Sunday, December 10, 2023 - 2nd Sunday of Advent

CCLI Copyright License 1030652 Size A Streaming License 20686773 Size A (Disclosure: First Presbyterian Church, and its members, do not own any rights to the music played during this service, nor do they receive any royalties for using these pieces. Our license allows us to use the songs we list that are in the “Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal”) We thank you for viewing our Sunday morning worship service of December 10, 2023, the 2nd Sunday of Advent. We pray that you feel God’s love around you as you join us. Our liturgist for this Sunday service was Lisa Paige. Our Advent Candle reader was Rob, with Melissa Hadley lighting the second purple candle for the Advent Season. Our congregation sang the following hymns from our hymnal, “Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal” (used with permission): 701 “Sanctuary” (our gathering song) 106 “Prepare the Way, O Zion” 96 “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry” 87 “Comfort, Comfort Now My People” Our first hymn was a piece written by our interim pastor, Rev. Charles Freeman, entitled “A voice cries out in the wilderness,” music: Tune CAROL, Richard Storrs Willis, 1850 (see Glory to God, #123) Our Special Music was played by Julia Freeman, who played “Of the Father’s Love Begotten,” arr. Thomas Keesecker. Our scripture readings were as follows: Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 40:1-111 New Testament Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-15a Gospel Reading: Mark 1:1-8 Pastor Charles’ sermon was entitled “Peace” Our Affirmation of Faith was from the Scots Confession, from the Book of Confessions 3.06. Our pianist/organist, Michael Clabough, played the following songs: Prelude: Chorale Prelude, "Saviour Of All Nations, Come" BWV 659 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), From the 'Great Eighteen' Chorale Preludes; Tune: advent hymn, Veni Redemptor Gentium, Ambrose of Milan, 1174; adapted as Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, Martin Luther, 1523 Offertory: Free improvisation, M. Clabough, 10 December 2023 Postulude: Chorale Fantasia, "All Praise to Jesus' Glorious Name", BWV 722 Johann Sebastian Bach; From the Weihnachtlicher Orgel-Choralzyklus (Christmas Organ Chorale Cycle), ca. 1704; Tune: plainsong ca. 1400, adapted as Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, Martin Luther, 1524 ABOUT THE MUSIC: "Mike does a good job, but he plays a lot, and I mean A LOT, of Bach"; or so (correctly) stated my friend and mentor Dr. James Boeringer. It's hard not to, as ol' JSB (or the 'Big Wig', as I have nicknamed him) composed so much magnificent Advent and Christmas music. Heard to-day are Bach's tuneful setting of the Advent hymn "Saviour of the Nations, Come" from the Great 18, or Leipzig 18, chorale preludes which the great composer wrote in the last decade of his life, and the brief fantasia on "All Praise to Jesus' Glorious Name" which is the first of a four-piece cycle of Christmas organ chorales proceeding in sharp keys around the circle of 5ths, and dates from the beginning of Bach's career. Thanks, and I hope I don't seem to have gone off my Lutheran deep end! - Mike We thank you for joining us today, and we pray you are blessed by this service. If you would like to attend our services, we meet at 10:00 a.m. June through August, and 10:45 a.m. September through May (CST). Any and all are welcomed to join us in worship. First Presbyterian Church 201 S. 5th Street P.O. Box 612 Independence, KS 67301 (620) 331-0241 Our Pastor is Interim Pastor Rev. Charles S. Freeman Visit our website at: http://fpc-indy-ks.org/ Visit us on Facebook at: First Presbyterian Church, Independence, Kansas   / indyfirstpresbyterian   . Our office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and closed on Fridays. OUR MISSION STATEMENT: Because of God’s grace, love, and gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, we worship, witness, teach and serve. THE LORD'S PRAYER: "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be they 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 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, forever. Amen." We celebrate communion the first Sunday of each month. All in attendance are invited to participate in communion as we practice open communion. For communion, our custom is to partake of the bread as it is passed, and hold the cup of grape juice until all have been served. We offer gluten free bread at the center of the communion tray. You need not be a member of FPC, or any Presbyterian Church, to commune during the service as we practice open communion.