4 pm Christmas Eve

DECEMBER 24, 2023 CHRISTMAS EVE 4 P.M. SERVICE

Surrogacy | Hannah Garrity Oil paint, charcoal, and copper leaf on canvas

Pre-Service Music Introit

An Advent Prelude

arr. Charles Callahan

Christ is Born

Michael Bedford

Call to Worship

A Sanctified Art

There is room for you here. If you’re weary and worn, or hopeful and patient.

If you’re tired and lost, or wrapped up in hope.

If you’re new to this place or have been here before.

Come in, come in. There is room for you here.

The angels are singing, “be not afraid.”

The angels are singing, “Good news and great joy!”

So come in, come in! There is room for us here.

Hymn

O Come All Ye Faithful

v. 1, 2, 3

Lighting of the Christ Candle

UMH #234

Andrew Aryeetey, Anna Griffiths, Hazel Cheng, Liam Cheng

How does a weary world hold onto hope, practice peace, spread joy, or know love? How does a weary world combat cruelty? How does a weary world shine a light into our bleakest night?

We do all these things with God’s help. For tonight, a child is born in Bethlehem. Tonight, Christ draws near. Tonight, we light the Christ Candle.

Tonight, We are not alone.

God is near. Love has drawn close. Rejoice! For God loves this weary world.

Amen.

Sung Response: Emmanuel UMH #204

Scripture Reading Luke 2:1-20 This is the Word of Life. Thanks be to God. Music Ministry

Christmas Carol Medley

Soloists: Louisa Dreibelbis, Andrew Aryeetey, Anna Griffiths

Interactive Sermon

Godly Play Lesson-Jesus is Born and Presented to God

SHARING IN WORSHIP TODAY

Rev. Tayler Necoachea

Acolytes - Sequoah Hadley, Ethan Hamilton, Kate Potts, Andrew Aryeetey Liturgists - Liam Cheng, Hazel Cheng, Andrew Aryeetey, Anna Griffiths, RJ Aryeetey, Victoria Offer, Sequoah Hadley Reader - Louisa Dreibelbis Musicians - Julia Hanna, Bill Gardner, Childrens Choir Ushers - Pam Ewer, Tim Ewer, Edwin Francisco, Francia Francisco

Hymn

Hark the Herald Angels Sing v1 v 2, 3

UMH #240

Children’s Choir Congregation

Christmas Offering

Noël pyrénéen

Christmas Doxology

In the Bleak Midwinter

Bonnal v4

UMH #221

Prayers of Thanksgiving Candle Lighting Ceremony

Silent Night

Andrew Aryeetey, solo

UMH #239

Affirmation of Light

The light we hold in our hands this night, the light that illumines our faces, the light that warms our hearts: this light is a message to all that the Light of the World is here! He is right here among us, in the midst of our darkness, in the middle of our mess, right here with us, one of us.

Jesus is the true light who lights up everyone’s life. He has come into this world!

What came into being in Jesus was life and this life is light of all people.

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness will never put it out.

Thanks be to God!

Hymn

Joy to the World

v 1, 2

UMH #246

Benediction Postlude

March

arr.Daniel Kelley

PRAYER CONCERNS

Prayers for the people of Israel and Palestine and also from Ukraine and Russia as they deal with the unbelievable horrors of war, and for leaders to find ways to peaceful resolution.

Prayers for all who will be especially lonely at Christmas, for all who are homeless or depressed, and for all who will give them aid.

Prayers for people all over the world who will be celebrating the birth of our Savior.

Prayers especially for all who will attend at PUMC and the staff and all involved in making our services special.

HAVE PRAYER CONCERNS?

For our Prayer Chain, call Yvonne Macdonald at 609-577-8369 or email her at yvonnee.mac@verizon.net. Email Pastor Tayler Necoechea at tayler@princetonumc.org when you or a family member is in the hospital or in need of a pastoral call.

“SURROGACY” by Hannah Garrity ARTIST STATEMENT READ Luke 2:1-20 Dr. Christena Cleveland published a book in 2023 called, God is a Black Woman. In it, she shares her powerful testimony describing her journey to meet the Black Madonnas carved centuries ago from lava rock. This resonates with my lifelong yearning for Mother God. Male language for God has always been a wall to my ability to connect in worship. Now, it is a wall that I break through every week—changing words, rewriting liturgy in the moment, saying “Mother” where Surrogacy | Hannah Garrity Oil paint, charcoal, and copper leaf on canvas “Father” is printed, trying “Lady where “Lord is printed.

“In this case, “Yahweh” is actually best. Who are we to squash God into patriarchy so perpetually?

But when someone else joins me in this necessary work, that is when the barrier is removed. I hear it sometimes: “She,” “Mother.” Almost always, the liturgist feels the need to explain themselves. In liturgy discussion, gaslighting is common. “We should be more inclusive.” All of a sudden?

Recently, I was standing at The Dwelling at Richmond Hill. The former slave quarters are open and offered for visitation. After our tour, the idea that one should remove their shoes before entering this holy haven came up. Our tour group was all white people and we discussed this idea from a theoretical standpoint. But earlier, before we entered, I felt it. I was holding a seltzer water can from lunch and felt incredibly rude entering the space with it, so, without understanding, I backtracked and placed my purse and the can outside. I knew not why. After the tour, in our discussion about shoes, our white tour guide mentioned that Black members of the staff felt a great reverence, a holy presence at The Dwelling. The space held the presence of God; it was like entering a sanctuary.

I remember the same feeling when I was young, touring the slave quarters at Monticello.

But now, listening to the Richmond Hill staff testimony, I understood these spaces in a new way, with a reverence for the God-like presence of the Black mother in the depths of oppression.

“Listen to Black women.” This cry has become a mantra over the last few years. I saw in that moment what Cleveland so eloquently explains in her book. In the pigmentocracy we inhabit, the Black mother is the closest figure to God, and “whitemalegod” is the very farthest. He promotes oppression; She is the savior of the most oppressed. And so I listen.

In this painting, Black Mother God has asked her daughter Mary to hold the role of surrogate for the pregnancy of infant Creator. Mary has carried the child to term. She has given birth. God embraces Mary as well as the Holy Infant in gratitude. For without Mary’s surrogacy, the incarnation could not be.

— Hannah Garrity

Poinsettias and Christmas Wreaths Donated by Poinsettias

Lori Pantaleo, in loving memory of her father, Louis Pataleo, and her mother, Lorraine Pantaleo Susan Davelman, in memory of Annamae and Nicolas Ligouri, and Louis and Sam Davelman Ian and Marie Griffiths, in honor and memory of our parents Sandra Richardson Beth Perrine, in memory of Bill Farrington Beth Perrine and Anne Fikaris, in memory of Beverly Burdwood Love Lives On, in memory of Duncan Hartley Jenny Smith Walz, in memory of Rev. Kay Hawkins, June Walz, Paul Dobbs, and Berry James, and in honor of the people of Princeton UMC, with gratitude and joy LaVerna Albury, to the glory of God and our beloved community Pam and Gene Nugent, in loving honor of Deb and Jim Dickson, brother and sister Yvonne Macdonald, in memory of John and Isobel Macdonald, Geoffrey and Joan Baker, Leslie Mills, and Sheila Frame

Wreaths

Emelia Timpo, in celebration of PUMC 2023 growth groups (door) Iona Harding, in memory of mother Edith Woodruff, and grandmother Iona Kerr (medium) Isabella Dougan, in memory of her parents, Edward McCormack and Comfort Cox-George (door) Pam and Gene Nugent, in loving memory of our beloved parents, and our beloved grandparents (door) Carol Kuhlthau, in memory of John Kuhlthau (door) For the glory of God, and in memory of Margaret G. “Peggy” Fullman

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.

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

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS

DIAPER DRIVE JANUARY 7 Help us meet our goal of collecting 3,000 diapers to provide for some of our youngest neighbors. Please bring any size, but larger sizes (5, 6, 7, and trainers) are especially needed.

Diapers can be placed under the Christmas Tree. You can also participate by sending a check to the church office and noting the diaper drive, or using this QR code to go to their amazon wishlist.

EPIPHANY SERIES

JANUARY 7

Please join us in our upcoming epiphany worship series, “Rooted,” as we explore ways in which connecting our roots can help revitalize and bring our churches and ourselves back to life.

WELCOME PARTY New to Princeton UMC? Hoping to more some now friends and see what Princeton UMC is all about? Then come to the Welcome Party! The party starts Sunday, April 16th, at 11:30am at Princeton UMC and online.

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