Firelands Presbyterian Church

www.firelandschurch.org
December 12, 2021
2626 East Harbor Road Port Clinton, OH 43452
419-734-6211 https://www.facebook.com/firelandschurch
Pastor David Aber aberdavidrobert@gmail.com
 Welcome to Firelands Church, a community of believers gathered by the Holy Spirit and committed to serving God and growing
together in Jesus Christ.
We invite all of our worshippers to stay for fellowship following the service
so that we might become better acquainted.

THE ORDER OF THE LITURGY

*Those who are able are invited to stand.

GATHERING

Prelude The First Noel Arr. Rice

Welcome and Announcements

*Call to Light arr Hayes

Sometimes Serendipity Singers

*Advent Candle Lighting Light of Joy

*Invocation (together)
For the magi of yesterday who crossed the expanse of nations, for those today who bridge divisions of the heart, earnestly
seeking the Source of everlasting Joy, we give thanks. Amen.

*Hymn Watchman, Tell Us of the Night Hymnal #97

Call to Confession
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just
will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In humility and faith let us confess our sin to God.

Prayer of Confession
O Lord, how seldom do I pause to thank You for Your blessings in life.
Thank You for the blessing of the Sabbath Day, when I may rest in You and discover my true worth is not measured by
effort, money or accomplishments;
Thank You for the peace You place in my heart, so that I know and trust that all things come from You, and in Your
providence, nothing interferes with Your love for all the earth;
Thank You for the joy of Christian fellowship, and the unity which is the fruit of this joy;
Thank You for the joy of breaking bread together with Jesus, whose love can govern every life now and forever;
Thank You for the fruits of the earth, and the mystery of Your divine economy that has blest us with such abundance;
Thank You, O Lord, that by grace we are brothers and sisters with Jesus and Your children, and siblings of one family on
earth and in heaven;
When we forget, O Lord, how You look upon Your creation and pronounce it all good – indeed, very good – then forgive
us, we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Silent Confession

Words of Assurance
My friends, know that God hears our prayers which we say together and which we have lifted in the silence of this sanctuary of
safety and love. Advent offers us a chance to begin again, knowing that God knows us through and through and loves us still. In
the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Amen.

*Response: Wait for the Lord Hymnal # 90

Wait for the Lord, whose day is near.
Wait for the Lord; be strong; take heart!

WORD
Prayer for Illumination
O Lord God, whose chosen dwelling is the heart of the believer, we give you thanks that you reveal yourself in the holy child,
Jesus. We sincerely pray that you make us humble in faith and love, like a child, so that we may know the joy of the Gospel that
is hidden from the wise and prudent, and revealed to your children. Amen.

First Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-20

3:14 Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!
3:15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you, God has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the Lord, is
in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more.
3:16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak.
3:17 The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; God will rejoice over you with gladness, God will renew
you in God’s love; God will exult over you with loud singing
3:18 as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it.
3:19 I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their
shame into praise and renown in all the earth.
3:20 At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the
peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the Lord.

Gospel Reading Luke 3: 7 - 18

3:7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath
to come?
3:8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is
able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
3:9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown
into the fire."
3:10 And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?"
3:11 In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do
likewise."
3:12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?"
3:13 He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you."
3:14 Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or
false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."
3:15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be
the Messiah,
3:16 John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not
worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
3:17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will
burn with unquenchable fire."

The Gospel of the Lord

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Musical Interlude ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime Arr. Bedford

Performed by the choir with Anne O’Malley on the flute and Sally Wahlers on the drum

*Affirmation of Faith: The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all
things visible and invisible; And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all
worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by
whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy
Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried,
and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the
Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the
Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets.
And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look
for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

*Hymn Away in a Manger Hymnal #114

The Prayers of the Church

The Lord’s Prayer (debts and debtors) pg. 35

COMMUNION

Invitation

Friends, this is the joyful feast of the people of God. They will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit
together in the kingdom of God.

WORDS OF THE INSTITUTION

Hear the words of the institution of the Holy Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ, as they are delivered by the Apostle Paul: I received
of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the The Lord Jesus, on the night of his arrest, took bread, and after giving
thanks to God,
he broke it, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way he took the cup, saying: “This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood, do this, as often as you drink it, in
remembrance of me.” Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the saving death of the risen Lord, until he
comes.

Prayer Of Consecration

The Bread and The Cup

THE BREAD Take and eat: this is the body of Christ which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of him.

THE CUP “This cup is the new covenant in the blood of Christ, which is shed for the remission of sins. Do this, as often as
you drink it, in remembrance of him.
(Please discard used communion cups in the available receptacles)

The Prayer of Thanksgiving

Most gracious God, we praise you for what you have given and for what you have promised us here. You have made us one
people with all your people in heaven and on earth. You have fed us with the bread of life and renewed us for your service. Now
we give ourselves to you; we ask that our daily living may be part of the life of your kingdom; that our love may be your love
reaching into the life of the world. Through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.

SENDING

*Hymn Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken Hymnal #81

*Charge
Be alert! Stay on your guard! Despite the headlines of our daily news, the presence of Jesus Christ in the world is evident, if we
will only look and listen to the signs of his coming. Go into your world this week to deliver, in thought, word and deed, the good
news that Christ is with us!

*Benediction
May the light always shine in your darkness. May your ears always hear the Word. May grace upon grace be yours, and may the
glory of the Father's only Son be known to you now and forever. Amen.
Praise the Lord The Lord’s name be praised.

*Benediction Response Go, My Children, With My Blessing Hymnal #547

Go, My Children, fed and nourished, closer to me.
Grow in love and love by serving, joyful and free.
Here my Spirit’s power filled you; here my tender comfort stilled you.
Go, my children, fed and nourished, joyful and free.

Postlude People, Look East. Arr. Giamanco

 Ministers in This Sunday’s Service Ministers in Next Sunday’s Service
Preacher: Rev. David Aber Preacher: Rev. David Aber
Reader: Ed Bettendorf Reader: Susan Rogers
Musician: Susan Larcey Musician: Susan Larcey
Greeter: Bob Reynolds Greeter: Ginny McCook
Advent Readers: Marsha Bordner & Harold Advent Readers: Alan and Karen Salzgeber
Brown Fellowship host(s):
Fellowship host(s): Dottie Douglas and Sue Deacon of the Month: Pat Sharp
Holman

Prayer Concerns
Nancy & Christopher Longaker, Chuck & Pam Coykendale, Eric Pott, John McLaughlin, Sally Wahlers, Janet Miller, Pat Sharp, Dick
Dietz, Betty & Jim Layton, and the family &friends of John Pugh

If you have a name to add to the prayer list, please contact the office. Names remain on this list for up to one month unless they are
resubmitted.

Pastoral Friends have Cards to Sign

You are invited to sign greeting cards for our members who are unable to attend church. A Table with cards is in fellowship area this
Sunday.

Trinity UM Ecumenical Event

Journey’s End
Journey's End will take place in downtown Port Clinton Sunday December 19th from 6:00-7:00 PM. You're invited to this free family
event. Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem will be recreated as they go from "inn to inn" seeking lodging until they get to the
final inn that welcomes them in and celebrates their arrival. Our inns are our downtown churches and a local business. The
innkeepers are various church choirs and choral groups from the Port Clinton area. We will begin and end in parking lot of Trinity
United Methodist Church, (2nd & Adams) about a 3-block walk. We process by candlelight with Mary and Joseph singing the
traditional songs accompanied by guitarists.
(Songbooks will be provided)
We will visit the doorsteps of Saint John Evangelical Lutheran Church and Saint Thomas Episcopal Church as well as RJ's Ice Cream
and Deserts, and the Gazebo on Adams). We will finish back at Trinity UMC for cookies, cocoa and fellowship. We welcome the
entire community. Please bring the family and join us.

THIS WEEK AT FIRELANDS

Today Sunday School 9:30 AM
WORSHIP 10:30 AM followed by Fellowship
Monday Bistro 163 Community Dinner 4-6 PM

Tuesday Dulcimer Group 3:00-5 PM

Session 7 PM
Wednesday Sermon Study in Large Meeting Room 10:30 AM
Healing Hearts in Conference 11 AM
Thursday
Friday Choir Practice 3 PM
Saturday
Next Sunday Sunday School 9:30 AM
WORSHIP 10:30 AM Followed by Fellowship
Trinity UM Journey’s End 6-7 PM
 OFFICE IS CLOSED THIS WEEK; JANINE IS ON VACATION
Pastor Aber is in the office Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and is available by Phone at419-357-0329.