Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 21, 2008

VISITORS
We consider it a great privilege to worship the Lord Jesus Christ with you today. In fact, we receive
your presence as a gracious gift from God. In return, we would love to bless you according to your
needs. Please let us know how we can do so.

PRAYER
If you would like personal prayer this morning, please make your way to the hallway during
communion. One of our intercessors would love to pray with you.

...in our hearts, our homes, our church and our world.
HOLY EUCHARIST
As you enter the church, please keep silence as we prepare our hearts for worship.

The Opening Acclamation

Celebrant Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen.

Songs of Praise

Desired of All the Nations

Hear us praying from the darkness
Let this moment be the start of the kingdom of God
The kingdom of God
Send the One that You have promised
Send Him now to live among us
The Light of the world
The Light of the world
The glorious One
Outshining the sun

(Chorus)
The desired of all the nations will come
And the earth will be filled with His glory
The desired of all the nations will come
And the earth will be filled with His glory

We are watching we are waiting

Ev'ry heart anticipating all over the earth
All over the earth
We will see You prove Your mercy
We will bow and call You worthy
And crown You our King
And crown You our King
The glorious One
Outshining the sun

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Offering
Over the skies of Bethlehem appeared a star
While angels sang to lowly shepherds
Three wise men seeking truth traveled from afar
Hoping to find the Child from heaven
Falling on their knees they bowed
Before the humble Prince of Peace

(Chorus)
I bring an offering of worship to my King
No one on earth deserves the praises that I sing
Jesus may You receive the honor that You're due
O Lord I bring an offering to You

The sun cannot compare to the glory of Your love

There is no shadow in Your presence
No mortal man would dare to stand before Your throne
Before the Holy One of heaven
It's only by Your blood, and it's only through Your mercy
Lord I come

The Collect of the Day

Celebrant The Lord be with you.

People And also with you.
Celebrant Let us pray.

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his
coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity
of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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LITURGY OF THE WORD
Please be seated.

The First Lesson: 2 Samuel 7: 4, 8-16

Psalm 132: 8-15

The psalm will be read as prompted by the Lector.
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Rise up, O Lord, and go to your resting-place, *
you and the ark of your might.
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Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, *
and let your faithful shout for joy.
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For your servant David’s sake *
do not turn away the face of your anointed one.
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The Lord swore to David a sure oath *
from which he will not turn back:
‘One of the sons of your body *
I will set on your throne.
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If your sons keep my covenant and my decrees that I shall teach them, *
their sons also, for evermore, shall sit on your throne.’
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For the Lord has chosen Zion; *
he has desired it for his habitation:
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‘This is my resting-place for ever; *
here I will reside, for I have desired it.
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I will abundantly bless its provisions; *
I will satisfy its poor with bread.
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Its priests I will clothe with salvation, *
and its faithful will shout for joy.
17
There I will cause a horn to sprout up for David; *
I have prepared a lamp for my anointed one.
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His enemies I will clothe with disgrace, *
but on him, his crown will gleam.’

The Second Lesson: Romans 16:25-27

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The Alleluia
Please stand and sing

The Holy Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

Please remain standing for the reading of the Gospel.

The Sermon
Please be seated.

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The Nicene Creed
Please stand.

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

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The Prayers of the People
Please stand, be seated, kneel, or lie face down on the floor in awe of God’s willingness to hear our prayers.

Members: Allen Family; Dean Johnson; Liam Johnson; Rhodes Family; Gary Westhausen; White Family

Vestry: Jeff Cardwell; Matt Creswell; Loys Johnson; George Mankos; Herb Poole; Annette Waldroop

AMiA Churches: Grace Anglican Church (Gastonia); Epiphany Anglican Church (Charlottesville, VA)

Seminarians: Loys Johnson, Jr.; Conor Mooney

,
Others: Martin Allen; Angell Family; Sandy Baysinger; Kat Brinyear; Lacey Brown; Fritzy Bullis (Shyla’s
brother-has sarcoidosis); Comer Family; Jay Crocker; Sarah Dulin; Anne Greene; Tom Gridley; Jack
Jenkins (Jennifer Creswell’s father); David & Christina Kristynik and David’s military unit in Iraq; Shelley
Makahon; Hayley Makohon Ronnie Martin; Nancy Niner; Norma Nowak; Christine & Colin O’Connell;
John Robinson; Keith Roblin; Steven Rowland; Jim Sampson; Emma Schurmeier; Sharon Shaver; Cindy
Sheets; Smithey family; Martha Ann Springer; Margaret Rose Todd; Carroll Waldroop; Lewis Wilhelm;
Larry Whitehead.

In the course of the silence after each bidding, the People offer their own prayers, either silently or aloud.

I ask your prayers for God’s people throughout the world; for our Bishop, TJ; for those gathered
here; and for all ministers and people.
Pray for the Church. Silence

I ask your prayers for peace; for goodwill among nations; and for the well being of all people.
Pray for justice and peace. Silence

I ask your prayers for the fatherless, the persecuted, the exploited, and those in prison.
Pray for those in any need or trouble. Silence

I ask your prayers for those who do not yet believe, and for those who have lost their faith, that
they may receive the light of the Gospel.
Pray for the lost in our families and in our communities. Silence

I ask your prayers for all who seek God, or a deeper knowledge of him.
Pray that they may find and be found by him. Silence

Members of the congregation may ask the prayers or the thanksgivings of those present

I ask your prayers for _____________. Silence

I ask your thanksgiving for ______________. Silence

Praise God for those in every generation in whom Christ has been honored.
Pray that we may have grace to glorify Christ in our own day. Silence
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The Confession of Sin
And now, O Father, we pray to you also for our greatest need, the forgiveness of our sins:
Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father;
in your compassion forgive us our sins,
known and unknown,
things done and left undone;
and so uphold us by your Spirit
that we may live and serve you in newness of life,
to the honor and glory of your Name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen
us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen.

The Peace
Celebrant May the peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pastor's Forum in December

We have set aside December to discover God's heart for the lost. Using Bill Hybels' Just Walk
Across the Room as a supplement to scripture, we are asking the Lord to break our hearts over the
things that break his heart. Join us today for the last session.

Evening Prayer Services to Celebrate Advent

Join us every Sunday evening in Advent from 6:30 - 7:30pm for a time of celebration. Childcare is
provided.

Christmas Eve Service

Bring family and friends and join us Christmas Eve at 5:30pm as we celebrate the birth of our Lord.

Church Office Closed

The church office will be closed on December 25 and 26th. The staff at Good Shepherd wish you
and your family a very merry Christmas.
.

For a complete list of current announcements, please visit our website at www.tcotgs.org.

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HOLY COMMUNION

The Offertory: Instrumental

The Doxology

The Great Thanksgiving

Please remain standing.

Celebrant The Lord be with you.

People And also with you.
Celebrant Lift up your hearts.
People We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People It is right to give him thanks and praise.

The Sanctus
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Please be seated as the Celebrant continues.

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The Mystery of Our Faith
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Please remain seated as the Celebrant continues.

The Lord’s Prayer

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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant Alleluia! Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us.
People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!

The Invitation
Celebrant These are the gifts of God for the people of God. Take them in
remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by
faith, with thanksgiving.

All baptized disciples of Jesus Christ are welcome at God’s table. Please be seated until your row is invited to come.
At this time, parents may return to the nursery to escort your children back to the sanctuary for communion.

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The Communion Hymns
Please be seated and sing

Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming

Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.

Isaiah ’twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;

With Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.
To show God’s love aright, she bore to men a Savior,
When half spent was the night.

O Savior, Child of Mary, who felt our human woe,

O Savior, King of glory, who dost our weakness know;
Bring us at length we pray, to the bright courts of Heaven,
And to the endless day!

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly minded,
for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,

as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords in human vesture,
in the Body and the Blood
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven

spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of Light descendeth

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from the realms of endless day,
that the powers of hell may vanish
as the darkness clears away.

At his feet the six-winged seraph;

cherubim with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the Presence,
as with ceaseless voice they cry,
"Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, Lord Most High!"

Here I am to Worship
Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes let me see
Beauty that made
This heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You

(chorus)
So here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days

Oh so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly You came
To the earth You created
All for love's sake became poor

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The Post-Communion Prayer
Please stand and say together

Almighty and everliving God,

we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food
of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ;
and for assuring us in these holy mysteries
that we are living members of the Body of your Son,
and heirs of your eternal kingdom.
And now, Father, send us out
to do the work you have given us to do,
to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord.
To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen

The Blessing

The Hymn in Recession

Please remain standing and sing.

One Pure and Holy Passion

Give me one pure and holy passion,
Give me one magnificent obsession,
Jesus give me one glorious ambition for my life:
To know and follow hard after You.

To know and follow hard after You,

To grow as Your disciple in your truth,
This world is empty, pale and poor
Compared to knowing You my Lord,
Lead me on and I will run after You,
Lead me on and I will run after You.

The Dismissal
Deacon Let us go forth in the name of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia!
People Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia!

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 Discipleship Hour – Sundays @ 11
Pastor’s Forum
Leader: Kyle Wallace
Participants: All Adults
Purpose: Teaching on a host of topics, all relevant to following Christ

Leadership Huddle
Leaders: Kyle & Karyn Wallace
Participants: Discipleship Group Leaders (and those in training)
Purpose: Equipping leaders with the resources necessary to lead fruitful groups

Deeper Waters
Leader: Eric Speece
Participants: Adults
Purpose: Processing the morning’s sermon and its application in our lives

Pursuit
Leaders: Conor Mooney, Liz Shevock
Participants: Middle School & Senior High Students
Purpose: Learning and applying God's Word as young followers of Christ

Character Crew
Leaders: Ken & Ellyn Baeszler, TBD
Participants: Children, ages 7-10
Purpose: Developing godly character within a community of peers

Godly Play
Leaders: Cynthia Plumb, Tricia Schurmeier (with Jess Bradshaw)
Participants: Children, ages 3-6
Purpose: Discovering the stories of Scripture in a fun, hands-on way

Nursery
Leaders: Shameka Jenkins, Gabrielle Weinberg
Participants: Children, ages Newborn-2
Purpose: Nurturing an environment of love and security for our youngest children

Adults Youth Children

Forum Huddle Deeper Pursuit Crew Godly Play Nursery

1st Sunday X X X X X

2nd Sunday X X X X X X

3rd Sunday X X X X X

4th Sunday X X X X X X

5th Sunday No Discipleship Hour

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BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES *
December Birthdays
04 Cynthia Plumb 05 Edna Rowland 06 Pete Simmons
07 Roman Ruiz-Esparza 07 Robert Zawtocki 08 Phillis Cardwell
20 Christopher Cardwell 26 Bill Coggan 28 Ken Carter
30 Peggy Johnson
December Anniversaries
18 Jim & Dot Grogan 19 David & Susan Foxx 30 Ken & Ellyn Baeszler

* If your name has been overlooked, please contact the office at 704.895.0059.

ALTAR FLOWERS: Please contact Annette Waldroop at 704-528-3397 to make a donation.

COTGS Stewardship: Dec 9 – Dec 15 Sept – Dec 15

Tithes & Offerings $ 1895.52 $ 50,981.77
Grant Income $ 1929.43 $ 21,002.86
Expenses $ 6473.69 $ 79,612.83
Total (- $ 2648.74 ) (- $ 7,628.20 )
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test me
now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour
out for you a blessing until it overflows.” ” Malachi 3: 10

CONTACTS
The Church of the Good Shepherd Melanie Johnson, Webmaster, melanie@tcotgs.org
P.O. Box 643 Pat Melchor, Administrative Assistant, pat@tcotgs.org
Davidson, NC 28036 Conor Mooney, Pastor to Students, conor@tcotgs.org
704/895-0059 Eric Speece, Director of Music & the Arts, eric@tcotgs.org
www.tcotgs.org Kyle Wallace, Lead Pastor, kyle@tcotgs.org

Vestry
Jeff Cardwell (Senior Warden) Matt Creswell
Loys Johnson, Sr. (Treasurer) George Mankos (Junior Warden)
Herb Poole Annette Waldroop

CCLI#2329714
Desired of All the Nations: David Moffitt, Michael Hurst, Sure C. Smith © 2006 New Spring / CCTB Music Publishing
Offering: Paul Baloche  2002 Integrity’s Hosanna Music
Alleluia: Taize Music
God of Justice: Time Hughes © 2004 Thank You Music
Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming: Public Domain
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence: (Liturgy of St. James, 4thc.) Public Domain
Here I Am To Worship: Tim Hughes, © 2001 Kingsway's ThankYou Music
One Pure and Holy Passion: Mark Altrogge; © 1988 Sovereign Grace Praise, Dayspring Music, LLC

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