Doxology:
Order Of Worship
Hope! The First Sunday Of Advent
“Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow”
Call To Worship
“Hopeful Watching: Trusting The God Who Hears”
Inspired by Micha 7:7 Written By The Reverend Marben Bland
Leader: Come, all who feel weary and uncertain, for our hope is in the Lord.
People: We will watch in hope for the Lord, for He is our Savior and our strength.
Leader: Bring your prayers and your waiting hearts, for our God hears us.
People: We will wait for God our Savior, trusting that His timing is perfect.
Leader: Let us worship the One who never fails, who hears our cries and holds us close.
People: With faith and hope, we lift our voices to our God, who is faithful and true!
Opening Hymn
#364 My Hope Is Built
Edward Mote/William B. Bradbury
1. My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
Refrain On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.
2. When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil.
3. His oath, His covenant, His blood Support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my home and stay.
4. When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be found! Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before that throne!
The Invocation
The Invocation Response
#364 My Hope Is Built
AdventSongOfPraise
Hope!LightingTheAdventCandleByTheTrustees AlterCall
Announcements–Pastor’sAidMinistry
WorshipInGiving
AMeditationOnTithingAndGiving
WrittenByTheReverendNathanielVeal
Leader:PleasestandasyouareableandraiseyourseedtotheLord andrepeattheselinesafterme— Lord,Ithankyouforwhatyouhavegiventome. NowGod,Iamgivingbacktoyouatithe,atenth,oraportionofwhat youhavegiventome.
God,Iamplantingmyseedintofertileground. Icannotexpectaharvest,ifIdonotplantanyseeds. God,Iamexpectingmyseedstoproduceaharvestthatispressed down,shakentogetherandrunningover.
Leader:Now,whateveryouwantGodtodoforyouinyourlife,crossit overyourchestandclaimit.AndNowThankGodForIt!Andletusall say….Amen!
Leader:Now,letusgiveourofferingtotheLord
Followingtheofferingthecongregationwillriseatthedirectionofthe Pastorandsing: #588AllThingsComeOfThee
AllThingsComeofthee,OLord;andofthineownhavewegiventhee–Amen
WorshipInPrayer
TheApostlesCreed
IbelieveinGodtheFatherAlmighty,Makerofheavenandearth,andin JesusChristhisonlysonourLordwhowasconceivedbytheHolySpirit, bornoftheVirginMary,sufferedunderPontiusPilate,wascrucified, dead;andburied.Thethirddayhearosefromthedead’heascended intoheavenandsittethattherighthandofGodtheFatherAlmighty; fromthenceheshallcometojudgethequickandthedead.Ibelievein theHolySpirit,theChurchUniversal,thecommunionofsaints,the forgivenessofsins,theresurrectionofthebodyandthelifeeverlasting Amen..
Micah 7:5-7
New International Version
5 Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard the words of your lips.
6 For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.
7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
TheContemporaryDecalogue
TheCongregation,RiseandSings:
“Fromallthatdwellbelowtheskies,lettheCreator’s praisearise;lettheRedeemer’snamebesung,through everylandbyeverytongue.”
TheMinisterSays: HearthecommandmentsofGodtohispeople: IamtheLordyourGodwhobroughtyououtofbondage.
ThePeopleSings:
Amen.Lordhavemercy
Youshallnotmakeforyourselfanyidol. Amen.Lordhavemercy.
YoushallnotinvokewithmalicetheNameoftheLord yourGod.
Amen.Lordhavemercy.
RemembertheSabbathdayandkeepitholy. Amen.Lordhavemercy.
Honor your father and your mother.
Amen. Lord have mercy. You shall not commit murder.
Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not commit adultery.
Amen. Lord have mercy. You shall not steal.
Amen. Lord have mercy. You shall not be a false witness. Amen. Lord have mercy. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Amen. Lord have mercy.
THEGLORIAPATRI
“GlorybetotheFather,andtotheSon,andtotheHoly Ghost;Asitwasinthebeginning,isnow,andevershallbe, worldwithoutend.Amen.”
AnAdventSongOfPraise
Message
“HopeintheWaiting:TrustingGodWhenTimesAreTough” Micah7:5-7
InvitationToDiscipleship
#364 My Hope Is Built Edward Mote/William B. Bradbury
1. My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
Refrain On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.
HolyCommunion
TheCalltoCommuniontobemadebytheMinister Youthatdotrulyandearnestlyrepentofyoursins,andare inloveandcharitywithyourneighbor,andintendtoleada newlife,followingthecommandmentsofGod,andwalking fromhenceforthinhisholyways,drawnearwithfaithand taketheholysacramenttoyourcomfort,andmakeyour humbleconfessiontoAlmightyGod.
TheGeneralConfessiontobemadebytheMinisterandpeople AlmightyGod,FatherofourLordJesus Christ,makerofallthings,judgeofallpeople ,weacknowledgeandbewailourmanifold sinsandwickednesswhichwefromtimeto timemostgrievouslyhavecommittedby thought,word,anddeedagainstyourdivine majesty,provokingmostjustlyyourwrath andindignationagainstus.Wedoearnestly repentandareheartilysorryfortheseour misdoings;theremembranceofthemis grievousuntous.
Havemercyuponus,havemercyuponus, mostmercifulGodforyourSon,ourLord JesusChrist’ssake;forgiveusallthatispast, andgrantthatwemayeverhereafterserve andpleasetheeinnewnessoflife,tothe honorandgloryofyourname,throughJesus ChristourLord.Amen
PrayerofConsecrationtobemadebytheMinister AlmightyGod,ourHeavenlyFather,whoofyourtender mercydidgiveyouronlyson,JesusChrist,tosuffer deathonthecrossforourredemption,whomadethere byhisoblationofhimself,onceoffered,afullperfect andsufficientsacrifice,oblation,andsatisfactionfor thesinsofthewholeworld;anddidinstituteandinhis holygospelcommandustocontinueaperpetual memoryofthathispreciousdeathuntilhiscoming again;hearus,OmercifulFather,wemosthumbly beseechyou,andgrantthatwereceivingtheseyour creaturesofbreadandwine,accordingtoyourson,our SaviourJesusChrist’sholyinstitution,inremembrance ofhisdeathandpassionmaybepartakersofhismost blessedbodyandblood;whointhesamenightthathe wasbetrayedtookbread,andwhenhehadgiven thanks,hebrokeit,,andgaveittohisdisciples,saying, ‘Take,eatthisismybodywhichisbrokenforyou.This doinremembranceofme.’(TheMinstersaystake,and eatthebread,thebodyofourSavorJesus.)Likewise aftersupperhetookthecupandwhenhehadgiven thankshegaveittothemsaying,‘Drinkallofit,forthis ismybloodofNewTestament,whichisshedforyou andformanyfortheremissionofsins;dothis,asoften asyoushalldrinkit,inremembranceofme.(The Minstersaystake,anddrinkfromthecup,thebloodof ourSavorJesusChrist.)Amen.’
The Lord’s Prayer
To be made by the Minister and people
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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
#321 Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross
Fanny J. Crosby/William H. Doane
Jesus, keep me near the cross; There a precious fountain, Free to all, a healing stream, Flows from Calvary’s mountain. Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever, Till my raptured soul shall find Rest beyond the river.
GreaterBethelCalendar
December,January,February
Updated-AdditionsHighlited December2024
December1–FirstSundayOfAdvent
December5–1stAdventBibleStudy
December6-ClassLeader:11:00AM,Stewards:2:00PM, Trustees:5:00PM
December7–SEDChristmasFellowship
December12–2ndAdventBibleStudy
December15-AugustNorthDistrictConference
December14–SEDLayQuarterlyMeeting
December19-12:00NoonOfficialBoardMeetingEndOfYear Luncheon
December19–3rdandfinalAdventBibleStudy
December21–(Saturday)GreaterBethelChristmasParty2:00PM December22–(Sunday)GreaterBethelChristmasWorship Program11:00AM
December25–OnlineChristmasDayMessage
December28–SEDYPDVisionGathering
December29–TaylorScholarshipService
December31–AthensClusterWatchDayService1:00PM HostedByGreaterBethel
January2025
January1–OnlineNewYear’sDayMessage
January7-ClassLeader:11:00AM,Stewards:2:00PM, Trustees:7:00PM
January11-CommunityCanvassing
January16–MLKBibleStudySessionOne7:00PMOnZoom
January17-19SEDRAYACRetreat,Atlanta
January18AAHRCAnnualMLKBanquet
January20–MLKDayOfService&Lunch 12:00NoonFellowshipHall
January23–MLKBibleStudySessionTwo7:00PMOnZoom
January30–MLKBibleStudySessionThree7:00PMOnZoom
February2025–BlackHistoryMonth
February2-4SEDTurnerSeminaryFoundersDay
February4-ClassLeader:11:00AM,Stewards:2:00PM,Trustees7:00PM
February6–MLKBibleStudySessionFour7:00PMOnZoom
February8-CommunityCanvassing
February13-15SEDFoundersDay
February15–MSWAWO+PK’sBreakfast
February20–MLKBibleStudySessionFive7:00PMOnZoom
February23ChurchImprovementDedicationService
February27-MLKBibleStudySessionSix7:00PMOnZoom
OnThursday,January16th,2025,at7:00PMETonly onZoomGreaterBethelAMEAthenswilllaunchtheSharetheDream®. BibleStudy SharetheDreamisasix-sessiononehourvideoandlive discussionBiblestudybasedonthelifeandteachingsofDr.Martin LutherKing,Jr. Eachsessionrevolvesaroundoneofthebiblical principlesthatshapedDr.King'slifeandmotivatedhimtospeakon behalfofAfricanAmericansintheCivilRightsMovement.
OurOneHourStudySchedule
7:00PMETThursday,January16th–SessionOne“Love”
7:00PMETThursday,January23rd–SessionTwo“Conscience” 7:00PMETThursday,January30th–SessionThree“Justice”
7:00PMETThursday,February6th–SessionFour“Freedom” BreakonFebruary13thforAMEFoundersDayActivities
7:00PMETThursday,February20th–SessionFive“Perseverance”
7:00PMETThursday,February27th–SessionSix“Hope”
