United
775-5362 • Fax 775-6475
December 22, 2002
Fourth 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
MINISTRY OF THE BELLS AND ORGAN
“An
English Christmas“ Arr. Douglas Wagner
CALL TO WORSHIP AND LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH
(On
Insert)
*HYMN OF PRAISE #240
“Hark!
The Herald Angels Sing”
*SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
THE
PEOPLE OF GOD PRAYING
PRAYER HYMN #2093
“The
Snow Lay on the Ground”
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
Ever-present God, in the darkness of Mary's womb, the
holy Child grows. In the darkness of the
world's pain, the blessed light begins to kindle. In the darkness of our own doubting of you
and our lack of faith in ourselves, the great hope begins to rise again like a
lump in the throat. Christ will be born
again into our world and into us.
O God, forgive the times we look with a cynical eye on
the advent of peace in our world.
Forgive us for doubting the light you have placed within each of
us. Forgive us for ignoring the lump in
our throats and the wonder of your love for us.
With the birth of the Christ Child, let your forgiveness cleanse the
darkness of our inner selves. And let
the love of Christ shine in us like a star. Amen.
WORDS OF PROMISE
PRAYER OF THE PEOPLE
THE LORD’S PRAYER #895
CHORAL ANTHEM Chancel
Choir
“Advent
Celebration” Arr. Jon Paige
TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN
SCRIPTURE LESSON N.T.
pg. 56
Luke
1:26-38
MESSAGE Pastor
Dale Ostema
“Surprise,
Surprise”
RESPONDING
TO THE WORD
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS TO GOD
OFFERTORY INVITATION
OFFERTORY Brass
Quintet
Please
remain seated as the offertory is being played
“Hallelujah
Chorus” by Handel
Trumpets: Betsy George, Roman Suhs
Trombone: Kristin Smith
French Horn: David Lapham
Tuba: Brandon Kinney
*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)
Our best we give to you, loving God, for you have
given your best to us in the mystery of the incarnation. May our offerings proclaim Jesus in ways that
will be received with joy. Send your
Word to the world in this season through our caring service. May we share it with one another in ways that
help us all to grow. Thank you for all
the ways you have provides for us. Amen.
THE
SCATTERING TO SERVE
*HYMN OF DEDICATION #242
“Love
Came Down At Christmas”
*COMMISSION AND BLESSING
*REPRISE Chancel
Choir
*POSTLUDE
*All who are able, please stand.
Tree
of Kindness
Has someone done something special for you? Have you done something special for someone
else? Let’s share these acts of kindness
by filling out a card and hanging it on our tree. Please do not include any names. This will
allow all of us to enjoy each others’ good fortunes. It may even entice us to do something nice
for someone else. Church &
Society Committee
Christmas Eve Service Volunteers
7:30 - Acolytes: Kara Wilson & Kristin McKibben
Ushers: Hazel Jarvis, Ron Truax, Paul Helton
Child
Care: Dee Williams & Sue Smith
11:00 - Ushers: Gary, Karen, Kara and Jon Elenbaas and
Tom Maxwell
Reminder Next Sunday, December 29
Acolytes: Kristin and Jennifer McKibben
Ushers 11:00: Paul Helton, Barb Wild, Dee Piltz, Peggy
Kirvan
Nursery: Jeff and Tonja Hinkston
Sermontime: Julia Perrin
Coffee Hour: Dorcas Circle
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 22, Fourth Sunday of Advent
8:30 am - Contemporary Worship Service
9:30 am -
11:00 am - Celebration Worship Service
11:00 am - Student Bible Class
Coffee Hour Fellowship follows each worship service
Monday, December 23
6:00 pm - FIA Group
6:00 pm -
7:00 pm - Boy Scouts
*** No Grand Sweep Bible Study ***
Tuesday, December 24 - Christmas Eve
7:30 pm - Christmas Eve Service designed for families
11:00 pm-Christmas Eve Service - Carols, Candles &
Communion
Wednesday, December 25
Christmas Day
*** No Grand Sweep Bible Study ***
Sunday, December 29, First Sunday After Christmas
Judy Coffey Parish Assistant Preaching
8:30 am - Contemporary Worship Service
9:30 am -
11:00 am - Celebration Worship Service
Coffee Hour Fellowship follows each worship service
For
Changes in Activities for the Week
Info
Source 775-4636 - Message # 3152
The Grand Sweep Bible Study groups will not
meet on December 23, Christmas Day, December 30 or January 1st. We will resume the study the week of January
5.
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. As of December 15, we have received
$4503 in gifts; thanks so much!
Wishing you and your family the joy, peace, hope and
love of this holy season as we celebrate the birth of our Savior
Your Church Staff
If you would like to send a get-well message to Bruce
McDonald, here is his address:
Bruce
McDonald
Today’s
Worship Ministry . . .
Liturgists:
8:30 - Lynn Cummings
11:00 - Jane Wightman
Pianist/Organist: Ann Hunt
Acolytes: Mckenzie Coy and Erika Olson
Ushers 11:00: Paul Helton, Barb Wild, Tonja Hinkston
Nursery: Jim and Lisa Weaver
Sermontime: Darlene Fowler
Coffee Hour: Open
Chancel Flowers this morning are presented in loving
memory of Jo Ann (MiMi) Maxwell from the Maxwell family.
Chancel Flowers are also presented in loving memory of
Frank Vivian from Helen Vivian and the Dean Vivian family.
7:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
At 7:30 p.m., celebrate the birth of Jesus at this
family orientated service.
We will sing carols, hear the Christmas story, light
the Christ candle, have a special children’s time with Pastor Dale, hear the
bells ring, the Chancel Choir sing and special music and share in the beautiful
candlelighting. Child care will be
available for infants and young children
Carols, Candles and Holy Communion at 11:00 p.m. as we
worship at this lovely, quiet worship service as we sing carols, hear special
music, light the Christ Candle on the Advent Wreath, receive Holy Communion and
light the Christmas candles as we sing “Silent Night.” Come, as we welcome the
Christ Child into the world.
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: The
Lord our God will fulfill all his promises to us through him. He will receive the throne of David and his
Kingdom will endure forever. Through him
and in him we will have rest from all our enemies. His love will vanquish the power of sin and
death.
Voice:
He will be known as the Light
of the World. All who dwell in Him will
dwell in everlasting love and no darkness will be in them. He is our hope, our peace, our joy, and our
love.
Lighting of the Advent Candles of
Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.
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.
As you visited Mary and promised to her to bring forth her promised One
from of old, so visit us this day and give us eyes to see and hearts to welcome
your presence. Make us a people who
receive and give birth to your love in the world. Amen.
Song Tune:
Away in a Manger
A
candle is burning, a candle of love, A candle to point us
to
heaven above, A baby for Christmas, a wonderful birth,
for Jesus is bringing God’s love to our earth.