First Presbyterian Church (USA) of Smithville
300 Burleson, Smithville, TX 78957
(512) 360-5231
As a Church we are committed to:
Glorifying God through worship
Welcoming all as children of God
Serving others in the light of God's love.
The First Presbyterian Church (USA) of Smithville welcomes you to our online ministry. Our Church is a church filled with life, serving the community of Smithville and surrounding areas for over 140 years . . . and just a short, pleasant drive from Bastrop, Cedar Creek, Flatonia, and towns throughout Bastrop County. If you are searching for a Church home, we would be pleased to welcome you into our fellowship. New members are received by our Session upon letter of transfer from another Christian congregation, or by profession of faith or reaffirmation of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Please come and visit us!
Pastor: Rev. Kris Brown and family:
sons- Henry & Alex and husband David.
We are open in our church building for the service but we will continue to provide a Facebook Live video and post the video here. If you decide to attend in person, please wear a mask and observe social distancing. We will not be serving food or having the Social Hour at this time. The video is available here and on Facebook after the live service.
There are lots of reasons why we can't wait until 2021. One of them is it is our church's 150th birthday. We are setting up a special committee to help plan events to celebrate. Why don't you join this committee? Let Harleigh Elliot or Pastor Kris know if you are interested. The video from November 29th is posted on the Video page here.
Here is the bulletin for Sunday, November 29th
Service for the Lord’s Day
First Presbyterian Church
Smithville, Texas
November 29, 2020 11:00AM
1st Sunday of Advent
Welcome and Announcements
Welcome to First Presbyterian Church. We are glad you are worshipping with us today. If you are searching for a church home, please speak to our pastor or one of our elders.
-- Church will adopt a holiday family from Smithville elementary school. More on this to come.
-- Bell choir will be assembling for Christmas Eve "church on the steps" service. Practice will begin December 6 at 9:30am.
-- Join the "celebrate 150 years of our church" committee. Talk to Harleigh or Pastor Kris.
-- Contact Harleigh to get photo taken for the church directory
-- We are doing a socially distanced Christmas pageant on December 13. Talk to Pastor Kris about who you want to be.
Happy Birthday: Harleigh Herrington-Altmeyer (30); Penelope Saunders (1)
Call to Worship
L: The day of God is coming; lift up your voices. Cry out with the strength God provides.
P: We await God’s coming day with anticipation. We seek the peace and patience God provides.
L: Comfort, comfort my people, says our God. Speak tenderly to my suffering people.
P: We will prepare the way for One who is coming. We look forward to baptism in the Spirit.
L: God will feed us like a shepherd. God will gather us in gentle, caring arms.
P: God’s hand is upon us in blessing; we are welcomed by God’s steadfast love.
L: Our first hymn is “Blessed Be the God of Israel”.
Blessed be the God of Israel, who comes to set us free,
Who visits and redeems us, and grants us liberty.
The prophets spoke of mercy, of freedom and release;
God shall fulfill the promise to bring our people peace.
Now from the house of David a child of grace has come,
A Savior who will lead us to our eternal home.
Before him goes the herald, fore runner in the way,
The prophet of salvation, the harbinger of day.
On all by death imprisoned the sun begins to rise,
The dawning of forgiveness upon the sinner’s eyes,
To guide the feet of pilgrims along the paths of peace;
O bless our God and Savior with songs that never cease!
The Lighting of the First Advent Candle
Call to Confession
L: God is patient with us, not wanting any to perish. Yet we have turned away from holiness and godliness. We have chosen to fit into society rather than give leadership for a new day. Let the church confess its failures
Confession of Our Sins
God of glory, we confess that we have not recognized you in our midst nor listened for your voice. Our faith is fragile, and our iniquity goes unrecognized amid our massive self-concern. We have lived as if we have no need to account for the life we have been given. Our church is focused more on our own survival than on its mission in the world. We come to you today with sincere repentance for our neglect. We have failed to prepare the way for Christ’s entry into our everyday environment. Pardon and change us, we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
L: God speaks tenderly to us and assures us that our debt has been paid, our sins forgiven, our paths made straight. God’s glory is waiting to burst into the midst of all who accept the good news. Surely our salvation is at hand. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. Enjoy the baptism of the Holy Spirit!
P: Thanks be to God.
First Reading of Scripture (unison) Isaiah 40:1-11
Second Reading of Scripture 2 Peter 3:8-15
Time for the Children of Our Church
The Passing of the Peace
L: Today we will have special music, “Oh, You Can’t Get to Heaven”, from Rosaleigh and Penelope Saunders. The words for their song are printed on the last page of you bulletin. Please sing along.
Gospel Reading Mark 1:1-8
Sermon Rev. Kris Brown “The Missing Piece”
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen
The Prayers of the People
L: Our closing hymn is “O Little Town of Bethlehem”.
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary and gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King, and peace to all on earth.
O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray,
Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.
Blessing
Welcome to First Presbyterian Church
We are truly grateful that you have chosen to worship with us on this Lord’s Day. If you are searching for a Church home, we would be pleased to welcome you into our fellowship. New members are received by our Session upon letter of transfer from another Christian congregation, or by profession of faith or reaffirmation of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
Kristin Brown, pastor Our members, ministers
Monica Miller, piano Alan Ford, trumpet
Wayne King, trumpet Lisa Maresh, choir
Elders: Leah Saunders, Clerk of Session; Jane Istre, Treasurer; Lisa Altmeyer, Kathy Ford, Harleigh Herrington-Altmeyer, Lisa Maresh, Monica Miller
Church phone number (512)360-5231 www.fpcsmithville.org
Pastor’s phone number (512)773-1210 kribrown1001@gmail.com
Prayer Requests
Our Church Members
Cara Sweeney Tristyn Herrington-Altmeyer Pat Brown
Byron Westerman Ruth Whitehead Monica Miller
Kathleen Bennatt Dorothy Dillon Gloria Hurta
Mildred Pustejovsky Hoyt Johnson Sophie Morgan
Kelly Hubley Sydney Hernandez Landon Dixon
Our Family and Friends
Kamryn Helgren M’linda Lord Brady Reardon
Jake Tabor Micah Bowie Sara Vuoso
Raelyn Williams Sharen Couchman Chris Brown
Nancy Glenn Frances Morrison Kathy Rukenbrod
David Luna Sue Patterson Mary Laird
Kenneth Haunschild Julie Hurt Nelson Scheler
Darrell Sander Pat Groze Walter Pfiester
Bill Batty Dawn Walters Janis Riebe
Kimberly Olson Barbara Stephens David Johnson
Sylvia Rushing Kathy Nielsen Naomi Stark
Ferrell Coon Sandra Richardson Travis Klaerner
Anthony Maddox Elia Escalonte Jerry Kahler
Jason Balister Janice Damari Freddy Perez
Ann Martin Bettie & Stan Williams John & Minerva Sandoval
Heather Davis Vicki Henry Samantha Phillips
Stuart Johnson Annette Starr Jerry Aplin
Virginia Royston Deanna Ornas Shirley Isler
Lanice Hunger Brett Freedman Chris Maresh
When FULL services resume, we invite you to join us for our Sunday Social Hour - Holy Grounds starting at 9:45 am in the Fellowship Hall.
Sunday school at 10 am - for ages 3 - Pre-K available now at the church.
Classes for teens and adults have not resumed yet.
Don't let the stairs stop you!
There is an elevator located in the back of the church. Just drive around to the back. If you need help operating the elevator, we will send someone to assist you.