December 13, 2020

Christ Presbyterian Church

Virtual Worship Service

Facebook Live: @christpc

Audio Live Stream: www.largocpc.org
Call and Listen: 351-888-7756
Cell Phone Text: CALL ME
 Welcome to Sunday Worship
3rd Sunday in Advent, December 13, 2020 10:00 am
Welcome and Announcements
GATHERING AROUND THE WORD
Advent Reading and Wreath Lighting: Bill and Pat McMullen
Watch and wait for Christ’s coming! Light candles of hope, peace, joy,
and love, remembering the promises of God with prayer. We light this
candle in hope. We light this candle for peace. We light this candle for
joy. Hear God’s promise of joy from Isaiah 61:
“The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed
me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up
the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to
the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of
vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; I will faithfully give
them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with
them. Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their
offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that
they are a people whom the Lord has blessed.”

Advent Response: Carl Sarine

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

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Call to Worship Isaiah 61
One: I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult
in my God.
All: For you have clothed me with the garments of
salvation, you have covered me with the robe of
righteousness.
One: For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden
causes what is sown in it to spring up.
All: So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all nations.

Hymn
Life Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates
Lift us your heads, ye mighty gates,
Behold the King of glory waits;
The King of kings is drawing near;
The Savior of the world is here!
Fling wide the portals of your heart; Make it a temple, set apart
From earthly use for heaven’s employ,
Adorned with prayer, and love, and joy.
Redeemer, come! I open wide My heart to Thee;
here, Lord, abide. Let me Thy inner presence feel;
Thy grace and love in me reveal.

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Call to Reconciliation
Prayer of Confession
All: O God of the Covenant, have mercy upon us as we make our
confession. The afflicted await good tidings. The brokenhearted
would have their wounds bound. The captives still yearn for
freedom, and those who mourn remain to be comforted.
Forgive us who fail to follow Christ’s call to faithful ministry;
restore us and make us worthy to serve in his name.

Silent Confession
Assurance of Pardon
One: Brothers and sisters, hear what Paul writes concerning the
assurance we have in Christ: “May the God of peace . . . sanctify
you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept
sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The one who calls you is faithful, and will do it.”
All: Together we are the Body of Christ. Thanks be to God!

PROCLAIMING THE WORD

Prayer of Illumination
Reading from the Epistle
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the
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Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold
fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. May the God of
peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and
body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (1 Th 5:16-24). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

One: This is the Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God!
Special Music: J S Bach
Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring
Solo – Susan Taylor
Reading from the Gospel
Luke 1:46b-55
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in
God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his
servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for
the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He
has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the
thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their
thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good
things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to
our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Lk 1:46b-55). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
One: This is the Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God!
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Sermon Rev. John Scott

“Advent Joy”
RESPONDING TO THE WORD
Hymn
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Joyful, joyful we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love!
Hearts unfold like flowers before thee,
opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
drive the dark of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day.
All thy works with joy surround thee;
earth and heaven reflect thy rays;
stars and angels sing around thee,
center of unbroken praise.
Filed and forest, vale and mountain,
flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and lowing fountain,
call us to rejoice in thee.
Mortals, join the happy chorus
which the morning stars began.
Love divine is reigning o’er us,
joining all in heavens plan.
Ever singing, march we onward,
victors in the midst of strife.
Joyful music leads us sunward
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 in the triumph song of life.
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.

Prayers of the People

The Lord’s Prayer
GOING OUT INTO THE WORLD

Hymn
Watchman, Tell Us of the Night
Watchman, tell us of the night,
What its signs of promise are.
Traveler, o’er yon mountain’s height,
See that glory beaming star.
Watchman, does its beauteous ray
Aught of joy or hope fore tell?
Traveler, yes: it brings the day, Promised day of Israel.
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 Watchman, tell us of the night, Higher yet that star ascends.
Traveler, blessedness and light,
Peace and truth its course portends.
Watchman, will its beams alone
Gild the spot that gave them birth?
Traveler, ages are its own; See, it bursts o’er all the earth.
Watchman, tell us of the night,
For the morning seems to dawn.
Traveler, darkness takes its flight,
doubt and terror are withdrawn.
Watchman, let your wandering cease;
Hasten to your quiet home.
Traveler, lo, the Prince of Peace,
Lo, the Son of God is come!
Benediction
Postlude

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 ANNOUNCEMENTS
Christmas Baskets
Thank you for your help in
supporting Thanksgiving baskets
given to 10 families in need in our
neighborhood. CPC is planning
on distributing at least 12 food
baskets for Christmas. We will
purchase select items to help a
family prepare a nice Christmas
meal and provide them a Publix
gift card for a meat of their choice.
Monetary contributions can be made to the church and marked
“Christmas Baskets.” Thank you for supporting this outreach
ministry.
CPC Outreach to our Neighborhood
CPC is working to address hunger issues in our community by
making and distributing meals weekly. They are distributed on
Tuesdays at 5 pm front of the church. We gather at 4 pm in
Don Airey Hall following COVID-19 precautions to prepare the
meals. Thank you for your continued support.

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Blessings Box
It was just announced this
past week that 1 in 4 children
are going hungry. Our church
has the opportunity to make
real change in our
neighborhood. The outdoor
food pantry is available for
anyone to come and take what they need. Your help is needed
to keep the pantry full during this Advent season. Please drop
off your items to the church on Tuesdays between 4 and 6 pm.
Please call the church office to arrange an alternative drop off
time or a pick-up your food donations. We are in need of
canned meats at his time. Please ensure your food
donations are not perishable or expired use by dates. Thank
you for your support as we bring hope to our neighborhood.
Wednesday Boxed Dinners
During the busy Advent season, June continues to offer meals on
Wednesday nights for delivery or pick-up. This week’s menu is
Greek salad, chicken strips, pita bread, Tzatziki sauce, and
carrot cake. Remember you can be added to the list for a meal at
any time. We are asking for donations to help with the cost of food
and preparation. If interested in receiving a meal, please contact
June Sanchez at 727-409-4199. Limited delivery available.
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Wednesday Night Worship
Join us from the comfort of your home as gather for our midweek
program. There will be music and a short devotional message
relating to the season of Advent. It is available at 6:30 pm via the
church Facebook page @christpc and may be viewed at any
time thereafter.
Lessons & Carols - Christmas Eve
Our Christmas Eve program of Lessons and
Carols will be live streamed at 5 pm. As you
gather in the comfort of your home, enjoy
familiar carols, special music, and traditional
readings. We invite you to light a candle in your
home during the closing hymn “Silent Night.”
Christmas Eve Offering
The annual Christmas Eve Offering will be collected via mail or
drop off this year. The Good Samaritan fund in 2020 has
supported over 100 individuals with bus passes, fuel cards,
Publix cards, and vouchers. Due to the current economic
situation in our community, this fund desperately needs to be
replenished so we are asking that you consider sending in your
Christmas Eve offering and marking it ‘Good Samaritan Fund.’

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December Stewardship Update
Your CPC leadership thanks you for your continued support in financial gifts
for the ministries of the church especially in this time as we have all been
affected by Covid-19. In October, giving was at only about half of our
budget. As the year is coming to a close, we are grateful for the 2021
Stewardship pledge cards that we have received so far. For those who
have not done so yet, please consider returning your pledge card as
soon as possible to help us better determine our ministry funding for
the coming year. If you have been making gifts in support of the ministries
here at Christ Presbyterian Church, we thank you for your generous heart.
If you have not given recently, we encourage you to consider doing so.
Ways to give from home:
1. Online at www.largocpc.org
2. Through GIVEplus App on Apple or Android devices
3. Mail a gift directly to the church
4. Use the bill pay option through your bank.
Your giving through any of these options allows us to meet the needs
of the ministries that Christ has entrusted us with.
CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Phone: 727-584-8695 • Fax: 727-585-1079 • 3115 Dryer Ave, Largo FL 33770
www.LargoCPC.org • email: [email protected]
Office Hours: Due to Covid-19 restrictions office is currently only open by appointment.

Pastor & Teaching Elder Rev. John A. Scott, Jr. email: [email protected]
Director of Music Steven Radeck email: [email protected]
Custodian June Sanchez email: [email protected]
Youth Coordinator Sean Myers email: [email protected]
All songs used by permission CCLI #863215 and streaming CPSL 139714, Expiration date 7/31/2021

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