(Image: Stushie Art)
©Order of Worship December 11, 2022
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.
Text for hymns are found below each hymn. Click on the hymn highlighted text for music.
Prelude: “O Sanctissima”, Traditional……………Greg D.
Coming of the Light:…………………………………………Eli A.
Greetings………………………..…………..…Pastor Steven
Opening Prayer: …………………………………Melrose B.
We gather in preparation
for good news is about to be proclaimed.
We gather in expectation
for joy is about to break forth in our midst.
We gather in celebration
for we are those people who have said
yes to the manger,
yes to the one incarnate for others,
yes to the wholeness of God.
In preparation and expectation, let us celebrate!
Amen
Lighting of the Advent Candles:…….Melanie B., Samantha M.
Hymn: “Until Jesus Comes” #3050 TFWS
Words and Music: Dean McIntyre © The General Board of Discipleship
of the United Methodist Church
Until Jesus comes, until Jesus comes, I’ll be watching and
waiting until Jesus comes. Until Jesus comes, until Jesus
comes, I’ll be watching and waiting until Jesus comes.
Opening Hymns:…..“Good Chrisitan Friends, Rejoice” #224 UMH
Words: 14th cent Latin; trans by John Mason Neale, 1855
Music: German melody, harm. By Gary Alan Smith, 1988
Harm. © 1989 UM Publishing House
Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and
soul and voice,
1.give ye heed to what we say: News, news!
Jesus Christ is born today! Ox and ass before
him bow, and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today, Christ is born today!
Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and
soul and voice,
2.now ye hear of endless bliss: News, news!
Jesus Christ was born for this! He hath opened
heaven’s door, and ye are blest forever more.
Christ was born for this, Christ was born for this!
Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and
soul and voice,
3.now ye need not fear the grave: News, news!
Jesus Christ was born to save! Calls you one and
calls you all to gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save, Christ was born to save!
“It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” #218 UMH
Words by Edmund H. Sears, 1849 (Luke 2:8-14)
Music by Richard Storrs Willis, 1850
1. It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to all,
from heaven’s all-gracious King.”
The world in solemn stillness lay,
to hear the angels sing.
2. Still through the cloven skies they come
with peaceful wings unfurled,
and still their heavenly music floats
o’er all the weary world;
above its sad and lowly plains,
they bend on hovering wing,
and ever o’er its Babel sounds
the blessed angels sing.
3. And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow,
look now! for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
and hear the angels sing!
4. For lo! the days are hastening on,
by prophet seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years
shall come the time foretold
when peace shall over all the earth
its ancient splendors fling,
and the whole world send back the song
which now the angels sing.”
Blessing Angel Tree Gifts:……………………..Pastor Steven
Announcements:…………………………………………..Lorri B.
Giving of our tithes and offerings ………………Lorri B.
You can do this with no 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: ..“Bring a Torch”….“He Is Born” …Handbell Choir
Trad. French Carol Arr. by Kevin McChesney; 18th Cent. French Carol
Arr. by James D. Kinball ASCAP
Offertory Response: “The Doxology” #94 UMH
Words: Thomas Ken, 1674 Music: Geistliche Kirchengesänge, 1623;
Adapt. © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
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 up-lifts! Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Prayer After Receiving:………………………Pastor Steven
Prayers of the People: ………………………Pastor Steven
Hymn of Preparation:..“Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” #216 UMH
Words: Sts. 1-2 15th Cent. German trans. By Theodore Baker, 1894
St. 3 from The Hymnal, 1940 © 1940, 1943, 1971
The Church Pension Fund Music: Alte Catholische Geistliche
Kirchengesang,1599
1.Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath
sprung! Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as those of old have
sung. It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of
winter, when half spent was the night.
2.Isaiah ‘twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
with Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind.
To show God’s love aright, she bore to us a
Savior, when half spent was the night.
3.O Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness
fills the air, dispel in glorious splendor the darkness
everywhere. True man yet very God, from sin and
death now save us, and share our every load.
Gospel Lesson ….……….Matthew 11:2-11…………Melrose B.
When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”
Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces.
What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’
Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Sermon: ….…”What Are You Expecting”………Pastor Steven
Anthem:..“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”…,.Handbell Choir
Music: Felix Mendelssohn Arr. by Kevin McChesney
“Go Tell It On The Mountain”
Afro-American Spiritual Arr. James D. Kimball
Closing Hymn:..“He Is Born” #228 UMH
Words: Trad. 19th cent. French carol; trans. Anon.
Music: 18th cent. French carol; harm. By Carlton R. Young, 1988
Harm. © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
Refrain
He is born, the holy Child, play the oboe and
bagpipes merrily! He is born, the holy Child,
sing we all of the Savior mild.
Il est né, le divin Enfant, jouez hautbois résonnez
musettes! Il est né, le divin Enfant,
chantons tous son avènement!
1.Thru long ages of the past, prophets have
foretold his coming; thru long ages of the past,
now the time has come at last!
Refrain
He is born, the holy Child, play the oboe and
bagpipes merrily! He is born, the holy Child,
sing we all of the Savior mild.
Il est né, le divin Enfant, jouez hautbois résonnez
musettes! Il est né, le divin Enfant,
chantons tous son avènement!
2.O how lovely, O how pure is this perfect child of
heaven; O how lovely, O how pure, gracious
gift to human kind!
Refrain
He is born, the holy Child, play the oboe and
bagpipes merrily! He is born, the holy Child,
sing we all of the Savior mild.
Il est né, le divin Enfant, jouez hautbois résonnez
musettes! Il est né, le divin Enfant,
chantons tous son avènement!
3.Jesus, Lord of all the world, coming as a child
among us, Jesus, Lord of all the world, grant to
us thy heavenly peace.
Refrain
He is born, the holy Child, play the oboe and
bagpipes merrily! He is born, the holy Child,
sing we all of the Savior mild.
Il est né, le divin Enfant, jouez hautbois résonnez
musettes! Il est né, le divin Enfant,
chantons tous son avènement!
Dismissal with Blessing:……………………Pastor Steven
Postlude: “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates”, Words by Georg Weissel, 1642, Music: Psalmodia Evangelica, 1789..Greg D.
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