WELCOME TO WORSHIP
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. BAPTISM
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT • DECEMBER 18, 2022 • 11:00AM
(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 prelude signifies the beginning of worship. You are invited to be in a spirit of prayer and meditation. Please silence all mobile communication devices. Please stand as you are able
PRELUDE
Listen to the Bells — Dave & Jean Perry Listen, can you hear the bells in the distance, high in the steeple ringing clear? Listen, can you hear the bells ringing merrily, telling the world to be of good cheer. Hear them ringing, hear how they echo as they play. Ding, dong, ding, dong, ding, ding-a-ding; Listen, hear the children are singing songs of the season loud and clear. Listen, hear the carols they are singing, filling the cold mid-winter air. Ding, dong, ding, dong merrily sing. Listen, can you hear the bells in the distance, high in the steeple ringing clear? Listen, can you hear the bells ringing merrily, telling the world to be of good cheer. Hear them ringing with joy this festive day.
WE HEAR THE WORD PROCLAIMED CANTICLE Personent Hodie — arr. Lara Hoggard On this day earth shall ring with the song children sing to the Lord, Christ our King, born on earth to save us, him the Father gave us. His the doom, ours the mirth, when he came down to earth, Bethlehem saw his birth; ox and ass beside him from the cold would hide him. God’s bright star o’er his head, wise men three to him led; kneel they low by his bed, lay their gifts before him, praise him and adore him. On this day angels sing, with their song earth shall ring, praising Christ, heaven’s King, born on earth to save us, peace and love he gave us. Ideo-o-o-o. Ideo-o-o-, ideo gloria in excelsis deo! (Sung in Latin) SCRIPTURE — Isaiah 7:10-14 (pew Bible Old Testament page 779)
GREETING INTROIT
Angels We Have Heard on High — GLORIA
CALL TO WORSHIP God our redeemer, who prepared the blessed Virgin Mary to be the mother of your Son, grant that, as she looked for his coming as our savior, so we may be ready to greet him when he comes again as our judge; who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
This is the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. SERMON — “Gift of Love”
WE RENEW OUR COMMITMENT
†
HYMN OF PROCESSION #220 Angels from the Realms of Glory — REGENT SQUARE
†
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.
†
GLORIA PATRI #71 Glory Be to the Father — GREATOREX 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.
†
LIGHTING OF ADVENT WREATH
#217 Away in a Manger — AWAY IN A MANGER (Verse 3)
BAPTISMAL RESPONSE We give thanks for all that God has given you and welcome you in Christian love. With God’s help we will proclaim the good news and live according to the example of Christ. We will surround Rosie and Caroline with a community of love and forgiveness, that they may grow in their service to others. We will pray for them, that they may be true disciples who walk in the way that leads to life.
THE COMMUNITY GATHERS
†
WE GO AS GOD’S PEOPLE INTO THE WORLD
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
OFFERTORY From Christmas Miniatures — arr. Kathleen Wissinger Go Tell It on the Mountain ’Twas in the Moon of Wintertime Good King Wenceslas 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.
HYMN
†
#238 Angels We Have Heard on High — GLORIA
BENEDICTION
†
POSTLUDE Hallelujah (from Messiah) — George Frideric Handel Hallelujah, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth, and He shall reign for ever and ever. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords! Hallelujah! (Revelation 19:6, 11:15, 19:16)
†
Thank you for joining us in worship today. SERMON NOTES
___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________
†
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Almighty God, giver of every good and perfect gift, teach us to render to you all that we have and all that we are, that we may praise you, not with our lips only, but with our whole lives, turning the duties, the sorrows, and the joys of all our days into a living sacrifice to you; through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
†
PRAYER RESPONSE Go Now In Peace — Natalie Sleeth
PARTICIPANTS IN WORSHIP PREACHING The Reverend Dr. P. Glenn Kinken III Senior Minister LITURGISTS The Reverend Susannah Pittman, Assoc. Minister The Reverend R. Craig Ford, Assoc. Minister The Reverend Meg Peters, Assoc. Minister The Reverend Kay May, Assoc. Minister Tammy Pollock, Director of Youth Ministries ADVENT WREATH Dixon, Gaines, Beverly, & Wells Douglas
MUSIC Jonathan Emmons, Director of Music Ministries Joshua Sobel, Organ Scholar The Chancel Choir Carol Choir — Suzanne Maggs, Director Chapel Chimes — Mary Isom, Director Joyful Noise Ringers — Camille Jones, Director Junior Choir — Anne Saxon, Director Orff Instruments — Carol Penney, Director CRUCIFER Delaney Doud TORCHBEARERS Charlotte Doud Thomas Doud
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.