United Methodist Church of Cadillac

1020 East Division Street · Cadillac, Michigan

775-5362 · Fax 775-6475

December 30, 2007 · First Sunday after Christmas

Sunday Worship at 11:00 a.m.

THE GATHERING TO WORSHIP

PRELUDE

BRINGING IN THE LIGHT OF CHRIST

WELCOME AND PARISH NOTES

*GATHERING WORDS

One: It is still Christmas.

All: Joy is still loose in the world,

One: Love is lodged in hearts,

All: and peace is still our fervent hope.

One: It is still Christmas,

All: Though the presents are all unwrapped,

One: The batteries have run down,

All: And family members have returned home.

One: It is still Christmas,

All: For God begins anew,

One: Giving us a baby to care for

All: And calling us to live with tender compassion, gentle care and overflowing love.

*HYMN OF PRAISE #224

“Good Christian Friends, Rejoice”

*SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST

THE PEOPLE OF GOD PRAYING

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.

PRAYER HYMN #246

“Joy to The World”

UNISON PRAYER

In your love, which never ends, Steadfast Grace, you hear the cries of all the two-year-olds cast aside by the world, and the weeping of their mothers who cannot feed them because there is no hope. Wrapped in an old blanket to keep you warm in a cold stable, and smuggled into Egypt to keep you safe, Marginalized Messiah, you know the searching of refugees for a place they can call home, for a life they can call free. Spirit of Sanctuary

you cradle the innocents, and remember those driven from their homes by fear and greed; singing laments with all the parents who cannot give their children the lives that they should have.

Holy God, you fill our hearts with joy, for you continue to come into this world. Give us the peace, the joy, the hope to carry to all who cry out to you this day. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE PEOPLE

THE LORD’S PRAYER #895

THE READING AND PROCLAIMING OF THE WORD

CHORAL ANTHEM Chancel Choir

“Come and See the Child” Arr. Mark Patterson

TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN

SCRIPTURE READING

Hebrews 2:10-18 · Matthew 2:13-23

MESSAGE Rev. Thomas E. Ball

“The Escape to Egypt”

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

OFFERTORY INVITATION

OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

ORGAN OFFERTORY

*DOXOLOGY Tune: Old 100th.

Praise God whose dawn transfigures night,

Whose Daystar shines for us on high,

Whose Spirit brings into our sight -

The hope which to our world draws nigh. Amen.

*PRAYER OF GIVING THANKS (in unison)

Loving God, we have heard your Good News. We want to pass it on. We have felt your presence. We want others to know the peace that you alone can bring. So we dedicate our offerings and ourselves to your movement of justice and the building of your realm. Amen.

THE SCATTERING TO SERVE IN THE WORLD

*CLOSING HYMN #240

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

*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 on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday from 9:00 to Noon or you may contact Kathy at 775-6487. Thanks so much!

Sunday Volunteer Ministry, January 6

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

11:00 a.m. - Caleb Mitchell and Collin Hinkston

Nursery: Jackie Baily

Sermontime: Darlene Fowler

Coffee Hour: Open

Greeters and Ushers 8:30 – Pending

Greeters 11:00 – Pending

Ushers 11:00 – Pending

Opportunities for Ministry This Week . . .

Sunday, December 30 - First Sunday after Christmas Day

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

No Youth will be meeting tonight

Monday, December 31 - New Years Eve

10:00 a.m. - Hope Network in Youth Room

Tuesday, January 1 - New Years Day

Church Office Closed

Wednesday, January 2

6:30 p.m. - Staff Parish meets

7:30 p.m. - Chancel Choir practice

Thursday, January 3

7:00 a.m.- Promise Keepers

9:30 a.m. - Wesley Fellowship @ Big Boy Restaurant

11:30 a.m. - Prayer Group

Sunday, January 6 - Epiphany Sunday

Coffee Hour follows each worship service

8:30 a.m. - Sunday Worship

9:30 a.m. - Sunday School

11:00 a.m. - Sunday Worship

5:00 - 6:30 p.m. - Junior Disciples and Senior High Youth meet

The next Equal Exchange Coffee (decaf and regular) & Tea Sale will be on January 6 after both services.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Your 2008 Offering Envelopes are in the mail

and should arrive soon. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call our church Financial Secretary, Dan Kinney or email him. Thank you!

Today’s Worship Ministry . .

Liturgists: 8:30 - Bedonna Davis

11:00 - Lynn Cummings

Organist/Pianist: Virginia Pulford

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

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

Nursery: Kevin and Patricia Bruner

Sermontime: Jeff and Laura Marion

Coffee Hour: Inga Fuller

Greeters and Ushers 8:30 - Betty and Karen Klinker

Greeters 11:00 - Kelly Ball

Ushers 11:00 -Ron and Marilyn Truax, Karen Zenner,

Peggy Kirvan, Gladys Foster and Bill George

The flowers on the Lord’s Table today are given by the Cummings Family wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

Join Tom and Suzanne Johnson for a Celebration of their 10^th Wedding Anniversary during the Coffee Hour following the 11:00 Worship service today. They were married on December 31, 1997.

Wesley Fellowship will be meeting for Breakfast at the Big Boy Restaurant on Thursday January 3 at 9:30 a.m. Any questions, please call Dorothy Dean. See you there!

Join us for an Epiphany Festival next Sunday, January 6 at both worship service and the Coffee Hours following. We will have a “Service of Luminescence” and a special King’s Cake and prizes during the fellowship time.