
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*HYMN #105
“People, Look East” BESANÇON

People, look east. The time is near of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able; trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east: Love, the Guest, is on the way.

Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare, one more seed is planted there.
Give up your strength the seed to nourish, that in course the flower may flourish.
People look east: Love, the Rose, is on the way.

Birds, though you long have ceased to build, guard the nest that must be filled.
Even the hour when wings are frozen God for fledging time has chosen.
People, look east: Love, the Bird, is on the way.

Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim one more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather, bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east: Love, the Star, is on the way.

Angels, announce with shouts of mirth Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming with the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east: Love, the Lord, is on the way.

*BENEDICTION The Rev. Gregg Neel

*POSTLUDE
“Go, Tell It!” arr. Chris Peck