SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
Advent 2, Year B, December 6, 2020
Sunday Worship
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
*CALL TO WORSHIP Liturgist: Sheila Smith
One: Jesus says: I am coming soon.
All: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (Rev. 22:20)
One: A voice cries out in the wilderness:
All: Prepare the way of the Lord! (Matthew 3:3)
One: Blessed is the Holy One our God,
All: who has sent a mighty Savior to redeem us. (Luke 1:68–69)
*PRAYER OF THE DAY
Merciful God,
you 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
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen .
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of the future, you are coming in power to bring all nations under your rule. We confess that we have not expected your kingdom, for we live casual lives, ignoring your promised judgment. We accept lies as truth, exploit neighbors, abuse the earth, and refuse your justice and peace. In your mercy, forgive us. Grant us wisdom to welcome your way, and to seek things that will endure when Christ comes to judge the world.
(Personal and Silent Prayers of Confession.)
FIRST READING Luke 4:16-21
Our first reading is from the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Luke, chapter 4, verses 16 through 21. You may follow along in your Bible. The reading is also printed in the bulletin. Let us listen for the inspired Word of the Lord.
Luke 4:16 ¶ When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read,
Luke 4:17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
Luke 4:19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Luke 4:20 ¶ And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.
Luke 4:21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” The inspired Word of the Lord.
One: The inspired Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God
SERMON READING Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
A reading from the great prophet, Isaiah, chapter 60, verses 1 through 9. You may follow along in your Bible. The reading is also printed in the bulletin. Let us listen for the inspired Word of the Lord.
64:1 O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence–
64:2 as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil– to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence!
64:3 When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
64:4 From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him.
64:5 You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed.
64:6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
64:7 There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.
64:8 Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.
64:9 Do not be exceedingly angry, O LORD, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people.
One: The inspired Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God
SERMON “Trees of Righteousness” Rev. Chris Turner
*STATEMENT OF FAITH The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Fa- ther, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made .
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was cruci- fied under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the liv ing and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
JOYS & CONCERNS/PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
OFFERTORY
This month is our Christmas Joy Offering. If your would like to contribute to this worthy cause, please sent you check to the church with Christmas Joy Offering in the memo line. We are also asking that you help one of the local food pantries in whatever capacity you are capable of during this unusual time.
PARTAKING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
GREAT THANKSGIVING Rev. Chris Turner
Leader: Remember the Lord Jesus.
People: We remember and are thankful.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Leader: Let us pray. It is truly right and …
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
BREAKING OF THE BREAD/COMMUNION
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
*BLESSING AND CHARGE
NEXT SUNDAY’S LECTIONARY READING :
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 • Psalm 126 or Luke 1:46b-55 • 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 • John 1:6-8, 19-28
The Session and the Westminster Shepherds have decided that we should be praying for the members/friends of our church. Each newsletter and bulletin will have a list of members/friends to pray for each week. These members are not necessarily sick or in need of specific prayer, and we just want all of our members to be prayed for regularly.
Cary and Mary Cooke, Bobbie Core, Ruth Cranor, Lexi Cruce
Prayer Concerns (alphabetical order):
(The list needs updated. Please contact Pastor Chris to add or remove people from the list.)
• Barbara Backus (health issues).
• Cary Cooke (general prayers)
• Mary Cooke (health issues).
• Jim Halford (health issues).
• Heather Harvey (Rebekah Chenevert’s half sister, general prayers).
• Barbara Hermanson (Mona Rood’s sister) (Health Issues).
• Abby Parham (health issues).
• Charlie Parham (health issues.).
• Polly Porter (health issues).
• Bill Rood (health issues).
• Farren Sadler (health issues).
• Candace Samuelson (health issues).
• Marvin Turner (Broken Hip) and Family (Pastor Chris’ family) (health issues).
• The Church and members of Westminster Presbyterian Church.
• The unchurched and those who do not know Jesus Christ.
• Those dealing with Covid and their families.
UPCOMING DATES
Sunday (December 6)
10:55 Worship (TBA:Virtual online worship or in-person) Communion
2:00 Church Health Team Meeting via Zoom with Dr. Randall Adkisson
Tuesday (December 9)
6:00 Bible Study Zoom (Canceled until late December or early January.)
Sunday (December 13)
10:55 Worship (TBA:Virtual online worship or in-person)
1:30 Worship Committee, time may change depending on in-person meeting or Zoom.
To join the work and ministry of this congregation, please speak to the pastor (Rev. Chris Turner) at 325–864–7601 or email wpcabilene@gmail.com.
Liturgist: SheliaMusic Director: Dr. Clara Richardson • Organist: Charles Shelton
Westminster’s MISSION EMPHASIS for the month of December is
the CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING of the PresbyterianChurch (U.S.A.).
The Christmas Joy Offering enables the Presbyterian Community to join together during the season of
Advent and Christmas to deeply reflect not only on our great blessings, but also on the great needs of others.
The Christmas Joy Offering is distributed equally to support the (1) Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions and
(2) Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges. The portion given to the Assistance Program
helps to assist pastors and other church workers, both active and retired, who find themselves in positions of financial need.
The transformative power of the historic Presbyterian-related racial ethic schools and colleges is remarkable.
These colleges, schools, and ministries have been at the forefront of building a just and equitable society; and,
since their inception they have been creatingcountless good-Samaritan physicians, teachers, nurses, and clergy.
The Christmas Joy Offering provides a way for ALL of us at Westminster
to touch the lives of both those who are our greatest hope and those who have the greatest need.
Contributions to the Christmas Joy Offeringcan be made by making out your checks to “Westminster,”
writing “Christmas Joy Offering” on the memo lines, and then putting your checks in the offering plates
on a Sunday morning. Checks also can be mailed to the Church Office,
or to the Church’s Treasurer, TIM ADCOCK, at 2401 S. Willis St., Ste. 108, Abilene, Texas 79605.
All of the offerings received at a Christmas Eve serviceat Westminster will go to the Christmas Joy Offering.
T H A N K YOU! & M E R R Y CHRISTMAS!
DONATIONS TO WESTMINSTER FOR THE CHURCH, AND/OR FOR THE CHURCH’S
MISSION EMPHASES, CAN BE MADE BY MAKING YOUR CHECK OUT TO “WESTMINSTER,”
by writing the “reason” on the memo line, and by putting YOUR check in the offering plate,
or by MAILING it to the CHURCH, or to the Church’s Treasurer, TIM ADCOCK,
at 2401 S. Willis St., Ste. 108, Abilene, Texas 79605.
These DONATIONS really are NEEDED!
BUFFALO GAP PRESBYTERIAN CAP
Westminster STILL is collecting ALUMINUM CANS for the
BUFFALO GAP PRESBYTERIAN ENCAMPMENT —
A PLACE FOR GROWING !
These CANS are sold, and the MONEY raised is used
to help defray the COSTS of running the Encampment
and to help K E E P it O P E N .
Just put your SACKS of cans in the HALLWAY down from the Church Office.
DONATIONS also can be MADE by making out a CHECK to “Westminster”,
and writing “BUFFALO GAP CAMP” on the MEMO line.
G I V E your CANS! & S H A R E your FAITH! & S P R E A D the GOSPEL!

THE PRESBYTERIAN FOOD PANTRY FEEDS THE HUNGRY & SO CAN YOU!
Each and every SUNDAY just put YOUR donations of NON-perishable FOOD items, CASH
money (including SAVED change), and TOILETRY items, in the grocery CART in the Narthex.
DONATIONS also can be MADE by making out a CHECK to “Westminster”,
and writing “FOOD PANTRY” on the MEMO line.
THANK you for Y O U R support of THIS vital ministry.
G I V E your MONEY! & S H A R E your FOOD! & F E E D the HUNGRY