Order for the Worship of God
December 21, 2014
Welcome
Preparation for Worship
Lighting of the Advent Wreath
John 1:1-4
Harry and Dale Simpkins — 8:30
Chuck, Mary Allen, Emily, Kelly and Melissa McBride — 10:50
The Call to Worship Our Great and Gracious God
Pastor: Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come and has redeemed his people.
People: He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David as he said
through his holy prophets of long ago.
Pastor: Praise be to the Lord who has shown mercy
to our fathers and remembered his holy covenant,
the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
People: To rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
Pastor: Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom
of our God and the authority of his Christ have come.
All:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Luke 2:68-75, Revelation 12:10, Isaiah 9:6
We Praise Our Lord in Song
God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay;
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r
When we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy!
From God, our heavn’ly Father
The blessed angel came,
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same;
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name.
“Fear not, then” said the angel,
“Let nothing you affright;
This day is born a Savior
Of a pure virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in him
From Satan’s pow’r and might.”
Go, Tell It on the Mountain
Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born!
While shepherds kept their watching
O’er silent flocks by night,
Behold, throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light.
Down in a lowly manger
Our humble Christ was born,
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn.
The Old Testament Lesson
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I
have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will
not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he
will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully
bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established
justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.
Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who
spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it
and spirit to those who walk in it: "I am the LORD; I have called you in
righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a
covenant for the people, a light for the nations.
Isaiah 42:1-6
Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground)
What hope we hold this starlit night,
A King is born in Bethlehem;
Our journey long, we seek the light
That leads to the hallowed manger ground.
The Son of God, here born to bleed;
A crown of thorns would pierce his brow;
And we beheld this offering,
Exalted now, the King of kings;
Praise God for the hallowed manger ground!
Emmanuel, Emmanuel!
God incarnate here to dwell.
Emmanuel, Emmanuel,
Praise his name, Emmanuel!
Morning Prayer
We Bring God’s Tithes and Our Offerings
Offertory: Brightest and Best
R. Heber/K. Wilkinson
Eil
Hail the blest morn, when the great Mediator
Down from the regions of glory descends;
Shepherds, go worship the babe in the manger;
Lo, for his guard, the bright angels attend.
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;
Star in the east, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.
Cold on his cradle the dew drops are shining,
Low lies his bed with the beasts of the stall;
Angels adore him, in slumbers reclining;
Maker and Monarch and Savior of all.
The New Testament Lesson
Luke 2:22-35
We Receive God’s Word
The Rev. Lee Hutchings
JOY UNMEASURABLE
“Joy to Those Who Wait”
We Respond in Prayer and Praise
O Come, All Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him,
Born the King of angels!
O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him,
Christ, the Lord!
God of God, Light of Light,
Lo, he abhors not the Virgin’s womb;
Very God, begotten not created.
Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above;
Glory to God,
All glory in the highest!
We Are Sent Forth
The
Benediction
CCLI#624966
Announcements
Joy Unmeasurable
3 of 5...a Highlands Reaching Initiative!
A Sermon Series for Advent and Christmas
November 30 - “Expecting Joy”
Christmas Eve Service at Highlands: We will celebrate Christmas Eve at
Mary and Elizabeth: Strength in friendship and belief in the Messiah
Highlands with one service at 4:30 p.m. this Wednesday, December 24. All
children are welcome in the service; child care is available for those three and
under. Please invite your family and friends to this lovely celebration of our
Savior's birth.
December 14 - “Great Joy for Everyman”
Year-end Gifts Must Be Postmarked By December 31: In order for gifts to
The annunciation, Mary’s song, and the joy of a Savior
December 7 - “The Joy of Friends and Family”
The Gospel: Good news of God’s actions on our behalf
December 21 - “Joy to Those Who Wait”
The consolation of Israel...our consolation and strength
Christmas Eve “The Joy of Birth”
The birth of our Savior to an ordinary couple
December 28 - “The Joy of Strangers”
The Magi: First Gentiles to worship Jesus
the church to be eligible for the 2014 tax year, they must be in the church office
or postmarked by December 31. The Church office will be open from 9:00 a.m.
until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31, should you wish to bring your year
-end gifts in person. A locked drop box is also available at the main entrance if
you would like to bring your gift after business hours.
Inquirers Class Begins January 11: If you are interested in joining
Highlands or just want to know more about the Presbyterian faith, please
consider our Inquirers Class, which will meet at 9:30 a.m. each Sunday January
11—February 8, 2015 in the sanctuary at Highlands. For more info and to
register, visit highlandspca.org/inquirers.
Midweek@Highlands returns January 14, 2015
Spring Communicants Class Begins January 11: A communicants class for
Youth Ministry
children interested in joining the church will be offered Sunday evenings from 5
until 6 p.m. beginning January 11. Children in fourth grade or below must be
accompanied by a parent. Please register your child by emailing Laurie Nordan
at [email protected].
All weekly programs are open to visitors and take place in the youth building behind
the church (we call it “The U”). Jr. High and Sr. High meet at the same times, but
have separate programs. Come join us!
Weekly Programs (all Youth)
 Sunday School: 9:30-10:30 a.m. @ The U.
Youth Group and Small Groups will resume in January. See below for special events!
Sr. High Events:
 January 16-19: Graduating Senior Retreat, Ridge Haven Retreat Center,
Brevard, NC (register at hpcym.org)
 March 27-29: “Against the Flow” Retreat, Twin Lakes
 June 14-20: RYM Colorado Conference, Estes Park, CO
 July 11-18: Yakama Mission Trip, Yakama Indian Reservation, WA
Jr. High Events:
 March 20-22: LIVE OUT LOUD Weekend (dates changed)
 June 15-19: The Edge
 July 11-18: Mission trip. Only current 7th + 8th graders. Email or text
[email protected] if you are interested. Deadline is January 14, 2015.
“Our Glorious Hope” - 2015 Women’s Retreat: Ladies, join us January 23
and 24 at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Alabama for our annual Highlands
Women’s Retreat. Sherry Lanier will be our speaker. More info and registration
are available at highlandspca.org/women/womens-retreat.
Get Connected at Highlands! Highlands is committed to making a large,
growing church feel small by connecting its members in smaller groups. If you
are not connected in a Sunday Community or a small group Bible Study and
would like to be, contact Pastor Lee Hutchings at [email protected] or call
the church office at 601-853-0636.
Sunday Servants
Nursery Workers This Week: Emily Dixon, coordinator
Room 101
Jennifer Segrest
102
Sharon Snider
308
Brad McMahan
Go to hpcym.org for the full youth calendar and lots more!
Sr. High Coordinator: [email protected]
Sr. High Assistant Coordinator: [email protected]
Jr. High Coordinator: [email protected]
Jr. High Assistant Coordinator: [email protected]
HIGHLANDS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1160 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS 39157
Contact us at (601) 853-0636 or at [email protected].
www.highlandspca.org ∙ www.facebook.com/highlandspca ∙ twitter.com/highlandspca
104
Corrie Sigler
307
David Segrest
Chami Kane
105
Jim Snider
Early Service
Megan Kelly
McKenzie Robinson
Nursery Workers Next Week: Julie Crosland, coordinator
Room 101
Mary Ann Simpkins
308
John Spencer
102
Claire Spencer
104
Patricia Stewart
307
Monty Simpkins
Lacey Madden
Greeters Next Week:
8:30 - Scott and Maggie Jones, Judy Austin
9:30 and 10:30— Ben and Shawn Edwards
105
Andy Sensing
Early Service
Allie Brown
Meg Watson
December 21, 2014
Fourth Sunday in Advent
Morning Worship ~ 8:30 a.m. and 10:50 a.m.
Sunday School and Adult Communities ~ 9:30 a.m.