Worship Service December 15, 2024

Order of Service

Welcome, Greeting, Service Introduction                         Rev. Cindy Lunsford /All

Call to Worship – Advent Wreath                                   Rev. Warren Lunsford /All

See Insert – Leave Advent Wreath Insert in your pew for each week.

 Opening Prayer                                                         Rev. Cindy Lunsford /All                                                           

O God, vitalize the worship of your people today by your presence.

Impart to us the thrill and joy of singing from the heart the great songs of the ages.

Move us to the depth of true gratitude and expectation by the words of our Lord,

    “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I

         in the midst of them.”  (Matt. 18:20 KJV)

May we know the wonder of true worship today, together.

May your peace that passes all understanding, guard our hearts and minds,

     through Christ Jesus.  Amen

(Invocations and Benedictions for the Common Revied Lectionary, John M. Drescher, p.105)

Hymn for the Season                         Joy to the World                                 UMH 246

Life of the Church                                                 Rev. Cindy Lunsford (see bulletin)

Mission Moment – Pray over Toys

Affirmation of Faith            Apostles’ Creed      UMH 881      Sheri King/All                                                          

Gloria Patri                                                                                                    UMH 071

Hymn of Praise                     It Came Upon a Midnight Clear                     UMH 218

OFFERING OF OURSELVES

Pastoral Prayer/The Lord’s Prayer                                    Rev. Cindy Lunsford/All    

Worship with Our Tithes & Offerings                          Steve Hawkins instrumental

              Dedication & Offertory                                              Rev. Warren Lunsford

             Doxology                                                                       UMH 095 

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

praise him, all creatures here below;

praise him above, ye heavenly host;

praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  Amen

Centering Song      It’s All About the Cross by the Ball Brothers         Steve Hawkins

PROCLAMATION

Prayer of Illumination                                                                                Gary Seiler

God, whom we know
     through the scriptures and creation,
        speak to us in this hour.
Show us the wisdom and joy of your ways
     that we may know what is good and do what is right,

through Jesus Christ your Word. Amen.

Old Testament Reading            Zephaniah 3:14-20                                     Gina Elrod

Scripture                                      Luke 3:7-18                            Rev. Warren Lunsford

Message                           Kind Deeds—Double Blessings           Rev. Warren Lunsford

GOING FORTH WITH CHRIST

Closing Hymn                     Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee                            UMH 089

Commissioning & Benediction                                                  Rev. Warren Lunsford

Depart to Serve, caring for others, as we truly serve God

Advent Wreath Choruses

to the tune of Away in a Manger

Advent 1

            A Candle is burning, a flame warm and bright,

            a candle of hope in December’s dark night.

            While angels sing blessing from heaven’s starry sky,

            our hearts we prepare now for Jesus is nigh.

Advent 2

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.

Advent 3

            A candle is burning, a candle of joy.

            A candle to welcome brave Mary’s new boy,

            Our hearts fill with wonder, and eyes light and glow

            as joy brightens winter like sunshine on snow.

Advent 4

            A candle is burning, a candle of love.

            A candle to point us to heaven above.

            A baby for Christmas, a wonderful birth.

            For Jesus is bringing God’s love to our earth.

Christmas Eve

We honor messiah with Christ Candle’s lame

Our Christmas Eve candles glad tidings proclaim

O come all you faithful, rejoice in this night,

As God comes among us, the Christian’s true light.

Note – “A Candle is Burning is by Sandra Dean, 1986.

Music is “Away In A Manger” by James Murray 1887.

Thought Provokers

The door to happiness swings outward. —–Soren Kierkegaard

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A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.

—–James Keller, Catholic priest, who founded The Christophers

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The rich man is not one who is in possession of much,

but one who gives much. —–St. John Chrysostom

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The Holy Supper is kept, indeed,

In whatso we share with another’s need;

Not what we give, but what we share.

For the gift without the giver is bare.

—–James Russell Lowell, The Vision of Sir Launfal

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Giving to others heals me, as the Indians healed themselves with herbs.

They did not understand what the herbs did, how they operated,

they only knew their healing powers.

So with me.

I do not want to know what there is about the process of giving that heals me.

It is my herb.  I must not try to pick it apart.

Just use it and know what it does and be grateful.

—–Catherine Deneuve, the actress

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