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 15, 2007 Third Weekend of 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

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)

JOY TO THE WORLD (by Isaac Watts)

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; let every heart prepare him room,

and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ; while fields and floods,

rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy,

repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; he comes to make

his blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness,

and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love, and wonders, wonders of his love. (Public Domain)

*OPENING PRAYER

Prepare our hearts, O God, to receive the Christ child once more.

Shine your light into the darkness of our world.

Shine your glory into the shadows of our lives.

Like the shepherds in the fields, who watched over their flocks by night

may we be stirred into action by the singing of the angelic chorus.

Overcome our fear, Holy One, and inspire us to leave our flocks,

and seek the Christ child this morning.

Prepare our hearts, O God, to behold your precious gift in awe and wonder.

BIRTHDAY OF A KING (by Wm. Harold Neidlinger)

In the little village of Bethlehem, there lay a Child one day, and the sky was bright with a holy light,

o'er the place where Jesus lay: Allelujah! Oh how the angels sang, Alleluia! how it rang;

and the sky was bright with a holy light, 'Twas the birthday of a King.

'Twas a humble birth place, but oh! how much God gave to us that day, from the manger bed,

what a path was led, what a perfect holy way: Allelujah! Oh how the angels sang, Alleluia!

how it rang; and the sky was bright with a holy light, 'Twas the birthday of a King. (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.)

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)

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 EMMANUEL, EMMANUEL (by Bob McGee)

Emmanuel, Emmanuel, his name is called Emmanuel.

God with us, revealed in us, his name is called Emmanuel. (1976 C.A. Music)

WORSHIP IN GIVING: Offering

SHARING THE WORD Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11

Message: “Looking for Joy in a Hurting World” Brad Kenney

CLOSING HYMN 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)

GOING FORTH: The Benediction

CHILD CARE IS AVAILABLE in Room E101

ATTENDANCE LAST WEEK: Worship: 566 Sunday School: 207

THE CHANCEL BOUQUET HAS BEEN GIVEN BY: Glenn and Cindy Rodgers, to the Glory of God and in loving memory of their daughter, Susie

PRAYER CONCERNS: Steve Greer, Stanton Webb (husband of Barbara Webb), Charlie Stocksdale, Matt & Kelly Petroski (friends of Rick & Linda Young), Janet Coshland (daughter of Alan Coshland), Walter Connor (brother of Grace Immler), Faye Sienkiewicz, Richard Kling (Doug Blackman’s brother-in-law), David Lawrence (brother of Sue Potter), Charlotte O’Toole, Heidi Ramey and son Tommy Jester, Tink Scherer (mother of Martha Oliver), Marisa Wieland.

SERVING IN IRAQ: Lt. Col. David Ottignon, Josh Soper (son of Betsy Heinz’s cousin), Robert Woodard (grandson of Bill & Julia Wood), Joshua Moore (nephew of Carol Veldon), James Shields (son of Marcia Shields), Jacob Friedman (nephew of Catherine Friedman), Michael McMaster.

Church Office Contacts

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

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

(CCLI License No. 782839)