Author: Jean

Welcome to Worship
Traditional SErvice

In becoming human, God chose to be conceived by and born of a woman—to take on the fragility of the human condition as the Living Christ yet unborn, as the Infant Christ in need of affection and protection, and as the Christ Child impressionable and growing up in a dangerous world.
Prelude Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship
Leader: Sing to the Lord a new song. People: Sing to the Lord all the earth. Leader: Sing to the Lord and bless God’s name. People: Tell the good news of salvation from day to day. Leader: Declare God’s glory among the nations, God’s marvelous works among all the peoples. People: For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. Leader: Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. People: Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world, and those who live in it. Leader: Let the whole creation sing for joy at the presence of God, who is coming. People: God is coming indeed, to judge the earth with righteousness, and the people with equity and truth. Praise the Lord!
Carol Once in Royal David’s City Hymnal #140 (vs 1 & 2)
FIRST LESSON Read by Christine Speak
Genesis 3:8-15, 17-19 Adam and Eve disobey God’s command and disrupt the order and goodness of creation
Call To Confession (Leader)
Prayer of Confession (Unison) God of the commonplace, we confess that we have been impressed by power and authority. We do not expect to meet you in the poor of the land, in the cold barns, or barren fields, or starry nights. We are slow to hear the angels or to embrace the “good news of great joy.” We hesitate to leave our chosen tasks to share in your larger purposes. We settle for idols of material security even as you thrust us into the challenges of life, where we have nothing on which to rely other than our faith in you. Forgive our lack of trust. Renew us in the Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon (Leader) The grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all. Do not be afraid. This is a day for good news of great joy. The Savior, who is Christ the Lord, is born anew in our midst. Glory to God in the highest! Praise God for all we are seeing and hearing, as love is made known among us.
Passing of the Peace
As an extension of Christ’s hospitality to us, let us greet one another with the peace of Christ.
The Peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
SECOND LESSON Read by Jean Severson Genesis 22:15-18 God promises that, through Abraham, all the peoples of the world will be blessed
Carol O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Hymnal #88 (vs. 1 & 3)
THIRD LESSON Read by Lynnea Lyman
Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 The people who walk in darkness receive the promise of the Messiah
Carol It Came Upon the Midnight Clear Hymnal #123 (vs.1 & 4)
FOURTH LESSON Read by David Horn
Luke 2:8-16 Angels appear to shepherds in the fields and announce the birth of the Messiah
Carol Angels We Have Heard on High Hymnal #11 (vs. 2 & 3)
FIFTH LESSON Read by Lorne Bostwick
John 1:1-14
The Word of God becomes flesh
lives among us, full of grace and truth
Sermon The Word Enfleshed Lorne Bostwick
Carol Love Has Come Hymnal#110
Prayers of the People (Joys and Concerns) The Lord’s Prayer
Invitation to Offering (Leader)
Offertory
Doxology (Unison)
Prayer of Dedication (Unison) Thank you God, for coming to us in a human life so expressive of love that two thousand years have not extinguished the flame. May that love burn so brightly in our lives that its fires will spread. Use our offerings to ignite in the world such caring and compassion that all your children may know joy and peace, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Carol Go, Tell It on the Mountain Hymnal #136
Commission and Blessing
Leader: Let the light of Christ shine within and among you. People: We will walk in the light with the help of God’s Spirit. Leader: Lift one another’s burdens and sing together for joy. The grace of God has appeared to save us. People: We will center our lives on Jesus Christ. God calls us to faithfulness and good deeds. Leader: Carry the peace of Christ into the world. Glorify and praise God in all you do. People: We will tell of what we have seen and heard. The good news of great joy is for all people. All: Amen.
Postlude

Welcome to Worship
Contemporary SErvice

Prelude
Welcome & Announcements
Prayer
First Lesson: Genesis 3:8-15, 17-19
read by Christine Speak
Prayer of Confession
Assurance of God's Forgiveness
Second Lesson: Genesis 22:15-18
read by Jean Severson
Carol: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Third Lesson: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
read by Lynnea Lyman
Carol: O Come, All Ye Faithful
Fourth Lesson: Luke 2:1-16
read by David Horn
Carol: Emmanuel, Hallowed Manger Ground
Fifth Lesson: John 1:1-14
read by Lorne Bostwick
Sermon: The Word Enfleshed
Carol: My Soul Magnifies
Prayers of the People & the Lord's Prayer
Offering & Dedication
Carol: Joy, Unspeakable Joy
Commission & Blessing
Postlude

ANNOUNCEMENTS
December 27, 2020

From the staff of westminster

It’s Time For Annual Reports!
Once again, it’s time to compile your notes and compose your Annual Reports. Reports need to be submitted to Jean Severson (Office Manager) by the last week of December. Please submit them by email to: jean@salemwestpres.org.

COMING IN JANUARY
Your Mission Peace Eco-Justice Committee invites you to join us Sunday, January 17 at 6 pm online as we launch a new monthly series that we're calling "BIG ISSUES: local focus." We are hoping to introduce varying topics on BIG ISSUES in our world, with a LO-CAL FOCUS on each issue.
We initiate our series by sharing and then discussing a conversation between two individuals (Ed Edmo and Lani Roberts) who grew up near The Dalles, OR. Ed is Shoshone Bannock, Nez Perce, Yakama, and Siletz and lived at the fishing village at Celilo Falls until its destruction in March 1957. Lani grew up just outside The Dalles, a descendant of an early European-American settler family. Although they grew up in the same area and are the same age, their lives were lived in parallel fashion because of the differences in their ethnic heritage. You may know one or both of the people in this conver-sation--Ed is a well-known storyteller, poet and author, and Lani taught philosophy at Oregon State University.
On January 17 we will gather on Zoom to view their conversation and to discuss how their lives differed and what it may mean to us in Salem in 2020. Click here to view the two-minute promo that introduces their conversation: https://youtu.be/NtAvE7-khwQ?t=24. This has also been published as part of a book, and the authors have graciously given us permission to share their chapter with congregation members who wish to read it (or to refer to it for clarity while watching). Contact Christine Speak at christinelspeak0909@gmail.com to request the chapter or for more information. Zoom link will be available on the church website.

The mission of Westminster Presbyterian Church:
Creatively sharing Christ’s love; we welcome, we serve, we grow.

Sunday
December
20th

The mission of Westminster Presbyterian Church:
Creatively sharing Christ’s love; we welcome, we serve, we grow.

Welcome to Worship
Traditional Worship
The Third Sunday of Advent

Adult Education

Welcome to Worship
Contemporary Worship
The Third Sunday of Advent

LIFEPAX AVAILABLE TODAY!
LifePax are available at today’s Drive-In Worship Service. Look for them by the musicians. The cost is still only $2 per pak.

3737 Liberty Road S. w Salem, OR 97302
Phone: 503.364.3327 / Email: office@salemwestpres.org / www.salemwestpres.org
Rev. Lorne Bostwick, Interim/Transitional Pastor