United
December 1, 2002
First Sunday in Advent
Celebration Worship at 11:00 a.m.
PRELUDE
BRINGING IN THE LIGHT OF CHRIST by the Acolytes
WELCOME AND PARISH NOTES
CLIP BOARD MINISTRY
CALL TO WORSHIP AND LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH*HYMN
OF PRAISE #211
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” vs. 1-4
*SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
If you have a prayer joy or concern,
you are invited to fill out a
prayer card and hand it to the usher
during the Silent Reflection.
SILENT REFLECTION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In unison)
God of all time and seasons, how quickly the year
spins by, and we are caught unprepared for your Advent. We are still recovering from Thanksgiving or
the latest crisis or the long list of things to do. The demands on our time
seem unending, the tasks seem overwhelming and our energy is draining.
Holy God, sing to us a song of hope in the stillness
of this moment; speak to us in the depths of our hearts. Let there be a space for you in the midst of
all the hurry and rush – a holy, inner place that cherishes silence and song,
that keeps a candle lit and a manger ready.
God of all time and seasons, create in us a place for your birth. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
CHORAL ANTHEM Chancel
Choir
“Come To Set Us Free” Arr. Shafferman
Matt Stump - percussionist
CHILDREN’S TIME
SCRIPTURE READING O.T.
Pg. 694
Isaiah 64:1-9
THE MESSAGE Pastor
Dale Ostema
“The Big Hope”
OFFERTORY INVITATION
PRESENTING OUR GIFTS AND OURSELVES TO GOD
PIANO OFFERTORY
*DOXOLOGY Tune:
Old 100th
Hope
in the God who reigns above,
who hold us all in steadfast love;
whose spirit blows across the earth,
preparing us for second birth. Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION (In Unison)
Blessed God, we stand before you as your people,
offering to you what we can in anticipation of your coming again to earth. You give us much, we give you little _ yet,
you are gracious to bless what we give.
Please accept these gifts and transform them into the work of your reign
on this earth, as we make ready for the newborn Christ. Amen.
SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
THE INVITATION TO THE TABLE
PRAYER
OF THANKSGIVING
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
SHARING THE BREAD AND THE CUP
Communion will be served by intinction.
Please come by the center aisle and return by the side
aisle.
PRAYER OF THANKS FOR CHRIST’S PRESENCE
*CLOSING HYMN #206
“I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light”
*COMMISSION AND BLESSING
*POSTLUDE
*All who are able, please
stand.
Call to Worship and Lighting of
the Advent Wreath
Leader: The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God
and
the fellowship of the Holy
Spirit be with you all.
People: And also
with you.
Leader: Let
us sing together our Advent Introit #207
Prepare the way
of the Lord, prepare the way of the Lord and all people will see the salvation
of our God.
Voice: A shoot
will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear
fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest
on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and
of power, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
Voice: He will
not judge by what he sees with his eyes or decide by what he hears with his
ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give
decisions for the poor of the earth.
Voice: Our hope
is in the Lord our God – and in the One whom he has
sent to be judge of the living and of the dead – the one who has come forth
from Jesse and whose return in glory we even now await.
Voice: Our hope
may falter – but God never fails. God
sends forth light to encourage us and to light our way as we await the
fulfillment of the promises made to
Lighting of the Advent Candle of Hope
Leader: Let us pray together -- Loving God, we thank
you for the light that you have sent and are sending into the world the light
that even now lights our path. Come
among us and make your name known to all people. We are the clay, you are the Potter. Form us as you will, so that songs of praise
may ascend to you -- both now and forevermore.
Amen.
Song Tune:
Away in a Manger
A candle is burning, a flame warm and bright,
a candle of hope in December’s dark night.
While
angels sing blessing from heaven’s starry sky,
our hearts we prepare now for Jesus is night.
All 3rd through 5th graders are invited to the “Learning to Use My Bible Class.” The classes are on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month, concluding on May 25th, 2003. Start time is 11:00 a.m. , so please come to class before the 11:00 worship service begins. Class ends at noon. The classroom is in the Education Wing, 3rd door on the left. If you are a 3rd through 5th grader who attended these classes last year, please come again to review and continue learning!
Gary and
Reminder
Next Sunday, December 8
Acolytes: Trevor and Justin BrunerUshers/Greeters
8:30:
Head Usher:
Greeters 11:00: Deloris Parker
Ushers 11:00: Paul Helton, Barb Wild, Tonja Hinkston
Dee Piltz
Nursery: Jeff and Laura Marion
Sermontime: Dee Williams
Coffee Hour: Susannah Wesley
CHURCH STAFF
Pastor Dale
Ostema
Parish Assistant Judy
Coffey
Coordinator-Children & Youth Ministries Debbie Ostema
Church Secretary Carol
Sharp
Assistant Secretary Karen
Elenbaas
Treasurer Beverly
Campbell
Chancel Choir Director Walt
Stump
Bell Choir Director Tonja Hinkston
Organists Virginia
Pulford, Ann Hunt
Pianist Darlene
Ressler
Choir Accompanist Ann
Hunt
Nursery Care Giver Lisa
Wilson
Custodial Staff Dee
Piltz and NOC Work Crew
Snow Removal & Carpet Maintenance Paul Helton
Opportunities for Ministry This Week . . .
Sunday, December 1 - First Sunday in Advent
Sacrament of Holy Communion and Baptism
8:30 am - Contemporary Worship Service
9:30 am -
11:00 am - Celebration
Worship Service
Coffee Hour fellowship follows each worship service
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Advent Event in Fellowship Hall
Monday, December 2nd
9:30 am - United Methodist Women Executive Board
1:00 pm - Cadillac Philharmonic & Woman’s Club
Program & Tea
6:00 pm - FIA Group
7:00 pm - Boy Scouts •
7:00 pm - Grand Sweep Bible Study
7:00 pm - Endowment Committee • Church and Society
Tuesday, December 3rd
8:30 am - Cadillac Area Ministerial Association
7:00 pm - Finance Committee
7:00 pm - Evangelism Committee
7:00 pm - Missions Committee
Wednesday, December 4th
1:30 pm -
Grand Sweep Bible Study
5:30 - 7:00 pm - Staff Christmas Party Lakeside Charlie’s
6:30 pm -
7:30 pm - Chancel Choir Practice
Thursday, December 5th
7:00 am - Promise Keepers
7:00 pm - Education Committee
Saturday, December 7th
1 - 4:00 pm - DAR Tea
Sunday, December 8th, Second Sunday of Advent
Sacrament of Holy Baptism
8:30 am - Contemporary Worship Service
Parish Nurse Clinic between worship services
9:30 am -
11:00 am - Celebration
Worship Service
Coffee Hour fellowship follows each worship service
5:00 pm - Senior High Youth at home of Katie Simcock
5:30 pm - Junior Disciples meet at church
For Changes in Activities for the Week
Info Source 775-4636 - Message # 3152
Wrap Up the Year With a Gift to the Church.
We are over $10,000.00 behind in mission support, apportionments, and
current program and operating expenses.
A display of bills that need to be paid is on a Gift Board in
Fellowship Hall. Please look at the
board to see where you can help. Enclose
your card and gift in a pew envelope and place in the collection plate or leave
it at the church office. Your continued
support of our wonderful Church and the work we are doing is a testament of
faith.
The Advent Event is a great family
activity that takes place this afternoon from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. This is a wonderful opportunity to invite
friends to visit our church. There will
be many delightful crafts for children to enjoy. What a fun way to begin the Advent Season.
Parish Nurse, Shirley Petersen will be here next Sunday, for the Blood Pressure
Clinic between worship services. If you
have a health question or concern, you can reach Shirley at 775-6804.
Project Christmas: large
brown paper grocery bags are needed. Please leave by Judy’s office door. Thanks!!
Today’s
Worship Ministry . . .
Liturgists:
8:30 am - Laurie Kinney
11:00
am - Jackie Soltman
Pianist/Organist: Darlene Ressler
Advent Voices 8:30: Bob and Bev Campbell
11:00: Jack Fountain, Carol
George, Ron Foster,
Jeanne Lamphere
Communion Steward: Donna Welsh
Acolytes: Hailey Amlott and
Janie Silvers
Greeters 11:00: Jon and Wendy Fulton
Ushers 11:00: Donna Welsh, Paul Helton, Barb Wild,
Peggy Kirvan, Dee Piltz
Nursery: Randy and Carolyn Mitchell
Sermontime:
Coffee Hour: Open
Our Chancel Flowers this morning are presented in
loving memory of Vera Moore from the
Baptized
at the 8:30 worship service this morning were:
Marli Mae Penney
daughter of Angela and Mike Penney
and
Nathan Charles Corwin - Shah
son of Lisa Corwin and Rajiv Shah