Praising God

Connecting with His People

Advancing His Kingdom

LIBERTY CHURCH, PCA A congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America

Dr. Barry Cureton Phill & Kelly Thomas

Shepherding Pastor Youth Directors

Sunday, December 17, 2017

Worship Service

And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.

And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.

He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.

He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,

As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.”

Luke 1:46-55

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements Pastor Barry

Silent Prayer of Preparation

Call to Worship Philippians 2:5-11

*Hymn of Praise Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Charles Wesley

Come thou long-expected Jesus, Born to set Thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us, Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel's strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art;

Dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.

Joy to those who long to see thee, Dayspring from on high appear

Come thou promised rod of Jesse, Of thy birth we long to hear

O'er the hills the angels singing, News, glad tidings of a birth

Go to him, your praises ringing, Christ the Lord has come to earth

Come to earth to taste our sadness,

He whose glories knew no end

By his life he brings us gladness,

Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend

Leaving riches without number,

Born within a cattle stall

This the everlasting wonder,

Christ was born the Lord of all

Born Thy people to deliver,

Born a Child and yet a King.

Born to reign in us forever,

Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone;

By Thine all-sufficient merit

Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

*Invocation

*The Lord’s Prayer Page xii

Confession of Sin Psalm 51: 1-17 Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, and You only have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight–that You may be found just when You speak and blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness; that the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart– These O God, You will not despise. Words of Assurance Galatians 4:4-7 *Carols of Praise O Little Town of Bethlehem #152

Away in a Manger #641 Shepherding Prayer Elder Steve Bird

*Hymn of Thanksgiving

Glory in the Heights

Ryan Flanigan

Oh glory in the heights, glory in the heights, for Christ is born (2x) Listen to the angels sing, Ohh

Hear the praises ring, Ohh Oh peace on earth, good will come to every man, for Christ is born (2x)

Children, lift your voices, sing, Ohh Let the church bells ring, Ohh

Oh la da da da, Oh la da da da da, Christ is born (2x)

Come and see the new born king, Oh all our lives we bring, Ohh

Bridge

What will be your offering? What will be your offering? Ohh

Give him everything, Ohh Give him everything, Ohh

Let the church bells ring, Ohh Join the angels, sing

Ending Oh glory in the heights, glory in the heights, for Christ is born (2x)

For Christ is born CCLI 578579

Receiving of Tithes and Offerings Offertory Children’s Choir Sermon Scripture Luke 1:26-45

[Children ages 4-2nd grade are dismissed for Wonders of Worship (Children’s Church) with Cindy and Hannah Watkins.

Sermon “Notice Mary” Rev. Chuck Garriott *Closing Hymn Gentle Mary Laid Her Child #641

*Benediction (followed by an opportunity to pray with the elders)

*Postlude

Charles Garriott was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and educated at the University of Baltimore and Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. For over twenty years he pastored in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He develops ministry to those in government in Washington, D.C., state, and international capitals, under the auspices of Mission to North America, Presbyterian Church in America. He has authored Work Excellence: A Biblical Perspective of Work; Obama Prayer: Prayers for the 44th President and Rulers: Gospel and Government. He lives with his wife Debby in the District of Columbia. They have four children and six

grandchildren.

Sermon Notes

Focus on Missions Pray that our missionaries will have constancy in prayer and protection from discouragement.

Special Thanks Thank you to Tommy Crone, Nye Hammer and John Kitchen for clearing the parking lot of ice last Sunday. We appreciate your hard work to ensure the safety of our church family.

From the Office Please have all announcements and prayer requests into the office by Tuesday, December 19th at 9:00 AM so we can complete the bulletin early.

Inclement Weather Policy Inclement weather information: If we have to cancel Sunday worship due to the weather, we will do a phone tree message to those who do not have email, send a message through email/Constant Contact and put a message on our answering machine to let you know. If you are not currently receiving phone tree messages or Constant Contact emails, please call the church office so we can add you to the list. Activities during the week are automatically cancelled or delayed if either Baltimore County or Carroll County Schools are closed or delayed for inclement weather.

You have been chosen! Due to Pastor Russ’s retirement, some of our members have been reassigned to different shepherding groups headed by one of our elders. Letters recently went out to all members informing them of who their assigned elder is so that they know who to contact if they have a concern, question or pastoral need. If you did not receive a letter and do not know who your shepherding elder is, please contact the office. Thank you!

Food Pantry Thank you to the faithful who donate to the food pantry. A week ago we served four families from outside our church family. In order to keep the pantry stocked donations of the following are appreciated: jelly, tuna, soup, spaghetti sauce, dish soap and bar soap.

To the Pastor Russ Retirement Dinner Committee A belated thank you to all of you for providing a very special evening out for our congregation. It was evident how much planning and hard work was expended in sending Pastor Russ and Donna off in style. In His Love, Sandy Tracy

Needed to Borrow Maxine Saylor needs to borrow four hot plates in December and January for the Trailblazers. Please contact Maxine at 301-332-2012.

Church Envelopes If you would like church envelopes for next year and didn’t have them this year, please contact the church office or Chris Bohmer at 410-795-4892.

Found There were some digital photo albums found in the cloak room, if anyone knows who they belong to, please contact the church office. If no one claims them in a few weeks, we will give them away.

Need for Volunteers The Deacons are making some adjustments in procedures for SECURITY during Church services. We need additional men to participate in monitoring the building and property one Sunday about every three months. If interested in helping contact Oliver Dearden 410-833-8309

Year End Reports The Year End Reports are due into the office by Friday, December 29th, so that they can be put in a booklet. Please keep your report brief (no longer than a couple paragraphs of text) and send pictures. If the report is too long, people will not want to read it.

Youth Group Youth Group is for 6-12 grade students every other Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. through 8:30 pm in the Block House. The Youth Group will not be meeting this Sunday evening. Enjoy the concert with your friends and family this afternoon. We will not be meeting Christmas Eve but look forward to seeing you at the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. If you are a candle lighter for the Christmas Eve Service, we will have a run-through next Sunday after morning worship. Please see Zach and Rachel Dugan for instructions.

Schedule of Volunteers

December 17 December 24

Nursery 9:30 a.m.

Linda Anderson No Sunday School

Nursery 10:30 a.m.

Meghan Ruch, Becky Vega Lynn Smith, Mary Ellen Gannon

Toddler 10:30 a.m.

Nye & Kiley Hammer Bianca & Anna Vesotsky

Lock-up John Kitchen Fred Walker

Sound Zach Dugan Joseph Kraus

Greeters Charlotte Crone, Donna Roberts

Chuck & Elaine Cullen

Usher Team

Leader

Geof Smith Geof Smith

Adult Sunday School Classes

Colossians Charlie Cate Fellowship Hall

1 Peter Howard Hill Parlor

Leadership Class

Barry Cureton

Barry’s Office

Sunday Morning Preaching Schedule

Dec 24 - Pastor Barry - "Christ as King" Dec 31 - Chuck Garriott- Prayer (Pastor Barry will be on vacation)

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Musical Prelude - 6:45 pm Service - 7:00 pm

Weekly Schedule

Sunday, December 17 3rd Sunday in Advent 9:30 am Sunday School for all ages 10:30 am Coffee Fellowship 10:45 am Worship Service 3:30 pm Benefit Christmas Concert

Tuesday, December 19 6:00 am Men’s Bible Study/Denny’s

Wednesday, December 20 6:30 pm Prayer Group 7:00 pm Pioneer Girls/FH 7;00 pm Choir 7:00 pm Men’s Bible Study/Parlor

Thursday, December 21 11:30 am-2:00 pm Office Closed for Staff Volunteer Luncheon

Friday, December 22 Office Closed

Sunday, December 24 4th Sunday in Advent 10:45 am Worship Service 6:45 pm Musical Prelude 7:00 pm Christmas Eve Service

Please note! Sunday School classes will not be held on December 24th or the 31st to give our teachers and their helpers a break for the holidays.