December 13 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

 

Third Sunday of Advent

Today’s Meditation Verse “O that You would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at Your presence…”          – Isaiah 64:1

Welcome – Pastor Charles  

Prelude: Christmas Medley – Christopher W.

Call to Worship (Luke 1:46b-55): Pastor Charles (Leader) and Bob M. (People) - (Congregation is encouraged to read people’s response aloud on mute setting)

L: "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

P: for He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name.

L: His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation.

P: He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

L: He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.

P: He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, according to the promise He made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to His descendants forever."

Lighting the Advent Candle (UMCDicpleship.org) – Austin & Joan C. and Terri H.

Reader One: Sometimes on our journey, our feet get heavy, our shoulders feel burdened, and our hearts seem slow. Sometimes in the preparation, the busyness overwhelms us, and we get lost in the doing and the planning and the running. And what we lose is a sense of why. Why do we do all of this? Why is this journey necessary? And the answer is simple: for the joy of it. We forget the joy when we get caught up in the to-do lists. We forget the joy when we worry more about how things look than connecting with others.        Reader Two: Matthew tells us that when John asked if Jesus was the one to come, Jesus responded by saying look around you. Our call in this Advent journey is to look around us to see the one who comes already at work among us and to celebrate that presence with joy.                                            Reader One: We light the candles of peace and hope and joy to light our way as we journey.       

Hymn:  "Lo, How a Rose” – Don B.

Community prayer requests, concerns, and Pastoral Prayer / The Lord’s Prayer – Pastor Charles (Congregation is encouraged to offer the Lord’s Prayer aloud on mute setting)

Epistle Lesson: Isaiah 9:1-7– Bob M. 

Musical offering: "Ave Maria" – Christopher W.                                                                                                                                                            Second Lesson: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 – Pastor Charles

Sermon: “Maybe Isaiah was on to something” – Pastor Charles    

Celebration of Ministry: Winter Festival – Belinda A.

Hymn: “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice” – Rebecca G.                                                                                                                                                            Words for the Journey: Pastor Charles                                                                                                                             Postlude: “A Cradle in Bethlehem” – Tim C.