ANNOUNCEMENTS
ADVENT THEME: MET BY GOD IN THE SILENCE
SPECIAL CHRISTMAS MUSIC SERVICE | 12.11 | 5 PM Dessert reception afterwards. Bring a treat a treat to share!
WOMEN'S CHRISTMAS BRUNCH | 12.17 | 11-1 PM Ponce ladies! Join us in the chapel for our annual Women’s Christmas Brunch. This will be a sweet time of food, fellowship, and centering our hearts during the Advent/Christmas season. Sign-up to attend/bring food: https://tinyurl.com/4abc63bx
CHRISTMAS GIVING Let's celebrate our hard-working staff this Christmas! You can contribute to the staff gift fund by dropping a labeled check or cash in the offering box in the sanctuary or by selecting "Christmas staff gifts" on the Clover giving page at poncechurch.org/give. Any questions re: staff gifts? Reach out to the deacons at deacons@poncechurch.org.
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CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE | 12.24 | 5 PM
CONNECT VIA TEXT Ponce is now sending a once-a-week text with the latest announcement. Text: “connect” to (678) 252-5571 to get on the list! Never miss another event!
WEEKLY NEIGHBORHOOD BIBLE STUDY | 8 AM | THUR + FRI
We are looking for bible study leaders for our new weekly Neighborhood Bible Study. Reach out to Hace if you are interested.
WELCOME
INVOCATION
LIGHTING OF ADVENT CANDLE
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, help us not to fall in love with the night that covers us but through the darkness to watch for you as well as work for you; to dream and hunger in the dark for the light of you. Give us back the great hope that the future is yours, that not even the world can hide you from us forever, that at the end the One who came will come back in power stronger than death. Amen
“Emmanuel”
“Open The Eyes Of My Heart Lord” (Kids’ Choir)
“Hosanna In the Deep“ (Kids’ Choir)
Children's Church Dismissal + Blessing*
*(Children 3 years old - Kindergarten)
CONGREGANT INTERVIEW
GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PASTORAL PRAYER
SERMON TEXT | Psalms 38 ESV
Do Not Forsake Me, O Lord
A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering.
38 O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger,
nor discipline me in your wrath!
2 For your arrows have sunk into me,
and your hand has come down on me.3 There is no soundness in my flesh
because of your indignation;
there is no health in my bones
because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head;
like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.5 My wounds stink and fester
because of my foolishness,
6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;
all the day I go about mourning.
7 For my sides are filled with burning,
and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am feeble and crushed;
I groan because of the tumult of my heart.9 O Lord, all my longing is before you;
my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me,
and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague,
and my nearest kin stand far off.12 Those who seek my life lay their snares;
those who seek my hurt speak of ruin
and meditate treachery all day long.13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear,
like a mute man who does not open his mouth.
14 I have become like a man who does not hear,
and in whose mouth are no rebukes.15 But for you, O Lord, do I wait;
it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me,
who boast against me when my foot slips!”17 For I am ready to fall,
and my pain is ever before me.
18 I confess my iniquity;
I am sorry for my sin.
19 But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,
and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
20 Those who render me evil for good
accuse me because I follow after good.21 Do not forsake me, O Lord!
O my God, be not far from me!
22 Make haste to help me,
O Lord, my salvation!
SERMON | Rev. T. Wills
Title: “Met By God in the Silence, Part 1: Silenced So We Might Hear"
“You Hold It All Together”
CONFESSION OF SIN
Confession: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
Assurance: Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Cir 5:7-8)
TITHES + OFFERINGS*
Click to give here.
*Parents can pick up their children from Children’s Church
COMMUNION
“And We Are Glad”
BENEDICTION
COMMUNITY GROUPS
Sunday:
Brookhaven/Tucker* | hace@poncechurch.org
East Atlanta | (cc) Winfield Tufts
Kirkwood/Decatur* | laurarhamm@gmail.com
Marietta* | charlton.hughes@gmail.com
Midtown | phillipellen@aol.com
Monday:
South Side* | aaroneide@hotmail.com
Wednesday:
Decatur | samuel@samuelcrawfordmusic.com
Old Fourth Ward | r.brooke.joseph@gmail.com
Westside | macyschell@gmail.com
Thursday:
Piedmont Park | duffjay@gmail.com
*cc (child friendly)
CHURCH STAFF
Senior Pastor: Tolivar Wills (tolivar@poncechurch.org)
Assistant Pastor: Hace Cargo (hace@poncechurch.org)
Church Planting Pastor: Hung Truong (hung@poncechurch.org)
Worship Leader: Raymonde Neely (raymonde@poncechurch.org)
Office Administrator: Ashley Brittingham (admin@poncechurch.org)
Building Manager: Stephen Ivester (ski.84@outlook.com)
Women’s Director: Larrie Fisher (larrierfisher@gmail.com)
Children’s Director: Laura Hamm (childrensministry@poncechurch.org)
ELDERS
Matthew Brittingham
Jay Duff
Aaron Eide
Phil Ellen
Pat Pickren
DEACONS
Katelyn DiGioia
Jonathan DiGioia
Jon Gilliam
Charlton Hughes
Chris Sobata