WORSHIP SERVICE
December
21, 2008 – 10:00 a.m.
APPROACHING TO WORSHIP
Instrumental Prelude:
Welcome and
Announcements
*Songs of Praise:
“Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus”
#244: 1-2
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
#245: 1-4
Reader: The Advent wreath is a
circle with no beginning and no end.
It is a symbol of God’s unending
love and faithfulness.
Congregation: The shepherds were the
first to hear
the joyful
announcement of Christ’s birth—
the good news of great
joy for all the people.
Reader: Upon seeing the baby Jesus,
the shepherds
spread the word concerning what
had been told them about this child,
and all who heard it were amazed.
Congregation: We have also heard
this wonderful news.
We welcomed the message with the joy given by
the Holy Spirit.
Reader: Though we have not seen
Jesus, we love him;
and even though we do not see him
now, we believe in him.
Congregation: And we are filled with
an expressible and glorious joy.
“While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks”
#272: 1,5
*Opening Prayer and
Mutual Greeting
GREETING NEW MEMBERS
Rachel,
will you stand now, and in the presence of God and his people respond to the following
questions:
1. Do you believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God sent to redeem the world, do you love and trust him as
the one who saves you from your sin, and do you with repentance and joy embrace
him as Lord of your life?
Answer: I do.
2. Do you believe that the Bible is
the Word of God, revealing Christ and his redemption, and that the confessions
of this church faithfully reflect this revelation?
Answer:
I do.
3. Do you accept the gracious
promises of God sealed to you in your baptism and do you affirm your union
with Christ and his church which your baptism signifies?
Answer:
I do.
4. Do you promise to do all you can, with the
help of the Holy Spirit, to strengthen your love and commitment to Christ by sharing faithfully
in the life of the church, honoring and submitting to its authority; and do you join with the
people of God in doing the work of the Lord everywhere?
Answer:
I do.
[The minister addresses the
congregation]:
Do you, the people of the Lord, promise
to receive Rachel into your fellowship as a member of the body of Christ, and
do you promise to encourage her in the Christian faith and help her in doing
the work of the Lord?
Congregation: We do, God helping
us.
The Reception
Minister: Rachel, in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ I now welcome you to all the privileges of full communion. I
welcome you to full participation in the life of the church. I welcome you to
its responsibilities, its joys, and its sufferings. "May the God of peace,
who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our
Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good
for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through
Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen" (Heb.
13:20-21).
Congregation: Thanks be to God! We promise you
our love, encouragement, and prayers.
*Song of
Response:
“Days of Elijah”
Verse 1: These are the days of Elijah,
Declaring the Word of the Lord
And these are the days of Your servant Moses, Righteousness being restored
And though these are days of great trials, of famine and darkness and sword
Still we are a voice in the desert crying, "Prepare ye the way of the
Lord!"
Chorus: Behold He comes, riding on the clouds
Shining like the sun at the trumpet call
So lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee
And our of Zion's hill salvation comes
Verse 2: And these are the days of Ezekiel,
the dry bones becoming as flesh
And these are the days of Your servant David, Rebuilding a temple of praise
And these are the days of the harvest, the fields are white in the world
And we are Your laborers in Your vineyard, Declaring the Word of the Lord
Chorus [2 times]
Bridge: [3 times]
There is no god like Jehovah
There is no god like Jehovah
There is no god like Jehovah
There is no god like Jehovah
Chorus [2 times]
SERVICE OF PRAYER
Prayer Concerns
Morning Offering: Church ministries
Offertory
SERVICE OF THE WORD
Children’s
Message
*Song of Preparation:
“Because He Lives”
#358 1-3
{refrain after vs. 3 only)
(Children
ages 3-6 go downstairs for Children’s Worship)
Scripture: Luke
1:39-56
Pew Bible Page(s): 1588
- 89
Message:
Remembering the Future: Promises, Promises
Prayer of
Application
WITHDRAWING TO SERVE
Morning Offering:
Church Development Fund, as we sing:
Song of Response:
“Our God Reigns”
#372
How
lovely on the mountains are the feet of
him
Who brings good news, good news
Announcing peace, proclaiming news of happiness.
Our God reigns! Our God reigns!
Refrain: Our
God reigns! Our God reigns!
Our God reigns! Our God
reigns!
He had no stately form, he had no majesty,
That we should be drawn to him.
He was despised and we took no account of him,
Yet now he reigns with the Most High. Refrain
Meek as a lamb that’s led out to the slaughterhouse,
Dumb as a sheep before its shearer,
His life ran down upon the ground like pouring rain,
That we might be born again. Refrain
Out from the tomb he came with grace and
majesty,
He is alive, he is alive.
God loves us so, see here his hands, his feet, his side.
Yes, we know, he is alive. Refrain
*God's Blessing
*Doxology:
“Jesus Loves Me”
#185 1
Postlude:
*If you are
able, please stand
WORSHIP NOTES
Welcome! You’re among friends at Pine Grove
Community Church. We’re the young and old, the experienced Christians, the
brand new Christians, and those just curious about Jesus Christ. We’re
families, singles, students, kids and couples. Wherever you’ve come from, and
wherever you’re at, you’re welcome to come as you are to Pine Grove! Please
stay for a cup of coffee or lemonade following worship.
Guests are invited to fill out a pew card and drop it in the
offering plate or at the Welcome Center in the lobby when you stop for an
information packet. If you are a regular attendee of Pine Grove we would like
to provide you with a mailbox and / or a name tag. Please submit your request
to the church office. God bless you and your family.
Nursery
care is offered during the a.m. service in the Church Basement for infants and
toddlers through age 2. Please honor the age limit. Please meet your children
at the nursery area immediately following worship.
Children
age 3 to 6 are encouraged to participate with Children’s Worship. Children are
dismissed after the Children’s Message, and can go downstairs to worship.
Please honor the age limit. Parents: Please meet your children
downstairs, after worship.
All
songs can be found in the Celebration Hymnal, unless
otherwise specified; and reprinted with permission by CCLI #649460.
YOUTH
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jr.
High Youth Group: Next meeting is on Saturday, January 10 at 6:30 p.m.
Sr.
High: We will be going bowling on December 30. Meet at church at 1:30 p.m.
Cost is $5.00 per person, which covers shoes, 2 games of bowling and pizza. We
plan to return to church around 6:00 p.m.
Sr.
High: Next regular meeting is Sunday, January 11 at 4:30 p.m.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Coffee after the morning service
will be in the Family Life Center.
Your
2009 Offering Envelopes are in your mailbox in the narthex. If you do not have a mailbox your
offering envelopes are on the counter behind the Welcome Center. If you do not
have offering envelopes and would like
some please contact a Deacon.
Directory Change: Pam Kroeze has a new email address: pkroeze2000@yahoo.com. Please make note.
2009
Directory: A rough
draft of the 2009 Directory is spread out on the table in the lobby. Please
take a moment to find your name and check all information printed. Clearly,
make any corrections in the margin next to your name. Anyone that wishes to be
listed in our Directory that is not, please make note of your information in
the margin alphabetically. If no changes are needed, please indicate it as
“ok”.
Pastor
Bill will be on
vacation this coming week. In case of pastoral need, please contact
Pastor Steve or your district elder or deacon.
Year End
Contributions – If
you are in a position to consider special year end donations, we ask that you
consider Pine Grove Church. Donations to the General Fund will help us
meet all obligations for the current year, including our ministry share for the
denomination. Donations for the Church Development Fund will help us pay off
the bank loan as soon as possible; the current balance is down to
$34,000. Donations to the Benevolence Fund will help us meet the growing
needs in our congregation and community. Thank you for considering the
possibilities. All contributions must be received or postmarked by
December 31 to be credited to 2008.
Sunday School classes will not be held on December 28.
A New
Member Class will
be offered early next year if there is any interest. If you would like to
join Pine Grove Church or simply learn more about it, contact Pastor Bill.
A small number of DVD’s of the Christmas Program available,
(more can be made). See the sound people after the service today. A suggested
donation of $2.00 each is appreciated but not mandatory.
Ladies
- join us at a Pine
Grove Women's Retreat on May 1 & 2 at The Shack - the cost is $55
(scholarships available). The original sign up sheet was misplaced
so be sure your name is on the new list. Treat yourself to an overnight fun
time of fellowship and spiritual renewal.
Pictorial Directory -There are new, updated yellow
pages for the pictorial directory in your mail box in the lobby. Please use these to replace the ones you
presently have in your directory.
A
Christmas Eve service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 24.
All building use must be scheduled with the church
secretary, so we can avoid building use conflicts. Thank you.
Prayer Group - We claim the promise from Psalm 145:18 that the
Lord draws near to those who call upon Him in truth. Come experience His
presence with us and know Him better through the power of prayer. Our God
loves the prayers of His people. Come join us in the prayer room
downstairs every Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. or whenever you can
come. Feel free to walk in anytime and leave when you need to. Please
call Cheryl Hubers (231-937-4895) or Pastor Steve (231-652-7121) with your
prayer requests.
Are you interested in the best seat in the house? See the sound
crew for details.
Spartan
UPC’s are continuously
being collected to help raise funds for the GEMS. Please remember to clip the
UPC from your Spartan products and put them in Tanis’ mailbox.
Returnable
bottles & cans are
continuously being collected to help raise funds for the Cadets. Please bring
your returnables to the Cadet area.
Miss church last week? In the lobby of the church
building, you can find the past 3 week’s bulletins at the information rack. Each
week, the bulletin announcements are added to our website: www.pinegrovechurch.net.
Recorded CD copies of any service are available shortly after the
service by going to the sound table. A $2.00 donation is appreciated but not
required.
Church Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. –
2:30 p.m.
Feel free to contact Pastor Bill at
his home office anytime: 231-937-6492
Serving This Sunday December 21
Ministry of Word: Pastor Bill Vis
Nursery: Tonya Warren, Mary & Katie
Wallinga
Children’s
Worship: Linda
Bonnier, Karlie Haywood
Coffee
Servers: Gary &
Susan Cone
Serving Next Sunday December 28
Ministry of Word: Pastor Steve Vander West
Nursery: Kris Frain, Shelly Kamp, Devin
Flint
Children’s
Worship: Brenda
Plakmeyer, Dee Brock
Coffee
Servers: Carl &
Sally Proctor
Church
Calendar
Today: Prayer Meeting, 9:00 a.m.
Morning Worship, 10:00 a.m.
Sunday School, 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday: Christmas Eve Service, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday: Prayer Meeting, 9:00 a.m.
Morning Worship, 10:00 a.m.