Takoma Park Presbyterian Church

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This Sunday’s Worship: December 6

(Sunday, December 6 At 11 AM, Second Sunday of Advent, Communion, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture:

Isaiah 40:1-11; Mark 1:1-8

Hymns:

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Comfort, Comfort Now My People
Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending

Service Preview (Online):

Sermon Title: “Comfort Food” by Rev. James Reisner

“Comfort, comfort, my people” proclaims the prophet, Isaiah. These are the first words of what is known as Second Isaiah which starts at the 40th chapter of his prophesy. Isaiah is declaring that to the people, after years of bitter exile in Babylon, that they are finally going home.

“I’ll be home for Christmas
You can count on me. …
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light gleams.
I’ll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams.”

This much-beloved Christmas song was written in 1943 during wartime when many soldiers were far from home with no chance of getting there by Christmas – thus the minor key. This year for many of us this song may take on new meaning as we celebrate distant from the people we want to be with, and far from the place where we want to be with them. We want to experience the comfort of home.

“I cannot claim that I have found the home I long for every day of my life, not by a long shot, but I believe that in my heart I have found, and have maybe always known, the way that leads to it. I believe that the home we long for and belong to is finally where Christ is. I believe that home is Christ’s kingdom, which exists both within us and among us as we wend our prodigal ways through the world in search of it.

                               Frederick Buechner, The Longing for Home

Link to Video

Link to Bulletin (PDF)


This Sunday we will be joined by Garnett Foster, who was pastor of Takoma Park Presbyterian Church in the 1990s. We will also light the Peace Candle.


We invite you to prepare your own table for communion.  Find a piece of bread, fill your cup, and join in the celebration of the sacrament.


About Online Worship

We will gather by ZOOM (feed available starting about 10:45 AM). At the moment, Pastor Reisner and a few others broadcast from the church sanctuary while worshipers will be invited to sign on ZOOM.

Directions on how to connect and participate in virtual worship will be sent via a group.io e-mail. If you are unfamiliar with ZOOM we recommend you read up a little before the service. We will set an informal and experimental mood, ask forgiveness as we stumble along our way in a new medium. It will be fun.

We will set an informal and experimental mood, ask forgiveness as we stumble along our way in a new medium. It will be fun.

For more information on TPPC's coronavirus response, access the TPCC Coronavirus Update page.