Service for the Worship of God Preparing to Hear God's Word - Prelude Welcome Call to Worship and Lighting of the Advent Wreath
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Service for the Worship of God
Third Sunday of Advent
December 12, 2021
Prelude Pifa (Pastoral Symphony) from Messiah George Frideric Handel
(1685-1759)
Welcome The Lord be with you. Rev. Katherine A. Stanford
And also with you.
Let us worship God!
Preparing to Hear God's Word
Call to Worship and
Confirmation Class 2022
Lighting of the Advent Wreath
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
The world says, “Worry,” and we say “Rejoice.”
The news says, ‘Fear,” and we say, “Rejoice.”
The world says, “Be happy,” and the church says, “Be faithful.”
As we light our third Advent candle,
we pray for the holy peace of God.
Come now, O Child of Mary.
Come now, O Prince of Peace.
Hymn 104 O Lord, How Shall I Meet You VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, we confess that, in the midst of your glorious creation, we have neglected our role in its care.
We ignore the cries of the hurting and lonely, those on the margins and those who are oppressed. We focus on
our own desires, while forgetting the needs of our neighbors. We have not prepared a way for the Lord,
through either our words or our deeds, neither through our actions nor our thought. Forgive us and lead us to
act in compassion and justice, guided by your glorious light. Hear now the prayers we bring to you in
silence…
Assurance of Pardon
Act of Praise 121, v. 4 O Little Town of Bethlehem ST. LOUIS
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 in us, our Lord Emmanuel!
God's Word to Us
Sacrament of Baptism
The Sacrament of Baptism is celebrated today for Lillian Leigh Hurley daughter of Matt and Hannah Hurley.
Scripture Lesson Luke 3:7-18
Anthem “And he shall purify” from Messiah G. F. Handel
text from Malachi 3:3
Time with Children Mrs. Noelle Castin
May God be with you there.
May God be with us here.
May God be with everyone, everywhere. Amen.
Hymn 163 Wild and Lone the Prophet’s Voice aberystwyth
Sermon First Steps Dr. Robert R. Laha
Our Response to God
Affirmation of Faith adapted from the Confession of 1967
Out of Israel, God in due time raised up Jesus. His faith and obedience were the response of the perfect child
of God. He was the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel, the beginning of the new creation, and pioneer of the
new humanity. He gave history its meaning and direction and called the church to be his servant for the
reconciliation of the world.
Invitation to Discipleship
Prayers of the People and the Lord's Prayer Rev. Katherine A Stanford
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.Presentation of Our Tithes and Offerings
Offertory Of the Father’s Love Begotten DIVINUM MYSTERIUM
arr. Steven Seigart
Doxology 607 (b. 1990)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Christ, all creatures here below;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore;
Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn 362 Rejoice! Rejoice, Believers llangloffan
Charge and Benediction
Choral Response Amen Wendy Matney
Postlude Improvisation on divinum mysterium Steven Seigart
Please stand as you are able Congregation reads the "bold" text
Music Notes
Today’s musical voluntaries and anthems are split between excerpts from Handel’s mighty oratorio Messiah and
newly-composed works by yours truly. Such a contrast speaks to the power of the spirit to inspire over the ages,
informing (and re-forming) our understanding of previously-held truths. Such is the case even for Handel’s Messiah:
today’s prelude, the Pifa or pastoral symphony was an ancient trope from the medieval period, calling to mind the
‘simple’ music (often with a primitive drone of a pipe) of the shepherds—calming our hearts and minds to prepare
for something very special (you’ll have to attend the concert today at 3:00 PM to find out exactly what those tidings
are!). And in my arrangements today, the hymn basis here is more ancient still—text from the 5th century and music
from the 12th. This gentle, stately chant drips with illustrative poetry, both mysterious and dogmatic, and this present
version attempts to capture that grandeur and incense-laden aura with a slowly unfolding procession, replete with
handbells and eventually, the full organ.
Today
Our prayers are newly offered for Judi Atchinson (Kait Murphy's cousin).
Our sympathies go to the family of Patricia Van Demark, who died on December 5 and and to Pamela Kicak on the
death of her mother-in-law, Hendrika Vanderhoeven.
To receive regular prayer updates, email Vicki, vstones@opmh.org.
The rosebud in the pulpit celebrates the birth of Felicity Victoria Bredefeld to Matt and Rachael Bredefeld.
Duty Elder is Norma Roberts & Duty Deacon is Jim Lovo.
Join us in the churchyard for fellowship time following worship hosted by Service and Justice.
Today's image, "Never mind the heroics" is from Knoxville Presbyterian Church, ON
Live worship is available at 11:00 AM at opmh.org/livestream. Recordings are available at vimeo.com/opmh.Upcoming
December Sundays:
9:15 AM-12:15 PM, Childcare for infants and toddlers in Fellowship Hall
9:30-10:30 AM, Multi-age Sunday School in Fellowship Hall, Adult Education in Heritage Hall or Zoom
4:00-6:00 PM Middle School and 5:30-7:30 PM High School Youth Groups resume regular schedule Jan. 9
December 1-31, Alternative Giving Market, opmh.org/market
December 12, 3:00 PM, Handel's Messiah, opmh.org/music *Vaccination or negative PCR test required
December 12, final date to order Poinsettias and Greens, opmh.org/2021greens
December 15, 12:05 PM, Noonday Noëls, opmh.org/music *Vaccination or negative PCR test required
December 16, 7:00 PM, Taize Service, opmh.org/music
December 16, 10:00 AM, Zoom, Advent Study: Jesus Family Tree, opmh.org/adults
December 19, 3:30 PM, Come to the Manger, opmh.org/advent
December 19, 7:00 PM, Christmas Reading, opmh.org/advent
For a complete listing of weekly and upcoming events, please visit opmh.org.
Remember Our Capital Campaign
Thank you to everyone who has submitted a financial pledge. If you haven’t yet made a commitment, there’s still
time! You may place your pledge card in the offering plate on Sunday, mail your pledge card to the church office, or
pledge online at opmh.org/pledge. Thank you!
Ways to Give
1. Leave your offering in the offering plates.
2. Give online at opmh.org/give or snap the QR code at right.
3. Text opmh to 73256
4. Mail a check to 323 S. Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA 22314.
Dr. Robert R. Laha, Pastor and Head of Staff • Rev. Katherine A. Stanford, Associate Pastor • Rev. Ann Herlin, Associate Pastor
Dr. Steven Seigart, Director of Music and Organist • Mrs. Noelle Castin, Director of Christian Education • Mrs. Mary Pratt Perry, Youth Director
Mr. Aaron Siirila, Business Administrator • Mrs. Ellen Haas, Membership and Accounting • Mrs. Vicki Stones, Communications Office ManagerYou can also read
