Sunday, September 7, 2008

SUNDAY, December 6, 2009

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

* * * * * *= * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

WE GATHER WITH JOY BEFORE GOD

Prelude &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Jamie Daugherty

Choral Introit (11a.m.) = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; Chancel Choir

“Introit for Advent”

Call to Worship<= /b>

One:        Blessed be the Lord God of I= srael!
All:      Ble= ssed be the Lord God of I= srael,
One:       For God is with us, smiling upon us with love.
All:      Ble= ssed be the Lord God of I= srael,
One:       For Christ has saved us from our enemies, our sins, and our fears.
All:      Ble= ssed be the Lord God of I= srael,
One:       For God's Spirit shines upon us, giving light for our darkness.
All:      Blessed be the Lord God of I= srael!
One:       Let us worship God together.=

*Hym= n of Praise      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;         No 245 v. 1,2

̶= 0;O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

=

*Lig= hting of the Advent Candle    &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;       8:30 a.m. =

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;     11:00 a.m. Choir

*Hym= n of Praise         =                 &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; No. 245 v. 3,4

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

&= nbsp;

*Prayer of Confession (Unison)

We come before you, Mighty God, asking forgiveness and cleansing for our lives that are rough and unfinished. Clea= nse us, purify us, give us Your gentle love, Your pu= re peace, and Your shining hope. Let the offering of our lives be beautiful and unhindered. Let our hearts be steadfast and sure as we face the future, kno= wing that the future is Yours and held in Your kind a= nd loving hands. Amen.

Silent Prayers of Confession

Words of Assu= rance

The Psalmist proclaims: "Blessed be the God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. By the tender mercy of our God, = the dawn from on high will break upon us."

"Your sins are forgiven. Go and sin no more."

Response: "Your sins are forgiven. Go a= nd sin no more."

*Affirmation of Faith (Unison)        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;       Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of h= eaven and earth; 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 crucifie= d, 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 Fat= her Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the h= oly catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiven= ess of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

*Congregational Response        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;             = No. 813

̶= 0;Gloria Patri”

Ritual of Friendship<= o:p>

Children’s Moments (11 a.m.)      = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp; Mary Snow

(After the message, children are i= nvited downstairs to the Kindergarten Room for Children’s Church with Christi Augustine, or return to their parents in the pews.)

Choral Anthem (11a.m.) =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;     Carl J. Nygard, Jr.

“Carol of the Star”

Prayers of the People   &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;         The Lord’s Prayer

Choral Response (11 a.m.)<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'>        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Chancel Choir

“Love Came Down at ChristmasR= 21;

WE RESPO= ND WITH<= /span> JOY TO GOD&#= 8217;S GRACE=

The Offering

      = ;      *“Doxology”        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;         No. 812

            *Prayer of Dedication

Choral Response = (11 a.m.)     &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;     Chancel Choir

“All Things Come of Thee”<= o:p>

CELEB= RATION OF COMMUNION (8:30 a.m.)

= ; Distribution of the Elements

= ;         =           Bread - Individually  =    Juice – Together

=

GOD SPEAK= S THROU= GH HIS WORD<= o:p>

Scripture: Malachi 3:1-4            =             &nb= sp;       Old Testament page 889

Sermon Title:= “Christians Stink – the odor= ant of the world.”   &= nbsp;

= ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;        Rev. Nathan Esser

DEPAR= TING TO SERVE=

*Closing Hymn   &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;         No. 244

“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”

*Prayer Response (Everyone sin= gs)

The = time has come, O Lord, for us to leave this place;

Guid= e us and protect us and lead us in Thy grace;

Wher= ever life may take us as we go our separate ways;

Help= us share with others the things we’ve shared today;

May = the peace of God the Father and the love of Christ His Son

Guid= e us in the days ahead and strengthen us each one;

May = the blessings of the Spirit fill us from within;

God = bless us and return us to this fellowship once again. Amen.

=

Postlude    = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;       Jamie Daugherty

* * * * * *= * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

*Please stand, if able.

=

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!. . .

"Carriers of the Light" will be performed during the Children's Christmas Pa= geant next Sunday, December 13th at 5 p.m. A potluck dinner will follow the performance. . . . and

"One Small Child" - A Christmas Cantata will be performed by our Chancel Choir on Sunday, December 20th at 11 a.m. = (One service only.)

Don't miss these two great opportunities to experience a musical telling of the Christmas Story.

Mars United Presbyterian Church

P.O. Box 805, 232 Crowe Avenue=

Mars, PA 16046=

724-625-1365

Website: www.mars-up.org

Email: marsup@mars-up.org

Available at the back of the Sanctuary:

·      = Large print bulletins and hymnals.

·      = Hearing devices for listening assistance.

·      = Chil= dren’s worship activity bulletins.

=

MARS = UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

&= nbsp;

We are your Hometown Church:<= /span>

Faithful in tradition, loving in fellowship,

And reaching for tomorrow.<= /i>

Rev. Nathan Esser, Pas= tor

Cell phone: 724-355-0426

Sean Brubaker, Youth Director

Cell phone: 724-591-3663

Fall/Winter Worship Times

The Early Service – 8:30 a.m.

Morning Worship – 11:00 a.m.

=

Sunday School for all ages: 9:45 a.m.

Mars United Presbyterian Church

T= oday, December 6, 2009 – Second Sunday of Advent

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Blood Drive in the Social Hall

8:30= a.m.        THE EARLY WORSHIP SERVICE

9:20 a.m. &= nbsp;      Pageant Practice (through 11 a.m. Worship)

9:45 a.m. &= nbsp;      Sunday School for all ages

11:0= 0 a.m.      THE MORNING WORSHIP SERVIC

6:30 p.m. &= nbsp;      High School Youth Group

Worship Fundraising photos will be taken after services Deacon’s White Envelope Emergency Fund Collection=

Food Bank Collection of Non-Perishables=

M= onday, December 7, 2009

9:00 a.m. &= nbsp;      Salvation Army Treasures for Children Gifts are due!

1:30 p.m. &= nbsp;      Women’s Bible Study

6:00 p.m. &= nbsp;      Building & Grounds Committee Meeting in the office

7:00 p.m. &= nbsp;      Deacons’ Meeting in the Board room

7:00 p.m. &= nbsp;      Boy Scout Leaders meet in the Social Hall

T= uesday, December 8, 2009

9:00 a.m. &= nbsp;      A-Team

4:15 p.m.            = Feed My Sheep Ministry Program meet at church

6:30 p.m.            = Middle School Youth Group

8:00 p.m. &= nbsp;      A.A. meets in the Social Hall

W= ednesday, December 9, 2009

7:30 a.m.            = Bible Study at Eat ‘n Park on Route 8

9:00 a.m.            = The Material Girls sew in the Boardroom

Noon     &n= bsp;            = ; Advent Prayer Hour in the Sanctuary

6:00 p.m.            = Girl Scouts meet in the Social Hall

6:30 p.m.            = Girl Scouts meet in the YAK Classroom

6:30 p.m.            = Choir Rehearsal

7:45 p.m.            = Cantata Rehearsal

Thursday, December 10, 2009=

9:00 a.m.            = Bible Study in the Youth Room

4:30 p.m.            = Girl Scouts meet in the Social Hall

6:00 p.m.            = Stewardship Committee meets in the office

6:30 p.m.            = Girl Scouts meet in the Social Hall

6:30 p.m.            = Scouts practice caroling in YAK classroom

Saturday, December 12, 2009=

10:00 a.m.            Pageant Practice until noon

Sunday, December 13, 2009 - Third Sunday of Advent

8:30= a.m.        THE EARLY WORSHIP SERVICE

9:20 a.m. &= nbsp;      Children’s Pageant Practice (through 11 a.m. Worship)

9:45 a.m. &= nbsp;      Sunday School for all ages

11:0= 0 a.m.      THE MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE

5:00= p.m.       Child= ren’s Christmas Pageant & Potluck Dinner

<= span style=3D'text-decoration:none'>

SAMARI= TAN’s PURSE <= span style=3D'text-transform:none;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;text-u= nderline: none'>Alternative Advent Gift Market begins today. Samaritan’s Purse is an effective charity that utilizes $.89 of every $1.00 received to provide direct aid to their clients in ministry. Your gifts will be received in the= Tarry ‘n Talk area by a representative of the Mission & Outreach Committee. See the gift list enclosed in the bulletin today.

TARRY ‘n TALK–Please join us= after worship today for muffins provided by Mike Bocheff and John Ivory. Hosts are the Mem= bership Committee: Paul Bhame, Keith Nichols and Bea Moore.

G= REETERS: Elder: Mike Bocheff; Deacon: Karen Moore
VAN DRIVER: Chuck Moore   Next Sunday= : Chuck Moore

NURSERY: Angela Guesman    Next Sunday:= Colleen Morris

JUNIOR CHURCH: Christi Augustine and Alma = Staskiewicz

POINSETTIA ORDER FORMS are included today. Poinsettias w= ill be displayed as part of our Christmas Eve Worship services, and available for = you to take home after the services that evening. Order Deadline: Dec. 13.

=

Last Week’s Collection and Attendance

Current Expense:=             &nb= sp;             $2,2= 97.50   Attendance Last Sunday:   174

Mission= : =         &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;     $215.00      Attendance a Year Ago: 167

Organ Fund:&nbs= p;       =             &nb= sp;            =     $20.00        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Compassion: $1.00

MUP Van &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =    $4.00        &= nbsp;       Sunday School: $27.57

Building Improvements:           &nb= sp;        $27.00 Weekly budget needs: $5,160.00

   = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;

FEED MY SHEEP MINISTRIES On Tu= esday, December 8, meet at church at 4:15 to travel to Zelienople to prepare sandwiches and take them downtown for distribution. Return around 8:30 p.m. See Jennifer Ivory if you have questions.

=

MISSING. . .   NNN PHOTO ALBUM <= span style=3D'font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>The cherished photo al= bum that was located in the NNN Classroom is missing. ICE CREAM SCOOP Ther= e is a scoop missing from the kitchen. If you know where these items are, please help us get them returned as soon as possible

=

PLEASE BE IN PRAYER:   Let us know if someone should be added.

Russell Crawford (Angela Guesman’s father)      =             &nb= sp;      Georgia Crawford              &= nbsp;

Herschel Hartford (nep= hew of the Gillam’s)            = ;            &n= bsp;       Lou Beckwith

Kristopher Robinson (22 months, Roos’ friend)  &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;   Barb Ebert

Nancy Moore (Sam Moore’s cousin)   &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;     Jim Govan

Fred Augustine (father= of John Augustine)    &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Norman “Pete” Edwards

BLANKET DRIVE FOR= THE HOMELESS Local Brownie Troop 20790 is holding a blanket drive for the homeless of Butler thru December 13th. The blankets do not need to be new, but in reasona= ble condition. Please bring your blankets to church and place them by the elevator doors or in the church office. For Information please call M= ary Lou Tabisz at 724 -898 -2184.

YOUTH NEWS

YOUTH GROUP: 6:30 p.m. High School; Tues., 6:30= p.m. Grades 6-8.

SEAN   Email: sean@mars-up.org        &= nbsp; Cell phone: 724-591-3663

=