TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Montgomery, Alabama
Organized 1891
For you, little child,
Jesus Christ has come,
He has fought, He has suffered.
For you He entered
the shadow of Gethsemane
and the horror of Calvary.
For you He uttered the cry,
“It is finished!”
For you He rose from the dead
and ascended into heaven
and there He intercedes—for you, little child,
even though you do not know it.
But in this way the word of the Gospel becomes true.
“We love Him, because He first loved us.”
~French Reformed Baptismal Liturgy
The Fourth Sunday of Advent
The Lord’s Day, December 21, 2014
THE ORDER FOR MORNING WORSHIP
December 21, 2014  8:30 and 11:00 A.M.
The Welcome and Announcements [8:25 and 10:55 A.M.]
The Angels’ Candle, lighted as the Festival of the Incarnation nears, reminds us
of the angelic announcement and calls us to focus on Christ’s finished work on
the cross and to anticipate His Second Coming. “Angels, from the realms of
glory, wing your flight o’er all the earth; ye who sang creation’s story, now
proclaim Messiah’s birth; come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ,
the newborn King.”
~ Luke 2:15-17
The Prelude
Three Festive Carols
arr. Hayes/Gaspard
 The Prelude is a time given to our
personal preparation for worship.
The Striking of the Hour
†
The Ascription of Praise
“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” STUTTGART
Come, Thou long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee.
 We enter into His gates with
thanksgiving and into His courts with
praise (Psalm 100:4).
Born Thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit, raise us to Thy glorious throne.
†
The Call to Worship
Minister:
People:
Minister:
People:
Minister:
Mr. Pendley
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light, on those
living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
Alleluia! The Christ Child comes, and we await His birth!
Let us prepare our hearts as we await the coming of the Lord! Let us
watch for the One who heard our cries!
Let us wait in expectation for the day when God’s glory is
revealed in all its fullness.
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits
eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and
also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit
of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
†
The Hymn No. 203
†
The Prayer of Adoration and Invocation
†
The Lord’s Prayer
“Hark! the Herald Angels Sing”
Our Father Which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done in 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, for ever. Amen.
 Let us join the angelic chorus,
“Glory to the Newborn King.”
The Morning Prayers
The Call to Confession
God loves justice and despises wrongdoing, yet God is faithful in
recompense and has made an everlasting covenant with those who turn from
sinful ways and strive earnestly for righteousness. May the whispers of our
hearts be pleasing to God—through the blood of the Lamb that makes
constant intercession for us.
The Corporate Confession of Sin
We bow our heads in holy reverence. Oh God, we long to be free of
burdens that hold us captive. We long to be bearers of good news to
the oppressed. We long to return to your favor. Forgive us our
transgressions; loosen the chains of doubt that bind us. Hear our
prayers.
The Silent Personal Confession of Sin
The Assurance of God’s Pardon
May the God of peace cleanse you through and through. The promise is that
our whole being—spirit, soul and body—will be kept blameless at the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23). With joy draw
waters from the well of salvation! Forgiveness is real! Trust it and share it;
forgive as you have been forgiven. Jesus said: “There is joy in heaven over
one sinner who repents.” Truly, God is our salvation; we shall trust and not
be afraid! Rejoice, then, and give thanks as we receive forgiveness and
healing in Christ's name. Amen.
The Hymn No. 223
 We are the people of God, but
Scripture reminds us that we still
sin. We need to confess our failures,
knowing that the Lord Jesus
intercedes for us with the Father,
who freely forgives us, through His
never-ending grace and mercy. So
let us draw near to God with
sincerity and confidence, and pray
together.
“While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks”
Stewardship: Honoring the Everlasting Father
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
The Morning Offering
The Christian Greeting
The Anthem
“Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” Praetorius, arr. Emerson
Men’s Quartet
[Words may be found in the Trinity Hymnal, page 221]
 Isaac Watts, “When I Survey the
Wondrous Cross”
The Prayer of Illumination
Ephesians 3:18-19
O Lord, as we open now Your word, we pray that the eyes of our heart may be
enlightened, so that we may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the
breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which
surpasses knowledge, that we may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Amen.
†
The Scripture Lesson
†
The Response
Luke 1:46-55
 Text may be found in the Pew
Bible on page 1088.
All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.
The grass withers and the flowers fade,
but the Word of our God shall stand forever. Amen.
The Hymn of Preparation
“Away in a Manger”
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.
MUELLER
 Children aged four through
kindergarten may leave to attend
Children’s Church. Following the
worship service, please pick up your
children from the Children’s Chapel
in the Covenant Building (E-100).
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.
The Sermon
Mr. McRoberts
EVERLASTING FATHER
Isaiah 9:6
INTRODUCTION
I.
NAMING OF THE CHILD
II.
ATTRIBUTING THE RULE OF GOD TO THE CHILD
III.
BEING ZEALOUS FOR THE CHILD
CONCLUSION
 The preaching of the Word of
God is the Word of God. “Although
that which is spoken by ministers is
only the sound of a man’s voice, yet
that which true ministers of God
preach in exercising their ministerial
function is the word of God”
(William Gouge). And God uses
especially the preaching of the Word
to call people to Himself, to grow
them in grace, to strengthen them
against temptation and sin and to
establish them in the holiness
without which no one will see God.
The Receiving of New Members [8:30]
The Introductions
The Confession of Our Faith
† The Vows for Membership
†
Mr. Tyler Kennedy
Mr. Ming Lu
Ms Teri Shewmaker; Miss Ana Highland
The Apostles’ Creed
 Words may be found in the
Trinity Hymnal on the inside front
cover.
The Closing Prayer of Thanksgiving and Commitment
†
The Confession of Our Faith [11:00]
†
The Hymn No. 229
†
The Benediction
The Apostles’ Creed
 Words may be found in the
Trinity Hymnal on the inside front
cover.
“Gentle Mary Laid Her Child”
Minister: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship
of the Holy Spirit, descend and rest in your hearts until the day breaks
and all these shadows flee away.
People: Amen!
†
The Quiet Reflection, Meditation and Personal Application
†
The Postlude
†
Indicates standing as able
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing”
arr. Alfred Fedak
Nineteenth Annual Service of Lessons and Carols
The Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 21, 6:00 p.m.
The Festive Orchestral Prelude begins at 5:45 p.m.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Services
Wednesday, December 24, 4:00 and 6:00 p.m.
Prelude Music with String Quartet begins at 3:45 and 5:45 p.m.
 The congregation responds to
the glorious presence and blessing
of God for a worship service of
praise, vows, and vision. To God
alone the glory!
VOLUME LXXI, NUMBER 51
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE WEEK
OUR CHURCH THIS LORD’S DAY, December 21, 2014
The Lord’s Day
8:30 A.M. Early Morning Worship/Introduction of New Members
9:45 A.M. Sunday School
11:00 A.M. Morning Worship
2:00 P.M. Chancel Choir Rehearsal
4:45 P.M. Chancel Choir Dinner
6:00 P.M. Nineteenth Annual Service of Lessons and Carols
FOR PRAYER AND PARTICIPATION THIS WEEK
Monday, December 22
12 Noon
Men’s Bible Study in the Spires Room
Wednesday, December 24
4:00 P.M. Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service
6:00 P.M.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service
Thursday, December 25
Christmas Day
Friday, December 26
Church Offices and Bookstore Closed
Church Offices and Bookstore Closed
Trinity Church Prayer Focus:
Worship Services, Special Music, and Preaching during December
Missionary Prayer Focus of the Week:
Our missionaries who are serving away from home and family during this season
Our Purpose: To exalt Christ in
metropolitan
Montgomery
by
dynamic and faithful worship,
aggressive evangelism both at home
and abroad, teaching the Word of
God, and equipping members to
minister to the spiritual needs of our
church and community.
PASTORAL AND
MINISTRY STAFF
Claude E. McRoberts, III
Senior Minister
Patrick W. Curles
Executive Minister
S. Michael Howell
Minister of Pastoral Care
W. Robert Pendley
Minister of Discipleship
P. Kurt Cooper
Minister to Youth
Todd Alexander
Director of Music and Organist
Rebecca S. Canerday
Director of Outreach
and Women’s Ministries
Thomas J. Danielson
Director of Missions
Michael Hogg
Director of Business Operations
WELCOME
Welcome to the family of Trinity Presbyterian Church! We believe that the Lord has
a purpose in bringing you here today, and we extend to you a genuine greeting as you
worship with us. Everyone is encouraged to sign the Friendship Registers at the center aisle end
of the pews. The Spires Room is set up to provide overflow seating for each Lord’s
Day morning worship service. Please use this seating when the sanctuary is
overcrowded or you have special worship needs. If you are new to Trinity, please
speak to a minister at one of the doors at the close of the service and inform him.
To find out more about the many opportunities to serve and learn at Trinity, please
visit our website, www.trinitypca.org. Audio enhancement units are available from
an usher in the Narthex. Our morning service is broadcast live over WNZZ AM 950
at 11:00 a.m. in the metropolitan area and on iHeart Radio on the internet. Archived
sermons may be heard at any time on our website: www.trinitypca.org.
Complimentary childcare is provided for all worship services.
Stacy S. Hamilton
Director of Children’s Ministry
Mary Cam Shaw
Youth Ministry Assistant
Alice DeMoss
Director of Preschool
1728 South Hull Street
Montgomery, AL 36104
P.O. Box 6320
Montgomery, AL 36106
334-262-3892
Fax: 334-262-4469
www.trinitypca.org
CCLI #703090