Happening This Sunday

Who's Preaching Where?

• Traditional Services | 9 am & 11:15 am in the Church  –  The Rev. Dr. R. Leigh Spruill
  
• Awesome Worship Service for Families | 9:15 am in the Hall Life Center – The Rev. Libby Garfield
  
• Modern Worship at The Table | 11:15 am in the Hall Life Center – The Rev. Reagan Cocke
• Traditional Services | 8 am & 5 pm in the Chapel – The Rev. Dr. R. Leigh Spruill (8 am) & The Rev. Reagan Cocke (5 pm)

Worship Online

• Traditional Service in the Church (9 am)
  Order of Service
• Modern Worship at the Table in the Church (11:15 am)

All-Ages Education Hour — 10:15 am Administration Building

Adult Ed: Prepare the Way!, An Advent Study – Hall Life Center

Children's Sunday School – First Floor & Lower Level
Youth Sunday School – Room 238
Youth Confirmation – Room 236
High School Small Groups - Various locations (also meets at 12:30 pm)

Happening Today

Junior Daughters of the King
Junior Daughters of the King is for 4th & 5th grade girls with a focus on how our relationship with Jesus helps young girls develop courage, self-confidence, and leadership. The group meets on first & second Sundays at 9 am in Room L21. Contact Meta Tyler with questions.

Youth Christmas Party
Join us for an evening of fun, fellowship, games, food, and some Christmas cheer at 6:30 pm in the Youth Room! Take a break from studying and get in the Holiday Spirit!

The Collect of the Day

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Mark 1:1-8

1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”

4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Musical Offering in the Church

Today, the Second Sunday of Advent, we hear words from both the prophet Isaiah and John the Baptist proclaiming the coming of Christ and the peace that he will bring. The first stanza of the Advent hymn that we sing during the ministration says it well:

Comfort, comfort ye my people,
speak of peace, thus saith our God;
comfort those who sit in darkness
mourning ‘neath their sorrow’s load.
Speak ye to Jerusalem
of the peace that waits for them;
tell her that her sins I cover,
and her warfare now is over.

The texts for today’s choral anthems are both taken from the Book of Isaiah. At the Offertory, we hear words from today’s appointed reading, “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,” in a familiar chorus from Handel’s Messiah. At the Ministration, we hear “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of them that bring good tidings” as set by English organist and composer Sir John Stainer. Stainer’s music was very popular and standard-bearer for church music during his day. He served several posts and colleges including serving as organist at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.

Continue your Advent journey with the Christmas on the Boulevard concert at 5 pm, Saturday, December 16. The choirs along with ROCO Musicians offer carols of the season with plenty of opportunity for congregational participation. Come and invite your friends and neighbors.