KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Dec 2nd 2012 11:00 am

Minister- Rev. Mark Gedcke Director of Music- Suzanne Strahan

Communion Sunday and the 1st Sunday of Advent

Those who trust in their riches will wither, but the righteous will flourish like green leaves. Proverbs 11:28 NRSV

Preparation for Worship - Prayer, Meditation and Quiet Visiting Prelude: Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day - English carol, arr. D.E.
Wagner

Welcome and Announcements: CALL TO WORSHIP: Leader: Let us hear the revelation of Gods promise. People: for Advent is a time of expecting new light to shine. Leader: Let us receive light from the prophets. People: for light penetrates darkness and prepares the way of the Lord. Leader: Let us see Gods glory shine forth. People: For we long to be transformed by the light of Gods holiness.
(Words of Wisdom- Arlene M. Mark in MPH Bulletin, 11-27-88)

OPENING HYMN # 110 Come, thou long expected Jesus PRAYER OF ADORATION & CONFESSION AND THE LORDS PRAYER: Our Father in heaven hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen ANTHEM: Christmas Day Is On Its Way - Cynthia Gray PASSING OF THE PEACE: Leader: The Peace of Christ be with you Congregation: And also with you.

(Please greet each other and return to your seat) LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE- Led by Kirk, Lori (Please See Insert) Meagan Speiran CHILDRENS HYMN # 119 Hope is a star All the children are welcome to gather at the front of the church following the hymn. CHILDRENS TIME: SCRIPTURE READINGS: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Luke 1:1-4 SERMON: Gifts of Change HYMN # 145 In the bleak mid winter OFFERING: OFFERTORY: Meditation on "Veni Emmanuel"- John Scriveyner OFFERTORY PRAISE: # 661We give thee but thine own (verses 1 & 2) PRAYER OF DEDICATION (together) Maker of heaven and earth, we are grateful for the ministry we share together. Inspire us in our daily lives to be your generous people. In this offering moment, we commit ourselves to your loving purpose. Amen. HYMN # 543 Here, O my Lord, I see thee (verses 1-3) INVITATION THE GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING (#564) WORDS OF INSTITUTION COMMUNION PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE CLOSING HYMN # 153 Joy to the world BENEDICTION:

POSTLUDE: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Mendelssohn, arr. A.L. Page

We extend a warm Knox welcome to visitors worshipping with us today. If you have any questions please ask one of the ushers or greeters and they will direct you to someone who can be of help. Please sign our guest book in the Narthex. We look forward to having you join us again very soon. Barb Munro passed away on Wednesday, Nov 21st. A memorial service will be held at the Army and Navy Hall today, December 2nd at 2pm. Let us pray for family and friends. Rev. Fred Neill a former minister here at Knox passed away this week. The funeral was held on Friday. If you wish to send Anna, his wife, a card their address is 227 Ambleside Dr. London, ON N6G 4P4. Please keep them in your prayers. Yesterday at Knox we celebrated the wedding of Terry Barton and Janelle Ramseyer. Congratulations to Terry, Janelle and the families!
Pageant Rehearsal December 9th The children have been practicing the Christmas pageant during Sunday school and on December 9th we would like to keep the children until 2pm so we can do a full dress rehearsal. We will feed them lunch and do a craft to keep it fun! The craft will be a gift to our shut-ins from the Sunday school. So please plan on having the children stay at the Church until 2pm on December the 9th so we can do a full dress rehearsal. If you cant stay please contact Colleen Rothwell so she is aware that you cant stay. We look forward to the Sunday School leading our worship on Sunday December 16th. The Pageant is called Double Take a Pageant as told by Matthew and Luke. Plan on attending a Fingerfood Potluck lunch following that service.

Supporting "Presbyterians Sharing" We are grateful to join with over 900 Presbyterian churches in Canada to do ministry in Canada and around the world. Together, we are supporting new churches to grow, supporting 35 specialized ministries in areas like inner city, chaplaincy, refugees and First Nations. We have 29 mission staff (full time staff and spouses, and short-term volunteers) who support and accompany our mission partners in 28 countries. We help train women and men for ministry in our three theological colleges. As a congregation, we also have the support and guidance of the Life and Mission Agency that works through our church office in Toronto. For 2012, we made a commitment of raising at least $ 6,000 for Presbyterians Sharing. As of November 30, we have shared $ 4,404.50. Let us join together to support this ministry! You can mark your support on your regular envelopes or make note of your gift on an envelope provided in the pews. Scripture Readers!! We are currently looking for scripture readers for each Sunday. Please sign up in the Narthex. Parking Limitation:In regard to the parking lot across Waterloo st. between Tim Hortons and the old YWCAPlease limit your parking to Church Service hours ONLY. This is a request from the owner of the property who is allowing us this priveledge. Thank-you Tim Pauli A BIG THANK-YOU to the Alley Thrift Store for helping make a dream of mine come true. Next July I will travel to Equador and work on a school build. The Alley Store has offered financial assistance that will help me on this mission trip. -- Megan Speiran.

KIDS CHRISTMAS SHOPPING This event takes place on Saturday December 8th from 10:00 to 12:00. We are still in need of volunteers for this day. If you can help please be at the church by 9:45. Volunteers should bring a pair of scissors (label with your name) and a pen.We can still use items suitable for gifts for men, teens and older children (ages 8-12). Items do not have to be brand new. Cash donations can also be made. Clearly mark these Kids Christmas. All donations can be left at the office or The Alley when it is open. Your support of this event which helps needy children in our community is appreciated. SILENT AUCTION The Alley is conducting a Silent Auction for a ring which we received as a donation. We want to give everyone a chance to bid on this valuable item. The auction will take place in the Narthex on Sunday morning. Stop by the silent auction table and take a look. This ring would make a lovely Christmas gift for some lucky lady. Envelopes! Shannon Archer our Treasurer at Knox has been working on providing envelopes for our givings for the year 2013. The envelopes will be ready for pick up in the narthex today. Envelopes will be provided for those who give regularly for Knox. If you wish to receive a box and have not been issued one please let us know in the office by calling 519 271 0373. Alsoplease consider signing up for PAR (Pre- Authorized Remittance) to help us save costs on this if you are a regular giver.

PWS& D & Presbyterian Sharing- Mission Moment Turning the Tide Together: World AIDS Day The Presbyterian Church in Canada, through Presbyterian World Service & Development, continues to support HIV and AIDS programs to help people work against stigma and discrimination, teach and equip people to prevent the spread, and provide home based care and medications to help people living with the disease cope. PWS&D works with partners to prevent the transmission between mother and child, provide counseling and testing, and support and care for orphans and vulnerable children. Take the lead. You can inspire others to learn more and help fight AIDS. Raise funds for PWS&Ds AIDS programs. Together we can turn the tide. www.WeRespond.ca
To Stratford with Love Christmas Banquet 2012! This year the banquet will be held on Saturday December 22nd at 5:30pm at the Stratford Rotary Complex on McCarthy Rd. The theme this year is Community Serving Community and for the first time ever we will be under the umbrella of Simple Dreams Stratford. We wish to Thank all of you who have volunteered faithfully for so many years. We again hope to celebrate with the people of Stratford and celebrate Gods love together. We always need volunteers to greet, serve and clean-up (believe me its FUN!) We also cant forget one of the important partsPIE! If you would like to volunteer or to donate a pie...Please call Sue Orr at 519 273 5592 or by email at tostratfordwithlove@gmail.com You can also join us on Facebook at To Stratford with Love Christmas Banquet. The Tickets are available thru House of Blessing, Salvation Army, City Hall, Madelyns Dinner and the Habitat ReStore. This event is free for all of the people of Stratford and everyone is encouraged to be there and bring a friend with you. For more information contact Ruth or Richard Knieder at 519 393 5537. Merry Christmas everyone!

Nursery Volunteers Today: Jenn Raleigh & Helen MacAlpine Nursery Volunteers Next week: Annie Pottle & Helen MacAlpine Church Opening Today: Tim Pauli Church Opening Next week: Tim Pauli Ushers this week: Richard Bast, Diane Parker, Bill Forbes & Karen Savelle Ushers next week: Sean Raleigh, Ron Gray, Laird Christie& John W. Greeters this week: Ray & Carolyn Stock Greeters next week: Paul & Kim West & family. Coffee this week: Marlene Hanson & Sharon Tays A thank you to everyone who has signed up to set-up and clean-up coffee and treats on Sunday mornings. I still require 2 people for May and June. The Sign up sheet is in the church office or contact Anne Marie/Tim Pauli at either 519271-6718 or at timpauli@rogers.com. Calenders! Please note that Rev. Mark Gedcke has been working on providing us with a calender for Knox with all of our events listed. The Nov/Dec calender is available today at the back of the Narthex. Please pick one up! OUR WEEKLY MISSION - Before you get really
busy with preparations for Christmas, please consider part of your giving at this Season to be a donation to the Food Bank. Lets make December Food Bank Month at Knox. Stop by the table in the Narthex and make a purchase. Lately I have seen some of our children buying items to donate. Good for them!

Music at Knox- Praise Band meets Monday at 6pm - Choir Meets Thursday 7:30pm
Minister: Rev. Mark Gedcke 519 575 8817 or by email at mgedcke@knoxstratford.com Director of Music: Suzanne Strahan Treasurer: Shannon Archer Office: 519-271-0373 knoxs@wightman.ca OFFICE HOURS 9am- NOON Tuesday through Friday