(Image: Stushie Art)
©Order of Worship for Sunday December 08, 2024
Second Sunday of Advent
Christmas Cantata
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:………………. “Out of the East”……………………Greg D.
Words and Music: Harry Noble © 1941, The Boston Music Company, renewed 1968
Coming of the Light:………………………………
Greetings:………………………..……………Pastor Steven
Announcements:…………………………………………Lorri B.
Call to Worship:…………………………………..Pastor Steven
Children of God, prepare the way! The Word of God is coming!
We come to listen and receive God’s Word among us.
Children of God, the prophets call to us now and from generations past, urging us to prepare and refine our hearts for the coming of the Word of God. Are you listening?
We come to listen and prepare to receive God’s Word among us.
Children of God, this is the mark of our preparation: that passion for God’s Word would burn within us, cleansing us and renewing us to reflect God’s love throughout the world.
Opening Prayer: ……………………………..……….…Samantha M.
Compassionate God, greet us with your grace this day, for we need you. We cannot save ourselves. Though we may be frantic with activity, our efforts do not yield peace, peace as you can give. Today we would be quiet enough to hear your voice. Today we would be still enough to feel your touch. Help us to find that place where we can receive as well as give, wait as well as act, and listen as well as speak. Our whole world needs your peace. Let us come before you and learn your ways, laying down our weapons and feeding the hungry. Come to us now, through Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Giving of our Tithes and Offerings:………………Pastor Steven
Online Giving link
Offertory:………..“Sing We Now of Christmas”……Musicians
Anonymous, Traditional French Carol
Response: “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” (The Doxology) #94
“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
Lighting of the Advent Candles:…….Chris and Irwin M.
Reader One: The prophet Malachi calls us to watch for the messenger God will send us, a messenger who burns with a passion for God’s coming salvation. “For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness” (Malachi 3:2b-3).
Congregation: In a world driven by a passion to maintain the status quo, we choose to live with a passion for God’s peace, to listen to those who call us to righteousness, and to submit ourselves to God’s grace, that we might be refined and purified until we reflect God’s love throughout the earth.
Reader Two: We light this candle of peace as a sign of our commitment to passionately pursue the work of making peace in our hearts, our families, our communities, and throughout the earth until God’s kin-dom comes on earth as it is in heaven.
Light the second candle of the Advent wreath.
“Manger Waiting”
“In the Bleak Midwinter”…………………………………Musicians
“In the Bleak Midwinter”………………..………………Choir
Hymn: “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” #196 UMH
1. Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
2. Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”……………………………….Choir
“The Cherry Tree Carol”……………………………Melanie B.
“Manger Waiting”…………………………………….Musicians
“Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella”………………….Choir
“I Wonder as I Wander”…………………………….Taylor M.
“A la Nanita Nana/Tierra Lejana Venimos/Niño Precioso”
……………………………………………….Musicians
“Still, Still, Still/Star Carol”…………………………….Choir
“Mary Ponders”……………………………………….Musicians
“The Virgin’s Slumber Song”……………….Samantha M.
Hymn: “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent” #626 UMH
1. Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and
trembling stand; ponder nothing earthly minded,
for with blessing in his hand, Christ our God to
earth descendeth, our full homage to demand.
2. King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on
earth he stood, Lord of lords, in human vesture,
in the body and the blood; he will give to
all the faithful his own self for heavenly food.
“The Coventry Carol”……………………………….Musicians
“Sweet Little Jesus Boy”…………………………Elizabeth B.
“A Strangely Quiet Bethlehem”…………………Musicians
“Some Children See Him”……………………………….Choir
“Out of the East”……………………………………………Choir
“Given”…………………………………………………….Musicians
Dismissal with Blessing:……………….…Pastor Steven
Postlude:……………………..…………………………….Greg D.
The cantata “Manger Waiting” is based on the CD, “Manger Waiting” A Piano Anthology arranged and performed by Gregory Dixon, released November, 2002, renewed November, 2024. Produced by Aaron and Elizabeth Barrett.
Narrator: Chad Volk
Flute: Mark Barry
Percussion: Daniel LeVon
Choir:
Sopranos: Diane Corbin, Samantha Moore, Catherine Smith
Altos: Elizabeth Barrett, Lori Drum, Lusi Radford
Tenors: Joe Brantley, Taylor Mills
Basses: Phillip Jefferson, Cullen Whitley
For Online Giving, follow this link Avent Ferry Give . You can also mail checks to Avent Ferry UMC, 2700 Avent Ferry Road, Raleigh, NC 27606.
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Looking for a way to fulfill your giving back to God of your financial blessings? Follow this link to online giving at Avent Ferry Give , click to set up online giving via AFUMC or set up a monthly tithe via your bank’s bill pay. You can also mail your check to Avent Ferry UMC, 2700 Avent Ferry Rd. Raleigh, NC 27606.
Saturday November 30th at 9:30 am: Decorating the tree and sanctuary
Sunday December 8th at 11:00 am: Christmas Cantata “Manger Waiting”
Sunday December 15th at 6:00 pm: Combined Christmas celebration with Rios de Aqua Viva, Chinese Christian Fellowship, and Jolly African Singers
Tuesday December 24th at 5:30 pm: Christmas Eve candle lighting service
Sunday December 29th at 11:00 am: Carols and singing with coffee and cookies
Avent Ferry is scheduled to volunteer at the Habitat for Humanity Faith Build, Methodist Build on Saturday December 14, 2024 from 8:15am to 3:30pm.
To sign up please follow the link below. It will take you to the Habitat for Humanity Sign up page: Sign Up
Sunday December 8th Worship Service and Christmas Cantata