United Methodist Church of Cadillac

                     1020 East Division Street, Cadillac, Michigan

                                    775-5362  •  Fax 775-6475

 

                                          December 29, 2002

                                  First Sunday after Christmas

                              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

 

Leader:   Christ is born!

People:    Christ is born!

Leader:   Because of this birth, life is full of promise for you and me.  Life is full of promise for our community.

People:    We celebrate today the presence of God’s promise in our midst.

Leader:   The promise of a small child coming into a crowded, hurting world, and growing to be a liberator.

People:    It is the promise of you and me, struggling and stumbling together, growing and celebrating, reaching out to make a new presence in our world in Jesus’ name.

 

*HYMNS OF PRAISE                                                               (on insert)

                                            “Carol Medley”

 

*SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST

 

                            THE PEOPLE OF GOD PRAYING

 

PRAYER HYMN                                                                               #221

                                    “In the Bleak Midwinter”

 

 

 

 

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

In the fullness of time your Son is born, O God.  This birth is the act that crowns all time in beauty and clothes the world in glory!  We rejoice in his birth!  Because Christ came to earth as an infant, our childhood reflects the light of God’s favor.  Because Christ grew in strength and wisdom, so we can grow in stature, wisdom, and love.  As this child brought joy and a sense of completion to Simeon and Anna, we pray to know Jesus that we may live all our years with devotion and greet our death with peace.  God, you have given us a heritage of divine power, the presence of grace and the hope of eternal life.  May we, like Simeon and Anna, declare your praise with gladness and peace!

Amen.

 

PRAYER OF THE PEOPLE

 

THE LORD’S PRAYER                                                                     #895

 

               READING AND PROCLAIMING OF THE WORD

 

CHORAL ANTHEM                                                           Chancel Choir

 

                   “I Bring You Good News”   Arr. Lloyd Larson

 

TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN

 

SCRIPTURE LESSON                                                             N.T. pg. 59

                                              Luke 2:22-40

 

MESSAGE                                                    Parish Assistant Judy Coffey

 

                                    “Christ Is Born For This”

 

                              RESPONDING TO THE WORD

 

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS TO GOD

 

OFFERTORY INVITATION           

 

OFFERTORY

*DOXOLOGY                                                         Tune:  Greensleeves

                          So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh,

                              come, peasant, king, to own him;

                              the King of kings salvation brings,

                                 let loving hearts enthrone him.

                                    This, this is Christ the King,

                          whom shepherd’s guard and angels sing;

                                  haste, haste to bring him laud,

                                     the babe, the son of Mary.                                   

 

*PRAYER OF CONSECRATION   (In unison)

Loving God, our of your great love for the world, you have given us so much.  We respond by offering these gifts and our lives to spread the Good News of Jesus’ birth.  We pray that you will empower us with your Spirit to be faithful witnesses like Simeon and Anna praising your name now and forever.  Amen.

 

                              THE SCATTERING TO SERVE

 

*HYMN OF DEDICATION                                                               #224

                             “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice”

 

*COMMISSION AND BLESSING

*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

 

Reminder Next Sunday, January 5

Acolytes: Alison Ostema and McKenzie Coy

Greeters/Ushers 8:30

Greeters 11:00:

Head Usher:

Ushers 11:00:

Nursery: Steve and Lisa Myers

Sermontime: Scott and Lisa Kassuba

Coffee Hour:

 

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 29, First Sunday After Christmas

Judy Coffey Parish Assistant Preaching

8:30 am - Contemporary Worship Service

9:30 am - Church School for all ages

11:00 am - Celebration Worship Service

Coffee Hour Fellowship follows each worship service

 

Monday, December 30

6:00 pm - FIA Group

6:00 pm - Bell Choir Practice

7:00 pm - Boy Scouts 

*** No Grand Sweep Bible Study ***

 

Tuesday, December 31

First Night in Cadillac

 

Wednesday, January 1

New Year’s Day - Church Office Closed

*** No Grand Sweep Bible Study ***

 

Sunday, January 5, Epiphany Sunday

Holy Communion at both services

Sacrament of Holy Baptism

8:30 am - Contemporary Worship Service

9:30 am - Church School for all ages

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 30 or January 1st.

                   We will resume the study the week of January 5.

 

 

                             American Red Cross Blood Drive

                                   Temple Hill Baptist Church

                           1601 W Division, Cadillac, Michigan

                      Monday, December 30 • 2:00 pm - 7:45 pm

                      Tuesday, December 31 • 11:00 am - 4:45 pm

 

 

United Singles will meet on Wednesday, January 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the South Community Methodist Church.

 

 

The Flower Calendar for 2003 is ready.  You may place flowers in honor or memory of a friend of loved one or in honor of a special occasion or to the Glory of God.  The cost is $15.  Sign-up now so that you get the Sunday you desire to have flowers.  Thank you!

 

January Loose Plate (January 5) is designated for Rachel Gabler's Book Project--the translation of Egermeir's Bible Study Story Book into several dialects for use in the classes she teaches in Zambia.  This is an Advance Special Project.                                                                                                                                               

                                                        

 

Today’s Worship Ministry . . .

Liturgists:  8:30 - Laurie Kinney

              11:00 - Jackie Soltman

Pianist/Organist: Ann Hunt

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

 

Our Chancel Flowers this morning are presented in loving memory of Wesley Barnes from Eva and family.

                                                                                                                 

On the First Sunday of each month, we collect non-perishable food and paper products for the needy.  Local food pantries are especially in need of help at this time.  Bring along some items; a box will be available in the narthex.  Next week the donations will be designated for the OASIS shelter for women and children.        

 

Wrap Up the Year With a Gift:  As of December 22, we have received $5671 in gifts.  We are over $10,000.00 behind in mission support, apportionments, and current program and operating expenses.  Please look at the Gift 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. Thanks so much for your support and gift!  Hopefully, we can begin 2003 with all our bills for mission and ministry paid in full.

 

 

Our church Website has a new look – take a peek at www.umccadillac.org.  Our Webmaster, Dan Kinney, has updated the site.  Lots of good information and many links are available.  You can even get you own e-mail address off the site also the Sunday bulletin is posted.  A brand NEW feature is the online Cokesbury bookstore and CBD bookstore - check it out!!.  If you need to know about an event or a meeting time, check it out there.

 

                                                                                                                                               

Please note the church has hearing assistance devices for use during worship.  These can be used by persons with or without hearing aids.  Also available are LARGE PRINT HYMNALS and, if needed, we can make large print bulletins.

 

Attention Junior and Senior High Youth

The HUB is open to all Middle School Youth on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.  It is open for all Senior High Youth on the 4th Saturday from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m.  The HUB is located in the old Motor Mall at the corner of M 55 and M 66.  For more information you can call 775-5291

 

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 Alice Silvers