December 5 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

the Second Sunday of Advent is here

Joey Vander Vorste lights the candles

Chris and Suzanne offer the anthem

Suzanne and Lorie share the postlude duet

Today’s Meditation Verse: “Look, I am sending my messenger who will clear the path before me...” —Malachi 3:1a

Welcome...Pastor Charles

Prelude...Lorie Courier / “The Father’s Rose (Of the Father’s Love Begotten and Lo’ How a Rose E’er Blooming)”

*Call to Worship (Luke 1:68-79, NRSV)...Martha Batch

Bless the Lord God of Israel because He has come to help and has delivered His people. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in His servant David’s house, just as He said through the mouths of His holy prophets long ago. Leader: He has brought salvation from our enemies and from the power of all those who hate us. He has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and remembered his holy covenant, the solemn pledge he made to our ancestor Abraham. He has granted that we would be rescued from the power of our enemies so that we could serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness in God’s eyes, for as long as we live. You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way. You will tell his people how to be saved through the forgiveness of their sins. Because of our God’s deep compassion, the dawn from heaven will break upon us, to give light to those who are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide us on the path of peace.

Lighting the Advent Candle...Jim and Joey Vander Vorste and Abby Lagemann

Reader One: For many of us, the call to head home is one of joy and of hope. We can’t wait to reconnect with family, with history and tradition, with a wonderful time of freedom and loving support. We can’t wait to go home. Reader Two: There are those who fear going home, however, and there are times when going home brings back memories that are not so good, not so healing. We are reminded of when we didn’t fit in, when we didn’t measure up, when we weren’t loved like we needed to be loved. Home can be a difficult place for some. Reader One: The prophet Malachi tells us that even when we are in the hottest of fires, there is a presence who can make us better, who can refine and purify. John the Baptist tells us that the road home is always under construction, mountains leveled, and valleys filled in, to make smooth the path that leads us to our true destination, where we can live in peace and unity with all. Reader Two: We light these candles, the candle of hope and the candle of peace, as a sign of our assurance that though the road is hard, we believe it is worth the journey. It is time to go home. 

—from UMCDiscipleship.org

*Hymn...“Angels from the Realms of Glory” (UMH #220)

First Lesson: Malachi 3:1-4...Martha Batch

Special Music...Christopher Wahl, Suzanne Polacek, Lorie Courier / “Still, Still, Still”

*Offering/Doxology (to the tune “O Tannenbaum,” words UMH #95)

Community prayer requests, concerns, and celebrations 

Pastoral Prayer...Pastor Charles

Epistle Lesson: Philippians 1:3-11...Pastor Charles

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

People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon...Pastor Charles / “Thanksgiving in December”

Communion / The Lord’s Prayer (See insert)

*Hymn...“Blessed Be the God of Israel” (UMH #209)

*Words for the Journey...Pastor Charles

*Postlude...Lorie Courier and Suzanne Polacek / “Sleigh Ride”