Princeton UMC Worship - December 25, 2022

WELCOME TO

Princeton United Methodist Church We are a diverse faith community, engaged in enlivening spiritually thirsty people to joyfully respond to God’s love and grow as disciples of Christ, so that together we may experience the fullness of life.

DECEMBER 25, 2022

Merry

SCAN TO GIVE OR TEXT YOUR GIFT AMOUNT TO 609-554-1128

SCAN TO CONNECT WITH US OR TEXT 'PUMC' TO 609-542-2192

ANNOUNCEMENTS 2023 FLOWER DONATIONS ORDER TODAY! The new year is fast approaching! It’s time to reserve your dates for altar flowers to help beautify our church. Please donate flowers to celebrate a special occasion, honor someone special in your life, or memorialize a loved one or friend. The prices are $45 for altarpieces and $15 for a single rose with baby breath. Special flower colors may also be requested. Please call or email Pam Nugent with your orders.

She can be reached at: poodleluvs@aol.com or 609-771-0189.

NEW YEARS DAY PICK-UP CHOIR REHEARSAL JANUARY 1ST | 9:00AM We will have a pick-up choir on New Year's Day. If you would like to start 2023 by lifting your voice of praise and thanksgiving, come and join us to sing. Rehearsal will start at 9:00am in the music room.

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT & CONCERT VIDEOS AVAILABLE ON-DEMAND Thank you to everyone who participated in the concert and pageant, and to all of those who attended! If you weren't able to make it to one or both events, don't fret. We have videos of both the concert and pageant available on-demand. View the Christmas Pageant and Christmas Concert at princetonumc.org/advent-christmas.

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PERUVIAN NACIMIENTO

BY MARCIA CAROLE

THE CHURCH GATHERS Pre-Service Music

Il est né le divin Enfant

Jehan de Montber

Christmas Call and Response Led By Liturgist Adapted from Rev. Sarah Speed | sanctifiedart.org Hymn

O Come All Ye Faithful (v. 1, 2, 3, 6)

UMH #234

Prayer of Confession Adapted from Rev. Sarah Speed | sanctifiedart.org Holy God, too often we feel as if change is hopeless. The problems of this world feel too big, the path forward is unclear, and we are not confident that we can truly make a difference. We give up hope.

Together we pray: Forgive us for extinguishing hope.

Holy God, too often we believe that peace is a thing of fairy tales. Our spirits are anxious. Our bodies are weary. Our world is fractured.

Instead of praying for peace—both in ourselves and in our society—we assume that peace is no longer on the table. We give it up.

Together we pray: Forgive us for extinguishing peace.

Holy God, too often we paint joy as naive—a luxury reserved for children and pets. We forget that you ate with friends, that you went to weddings, that you laughed and rested and hiked mountains. We forget that you knew joy, and that you want joy for us in this fractured world. Forgive us for turning away from your light.

Together we pray: Forgive us for extinguishing joy.

Holy God, too often we treat love like a vending machine. We put some coins in and assume that we’ll get something back. However, in our wiser moments, we know that love is not meant for keeping score. Love is meant to overflow, to spill out to our neighbors, to transform our world. Forgive us for holding love so tightly.

Together we pray: Forgive us for extinguishing love. silence for prayer

SHARING IN WORSHIP TODAY Acolyte - Raphael Aryeetey, Jr., Andrew Aryeetey Liturgists/Readers Elyse Horn, Raphael Aryeetey, Kathryn Siddell Musicians - Julia Hanna Ushers - Bhanu Prakash, Tim Ewer

TODAY'S FLOWERS ARE GIVEN WITH Praise be to God

Words of Assurance We are forgiven. We are seen. We are loved.

The good news of this day — the hope, the peace, the joy, and the love of this day—exists for you.

Thanks be to the Newborn Savior, Jesus, the Christ. Alleluia! Amen!

Thanks be to the Newborn Savior, Jesus, the Christ. Alleluia! Amen!

TO HEAR THE WORD AND REFLECT Children's Time

Where Children Belong

TFWS #2233

Scripture Reading A Poetic Reading of John 1:1-5, 14-16 This is the Word of Life. Thanks be to God. Sermon Grace-Filled Abundance Rev. Jenny Smith Walz How have you seen God's Grace upon Grace in your world?

How have you seen God's abundance in your world?

How might you respond to God's action as we go into the future?

TO RESPOND IN FAITH

Hymn Go Tell it on the Mountain (v. 1-3) UMH #251 Prayers of the People The Lord's Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kin-dom come; your 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 yours is the kin-dom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Offertory Il est né le divin Enfant Emile Martin Hymn Doxology UMH #94 Prayer of Thanksgiving

AND SCATTERS TO BE IN THE WORLD

Hymn Joy to the World (v. 1-4) UMH #246 Benediction Postlude Offertoire sur le Noël Il est né le divin Enfant Parisot Octave PRAYER CONCERNS Donald Jones, Ian Griffiths, Larry Curtis, and their families.

The Offer, Algor, and Collins families on the passing of their loved ones.

Nick, seriously ill, and his family. The suffering in Ukraine, the persistence of antisemitism, gun laws and all who suffer from natural disasters.

All who are sad and lonely over the Christmas season.

HAVE PRAYER CONCERNS? For our Prayer Chain, call Mary Lib Stewart at 609-632-1973 or contact Yvonne Macdonald at yvonnee.mac@verizon.net.

Email Pastor Jae Hong at jae@princetonumc.org when you or a family member is in the hospital or in need of a pastoral call.