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 16, 2006 THIRD WEEKEND IN ADVENT 5:30 P.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

LIGHTING OF THE THIRD ADVENT CANDLE – THE CANDLE OF JOY

WORSHIP IN SONG ANGELS FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY (by James Montgomery)

Angels from the realms of glory, wing your flight o'er all the earth;

ye who sang creations's story now proclaim Messiah's birth:

Refrain: Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King.

Shepherds, in the field abiding, watching o'er your flocks by night,

God with us is now residing; yonder shines the infant light: (Refrain)

Sages, leave your contemplations, brighter visions beam afar;

seek the great Desire of nations; ye have seen his natal star: (Refrain)

Saints, before the altar bending, watching long in hope and fear;

suddenly the Lord, descending, in his temple shall appear: (Refrain) (Public Domain)

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR (by N. Regney, G. Shayne)

Said the night wind to the little lamb, Do you see what I see?

'Way up in the sky, little lamb, Do you see what I see?

A star, a star, Dancing in the night, with a tail as big as a kite, With a tail as big as a kite.

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy, do you hear what I hear?

Ringing thru the sky, shepherd boy, Do you hear what I hear?

A song, a song, High above the tree, with a voice as big as the sea, With a voice as big as the sea.

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king, Do you know what I know?

In your palace warm, mighty king, Do you know what I know?

A Child, a Child shivers in the cold; Let us bring Him silver and gold, Let us bring Him silver and gold.

Said the king to the people ev'ry where, Listen to what I say!

Pray for peace, people ev'ry where, Listen to what I say!

The Child; The Child, sleeping in the night; He will bring us goodness and light,

He will bring us goodness and light.

GOD REST YOU MERRY, GENTLEMEN (Traditional)

God rest you merry gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay,

Remember Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas Day;

To save us all from Satan's pow'r when we are gone astray.

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy.

From God our heavenly Father, a blessed angel came

And unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same.

How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name,

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy.

Now to the Lord sing praises, All you within this place,

And with true love and brotherhood, Each other now embrace;

This Holy tide of Christmas all other doth deface.

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy. (Public Domain)

RESPONSIVE READING 199 Luke 1:46b-55 Canticle of Mary (Magnificat)

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, who has looked with favor on me, a lowly servant.

From this day all generations shall call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is the name of the Lord, whose mercy is on those

who fear God from generation to generation.

The arm of the Lord is strong, and has scattered the proud in their conceit.

God has cast down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up the lowly.

God has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich empty away.

God has come to the aid of Israel, the chosen servant, remembering the promise of mercy, the promise

made to our forebears, to Abraham and his children for ever.

ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID'S CITY (by Cecil Alexander)

Once in royal David's city stood a lowly cattle shed, where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed;

Mary, loving mother mild, Jesus Christ, her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven who is God and Lord of all, and his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall. With the poor, the scorned, the lowly lived on earth our Savior holy.

Jesus is our childhood's pattern; day by day, like us he grew; he was little, weak, and helpless, tears and smiles like us he knew; and he feeleth for our sadness, and he shareth in our gladness.

And our eyes at last shall see him, through his own redeeming love; for that child so dear and gentle is our Lord in heaven above; and he leads his children on to the place where he is gone. (United Methodist Hymnal)

YOU ARE MY KING (Amazing Love) (by Billy James Foote)

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken. I’m accepted; You were condemned.

I’m alive and well, Your Spirit is within me because You died and rose again.

Chorus: Amazing love, how can it be that You, my King, would die for me? Amazing love, I know it’s true; it’s my joy to honor You. In all I do I honor You.

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken. I’m accepted; You were condemned.

I’m alive and well, Your Spirit is within me because You died and rose again. (chorus)

You are my King, You are my King. Jesus, You are my King. Jesus, You are my King. (chorus)

(1997 EMI Christian Music Publishing)

ROCK-A-BYE, MY DEAR LITTLE BOY (Czech carol)

Rock-a-bye, my dear little boy, dear little boy, wonder of wonders, my blessing and joy; slumber as I gently hold you, let my tender love enfold you; gift of God to me and the world, here in my arms lies so peacefully curled.

Little Jesus, Infant Divine, Infant Divine, one with the Father, yet born to be mine;

as I rock you calmly sleeping, angel guards their watch are keeping; precious child, one day we shall see what love has destined for you and for me. (1987 Oxford University Press)

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

SHARING THE WORD: Scripture: Zephaniah 3:14-20

Message: “Our Joy is Here” Karen Murray

CLOSING HYMN 210 ALL EARTH IS WAITING (by Alberto Taule)

All earth is waiting to see the Promised One, and the open furrows, the sowing of the Lord.

All the world, bound and struggling, seeks true liberty; it cries out for justice and searches for the truth.

Thus says the prophet to those of Israel, "A virgin mother will bear Emmanuel,"

for his name is "God with us," our brother shall be, with him hope will blossom once more within our hearts.

Mountains and valleys will have to be made plain; open new highways, new highways for the Lord.

He is now coming closer, so come all and see, and open the doorways as wide as wide can be.

In lowly stable the Promised One appeared, yet, feel his presence throughout the earth today,

for he lives in all Christians and is with us now; again, with his coming he brings us liberty. (UM Publishing House)

GOING FORTH: The Benediction

CHILD CARE IS AVAILABLE in Room E103

ATTENDANCE LAST WEEK: Worship: 520 Sunday School: 211

THE CHANCEL BOUQUETS HAVE BEEN GIVEN BY: Glenn & Cindy Rodgers, to the Glory of God and in loving memory of their daughter, Susie. Also by, Helen Morrissey in memory of her daughter, Kathy, on her birthday.

PRAYER CONCERNS: Steve Greer, Faye Sienkiewicz, Mary Louise Shingleton, Kathleen Barnwell (mother of Leslie Proctor), Jean Janssen (sister of Sue Adams), Lidio Zezza (Lucy Vogt’s father),

Gary Falis (Lucy Vogt’s brother-in-law), Christine Crane, Michael Zayas (friend of The Nachsin’s), Maryellen Martin (Debra & Ed Vernier’s sister-in-law).

PRAYERS & SYMPATHY: To Dick Immler & family on the death of his brother-in-law, Loy Ebersole.

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)