WELCOME TO WORSHIP
CANTICLE Come, Come Emmanuel — Lynn Shaw Bailey and Becki Slagle Mayo Come, come Messiah, come. Come, Emmanuel. Come, come O Promised One. Come, Emmanuel. Prophets of old have told of your coming; long we have waited, long we have prayed. Kingdoms and kings will bow down before you. Come, Emmauel, today. We are your children, you are our Savior. Lovingly guide us, guide us we pray. Help us to follow, help us to listen. Come, Emmanuel, today.
POSTLUDE
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Thank you for joining us in worship today. SERMON NOTES
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT • DECEMBER 17, 2023 • 11:00AM
THE LORD’S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
(Children, kindergartners through third grade, are invited to exit the Sanctuary for Children’s Worship. Children will return to reserved pews in the Sanctuary at the close of worship.)
THE COMMUNITY GATHERS The prelude signifies the beginning of worship. You are invited to be in a spirit of prayer and meditation. Please silence all mobile communication devices. †
WE HEAR THE WORD PROCLAIMED SCRIPTURE — Luke 1:39-55
Please stand as you are able
PRELUDE
This is the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. SERMON — “Deck the Halls with Joy”
WE RENEW OUR COMMITMENT
GREETING INTROIT
O Come, Little Children — Ronald B. Davis and Tammy Waldrop
OPENING PRAYER Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. HYMN OF PROCESSION #234 O Come, All Ye Faithful — ADESTE FIDELES (The children will sing stanza 1, then the congregation is invited to stand and sing stanzas 1, 2, and 3.)
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AFFIRMATION OF FAITH We are not alone, we live in God’s world. We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit. We trust in God. We are called to be the church: to celebrate God’s presence, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope. In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God. Amen.
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AFFIRMATION RESPONSE Come, Renew Your Love for Him — GLORIA Come, renew your love for Him: Jesus Christ, who sets us free! Cast off fear and doubt and shame; live in grace eternally! Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
OFFERTORY Ecce novum — Ola Gjeilo Behold, a new joy, behold, a new wonder! A virgin bears a son. She knew not a man. But as the pear-tree bears the pear, the flourishing papyrus brings the lily from the soil. See how nature changes her laws! A pure virgin bears the son of God. (Sung in Latin.) DOXOLOGY #221 In the Bleak Midwinter — CRANHAM What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part, yet what I can I give him: give my heart.
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PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING All things come from you, O God, and with gratitude we return to you what is yours. You created all that is, and with love formed us in your image. When our love failed, your love remained steadfast. You gave your only Son Jesus Christ to be our Savior. All that we are, and all that we have, is a trust from you. And so, in gratitude for all your gifts, we offer you ourselves, and all that we have, in union with Christ’s offering for us. By your Holy Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
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WE GO AS GOD’S PEOPLE INTO THE WORLD
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LIGHTING OF ADVENT WREATH
HYMN
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#246 Joy to the World— ANTIOCH
BENEDICTION
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BENEDICTION RESPONSE Sussex Carol — arr. Elaine Hagenberg On Christmas night all Christians sing, to hear the news the angels bring, news of great joy, news of great mirth, news of our merciful King’s birth. All out of darkness we have light, which made the angels sing this night, “Glory to God in highest heaven, now and forevermore,” Amen!
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___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ PARTICIPANTS IN WORSHIP PREACHING The Reverend Dr. P. Glenn Kinken III, Senior Minister LITURGIST Tammy Pollock, Director of Youth Ministries
CRUCIFER Charlotte Doud TORCHBEARERS Thomas Doud Leighton Doud
ADVENT WREATH Jennie and Clay Hughett MUSIC Jonathan Emmons, Director of Music Ministries Joshua Sobel, Organ Scholar The Chancel Choir Children’s Music & Arts: Creative Arts Experience
The anthem texts are printed with permission. One License A-707342 By entering the Sanctuary, you grant to Centenary United Methodist Church unrestricted right to use and publish, transmit or telecast photographs or likenesses that might be taken of you this day for use in communications related to the church.