United Methodist Church of Cadillac

                    1020 East Division Street  ·  Cadillac, Michigan

                                    775-5362  ·  Fax 775-6475

 

                                           December 9, 2007

                                     Second Sunday of Advent

                                  Sunday Worship at 11:00 a.m.

 

                                         WE GATHER IN PEACE

 

PRELUDE

 

BRINGING IN THE LIGHT OF CHRIST

 

WELCOME AND PARISH NOTES

 

    *GATHERING WORDS

One:    We gather in this comfortable place,

            to prepare for a new day:

All:       a day when the wolf and the lamb will get an apartment together.

One:   So prepare your hearts for the day when peace will rule the earth:

All:       when the leopard and the kid will share a mat at nap time.

One:    Prepare the way, the way where old notions are overturned:

All:       when the cow and bear will have coffee, their children playing in the backyard.

One:    Get ready!  Prepare the way!

 

    *HYMN OF PRAISE                                                                                                   #203

                                 “Hail To The Lord’s Anointed”

           

    *SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST

 

                                           WE PRAY IN PEACE

 

Lighting of the Advent Wreath                                                             The Candle of Peace

                                    Jeff, Tonja, Ethan, Collin and Braden Hinkston

 

Candlelighting Response                                                                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.

 

            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 Parish Notes.

 

PRAYER HYMN                                                                                                           #2176

                                        “Make Me A Servant”

 

UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION

We long for you to come to us, Creator of Goodness.  But too often, we do not seem to share your vision of how the world should be, or we are to live.  You dream of resentful enemies sitting down together, but we feast on bitterness.  You would have us sing with one voice, but we prefer to be soloists.  You would have us serve others, but we sit quietly, expecting you to come and fill our every need.  Forgive us, Approaching God, and help us to turn to welcome you with open arms. May we prepare for your coming by opening our hearts to that healing hope and surprising mercy in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

            Silence is kept

 

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

One:    This is God's word of acceptance and affirmation: we are forgiven, we are loved,

            we are called to be servants to all creation.

All:     Forgiveness falls like a gentle shower upon us,

          sinking deep into our hearts and souls,

          so we might be nourished and nurtured as God's children.

          Thanks be to God.  Amen.

 

PRAYER OF THE PEOPLE

THE LORD’S PRAYER                                                                                               #895

 

                                          WE LISTEN IN PEACE

 

CHORAL ANTHEM                                                                                         Chancel Choir

                               “Comfort Ye”  Arr. Michael Barrett

 

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN

 

SCRIPTURE READINGS                                

                                Romans 15:4-13  ·  Matthew 3:1-12

 

MESSAGE                                                                                            Rev. Thomas E. Ball

                                  “The Proclamation Of John The Baptist”

 

                                                  WE RESPOND IN PEACE

 

OFFERTORY INVITATION

 

OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS                                                                  

OFFERTORY

 

     *DOXOLOGY                                                                                           Tune:  Old 100th

Hope in the God who reigns above,

who holds us all in steadfast love;

whose Spirit blows across the earth

preparing us for second birth.  Amen.

 

    * PRAYER OF CONSECRATION  (in unison)

God of Peace, we offer our lives and our gifts to you. 

May they be an expression of our love for you, and the work of your Realm. 

May we be the People of God, the Church,

which you have called us to be in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

                      WE SCATTER TO SHARE PEACE IN THIS WORLD

 

    *CLOSING HYMN                                                                                                      #569

                            “We’ve A Story To Tell To The Nations”

 

    *BENEDICTION AND BLESSING                    

    *POSTLUDE

                                           *All who are able, please stand.

 

Linens urgently needed:  Many recent requests for linens have drastically reduced the supply at First Christian’s linen pantry.  If you have good useable linens you no longer need and would like to give them to a needy family, they can be dropped off at First Christian Church of Cadillac, located just north of Meijer on Bus. 131 or, you may contact Kathy at 775-6487.  Thanks so much!

 

Sunday Volunteer Ministry, December 16

Acolyte: 8:30 a.m. - Amanda Anderson

           11:00 a.m. -Drew and Lucas Marion

 Nursery: Randy and Carolyn Mitchell

Sermontime: Kris Darrow

Coffee Hour: Trustees

Greeters and Ushers 8:30 - Dan and Laurie Kinney

Greeters 11:00 - Kelly Ball

Ushers 11:00 - Barb Wild, Margaret Himes, Rachel Stewart and Karen Zenner

 

Opportunities for Ministry This Week . . .

Sunday, December 9 - Second Sunday in Advent

Coffee Hour follows each worship service

  8:30 a.m. - Sunday Worship

  9:30 a.m. - Sunday School

  9:30 a.m. - Bell Choir Practice

  9:30 a.m. - Blood Pressure Clinic

11:00 a.m. - Sunday Worship

  4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Caroling Party and Soup Supper

 Monday, December 10

 7:00 p.m. - Finance Committee meets

 7:00 p.m. - Boy Scouts

Tuesday, December 11

  7:15 a.m. - Prayer Group

  8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. - NOC Christmas Party/ Staff and Family

 11:30 a.m. - Dorcas Circle Christmas Lunch @ Lakeside Charlie’s

  1:00 p.m. - Staff Meeting

  7:00 p.m. - Administrative Council meets

Wednesday, December 12

  7:30 a.m. - Habitat Board meets

  7:30 p.m. - Chancel Choir Practice

Thursday, December 13

  7:00 a.m.- Promise Keepers

11:00 a.m. - Prayer Group

12:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Mercy Hospice Office Party

  1:30 p.m. - UMW General Meeting - Corbin Room

 Friday, December 14

  7:00 p.m. -  Wedding Rehearsal

Saturday, December 15

  9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. - Christmas Program Rehearsal

  4:00 p.m. - Gills / Nichols Wedding

Sunday, December 16 - Third Sunday of Advent

Coffee Hour follows each worship service

  8:30 a.m. - Sunday Worship

  9:30 a.m. - Sunday School

  9:30 a.m. - Bell Choir Practice

 11:00 a.m. - Sunday Worship - Children’s Christmas Program

  5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - Youth Christmas Party

 

The UMW General Meeting will be held on Thursday, December 13 at 1:30 p.m. in the Corbin Room.  Sharron Killebrew from the United Methodist Community House in Grand Rapids will be sharing about their ministry that we all help to support.

 

The Cadillac Christian Reformed Church is hosting a community wide Carol Sing on Sunday, December 16 at 6:00 p.m. at the church.  Drs. Glenn Verbrugge and Sandy Blanchard will be playing.  Come, listen to their special music and then join in the singing of your favorite carols.

 

We are still receiving Estimate of Giving cards for 2008.  Please place it in the offering plate or leave at the church office as soon as possible.  Estimate of Giving cards are available on the table in the church narthex or in the sanctuary pews.  Your faithful commitment to giving to the church is greatly appreciated!

 

If you have enjoyed the wonderful piano music of Dave Stump, Walt’s brother in the past, you will want to get the CD which Dave recorded a while ago.  “God Be With You “Til We Meet Again,” is offered as a single gift of Dave Stump’s Christian dedication and charity.  The CD presents 27 hauntingly and beautiful piano renditions of some of the most cherished Gospel Hymns of the past. A limited number of CD’s have been made available for A Freewill Offering that will go to the Dave Stump Memorial Scholarship Fund.  Order blanks are available this morning  in the Fellowship Hall.  Pick up a couple for holiday gifts.

 

Help provide winter boots for children:  Many requests for children’s boots have come into the Love INC clearinghouse.  If you would like to help with this ministry, please send your donation to the Love INC office at PO Box 88, Cadillac – 49601.  Please make your check payable to Love INC and make a notation on it that it is for children’s boots.  You will be a great help to the children’s shoe/boot side door ministry.

 

Today’s Worship Ministry . . .

Liturgists:  8:30 - Gary Box            11:00 - Clara Handy

Organist/Pianist: Virginia Pulford

Acolyte: 8:30 a.m. - Amanda Anderson

           11:00 a.m. - Caleb Mitchell and Ethan Myers

 Nursery: Greg and Kathy Green

Sermontime: Diana VanAntwerp

Coffee Hour: Naomi Circle ( Stump Anniversary )

Power Point:  Create, 8:30 & 11:00 - Bob Campbell

Greeters and Ushers 8:30 - Dan and Shelly DeCoeur

Greeters 11:00 a.m. - Kelly Ball

Ushers 11:00 a.m. - Steve and Lisa Myers, Rachel Stewart, Frank Weikel and Jane Whitney

 

The flowers on the Lord’s Table are given by Ruth Peterson in honor of her family.

 

The Coffee Hour following the 11:00 worship service is being held in honor of the 60th Wedding Anniversary of Walt and Jean Stump who were married on December 7, 1947.  You are invited to greet them and join in the celebration.

 

We have 23 homes to visit during our Caroling Party TODAY beginning at 4:00 p.m.  Plan to come along and bring some friends; whoever brings the most  friends will win a “great prize.”  We will have a Soup Supper when we return.  Sign-up on the insert.

 

Our Children’s Christmas Program, The Last Noel, will be presented Sunday, December 16 during the 11:00 worship service.  Come, hear the story of Christmas from the animal’s point of view - a delightful tale!

 

Our Christmas Eve Worship with candle lighting at each service will be at 7:30 p.m. - designed for families and at 11:00 p.m. with Carols, Candles and Holy Communion.