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United |
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775-5362
· Fax 775-6475 |
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December 23, 2007
· Fourth Sunday of Advent |
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Sunday Worship at 11:00 a.m. |
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WE GATHER IN LOVE |
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PRELUDE |
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BRINGING IN THE LIGHT OF CHRIST |
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WELCOME AND PARISH NOTES |
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MUSICAL INTROIT |
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“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” |
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*GATHERING WORDS |
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One: O come, O come, Emmanuel. |
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All: Lift our eyes from lists to see the wonders of the heavens,
the smiles on other faces. |
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One: O come, O come Emmanuel. |
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All: Fill each heart with carols of joy, songs of gladness. |
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One: O come, O come, Emmanuel. |
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All: Make conflicts cease, fill each table with sufficient food, shelter
all from winter cold. |
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One: O come, O come, Emmanuel. |
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All: Bring healing and hope to those hurt by abuse or by bitter
words, to those experiencing loss. |
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One: O come, O come, Emmanuel. |
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All: Shower us with forgiveness and blessing, hope and laughter.
Let your love clothe us as
fresh snow falling to earth. |
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One: O come, O come, Emmanuel. |
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All: Make us crazy enough to sing in the midst of troubles, to
hope in the midst of doubts and
to light candles in the midst of darkness. |
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*HYMN OF PRAISE #234 |
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“O Come, All Ye Faithful” vs. 1, 2 and 5 |
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*SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST |
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WE PRAY IN LOVE |
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LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH The
Candle of Love |
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Chris, Katy, Tommy and Susie Huckle |
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CANDLELIGHTING RESPONSE #204 |
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“Emmanuel, Emmanuel” |
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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 Hymn. |
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CALL TO PRAYER |
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“In the Bleak Mid-Winter” |
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UNISON PRAYER |
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O Emmanuel, God with us, truly in
this Advent season we celebrate that you are not hidden in some faraway
cloud, but you chose to be with us in the blur and mystery of our lives. In the midst of lists and rush, you are
with us as a song that echoes in our minds, as the light of a candle, as a
card from a friend – all signs of your presence. We turn to you this season and pray that
you would birth joy and healing, blessing and hope in us. Let something wonderful begin in us
something surprising and holy. Let
your love fill us and your joy overwhelm us. Let our longing for you be
met on a coming holy night. Emmanuel,
with us once again. Amen. |
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PRAYER OF THE PEOPLE |
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THE LORD’S PRAYER #895 |
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WE LISTEN IN LOVE |
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CHORAL ANTHEM Chancel
Choir |
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“Will You Know Him” Arr. Besig/Price |
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TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN |
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SCRIPTURE |
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Romans 1:1-7 ·
Matthew 1:18-25 |
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MESSAGE Rev.
Thomas E. Ball |
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“An Angel Reveals His Name At
Birth” |
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WE RESPOND IN LOVE |
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OFFERTORY INVITATION |
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OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR
GIFTS OFFERTORY |
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*DOXOLOGY Tune: Old 100th |
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Hope in the God who reigns above, |
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who holds us all in steadfast
love; |
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whose Spirit blows across the
earth |
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preparing us for second birth. Amen. |
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*PRAYER OF GIVING THANKS (in unison) |
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Maker of Stars, Transformer of
Life, Giver of Love, here is the advent of our generosity: of gifts
presented, of faith shared and of love declared. Amen. |
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WE SCATTER TO SHARE JOY IN THIS
WORLD |
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*CLOSING HYMN #220 |
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“Angels from the Realms of Glory” |
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*BENEDICTION AND BLESSING |
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*POSTLUDE |
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*All who are able, please stand. |
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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 on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday
from 9:00 to Noon or you may contact Kathy at 775-6487. Thanks so much! |
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Sunday Volunteer Ministry,
December 30 |
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Acolyte: 8:30 a.m. - Amanda
Anderson |
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11:00 a.m. - Pending |
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Nursery: Staff Person |
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Sermontime: Staff Person |
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Coffee Hour: Open |
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Greeters and Ushers 8:30 - Betty
and Karen Klinker |
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Greeters 11:00 - Kelly Ball |
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Ushers 11:00 - Ron and Marilyn Truax, Karen Zenner, |
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Peggy Kirvan and Gladys Foster |
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Opportunities for Ministry This Week . . . |
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Sunday, December 23 - Fourth
Sunday of Advent |
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Coffee Hour follows each worship
service |
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8:30 a.m. - Sunday Worship |
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9:30 a.m. - Sunday School |
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9:30 a.m. - |
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11:00 a.m. - Sunday Worship |
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No Youth will be meeting tonight |
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Monday, December 24 - Christmas Eve |
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Church Office Closes at Noon |
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7:30 p.m. - Christmas Eve Family Worship
Service |
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11:00 p.m. - Carols, Candles and
Holy Communion |
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Tuesday, December 25 - Christmas
Day |
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Church Office Closed |
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Wednesday, December 26 |
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Church Office Closed |
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No Chancel Choir practice this
evening |
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Thursday, December 27 |
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7:00 a.m.- Promise Keepers |
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11:30 a.m. - Prayer Group |
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6:00 p.m. - UMM Christmas/Holiday Gathering |
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Sunday, December 30 - First
Sunday Of Christmas |
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Coffee Hour follows each worship
service |
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8:30 a.m. - Sunday Worship |
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9:30 a.m. - Sunday School |
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11:00 a.m. - Sunday Worship |
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No Youth Will Be Meeting Tonight |
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The United Methodist Men
will be holding their annual Christmas Holiday gathering on Thursday,
December 27 at 6:00 pm at the church.
This year we are calling our evening “Movie and a Pizza” and we will
be doing just that. Following a brief
business meeting and devotions, we will enjoy a choice of 2 or 3 kinds of
pizza, a salad and ice cream with toppings while viewing the movie “Amazing
Grace”, the moving story of William Wilberforce and his battle to end slavery
in the |
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Let’s finish the year strong!
We would encourage you to note the information on the poster in the
church narthex. As we have shared
together in mission and ministry this year, our expenses have run ahead of
our giving due to several unexpected expenditures. A “Christmas Gift” to the church would help
us finish the year on the plus side.
Thank you so much! |
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The 2008 Flower Calendar
is available in the church narthex.
You may sign up for flowers in memory or in honor of a person or
special occasion. The flowers are $15. |
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We are still receiving Estimate
of Giving cards for 2008. Please
place it in the offering plate or leave at the church. 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! |
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If you have ordered one of Dave Stump’s
CDs, “God Be With You “Til We Meet Again,” they will be available
immediately following both services today.
Orders are still being taken. This CD presents 27 hauntingly and beautiful piano renditions of some of the most cherished Gospel
Hymns of the past and has been made available for A Freewill
Offering that will go to the Dave Stump Memorial Scholarship
Fund. Order blanks are available
in the Fellowship Hall. |
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If you are leaving for a
warmer climate, please notify the Church Office at 775-5362 with your
leaving and returning date and forwarding instructions. Thanks so much. |
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Have you been a victim of sexual
abuse? There is a way out of your
pain. A ten week Sexual Abuse Support Group will begin Thursday,
January 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the church. All meetings are
confidential and free. For
registration and more information, call Shirley Petersen. This support group is open to
everyone. Please share this
information freely. You never know who
is suffering with a secret painful past.
Let the healing begin! |
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Today’s Worship Ministry .
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Liturgists: 8:30 - |
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Organist/Pianist: Ann Hunt |
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Acolyte: 8:30 a.m. - Amanda
Anderson |
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11:00 a.m. - Drew and Lucas Marion |
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Nursery: Staff Person |
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Sermontime: Staff Person |
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Coffee Hour: Open |
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Greeters and Ushers 8:30 - Pete
and Mary Buehler |
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Greeters 11:00 - Stella VanDorn |
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Ushers 11:00 - Gladys Foster,
Peggy Kirvan and |
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Carol, Betsy and Laura George |
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Power Point: Create/8:30 - Dave
Darrow 11:00 - Chris Huckle |
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The flowers on the Lord’s Table
are given by Don and Pat Lakin in celebration of the marriage of Peter
Lewis-Lakin and Errin Menna
today at 4:00pm in Lovett Hall in |
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Come and Worship:
Our Christmas Eve Worship Services will include a Family
Worship Service at 7:30 p.m. with carols, scripture, choral anthem, a
special children’s time, lighting of the Christmas Candle, message by Pastor
Tom & candlelighting and Carols, Candles
& Holy Communion at 11:00 p.m. which will include the reading of the
Christmas story, carols, a message by Pastor Tom, Holy Communion and candlelighting. Bring
your family; invite you neighbors and friends to come and worship. |
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We received word that Debbie Ostema’s mother passed away early last week. Her Memorial Service is being held in |
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May the love, joy and peace of
Christ abide |
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in your hearts and
homes during this Holy Season and throughout the New Year. |
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from your Church Staff |