December 12 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

The Jubliate Ringers open the worship service

Louise takes part in lighting the Advent candles

Marcy Decker practices with the bells

Today’s Meditation Verse: “God is indeed my salvation; I will trust and won’t be afraid.” 

 —Isaiah 12:2a

Welcome...Pastor Charles

Prelude...Jubilate Ringers / “Christmas Rejoicing,” by Douglas E. Wagner

*Call to Worship (Luke 1:46b-55, CEB)...Amy Abshire

Leader: Mary said, “With all my heart I glorify the Lord! People: In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior. Leader: He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant. Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored because the mighty one has done great things for me. Holy is his name. People: He shows mercy to everyone, from one generation to the next, who honors him as God. Leader: He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations. People: He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. Leader: He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty-handed. All: He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, just as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.”

Lighting the Advent Candle...Judy Waller, Louise Cook, and Amy Abshire

Reader One: It’s a reunion, every time we go home, every time we embrace those we love, no matter how long it has been. It feels like sunrise, like the clouds are parting and the rain has ended. It is joy, nothing less than pure joy to grab hold of those who are home for us, who make home for us. Whether we wake up to them every day, or travel many miles to see them again, it is joy to go home.

Reader Two: The prophet Zephaniah tells us to rejoice at the thought of going home. The prophet tells us to imagine being set free, being unburdened, being released to live, to fully live in the grace and wonder of life itself, surrounded by those who love us like no one else. And then to live like that was our truth even now, even here. It is joy to go home.

Reader One: John the Baptist reminds us, however, that it takes choices to live in this joy. It doesn’t just happen; we choose to make life a joy by how we love others, by how we serve and give and care for others, by how we do the job we do and how we impact the world around us. We build joy as we build a home in this world and the next.

Reader Two: We light these candles, the candle of hope, and of peace, and of joy, as a sign that we are on our way home, and we walk with a skip in our step because we can see the destination,and it is pure joy. It is time to go home. 

—from UMCDiscipleship.org

*Hymn...“Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” (UMH #203)

Gospel Lesson: Luke 3:7-18...Amy Abshire

Special Music...Jubilate Ringers with guest flautist Marcy Decker / “Prepare the Royal Highway,” arr. Cathy Moklebust

*Offering/Doxology (to the tune “O Tannenbaum”)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow, in every generation.

Praise God, all creatures here below, who gives to us salvation.

Praise God above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and

Holy Ghost. 

Let all creation praise the Lord with love and adoration.

Community prayer requests, concerns, and celebrations

Pastoral Prayer / Lord’s Prayer...Pastor Charles

Second Lesson: Zephaniah 3:14-20...Pastor Charles

Pastor: This is the Word of God for the people of God.

People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon...Pastor Charles / “What time is it?”

*Hymn...“All Earth is Waiting (Toda la Tierra)” (UMH #210)

*Words for the Journey...Pastor Charles

*Postlude...Louise Cook and Christopher Wahl / “Ding, Don, Merrily on High”