MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE

The Calvary Baptist Church, Towson, Maryland

Eleven O’clock                                             December  17, 2006

http:/www.calvarybaptist-towson.org

 

Frederick K. Weimert, Pastor

Glenn L. Wittstadt, Jr., Organist‑Director

 

 

 

PRELUDE:      “Wake, Awake for Night is Flying”

                                 Philipp Nicolai/J. S. Bach

 

INTROIT

 

CALL TO WORSHIP/LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE

The lights are bright outside: in streets, in stores, and in homes.

So why should we look for light in this dark hall?

Because, those lights outside will be darkened soon: decorations will come down, bulbs will burn out, power may be cut-off.

          So, where is the light that will not fail?

Candle lighter:  Here we have a flame and candles!

UNISON:  Jesus Christ, light of the world, shine in this house, shine in our hearts, shine in the world through your spirit in and around us.

 

*HYMN 76:         “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”

 

INVOCATION FOLLOWED BY THE LORD’S PRAYER

 
WELCOME & REGISTRATION

EXTENDED LIFE OF THE CHURCH

 

ANTHEM:   “Rejoice, Rejoice, Ye People!”      by  J. M. Martin

PRAYER FROM THE PEOPLE:                    Emily Weimert

 

*OFFERING:                                                              #115

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!

Bow down before Him, His glory proclaim;

With gold of obedience and incense of lowliness,

Kneel and adore Him: the Lord is His name.

 

OFFERTORY:    “Sheep May Safely Graze”       J. S. Bach  

 

CHILDREN'S TIME

 

THE LETTERS:          Philippians 4: 4-9                  Pg. 1024

Read by:  Martha Wylie

 

RESPONSIVE CALL TO PRAYER:

In the midst of this of this imperative for joy, Paul slips in a simple little advent sentence…

            “The Lord is near.”

We want to ask… What do you mean by near, Paul?”, but Paul just keeps on going…

            “Do not worry about anything.” 

Paul, come on, what do you mean by anything?

Should we quit our jobs… sell our house… buy a huge house with a big mortgage…What?

Lord Jesus Christ, “Peace of God”, you above all people should understand the fear and anxiety latent in human uncertainty.

As we grow closer to you, help us to experience the peace which comes when you guard one’s heart.

And in your peace change our perspective on the world.

Open our eyes to focus on what is: true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Amen.

 

HYMN 60:                      “Be Thou My Vision”

 

HEBREW BIBLE:           Isaiah 12                             Pg. 596

 

SERMON:               “The Redeemed City”

 

INVITATION HYMN 544:

“Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It”

 

*BENEDICTION/RESPONSE     

 

POSTLUDE:   “From Thy Throne So High”

        by  C. W. Gluck

 

                        *Congregation standing.

 

Written by Charles Williams in 1941, during World War II, taken from his Essential Writings in Spirituality and Theology, pg. 151f.

 

“The differences between us and our enemy are many, and there are many different ways of summing them up.  One of the more useful is perhaps that implied in the difference between the Race and the City.  Whether the doctrine of Race be true need not much concern Christians; since they are not allowed to accept it as a definition of the final state of man, it can be, like any other scientific question, but a matter of minor if notable interest.  There is no final idea for us but the glory of God in the redeemed and universal union—call it man or church or the City. 

 

…The Infamy is one and the same everywhere.  The opposite of the Infamy is the City.  There is, in the end, no compromise between the two; there is only choice.  The choice exists everywhere, at every minute, as a fundamental, though that fundamental may have been accepted, and our business be with the edification of the City upon it. The thing in common between us and our allies, and in dispute between us and our enemies, is the proper freedom of the flesh.”

 

T H I S     W E E K

 

TODAY:   Choir Rehearsal following Worship Service.

 

5 p.m.  Free seasonal concert at Calvary Baptist Church, Kurt Wittstadt and Quintaero Quartet, woodwind instruments.  All are invited.

 

WEDNESDAY EVENING

            6:15 p.m.  Dinner

            7:00 p.m.  Handbell Choir performance at Edenwald                              Retirement Home

           

SATURDAY December 23rd

9:00 a.m.  Decoration of the Sanctuary for Christmas

 

SUNDAY December 24th

Regular Sunday School and Worship

 

The Christmas Eve Candle Light Service will begin with music at 4:30 p.m. and the Service will begin at 5:00 p.m.

 

MONDAY Dec. 25th:  Sarah's Hope 9:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.

 

There will be no Wednesday evening programs on

December 27th.

 

SUNDAY Dec. 31st  Service at Pickersgill Retirement Home.

Pick up cakes and return by Saturday January 6th.

 

If you would like to participate in a Christmas Gift Program, you may either give a gift of cash to Kisha Mack and her sons who we are supporting through the Back Home Program, or you may bring socks and underwear from women and/or children which will be given to the people at the shelter.