December 19 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

 

Jessica takes part in the wreath lighting

Lorie and Suzanne offer the prelude

The choir listens to the prelude

The cantata sounded wonderful!

Lorie offers the postlude

Fourth Sunday of Advent

 

Today’s Meditation Verse: “Happy is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill the promises made to her.” —Luke 1:45

Welcome...Pastor Charles

Prelude...Lorie Courier & Suzanne Polacek / “Ukrainian Bell Carol”    

*Call to Worship (Psalm 89:1-4)...Martha Batch

Leader: I will sing of Your steadfast love, O LORD, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations.

People: I declare that Your steadfast love is established forever; Your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.

Leader: You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David: 

All: I will establish your descendants forever and build your throne for all generations.”

Lighting the Advent Candle...Sabrina and Jessica Bishop

Reader One: One thing we have learned on our Advent journey is that it is better not to go alone. We live in a do-it- yourself culture that celebrates the individual. But faith is not something that we can do on our own. We need companions on the journey; we need others to support us and strengthen us and encourage us. We put our journey in the hands of many people around us, and although it is a risk, we are better for it. We learn to trust that someone has our back, as we make this journey of faith.

Reader Two: Matthew reminds us that when God chose to come to earth the first time, God chose to trust in people to help make it happen. God trusted in Mary, and God trusted in Joseph. In turn, we trust in God to be faithful to the promise and to sustain us through many others as we continue our journey of faith.

Reader One: We light the candles of peace, hope, joy, and trust, as our circle is complete. 

—from UMCDiscipleship.org

*Hymn...“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” (UMH #240)

Gospel Lesson: Luke 1:46b-55...Martha Batch

Choral Cantata...Selections from “Appalachian Winter: A Cantata for Christmas” by Joseph M. Martin

*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: Micah 5:2-5a...Pastor Charles

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

People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon...Pastor Charles / “The promise realized”

*Hymn...“O Little Town of Bethlehem” (UMH #230)

*Words for the Journey...Pastor Charles

*Postlude...Lorie Courier / “A Christmas Overture”