United
775-5362 • Fax
775-6475
December
8, 2002
Second
Sunday in Advent
Celebration
Worship at 11:00 a.m.
THE
GATHERING TO WORSHIP
ORGAN PRELUDE
BRINGING IN THE LIGHT OF CHRIST
WELCOME AND PARISH NOTES
CALL TO WORSHIP AND LIGHTING OF THE
ADVENT WREATH
*HYMN OF PRAISE #209
“Blessed
Be the God of
*SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
THE PEOPLE OF GOD PRAYING
PRAYER HYMN #204
“Emmanuel”
If you have a prayer joy
or concern, please fill out a prayer card and hand it to an usher during the
singing of the hymn.
UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Promised Savior, before we celebrate
your birth, we confront the hard words of John the Baptist. He wants to prepare our hearts and live,
wants to set us on fire. Promised One,
we go through these day of Advent without much spark – swamped by demanding
lists, overbooked calendars and hard-to-meet expectations. The whirl and blur of the season threatens to
snuff our joy and destroy peace. We find
ourselves with the energy and excitement of leftover, giving less than our best
prayer, weary compassion and anxious worry.
Promised Redeemer, hold us gently through the season. Amen.
WORDS OF PROMISE
A TIME OF SILENT PRAYER
PRAYER OF THE PEOPLE
THE LORD’S PRAYER #895
THE
BAPTISMAL COVENANT
BAPTISMAL HYMN #2089
“Wild
and Lone Prophet’s Voice”
SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM #33
Eric
James Allen
son
of Bill and Sue Allen
READING AND PROCLAIMING OF THE WORD
CHORAL ANTHEM Chancel Choir
“Comfort
Ye” J. Paul Williams / Michael Barrett
Jack
Boyd - Bass Guitar • Matt Stump - Drums
TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN
SCRIPTURE LESSON N.T.
pg. 34
Mark
1:1-8
MESSAGE Pastor
Dale Ostema
“Making
Our Way to Christmas”
RESPONDING
TO THE WORD
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS TO
GOD
OFFERTORY INVITATION
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 CONSECRATION (In unison)
Thank you, God, for the privilege of
sharing your bounty with those in need.
Thank you for prospering our work and witness. We week to walk in your light and follow the
pathways where you lead. We want to
share the good new of salvation through these gifts and by the way we
live. May all your people be made ready
for Christ’s coming. Amen.
THE
SCATTERING TO SERVE
*HYMN OF DEDICATION #211
“O
Come, O Come, Emmanuel” Vs. 5 - 7
*COMMISSION AND BLESSING
*POSTLUDE
*All who are able, please stand.
Parish Nurse, Shirley Petersen is here today for
the Blood Pressure Clinic between worship services. If you have a health question or concern, you
can reach Shirley at 775-6804.
Mike, Sue, Mike and Matt Stump invite
you to wish Jean and Walt a Happy 55th Wedding Anniversary. They were married in Indiana on December 7,
1947. Congratulations and blessings!!
Project Christmas: large brown paper grocery bags are needed. Please
leave by Judy’s office door. Thanks!!
Reminder Next Sunday, December 8
Acolytes: Alison Ostema and Jennifer
Weaver
Greeters 11:00: Deloris Parker
Ushers 11:00: Paul Helton, Barb
Wild, Tonja Hinkston,
Dee Piltz, Gary and Karen
Elenbaas
Nursery: Kyle and Lori Smith
Sermontime: Sue Christensen
Coffee Hour: Education
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 8 - Second Sunday
in Advent
Sacrament of Holy Baptism
8:30 am - Contemporary Worship
Service
Parish Nurse Clinic between worship
services
9:30 am - Church School for all ages
11:00 am - Celebration Worship
Service
Coffee Hour fellowship follows each
worship service
5:00 pm - Senior High youth meet at
the home of Katie Simcock
5:30 pm - JD’s meet at the church
Monday, December 9
6:00 pm - FIA Group
7:00 pm - Boy Scouts
7:00 pm - Grand Sweep Bible Study
Tuesday, December 10
11:30 am - Dorcas Circle Lunch at
Hermann’s
7:00 pm - Administrative Council
Wednesday, December 11
1:30 pm - Grand Sweep Bible Study
5:45 pm - Memorial Committee at home
of Leta Corwin
6:30 pm - Bell Choir Practice
6:30 pm - Membership Committee
7:30 pm - Chancel Choir Practice
Thursday, December 12
7:00 am - Promise Keepers
1:30 pm - UMW
5:30 pm - Decorate the Sanctuary
Friday, December 13
9:30 am - 2:00 pm - NOC Party in
Fellowship Hall
Saturday, December 14
1:00-3:00 pm - Christmas Pageant
Practice
Sunday, December 15, Third Sunday of
Advent
8:30 am - Contemporary Worship
Service
9:30 am - Church School for all ages
11:00 am - Celebration Worship Service
- Christmas Pageant
Coffee Hour fellowship follows each
worship service
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 Susannah-Wesley Circle will
meet December 19 at 11:30 a.m. at the home of Carol Jones, 9235 W. Oak Drive in
Lake City for their Christmas luncheon and gift exchange. All members are welcome.
Senior High Youth group is meeting tonight at 5:00 pm
at the home of Katie Simcock. Please
bring a $2-$3 gift (suitable for either boy or girl) for the gift exchange.
United Methodist Women will meet on December 12 at 1:30
for their Christmas program. All women
are invited!
If you would like to send a get-well
message to Bruce McDonald, here is his address:
Bruce
McDonald
Today’s Worship Ministry . . .
Liturgist 11:00: Judy Coffey
Pianist/Organist: Virginia Pulford
Advent Voices 8:30: Rick, Mary and
Nick Myers
11:00: Garrick and Inga
Fuller
Acolytes: Trevor and Justin Bruner
Greeters 11:00: Deloris Parker
Ushers 11:00: Paul Helton, Tonja
Hinkston, Dee Piltz, Barb Wild
Nursery: Jeff and Laura Marion
Sermontime: Dee Williams
Coffee Hour: Susannah Wesley
Our Chancel Flowers this morning are
presented in honor of the 1st birthday of Noel Carrie Hunt and the 2nd
birthday of Anya Marie Hunt from their families.
We celebrate this morning the
Baptism of Eric James Allen and welcome him into the family of Christ. Eric is the son of Bill and Sue Allen.
Blessings, Eric, on this very special day!!
The Worship and Music Committee
invites you to help decorate the sanctuary Thursday, December 12
beginning at 5:30 p.m. We will be having
a light dinner is the midst of our work.
The Christmas tree and garland will be put up. In addition, we will prepare the candles for
Christmas Eve.
Next Sunday, during the 11:00 a.m.
worship, the Children’s Christmas Program will be presented. Through song, dance and drama the story of
the birth of Jesus will be retold.
Pastor Dale will be preaching at the 8:30 a.m. worship.
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. (Repeat)
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: In that day he will bring peace to the earth. The wolf will live with lamb and the leopard will lie down with the goat. No one will harm or destroy another for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord.
Voice: Until that day we are called to live as Children of Peace, as ones who turn from the darkness of sin and death and walk by the light and in the Spirit that God gives.
Lighting of the Advent Candles of
Hope and Peace
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 grant
us to your hearts that are humble and ready to receive your peace. Reveal to us your glory and comfort all your
people. Fill us with your Spirit as we
await the One in whom we hope. Amen.
Song Tune:
Away in a Manger
A candle is burning, a candle of
peace,
a
candle to signal that conflict must cease;
For
Jesus is coming to show us the way;
a message of peace humbly laid in
the hay