Weekly Bulletin

Winchester Friends Church
Second Sunday of Advent                December 9, 2018                 9:15 AM
 
The magic dust of Christmas glitters on the cheeks of humanity ever so briefly, reminding us of what is worth having and what we were intended to be.  We forget about our compulsion with winning, wooing, and warring.  More than at any other time, more than in any other season, His name is on our lips…. For a few precious hours, He is beheld.  Christ the Lord.  Those who pass the year without seeing Him, suddenly see Him.  People accustomed to using His name in vain pause to use it in praise.  Eyes, momentarily freed from the blinders of self, marvel at His majesty….  Emmanuel.  He is with us.  God came near…. Soon life will be normal again.  December’s generosity will become January’s payments, and the magic will begin to fade.  I want to savor the spirit just a bit more.  I want to pray that those who beheld Him today will look for Him next August.  If He can do so much with such timid prayers offered in December, how much more could He do if we thought of Him every day?
–adapted from Max Lucado, God Came Near
 
Meeting for Worship
 
Prelude                                                                                                                                  Mary Clark
 
Welcome, Introductions, Announcements                                                                     Linda Groth
Call to Worship                                                                                                                                        
Prayer                                                                                                                                                       
 
Hymn #131                                 Angels From the Realms of Glory                                 Jeff Clark
 
Choir                                   Come, Come, Emmanuel                                    Brian Lilly, Mary Clark
               choral setting by  Joel Raney, adapted from hymnal #123, verses 1 and 4
 
Personal Advent Story                                                                                         Stephen Hamilton
stories of Christ’s arrival(s) into individuals’ lives
 
Hymn #119                                  O Thou Joyful, O Thou Wonderful                              Jeff Clark
 
Offertory Prayer                                                                                                               Linda Groth
Offertory                                                                                                                             Mary Clark
 
Testimonies of Praise, Concerns for Prayer                                                                                    
 
Hymn #124                                Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus                             Jeff Clark
 
Message                                             Matthew 1:18-25                                         Ron Ferguson
 
Unprogrammed Worship  —  17th century Friends taught that “Jesus has come to teach His people Himself,” and they made that truth the centerpiece of their lives by spending significant periods of time, individually and in gatherings for worship, to listen to their Inward Teacher and obey what they heard.  If God leads you to speak out of the silence, please request a microphone so all can hear your ministry.
 
Closing Prayer                                                                                                                                    
 
Postlude                                                                                                                           Mary Clark
 
 
 
following a brief time of fellowship, please join us today for
 
Sunday School        10:30 AM
There is a class waiting to welcome you for study of the scriptures.
 
Monthly Meeting for Business           11:20 AM
All friends are urged to attend to hear reports on the church’s ministries and to help discern God’s leading for any resource decisions that need to be made.
 
 
 
DECEMBER USHERS:  Betty Locke, Rob Pearson
DECEMBER GREETERS:  Sasha & Doug  Baker, Linda & Al Groth
 
 
 
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR READINGS
December 10 – 16
Colossians 1-4;  Hebrews 1-13;  Philemon;  I Peter 1-5