SUNDAY MORNING MINISTRY WORKERS

• Monday, May 4, 6:30pm: APC #2 vs FBCA #1 7:45pm: APC #3 vs ILC• Thursday, May 7, 6:30pm: APC #1 vs Alfred St. #1 9:00pm: APC #2 vs FBCA #3

1302 W. Braddock Road, Alexandria VA 22302 | 703-683-3348 | www.alexandriapres.org

(See other important dates in the announcements above.)

December 22, 2019Hospitality This Week’s Coffee Set Up: the Rosas family Next Week’s Coffee Set Up: Sharon HollidayNursery This Week’s Church Service: Trena Johnson, Vicki Wolfe Next Week’s Church Service: Trena JohnsonDeacons on Duty Jon Erickson, Emmanuel Lako

WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTSAPC offers a service at two different campuses on Sunday mornings. Our Russell Road Campus (RRC) is located at 2405 Russell Road with a worship time of 8:50am, and our West Braddock Road Campus (WBRC) is located at 1302 West Braddock Road with a worship time of 11am.

JOURNEYThe

ALEXANDRIA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

To give to APC electronically, scan this QR code, or browse to: alexandriapres.org/give. Please use your bank account to give, if possible, to maximize your gift by avoiding credit/debit card transaction fees.

GIVING TO APC

ADULT EDUCATION

CHILDREN AND TEENS

Children 0-4, Nursery Wing; 2-3.5yr olds, Room 129; 3.5-4yr olds, Room 126; 5yr olds, Room 114; Grades 1-2, Room 124; Grades 3-5 Boys, Room 115; Grades 3-5 Girls, Room 113 Teens Jr High 6th-8th and Sr High 9th-12th, 4th Floor

Sunday school | 10:45-11:45am | Russell Road Campus

Sunday evening | 5-7pm | Russell Road Campus

Children’s Church Room 124, during the sermon for children ages 5-7

Explorers children age 5-5th grade, Fellowship Hall PROTAS teens 6th-12th grade, 4th Floor

Sunday school | 10:45-11:45am | Russell Road Campus Daniel, Led by Elders Ryan Furgerson and Rob Fisher, Room 303 The book of Daniel is a message of hope in a dark world. Are you tempted to despair when the powers and kingdoms of this world seem to have the upper hand? Do you need reminding of our Lord’s powerful promises of ultimate victory? Join us for a study God’s faithful preservation of Daniel and his friends, and His sure promises of victory. “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14

James, Led by Elder Jim Taft and Pastor Josh Diack, Chapel James’ letter is one of the most commonly quoted in the Bible. It’s full of powerful statements and practical wisdom to sink your teeth into. That said, power without discernment can be like dynamite, and so historically this letter has also been one of the most misunderstood letters in the Bible, and can appear difficult at times to harmonize with other New Testament authors. In light of the lively challenges this writing presents, we look forward to learning how we might have a living, visible, productive faith in a fallen world.

UNCHANGING TRUTH—CHANGING LIVESAPC is a church of sinners. It’s that simple. But we are bound together by the Gospel that saves us and trans-forms us. The transformation is, however, a process. God isn’t through with us yet. Everyone in this church is struggling with something. If you are currently struggling with greed, gossip, drugs, alcohol, sexual brokenness, eating disorders, anger, pride, etc—you are not alone. More importantly, God does not intend for you to struggle alone. That’s why He made the Church. If you would like to learn how your brothers and sisters at APC might be able to encourage you, pray with you and struggle alongside you, contact Tom Holliday at the church office.

CORPORATE PRAYER IN 2019Every Sunday, 8:30am—Chapel (RRC). Praying for our Worship Service.Second Saturday of the month, 9am—Room 104 (RRC). Praying with our Elders for our church.Third Saturday of the month, 11am—Fellowship Hall (WBRC) Fourth Sunday of the month, 5pm—Chapel (RRC). Praying with our church community.Intercessory Prayer Team. Contact Pastor Tom Holliday for details.

Email Distribution List. Periodic e-announcements keep the APC family informed of ministries, events, prayer requests, and classifieds. To subscribe, please contact the church office at admin@alexandriapres.org.Submission Deadlines. Requests for bulletin and pulpit announcements are due to the office by Tuesday.Covenant Fellowship Groups (CFG). APC offers a variety of CFGs which meet for study, prayer, fellowship, accountability and growth. A list of locations, times and contact info can be found online or in the CFG brochure at the Information Booth.Find Us on Facebook. Please visit the APC Facebook page and hit the “Like” button while you’re there!Bulletin on your iPad or Tablet. To receive a PDF of the weekly bulletin, please e-mail Stacey Diack at stacey.diack@alexandriapres.org.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Explorers, PROTAS, and Sunday evening nursery are on Christmas break until January 12.

Prayer Meeting this evening from 5-6pm at RRC in Room 104. Join with the APC community to pray for our church, community, and the world.

Christmas Eve at APC. On Christmas Eve, December 24, the West Braddock Road Campus will host two services. The 5pm service will feature a children’s sermon and nursery will be available for children ages 3 and under. The second service will be at 7pm.

Year-End Gifts to APC. As you plan a year-end gift to APC, keep in mind that the church office will be closed December 24-January 1, and the last worship service of the year is December 29. Gifts received in the mail the first week of January—if dated and postmarked in 2019—will be included in your 2019 year-end giving statement. You may also make your year-end gifts through APC’s online giving portal. In addition, if you would prefer to donate stock or do a transfer direct from a 401(k) account, to APC’s general fund or the Arise Capital Campaign, please contact Vicki Wolfe at vicki.wolfe@alexandriapres.org and she can give you the information needed to make a transfer. If you would like to designate a special year end gift to the Arise campaign, simply annotate the memo section “Arise” and either mail to APC or put it in along with your regular offering. Please keep in mind as you make your giving decisions, we need to be able to maintain our budgeted giving in order to qualify for a building loan next year. Thank you for considering APC in your year-end planning.

Call to Prayer— January 2020. As we embark on a New Year, the elders invite you to join them in APC-wide prayer opportunities: Wednesday, January 8, 7:30pm at WBRC; Saturday, January 11, 9am in the RRC Fellowship Hall; and Sunday, January 12, 5pm in the RRC Sanctuary. Mark your calendars to attend at least one of these three corporate prayer times. Childcare will be provided for Sunday’s prayer meeting.

Ladies, please consider joining the Thursday Women’s Bible Study as they begin a new 10-week study by Jen Wilkin entitled “NONE LIKE HIM: 10 Ways God is Different From Us (and Why That’s a Good Thing)”. As image-bearers, we share many attributes with God. But there are very key ways in which God is completely “other” from us: He is self-existent, self-sufficient, eternal, immutable, omnipresent, etc. Why is this important for us to know? As we’ve been learning in our Contentment study, the more we are assured of God’s sovereignty and His goodness, the more content we are. John Piper says, “God is most glorified when we are most satisfied with Him.” Come spend the next two and a half months steeping in the holiness and goodness of our God! We will begin with a time of prayer on January 9th (where we’ll hand out the books). We meet from 9:45-11:30am in Room 303. Childcare is provided. If you have any questions, please contact Lynn Streett at lynn.streett79@gmail.com.

APC Ladies: After the Advent Season, let’s gather in our neighborhood regions for brunch on Saturday, January 11 from 10-11:30am. Sign up downstairs TODAY (since it will be so easy to forget to do so during the holidays!), and we’ll place you in the home of one of the 5-6 neighborhood hostesses. The time will be spent mingling with those who live near you, munching on brunch, and enjoying a short activity or reflection. Questions? Ask Lynn Streett at lynn.streett79@gmail.com.

Newcomers’ Fellowship Dinner, Saturday, January 18, 6-8pm. If you’ve been attending APC for one week or several months, Sue Edwards invites you to her home, 2405 Terrett Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301, for food and fellowship. You’ll have a chance to meet church officers and staff, ask questions and learn more about the ministry God is building here. Childcare is provided. Please RSVP to Office Manager Sue Edwards at sue.edwards@alexandriapres.org, or sign-up at the Info Booth after worship on Sunday.

How to be Salt and Light as a Non-Evangelist in 2020. Don’t miss this. Really. Put it on your calendar now. Randy Newman is an extremely entertaining speaker and he’s coming to APC on Saturday, January 25. He was raised in a Jewish home, became a Christian, and has been on staff with CRU (formerly Campus Crusade) for years. He’s going to talk to us about his book “Questioning Evangelism” and share a different approach for reaching the lost – by being a good listener and by asking good questions. This approach is much more natural for most of us and anybody can do it. We’ll do sign-ups in January. Please contact Bryant Streett at 703-942-8075, if you have questions.

Inquirer’s Class is January 31-February 1 at WBRC. If you are interested in membership or in gaining a deeper understanding of APC, you should attend this class. You will receive an introduction to Christianity, the PCA, and the specific vision/mission and philosophy of ministry at APC. Membership is open to all who profess faith in Christ and believe the basic teachings of the Christian faith. Attending the class does not obligate you to join the church. The Friday night session is from 6:30-9pm starting with a dinner, and the Saturday session is from 9am-3pm. Please RSVP to Office Manager Sue Edwards at sue.edwards@alexandriapres.org or sign-up on Sunday if you wish to attend, and indicate if you have childcare needs. Scholarships are available to help with in-home childcare costs for Friday evening, and childcare will be provided at the church on Saturday.

Parents with young children: a Family Worship Space with video simulcast is available downstairs. Nursery is available for children ages 4 and under. Please see a greeter or usher for assistance. Bibles and offering envelopes are available at the Information Booth.

Holy Worship ServiceGOD INVITES HIS PEOPLE TO WORSHIP

At this time, parents may take their children, ages 2-5, to the Bible class in the toddler room off of the Fellowship Hall.

song of response GOD’S PEOPLE RESPOND

announcements

benediction

prayer for illumination

sermon | Tom Holliday, Senior Pastor “The Humble Servant” Sermon series: Promises of Hope in the Dark

offertory prayer | Elder Matt Coombs

presentation of tithes and offerings | Vell Rives, Interim Music and Worship Director

extinguishing the advent candle

hymn of preparation

congregational prayer

song of praise

Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming

sermon scripture readingGOD FEEDS HIS PEOPLE THROUGH HIS WORD

Isaiah 42:1-9The Lord's Chosen Servant1Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights;I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.2He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;3a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.4He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.5Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it,who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it:6“I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you;I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, 7to open the eyes that are blind,to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.8I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.9Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare;before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

ImmanuelFrom the squalor of a borrowed stable—by the Spirit and a virgin's faithTo the anguish and the shame of scandal came the Savior of the human raceBut the skies were filled with the praise of heav'n—Shepherds listen as the angels tell Of the gift of God come down to man at the dawning of Immanuel

King of heaven now the friend of sinners—humble servant in the Father's handsFilled with power and the Holy Spirit—filled with mercy for the broken manYes He walked my road and He felt my pain—joys and sorrows that I know so wellYet His righteous steps give me hope again—I will follow my Immanuel

Through the kisses of a friend's betrayal—He was lifted on a cruel crossHe was punished for a world's transgressions—He was suffering to save the lostHe fights for breath He fights for me—Loosing sinners from the claims of hellAnd with a shout our souls are free—Death defeated by Immanuel

Now He's standing in the place of honor—crowned with glory on the highest throneInterceding for His own beloved 'til His Father calls to bring them homeThen the skies will part as the trumpet sounds—hope of heaven or the fear of hellBut the bride will run to her Lover's arms giving glory to ImmanuelCCLI Song # 2733786, Stuart Townend, © 1999 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

prelude

prayer of adoration | Tom Holliday, Senior Pastor

call to worship

GOD’S PEOPLE RESPONDscripture reading Matthew 1:18-25

Good Christian Men, Rejoice hymn of worship

lighting the candle of love | the Beckham family

Please stand and read responsively from Luke 1:68-75Leader: Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and redeemed his people. All: He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant DavidLeader: as he said through his holy prophets long ago, salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us--All: to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham:Leader: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear.All: in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

The Birth of Jesus Christ18Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:23“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). 24When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by Your daily visitation, that Your Son Jesus Christ, at His coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for Himself; who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

advent prayer Please stand and read in unison. Prayer for the Fourth Sunday in Advent, from the Book of Common Prayer

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Hark the herald angels sing—Glory to the newborn KingPeace on earth and mercy mild—God and sinners reconciledJoyful, all ye nations rise—join the triumph of the skiesWith th’angelic host proclaim—Christ is born in Bethlehem

Hark! The herald angels sing—glory to the newborn King

Christ, by highest heav’n adored—Christ the everlasting LordLate in time, behold Him come—offspring of the virgin’s wombVeiled in flesh the Godhead see—hail th’incarnate DeityPleased as man with men to dwell—Jesus our Emmanuel

Hail the heav’n born Prince of Peace—hail the Sun of RighteousnessLight and life to all He brings—ris’n with healing in His wingsMild He lays His glory by—born that man no more may dieBorn to raise the sons of earth—born to give them second birthCharles Wesley, 1753; alt.

The shepherds heard the story, proclaimed by angels bright,how Christ, the Lord of glory, was born on earth this night.To Bethlehem they sped and in the manger found him,as angel heralds said.

This flow'r, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,dispels with glorious splendor the darkness ev'rywhere.True man, yet very God, from sin and death he saves us,and lightens ev'ry load.

O Savior, child of Mary, who felt our human woe;O Savior, King of glory, who dost our weakness know,bring us at length, we pray, to the bright courts of heavenand to the endless day.

Gentle Mary Laid Her Child, arr. Roger Summers