(Image: “Little Girl Praying” Photograph, Sujitmanna78, Pixabay)
©Order of Worship for Sunday December 17, 2023
Third Sunday of Advent
For the Avent Ferry UMC Worship Video Click Here (Link opens in a new window)
The worship video will be available live at 11:00 am
Prelude:.“Let the Song Begin, Emmanuel is Coming”Greg D.
Traditional Puerto Rican melody
Coming of the Light:…………………………………………
Call to Worship:……..“Joy to the World”………Kids Roc
Greetings:……………………………………………Pastor Steven
Opening Prayer:……………..……..……….…….…….Samantha M.
Sing praises to God, O you saints,
And give thanks to God’s holy name!
We exalt you, O God, for you have restored us to life!
We may cry though the night, but your joy comes with
the morning.
You hear us, O God, and you are gracious in our distress.
You turn our mourning into dancing!
Our souls cannot be silent!
O God, our Savior, we give thanks to you forever! Amen
Lighting of the Advent Candles:……………Joe B./Chad V.
Reader 1: When God’s people were surrounded by hardship, suffering, and grief, Isaiah proclaimed, The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God’ to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion-to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit (Isaiah 61:1-3a)
Reader 2: We come today as people who are also surrounded by suffering and grief. And yet, the Spirit hovers among us, tending and anointing, inspiring freedom where there is captivity, declaring blessing in places the world has cursed, and igniting fierce joy where mourning and heartache prevail.
Congregation: We wait as people who experience hardship and pain, yet we are called to witness to the persistent joy that sustains our life as God’s people.
Reader 1: We light these candles as signs of our shocking hope, just peace, and fierce joy. May our lives shine with fierce tenacious joy of the Light who lives in our hearts as we wait and work for the coming of God’s kin-dom on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
Light three candles of the Advent wreath.
Opening Hymns:.“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” #240 UMH
Words by Charles Wesley, 1739
Music by Felix Mendelssohn, 1840; arranged by William H. Cummings
1. Hark! the herald angels sing,
‘Glory to the newborn King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!’
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th’ angelic host proclaim,
‘Christ is born in Bethlehem!’
Hark! the herald angels sing,
‘Glory to the newborn King!’
2. Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th’ incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
‘Glory to the newborn King!’
3. Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
‘Glory to the newborn King!’
“People, Look East” #202 UMH
Words: Eleanor Farjeon, 1928, Music: Trad. French carol.
1. People, look east. The time is near of the crowning of
the year. Make your house fair as you are able, trim the
hearth and set the table.
People, look east: Love the Guest, is on the way.
2. Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare, one more seed
is planted there. Give up your strength the seed to
nourish, that in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east: Love the Rose, is on the way.
3. Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim, one more
light the bowl shall brim, shining beyond the frosty weather,
bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east: Love, the Star, is on the way.
4. Angels announce with shouts of mirth him who brings
new life to earth. Set every peak and valley humming
with the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east: Love, the Lord, is on the way.
Passing of the Peace:…………………………..Pastor Steven
Let us show signs of reconciliation and love to one another
Gloria Patri: “Glory Be to the Father” #71 UMH
Words: Lesser Doxology, 3rd-4th century
Music: Henry W. Greatorex, 1851
Glory be to the Father
and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen. Amen.
Announcements:………………………………………….Lorri B.
Giving of our tithes and offerings:…….
You can do this with no ok fee through your bank’s online bill pay option. It is easy to set up for automatic monthly giving. Or, you can use this link: Online Giving
Offertory:……………….“Silent Night”……………..Kids Roc
Words: Joseph Mohr, 1818 Music: FranzGruber, 1818
Offertory Response: “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” (The Doxology) #94
The United Methodist Hymnal
Adapted © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
Words by Thomas Ken, 1674, adapted by Gilbert Vieira, 1978
Music: Geistliche Kirchengesänge, 1623; harmony by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise God, all creatures here below:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise God, the source of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Prayer After Receiving:…………………………Pastor Steven
Prayers of the People:…………………………..Pastor Steven
Anthem:…..“Do You Hear What I Hear”….Cullen W./Diane C.
Epistle Lesson:…….1 Thessalonians 5:16-24….Pastor Steven
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets,
but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.
May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
Hymn of Preparation: “Jesus, Jesus, Oh, What a Wonderful Child” #3060 W&S
Traditional African-American words and music
Arrangement by Jeffrey Radford © 1992 The Pilgrim Press
Jesus, Jesus, oh, what a wonderful child.
Jesus, Jesus, so holy, meek and mild;
new life, new hope the child will bring.
Listen to the angel sing,
“Glory, glory, glory,” let the heavens ring.”
Sermon:..“More Than Just Salvation”………….Pastor Steven
Closing Hymn:“The Spirit Sends Us Forth to Serve” #2241 TFWS
Words: Delores Dufnes, OSB Music: USA folk melody
Words © 1993 Delores Durner, admin by OCP Publications
1. The Spirit sends us forth to serve; we
go in Jesus’ name to bring glad tidings to the
poor, God’s favor to proclaim.
2. We go to comfort those who mourn and
set the burdened free; where hope is dim, to
share a dream and help the blind to see.
3. We go to be the hands of Christ, to
scatter joy like seed and, all our days, to
cherish life, to do the loving deed.
4. Then let us go to serve in peace, the
gospel to proclaim. God’s Spirit has empowered
us; we go in Jesus’ name
Dismissal with Blessing: ……..……………………..Pastor Steven
Postlude:..“Make Way, Make Way, for Christ the King.”
Words and Music: Graham Kendrick © 2001 Thank You Music.
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Sunday December 17th Worship Service In Person and Online