FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

A community of faith committed to sharing the love of Jesus Christ with a hurting world through words and actions

DECEMBER 10, 2006                              SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT                               9:30 A.M. SERVICE

We welcome you to this service of praise and adoration.   Let God speak to you through the songs and the message, and enjoy the fellowship of those who are seeking the Lord and the spiritual help that we need for daily living.

WELCOME                                                                                                                          Worship Leader, Curt Diehl

 

LIGHTING OF THE SECOND ADVENT CANDLE – THE CANDLE OF LOVE

 

WORSHIP IN SONG: IN BETHLEHEM NEATH STARLIT SKIES (by Grace Strutsman)

In Bethlehem neath starlit skies, Alleluia, Alleluia!  A babe within a manger lies; Alleluia, Alleluia! 

No room inside the hostel there, For Joseph or Madonna fair; No one to lighten their despair. Alleluia, Alleluia!

 

The hostel rang with song and shout: Alleluia, Alleluia!  Yet none there were who looked without;

Alleluia, Alleluia!  But ah! within that stable old The beasts a wondrous sight behold:

Three wise men bearing gifts of gold!  Alleluia, Alleluia!

 

And so, good friends, we wish you well; Alleluia, Alleluia!  To you we sing this glad Noel; Alleluia, Alleluia!  Our sweetest carols gayly ring To welcome Christ, the infant King;

To you the joyous news we bring, Alleluia, Alleluia!     (Public Domain)

 

THAT BOY-CHILD OF MARY  (by Tom Colvin)

Refrain:  That boy-child of Mary was born in a stable, a manger his cradle in Bethlehem.

What shall we call him, child of the manger?  What name is given in Bethlehem? (refrain)

His name is Jesus, God ever with us, God given for us in Bethlehem. (refrain)

How can he save us, how can he help us, born here among us in Bethlehem? (refrain)

Gift of the Father, to human mother, makes him our brother of Bethlehem. (refrain)

One with the Father, he is our Savior, heaven sent helper of Bethlehem. (refrain)

Gladly we praise him, love and adore him, give ourselves to him of Bethlehem (refrain)  (1969 Hope Publishing Co.)

 

RESPONSIVE READING: Luke 1:68-79  Canticle of Zechariah                                  Page 208

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has come to set the chosen people free.

The Lord has raised up for us a mighty Savior from the house of David.

Through the holy prophets, God promised of old to save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us;

to show mercy to our forebears and to remember the holy covenant.

This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:

to set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship without fear,

holy and righteous in the Lord’s sight, all the days of our life.

And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way,

to give God’s people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

 

LOVE CAME DOWN AT CHRISTMAS (by Christina Rossetti)

Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine;

Love was born at Christmas; star and angels gave the sign.

 

Worship we the God head, Love incarnate, Love divine;

worship we our Jesus, but where-with for sacred sign?

 

Love shall be our token; love be yours and love be mine;

love to God and all men, love for plea and gift and sign.    (Oxford University Press)

 

 

IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER  (by Christina Rossetti)

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;

snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,  in the bleak midwinter, long ago.

 

Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain; heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.  In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

 

Angels and archangels may have gathered there, cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;

but his mother only, in her maiden bliss, worshiped the beloved with a kiss.

 

What can I give him, poor as I am?  If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part: yet what I can I give him: give my heart.  (Public Domain)

 

INFANT HOLY, INFANT LOWLY (W. Zlobie Lezy)

Infant holy, infant lowly, for His bed a cattle stall;

Oxen lowing, little knowing Christ, the babe, is Lord of all.

Swift are winging angels singing, noels ringing,

Tidings bringing: Christ the babe is Lord of all.

 

Flocks were sleeping: shepherds keeping vigil till the morning new

Saw the glory, heard the story, tidings of a gospel true.

Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing  Greet the morrow:

Christ the babe was born for you. (Public Domain)

 

BRINGING OUR NEEDS TO GOD (Prayers of the People)

 

PRAYER RESPONSE:  O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL     (refrain)

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.   (1989 United Methodist Pub. House)

 

WORSHIP IN GIVING: Offering 

 

SPECIAL MUSIC                                                          Primary Choir

 

SHARING THE WORD:  Scripture:         Isaiah 40:1-31; Luke 3:1-6

                                                  Message:        “Prepare the Way of the Lord”                     Pastor Hey Young Horton

 

CLOSING HYMN 196   COME, THOU LONG-EXPECTED JESUS (Charles Wesley)

Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;

from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.

Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;

dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

 

Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,

born to reign in us for ever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone;

by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.   (Public Domain)

 

GOING FORTH:  The Benediction                                        

 

A NOTE TO PARENTS:  Child care is provided for infants and children up to 4 years old in the Education Building during Sunday school and worship hours. 

 

ATTENDANCE LAST WEEK:    Worship:  534   Sunday School: 211

ACOLYTE: Samantha Bewely

USHERS: Ed Florida, Ruth Florida, Tom Kulp, Greg Kincaid, Carlos Mocelo

 

THE CHANCEL BOUQUETS HAVE BEEN GIVEN BY: Robert & Ruth Rosvold, to the Glory of God and in memory of loved ones.  Also in memory of: Dot McCloskey and in honor of their mother’s birthday from her girls, Mary Ann, Ellen, Sharyn, & Mercedes.

PRAYER CONCERNS: Steve Greer, Faye Sienkiewicz, Mary Louise Shingleton, Kathleen Barnwell (mother of Leslie Proctor), Jean Janssen (sister of Sue Adams), Edna Hofmann (Carla McIlmail’s mother), Lidio Zezza (Lucy Vogt’s father), Gary Falis (Lucy Vogt’s brother-in-law), Christine Crane, Michael Zayas (friend of The Nachsin’s).

PRAYERS & SYMPATHY: To Dee Dee Langshaw & family on the death of her husband Tom Langshaw.

SERVING IN IRAQ:  Mark Dougherty, Jr., grandson of Marilyn McClendon, David Wichmann, friend of Rick & Linda Young, Scott Berner, grandson of Ray & Jean Berner, Michael Gala (cousin of Sue Lewis, nephew of Chris Fisher), Phillip Daniels (grandson of Harris Fister).

 

The Staff of First United Methodist Church

                            Stephen Donat, Senior Pastor                              Joan Armstrong, Administrative Assistant

                            HeyYoung Horton, Associate Pastor                 Karen Halligan, Membership Secretary

                            Glenn Rodgers, Director of Music                      Sue Harris, Parish Nurse

                            Karen Murray, Director of Christian Ed.            Curt Diehl, Property Maintenance Coordinator

Church Office Contacts

                                Phone: 856-235-0450                                 Fax: 856-235-2722        

                             E-mail: church@meetwithGod.com                 Website: www.meetwithGod.com

                                                                                                                                                         (CCLI License No. 782839)