WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE

LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLES

HYMN “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” #9 (vss. 1, 2)

CALL TO CONFESSION

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In humility and faith, let us confess our sin to God.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION – St. Augustine

Lord Jesus, as you have come to us, let us now come to you. Our hearts are cold.

Warm them with your selfless love. Our hearts are sinful. Cleanse them with

your precious blood. Our hearts are weak. Strengthen them with your joyous

Spirit. Our hearts are empty. Fill them with your divine presence. Lord Jesus,

our hearts are yours. Possess them always and only for yourself…

Silent Prayers of confession

WORDS OF ASSURANCE

May the God of peace cleanse you through and through. The promise from Scripture is that our whole being -- spirit, soul and body will be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (based on 1 Thessalonians 5:23) Rejoice and give thanks, for we receive forgiveness and healing in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanks be to God!

GLORIA

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

Speak to us, Lord. Speak to us in the waiting, the watching, the hoping, the longing, the sorrow, the sighing, the rejoicing. Speak to us by your Word in these Advent days, and walk with us until the day of your coming. Amen.

SCRIPTURE LESSONS: John 15: 1-11

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. ⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. ⁹ “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

SERMON: “Finding Joy” Rev. Barrett Ingram

HYMN “Joy to the World!” #40 (vss. 2, 3)

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his

only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the

third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right

hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the

dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic* Church; the communion of saints; the

forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

*“catholic” (little c) is translated as “universal” and is not a reference to the Roman Catholic Church.

PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

BENEDICTION

*POSTLUDE

Announcements

Presbyterian Women remember to have your Thank Offering into the church office today.

--- The Christmas Joy Gift Offering can be given anytime up till December 27^th.

December 24^th – Christmas Eve Communion service

--- All contributions for the church need to be in the office by December 27^th to be recorded for the year 2020.

Prayer List:

Marguerite Hufham, Sarah Melvin, Louise Quick, Ronnie Rush, Juanita McGraw, Betty Johnson, Jane Minard, Bill Jackson, Darrel Melvin, Happy Lashlee, Gerry Carey, Becky Regan, Mary Ward, Lucille Hood, Amy Johnson, Bill Marsh, Esther Collier, Madeline NcNeill Long, Shannon Wilcox, Ted Johnson, Clara Wooten Hunsucker, Ernest Ray Long, Jo Campbell, Linda Smith, Susan and David Butler, Doug Bergeron, Margaret Ingram, Bill Greene, Allison Ward, Jimmy Hickman, Holly Eppley, Betty Faircloth, Susan Deans, Carey King, Sammy Hatcher, Pat Grainger, Kim Worley Sellers, Carmen McQueen, Claudia Hester, Wynn Hair family, Lin Weeks, Billy Hester, Randall Collins, Nellie Macon, Richard and Mary Jane Howell, Susan Priest, David Callihan