South Church in Andover
United Church of Christ

THE WORSHIP OF GOD
ORDER FOR THE SERVICE

Third Sunday in Advent December 11, 2005

Let the prelude be a curtain of music which brings us into the sanctuary to worship God.
 Let necessary conversation be gentle and the preparation we make together be prayerful.

PRELUDE     Glory to God in the Highest     J.S.Bach

WELCOME

Introduction of Visitors and Guests

Announcements             Las Posadas            Christina Curtin-Orsmond

Exchange of Peace

The peace of Jesus Christ be with you.

And also with you.

INTROIT         In dulci jubilo Dale Wood
                               Handbells

CALL TO WORSHIP           

Into our world,
into the lives of the poor,
into the lives of the weary,

Come, Lord Jesus.

Into our hearts,
into the lives of the forgotten,
into the lives of the rich,

Come, Lord Jesus.

Friends, this is the good news:
Christ is coming,
and blessed are those who wait for Emmanuel,
God with us.

Glory to God who was, and is, and is to come.

* HYMN   Prepare the Way # 13 red

INVOCATION AND THE LORD’S PRAYER          (debts/debtors) 

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH

Song: Julie Helmers

JOY

Joy is a song that welcomes the dawn,
telling the world that the Savior is born.
When God is a child there's joy in our song.
The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong,
and none shall be afraid.

Hope - Love - Joy - Peace

Todd and Erica Beati with Max and Samantha

ANTHEM     Thou Shalt Know Him      Mark Sirett

SCRIPTURE   Isaiah 61: 1 – 4, 8 – 11              (insert)

LET THE CHILDREN COME         Jonathan Drury

Children in grades K-High School may move to their church school classrooms.
Parents of children up to age 7, please go to your child’s classroom after worship.

* HYMN             Arise, Your Light Is Come!    # 411 red      

SCRIPTURE   John 1: 6 - 8, 19 – 28           (insert)

SERMON        Joy In Spite of the Evidence         Dr. Mutt

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS IN THANKSGIVING

Invitation

Offertory Solo       Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella     arr. Mark Hayes

* Doxology       

* Dedication Prayer       

* HYMN Joy to the World! # 130 blue

* BENEDICTION

* RESPONSE       Creator of the Stars of Night       Sarum plainsong

POSTLUDE   Nöel étranger L.–C .Daquin

*   Those who are able may stand.

Participating Today:
Greeters: Liz and Mike Roos
Acolytes: Benjamin Harris and Emma Crockett
Youth: Megan Farquhar
Deacon: Wayne Gendron
Soloist: April Foley
Usher Supervisor: Jon King