D e c e m b e r T h e
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F i r s t S u n d a y o f A d v e n t
Adult Sunday School @ 9:30 AM Sunday In-Person and Livestream Worship Service @ 10:45 AM “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.” Matthew 5:14 NRSV
The Church on the Hill, Near the Cross, In the Word and On the Move for Christ
&KXUFK ,QIRUPDWLRQ 7KH 5HYHUHQG 'U :D\QH ( &URIW 6U Senior Pastor 2IILFH 6WDII $GPLQLVWUDWLYe 0DQDJHU Carlene Mahan Technical Administrative Assistant: Tiffany Grier %RRNNHHSHU Carlene Mahan Lead 6H[WRQ Stan Edwards
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Monday
Youth Church Sunday @ 10:45 AM
Pastor’s Prayer Call @ 7:00 AM
Adult Sunday School now in person @ 9:30 AM
Monday - Friday
Sunday Service on Livestream @ 10:45 AM
KAIROS Call @ 1:00 PM :HGQHVGD\ Bible Study on Zoom @ 7:00 PM
&KXUFK 2IILFH +RXUV Monday through Friday 9AM - 4 PM One Hagerty Blvd. West Chester, PA 19382 610.692.2446 www.stpaulsbaptist.org
ADVENT LITANY : HOPE LEADER: The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfil the promise, I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’ PEOPLE: The Lord, our Righteousness and Hope of all nations. LEADER: Jeremiah was imprisoned for criticizing King Zedekiah. Nebuchadnezzar’s armies are advancing on Jerusalem and the city is doomed. In the midst of a catastrophic situation, God came to the prophet and Jeremiah speaks a word of resolute Promise and tenacious Hope. There will be a King and He shall reign in righteousness. PEOPLE: The Lord, our Righteousness and Hope of all nations. LEADER: Even though the advancing armies of economic instability, rising gas and food prices; unaffordable housing; economic, racial & social injustice; gun violence and mental illness; and fear and uncertainty continue to encroach upon the citizens of this 21st century nation, for each of us, and for this world there remains, a resolute Promise and a tenacious Hope. PEOPLE: The Lord, our Righteousness and Hope of all nations. LEADER: God promised that a Messiah would come, the people lived in hope for fortytwo generations, and He came, born of virgin, in a common stable, and was laid in the hay in a wooden manger. In Him there was a resolute Promise and a tenacious Hope. The throne will never be empty, and the debt will be forever paid. ALL: We serve a God that does not shield us from life. God gave us a Righteous Branch, the Gift of Hope. Instill Hope in us. Make us vessels of Hope. Awaken us to Hope.
Church Covenant Having been led, as we believe, by the spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now in the presence of God, angels and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ. We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this Church, in knowledge and holiness; to give it a place in our affections, prayers and services above every organization of human origin; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly, as God has prospered us, toward its expenses, for the support of a faithful and evangelical ministry among us, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel throughout the world. In case of a difference of opinion in the church, we will strive to avoid a contentious spirit, and if we cannot unanimously agree, we cheerfully recognize the right of the majority to govern. We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be kind and just to those in our employ, and faithful in the service we promise others; endeavoring in the purity of heart and good will towards all people to exemplify and commend our Holy faith. We further engage to watch over, to pray for, to exhort and stir up each other unto every good word and work; to guard each other’s reputation, not needlessly exposing the infirmities of other; to participate in each other’s joys and with tender sympathy bear one another’s burdens and sorrows; to cultivate Christian courtesy; to be slow to give or take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, being mindful of the rules of our Savior in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew, to secure it without delay; and through life, amid evil report and good report, to seek to live to the glory of God who hath called us out of the darkness into God’s marvelous light. When we remove from this place, we engage as soon as possible to unite with some other church, where we can carry on the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.
Order of Worship The First Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 3, 2023 Rev. Orville Brissett Minister of Music and Worship Arts
Rev. Dr. Tracie Gatewood Worship Leader
Praise and Worship Lighting of the Advent Candle The Call to Worship The Choral Introit……… Holy, Holy, Holy……........Congregation Prayer of Invocation..…….……........… Rev. Dr. Tracie Gatewood Prayer Chant…………….The Lord’s Prayer………..Congregation
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Musical Interlude……………………..……………………… Advent Litany………………………………………………. The Hymn of Consecration..””MyHopeIs BuiltOnNothingLess”....Inspirational Choir
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Greeting our Visitors…..…………..............….....Sister Grace Kelly Pastoral Emphasis & Scripture Lesson............... Rev. Dr. Wayne E. Croft Sr., The Ministry of Giving Offertory Prayer…….…................................Trustee Derrick Gilbert
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Announcements …..……..................................................................... Prayer of Intercession………...…...….....Brother Donnell Sheppard Choral Response.…...……………..…………………..………...
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The Ministry of Music
Sermonic Selection…….”The Lord Is Blessing Me”……Inspirational Choir “We don’t need another political uprising. We don’t need another conqueror on the scene. What we need is a special word, that will bond within our hearts and give us direction from above. We need a Word from the Lord. A Word from the Lord. Just one Word from the Lord, will remove all the doubts and cause the sun to shine and give peace of mind. Speak Lord, Speak Lord.”
The Ministry of Preaching
The Reverend Dr. Wayne E. Croft, Sr.
“Expecting Hope”
Jeremiah 33:14-16NRSV *Call to Discipleship Holy Communion
The Words of Institution The Purpose of our Gathering The Prayer of Confession and Thanksgiving Closing Prayer And They Had Sung A Hymn
Departing to Serve
*PleaseStand **UshersMaySeatWorshippers ***Congregation Seated Worship with us online at https://stpaulsbaptist.org/
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Home Daily Bible Readings MONDAY "Faith-based Friendship" (Proverbs 17:17-22) TUESDAY "Peter’s Test of Faith" (Matthew 26:31-35) WEDNESDAY "Hear God’s Voice" (Hebrews 3:7-19) THURSDAY "Faith in Action " (Leviticus 19:30-) FRIDAY "God Honors Genuine Faith" (Acts 10:34-48) SATURDAY "Naomi becomes a Grandmother" (Ruth 4:13-22) SUNDAY "Ruth’s Compassionate Faith " (Ruth’s 1:6-18,22 )
MINISTRY MOMENTS CLOTHING MINISTRY-ACCEPTING WINTER CLOTHES OPEN TUESDAYS 1PM-3PM QUILTING MINISTRY-TUESDAYS 6PM-8PM CHOIRINSPIRATIONAL CHOIR PRACTICE TUESDAYS @ 7PM ** Heartfelt thanks to our St. Paul’s family for helping with the success of the Children's Coat Drive. We donated 128 coats, hats, scarves and gloves. Rev. Val Andrews was overwhelmed with Joy! Deaconess Dr. Denise Ray Chair -Deaconess Ministry
Church Family the following items will help us serve with greater efficiency: Any items that you need to be placed in the Sunday Bulle�n must be submitted to the Church Office by noon on Wednesday. You may email your announcement informa�on to assistantsecretary@stpaulsbap�st.org. If informa�on is received a�er the deadline, it will be placed in the next upcoming Sunday Bulle�n. Announcements will only be placed in the bulletin 3 weeks prior to the event. Any in-service Ministry announcements can be sent to spbcannouncementministry@gmail.com. They will announce Pastoral Emphasis and St. Paul’s ministry news only. The deadline is Monday to be announced 3 weeks out. Any item of informa�on for Pastoral Emphasis, or if you are reques�ng to make an announcement on Sunday, must be submitted by noon on Friday. You may either call 610.692.2446 Ext. 140 or email your announcement informa�on to churchoffice@stpaulsbap�st.org. We realize that things do happen between Friday and Sunday and that the need may arise wherein someone has to get a note to Pastor. However, in an effort to give Pastor minimal distrac�ons on Sunday mornings as he prepares for worship, aside from an emergency, please refrain from sending a note to Pastor reques�ng that he make an announcement.
Opportunities for sharing time and talents
Part time Church Sexton M-F 6pm-9pm Contact the church office at churchoffice@stpaulsbaptist.org Weekend Church Sexton
Saturday and Sundays
REACTIVATION of the SAFETY & SECURITY MINISTRY
Do you take safety and security seriously? Do you have a special skill set that could benefit the safety and security ministry? Did you serve on the safety and security ministry previously? If you answered yes to any of these questions then please use the tiny URL to express interest in serving on the ministry. https://tinyurl.com/SPBC-SSERP23
For more information, please contact Dr. Carmen Lesesne or email security@stpaulsbaptist.org
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Memorial Scholarship in Honor of Dr. Judith Thomas We, as family and friends of the late Dr. Judith Thomas, hereby establish this scholarship designed to support a student in need whose interests include educa�on. Besides being a Lincoln University student, to qualify for the scholarship, each year an oratorical compe��on will be held where students will be asked to speak on an issue relevant to educa�on in the current �me. Our goal is to raise $25,000 in the near term (by June 30, 2024), so that the first compe��on can be held in the fall of 2024. Students studying any major offered by Lincoln University are eligible to apply and to compete. Please use the link below to donate. Thank you for your support!
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/drjudiththomas
Volunteers Needed S t. Paulians, please consider joinin g y ou r fellow congregant s as we host th e MLK Day of Ser vice for th e 20th year in t he Great er West Chester Area on Janu ar y 15, 2 024. If you can’t be present t hat day , perh aps you could volun teer y ou r ser vices leadin g up to MLK Day. We have a v ar iety of advance t asks to get done that y ou can review . Please sign up to help St . Paul’s with th is service by email churchoffice@stpaulsbaptist.org or call 610-692-2446 ext. 140.
MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2024 “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve… You only need a heart full of grace.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
St. Paul’s Baptist Church & Community Partners Present:
Dr. Martin Luther King Day of Service St. Paul’s Baptist Church, 1 Hagerty Blvd. West Chester, PA 19382 610-692-4226 Rev. Dr. Wayne E. Croft Sr., Sr. Pastor
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ST. PAUL'S BAPTIST CHURCH MARTIN LUTHER KING PLAZA
ONE HAGERTY BOULEVARD WEST CHESTER, PA 19382 PHONE: 610-692-2446 FAX: 610-692-7582 EMAIL: CHURCHOFFICE@STPAULSBAPTIST.ORG WWW.STPAULSBAPTIST.ORG