United Methodist Church of Cadillac

1020 East Division Street  ·  Cadillac, Michigan

231 · 775-5362   ·   Fax 775-6475

 

December 4, 2005

Second Sunday of Advent

Sunday Worship at 11:00 a.m.

 

 

 

PRELUDE

 

BRINGING IN THE LIGHT OF CHRIST                             by the Acolytes

 

WELCOME AND PARISH NOTES

 

CLIP BOARD MINISTRY FOR JANUARY

 

     *CALL TO WORSHIP

One: Mercy and faithfulness will embrace,

         righteousness and peace shall kiss. 

         Get ready. Turn, turn, turn!

         Prepare for the Coming One.

All:    Level the high ridges, fill up the canyons,

         make a smooth path for the One who is coming,

         prepare a level highway for the Lord.

One: May the advent of Christ Jesus bring hope to you all!

All:    And also to you!

 

     *HYMN OF PRAISE                                                                      #209

            “Blessed Be the God of Israel”

 

     *SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST

 

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH                          Candle of Peace

 

If you have a prayer joy or concern you would like shared during the Prayer of the People, please hand it to an usher during the Advent Carol

 

ADVENT CAROL                                                                               #196

            “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”

 

 

 

RESPONSIVE PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Leader:  God of glory, you call on us to prepare the way for Jesus'

              birth.People: Forgive us if we put our time and energy into making all sorts of material preparations for Christmas; buying gifts;

              ordering food; baking cakes; writing cards - all important,

but preparations which give temporary pleasure compared to the lasting peace which Christ gives. 

                                                                       silent confession

Leader: God of glory, you call on us to prepare the way for Jesus'

              birth by helping to make smooth the rough places in                                     

              people's lives, by seeking to reduce the mountainous problems some people experience.

People:  Forgive us when we fail to become involved with the pain

              of other people by pleading seasonal busy-ness.                       

                                                                                    silent confession

Leader:  God of glory, you call on us to prepare the way for Jesus' birth by being agents of comfort and mercy.

People:  Forgive us for all the times we put our own personal comfort before that of others. For confusing being comfortable with being comforting.                                             

                                                                                    silent confession

Leader:  God of glory, we confess that all too often we do spend

              more time on making preparations for our own pleasure

than preparing for Jesus to be born anew in our hearts and lives - in our families, our communities, our nation.

People:  Help us to prepare ourselves faithfully to receive the                                    Christ-child.  Amen.

 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON                          PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

 

MINISTRY OF MUSIC                                                         Chancel Choir

            “Comfort Ye”   Arr. Michael Barrett

 

CHILDREN’S TIME

 

SCRIPTURE READING                                                            N.T. pg. 34

            Mark 1:1-8

 

MESSAGE                                                                  Pastor Dale Ostema

            “Preparing for the Good News”

 

OFFERTORY INVITATION                                                                       

 

OFFERTORY

PRESENTING OUR GIFTS AND OURSELVES TO GOD

 

     *ADVENT 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)

O God, bless these gifts and our lives, we pray.  May they witness to the way being prepared anew for your glory to be revealed so that every eye shall clearly see it.  This we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

 

     *COMMUNION SONG                                                                  #204

            “Emmanuel”   (Sing twice)

 

SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION                                        #15 -16

Invitation to the Table

The Great Thanksgiving Advent                                                               

The Lord’s Prayer                                                                              #895

Breaking the Bread

Giving 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                                                                         #221

            “In the Bleak Midwinter  vs. 1,2 & 4

 

     *COMMISSION AND BLESSING                                      *POSTLUDE

 

 

            *All who are able, please stand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advent Devotional Guides are available on the table in the narthex.  Please feel free to take one.

 

 

Thanks to all who participated in filling boxes for Operation Christmas Child.  Your generosity enabled us to ship 67 boxes this month.  If you still have a box to be shipped, you may send it at your cost to Samaritan’s Purse · 801 Bamboo Road · PO Box 3000 · Boone, NC 28607.

 

 

 

 

Sunday Volunteer Ministry, December 11, 2005

Acolytes: Nick Myers and Ethan Hinkston

Nursery: Kyle and Lori Smith

Sermontime: Dee Williams

Coffee Hour: Naomi Circle

 

 

 

CHURCH STAFF

Pastor                                                                                    Dale Ostema

Parish Assistant                                                                     Judy Coffey

Coordinator-Children & Youth Ministries                           Debbie Ostema

Church Office Manager                                                           Patty Holst

Treasurer                                                                              Karen Klinker

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                                                          Darlene Ressler

First Sunday Nursery Care Giver                                 Diana Van Antwerp

Custodial Staff                                           Dee Piltz and NOC Work Crew

Snow Removal                                                                         Paul Helton

 

 

 

Opportunities for Ministry This Week . . .

Sunday, December 4 - Second Sunday of Advent

Coffee Hour follows each Worship Service

Holy Communion will be served at both Worship Services

  8:30 am - Sunday Worship

  9:30 am - Church School for all ages

 11:00 am - Sunday Worship

 Children’s Choir meets following the 11:00 a.m. worship service

 Fair Trade Coffee Sale following each Worship Service

 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Advent Event

 

Monday, December 5

 9:30 am - UMW Executive Board

 1:00 pm - Women’s Club Philharmonic Tea

 6:00 pm - Staff Christmas Dinner @ Lakeside Charlie’s

 7:00 pm - Boy Scouts

 Tuesday, December 6

  7:15 am - Daybreak Prayer Group

  7:00 pm - Evangelism Committee

 Wednesday, December 7

  9:00 am - TOPS

 7:30 pm - Chancel Choir

Thursday, December 8

  7:00 am - Promise Keepers

11:30 am - Prayer Group

 1:30 pm - UMW General Meeting

Saturday, December 10

 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Project Christmas @ Wex

 

Sunday, December 11 - Third Sunday of Advent

Coffee Hour Follows Each Worship Service

  8:30 am - Sunday Worship

  9:30 am - Church School for all ages

11:00 am - Sunday Worship

Children’s Choir meets following the 11:00 a.m. worship service

 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Caroling Party & Soup Supper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project Christmas will be held on Saturday, December 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Wex.  Your help is needed in several areas: Food Distribution, Gift Wrapping and Greeting/Information.  Sign-up sheets are in the narthex.  We will also need some help with set up on Friday in food and gift wrap and take down on Saturday as we will need to bring tables back to the church.  A separate sheet is available with those times and needs.  Thank you in advance for your generous assistance for those in need at Christmas!!

 

 

The Love, INC. Children’s Coat Pantry at Temple Hill Baptist Church is in need of good, clean coats, snow pants, hats and mittens to give to those in need.  Newborn to children’s size 12 are most in demand.  If you wish to donate items, they can be dropped off at Temple Hill, 1601 West Division Street, Cadillac, weekdays between 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.

 

 

Cadillac Christian Reformed Church is hosting Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University this winter.  Orientation/sign-up dates will be Sunday, December 11 at 12:30pm or Tuesday, December 13 at 6:30 p.m..  This entertaining, life-changing class taught by Dave via DVD is for anyone who desires to rid themselves of debt, get control of spending, eliminate ‘money fights,’ learn stewardship, personal financial management and more.  For more information, contact Andy Westmaas (775-4506), John Emington (876-0558) or the Cadillac CRC office (775-5291)

           

 

Are you interested in purchasing your own hearing assistance device for use during worship?  If so, please speak with Pastor Dale so we can order the brand/type compatible with our sound system.

 

 

           

            Family Worship Service at 7:30 p.m.

            Carols, Candles & Holy Communion

            at 11:00 p.m.

            Christmas Day Worship at 11:00 a.m. only

           

 

 

 

 

Today’s Worship Ministry . . .

Liturgist: Judy Coffey

Pianist: Darlene Ressler

Acolytes: Kelly Cummings and Jessica Weaver

Nursery: Jeff & Tonja Hinkston

Sermontime: Jane Wightman

Coffee Hour: Education

Power Point:  Jeff Hinkston    

  

      

 

 

The Chancel Flowers on the Lord’s Table this morning are given in memory of Vera Moore by the Moore family.

 

 

The U.M.W. will meet on December 8 at 1:30 p.m. for their Christmas meeting.  Hostess for the meeting will be the Naomi Circle and the Susannah-Wesley circle will be in charge of the program.  Carolyn Brines will be a special guest. Do you have a tree decoration that is special to you?  Is there a special carol that you like and has special meaning in some way?  Do you remember a recitation you spoke at a Christmas Sunday School program?  A surprise Christmas gift?  Bring your experiences and memories and share them with everyone.  Carols will be sung too.  All women are invited.

 

 

The Advent Event is TODAY from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.  This family friendly gathering is a great way to celebrate Advent.  Following a short opening time, you will be invited to participate in a variety of make-and-take crafts to keep or give away as gifts.  Also available will be a cookie decorating area.  Invite your friends and don’t miss the fun!

 

 

The Susannah-Wesley Circle will meet at the home of Kay Hinkston for their Christmas meeting December 15; lunch will be Potluck at 1:00 p.m.  There will be a gift exchange. Let Kay know if you will be coming by calling her.

 

 

 

 

Renovation Update: This past week, the support beams for the roof were set in place in our church sanctuary.  These were necessary in order to support the new steeple which is here and will be installed on our church in the near future.  All the new windows have been installed.  Things are moving right along!

 

 

The United Methodist Committee on Relief & ecumenical partner agencies are continuing to respond to the many recent disasters worldwide and in our country.  Please indicate on your offering envelope which disaster you are responding to and place it in the offering plate.  Thank you for your generous response.

 

 

If you were unable to be photographed for the new Church Directory, please see Judy Coffey following worship to have a picture taken. We are still photographing; however, this may be the last Sunday.