Welcome!  May God greatly bless you.  If you are looking for a church home,

please consider Pine Tree Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

December 8, 2024                  Second Sunday of Advent                    10:30 A. M.

Announcements   

Prelude                                                                              Lighting of the Candles

Opening Scripture Sentence: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned (Isaiah 9:2). Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

*Opening Prayer                                                                                            Pastor         

*Call to Worship                                                                   Responsive Reading

Leader: Listen! Listen for a messenger from God. The way is being prepared for Christ’s coming.

All: We gather here to listen for a word from God. We want to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ.

Leader: Come with joys and sorrows, laughter and tears. There is a place for you in the company of seekers, and we rejoice to offer the love of Christ to others.

All: We are partners in the gospel of Jesus Christ; we dedicate ourselves to the hard work of preparing the way for the Prince of Peace.

*The Hymn                     O Come, O Come, Emmanuel                      No. 186

                                                        (Verses 1-4)

Light the Advent Candle of Peace

Call to Confession   

Unison Prayer of Confession

Almighty God, we lay before you our weakness, self-centeredness, and coldness of heart. You know the chaos we bring through the sins in our lives. We make poor choices and engage in destructive habits. We deny our baptism and ignore our responsibilities as disciples of Jesus. Hear our cries of repentance and turn our lives around, that we may know the wonder of forgiveness and be restored to the peace of relationship with you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Silent Prayer of Confession

Assurance of Pardon                                                                                Pastor

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us… to shine on those living in darkness… to guide our feet into the path of peace. In Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven. Luke 1:68,69,79

*Hymn of the Month                 Ring the Bells                                           No. 203                                                                                                                               

Our Giving to the Lord                                                                                             Pastor

God has done great things for us. What shall we return to the Lord for all his bounty to us? In gratitude, let us give what we have promised – our time, our talents, our tithes, and our love—as gifts to God.

*Offertory, Doxology and Offertory Prayer

*The Hymn                              O Come, All Ye Faithful                              No. 188

                                                       (All Verses)

Sharing of Blessings and Concerns, Pastoral Prayer                                 Pastor

          Followed by The Lord’s Prayer

Old Testament Reading                                                                    Malachi 3:1-4

New Testament Reading                                   Luke 1:67, 76-79 and Luke 3:1-6

          Leader:  This is the Holy Word of the Lord. 

           People:  Thanks be to God for His Holy Word.

Sermon      “The Hard Work of Preparing for Peace”         Rev. Cindy Barton                                                   

*The Hymn                      Hark! the Herald Angels Sing                           No. 191

                                                        (All Verses)

*Benediction

*Retrieval of the Light

Leader:  The Peace of Christ be with you.                                        People:  And also with you.

*Postlude