ST. JOHN S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH A

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1 Loves, serves and worships with PASSION ST. JOHN S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH A Stephen Ministry Church 104 Newberry Street, NW Aiken, SC December 16, 2018 December 16, 2018 The Song of God is Born! Luke 1:26-45; 2:1-20 Celebrate Jesus birth. No Grove Merry Christmas! December 16, 2018 No Choir or SNY The Longest Night, also called Blue Christmas, is a day in the Advent season marking the longest night of the year. On this day we hold a church service that honors people who have experienced loss during the year. Blue Christmas, as in having the blues, describes those dealing with the death of a loved one, facing life after divorce or separation, coping with the loss of a job, or any number of situations during the holidays. Not everyone is cheery at this time of the year. The Longest Night Service can bring comfort and hope to those in our congregation and community struggling with the pain of loss. The Longest Night Service will be held Friday, Dec. 21 at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Merry Christmas! Father God, we ask you to be with those who weathered a hurricane or other storm this year. While their Christmas is much different than normal, may they still feel Your Presence and Love and know their hope is in You. Christmas Eve Worship Opportunities 5:00 pm Candlelight Family Christmas Eve, Sanctuary 7:00 pm Candlelight Service with Chancel Choir & Brass, Sanctuary 11:00 pm Candlelight with Family Choir, wind ensemble & Communion, Sanctuary The church offices will be closed on December LOOKING AHEAD Dec. 16 Christmas Cantata (8:30 & 11:00) Dec. 21 Longest Night Service, 6pm in Chapel Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Services: 5, 7, & 11pm Dec Office closed for Christmas Jan. 1 Office closed for New Year s Day Jan. 6 Communion at 8:30 Jan. 6 Healing Service in the Chapel at 10:00 Jan. 11 PrimeTimers Travel Talk Feb Mission Impact Celebration

2 WELCOME VISITORS! The members of St. John s welcome you, no matter who you are, where you come from, or why you are here. We are Christ s people and this is Christ s place with its doors open wide. We are grateful for your presence and invite you to return often. Announcements The Worship Support Team would like to thank the church members who provided the beau ful poinse as that decorate our sanctuary and Faith Center. You are reminded you may pick up the one you donated a er the 11:00 pm Christmas Eve service. The team would also like to thank EVERYONE who so willingly gave of their me, talents, and energy in decora ng our sanctuary and Faith Center for the holidays. Also, a big thank you to the ladies who serve each month taking care of the altar and flowers. You all are VERY much appreciated. THANK YOU and God bless! The My Bookshelf Book Club will be discussing Mary Alice Monroe s A Low Country Christmas on Monday, December 17 at 7:00 p.m. in room 119. All are welcome to join. For more informa on contact Sharon West at bishwest@bellsouth.net or December Is Joining Month Every day during the week or on Sundays would be a great time to join St. John s. This church will always support you and wants to bring revival to the world! We want you to be a full member of the family. Please call Dr. Tim on his cell at or Becca Hartsell at to make arrangements to join during the week in his office, or on Sunday at the altar. Whichever you choose is great! For those coming from other churches, there s only one question: Will you uphold this congregation by your prayers, presence, gifts, witness, and service? With God s help, this is our pledge. Join us! WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUPPERS ARE IN RECESS UNTIL JANUARY. Operations Budget as of 12/7/ Year to date offerings given for what God is asking us to do: $1,956, Year to date ministry expenditures: $1,731, Building Fund We thank you for your generous support of the ministries of St. John s! Current Loan Balance $497, $ 225, News of the Family Our sincere sympathy to: Rosalind & Jeff Crenshaw and their daughters, Kaylee and Emily on the loss of Rosalind s grandmother, Julia Rishkofski on Nov. 24 in West Columbia, SC. Mattie King on the loss of her sister, Amelia Brown Servary on Dec. 5, in Cantonsville, MD. Welcome to our newest members: Justin Appel John Korhonen Our congratulations to: A correction to the birth date of Ava James Stewart. She was born November 22, Thanksgiving Day. Rachel & Bryce Lawson on the birth of their son, Ezekiel Coker Lawson on Dec. 7, in Savannah, GA. Proud grandmother is Susan W. Lawson. Blane & Justin Appel on the birth of their daughter, Parker Kate Appel on Dec. 11, in Aiken, SC. Proud grandparents are Beverly & Bill Burch. Ann & Bob Prather who will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on De. 21. Babs & Leroy Farr who will celebrate their 50th weddings anniversary on Dec. 21 CHURCH HOSTS Hosts the week of December 16, 2018 Missions Budget as of 12/7/2018 Year to date offerings given for what God is asking us to do in Missions: $ 147, Year to date Missions Disbursements: $ 129, We thank you for your generous support of the ministries of St. John s! December Mac & Cheese Collection binslocated in the narthex & the Faith Center. Attendance 12/9/18 8: : : Total 759 Sunday AM EVENING Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday *Sunday AM Dec. 23 Will Chafin James Yaughn Eric Randall Tom McCollum Charlie Neill Chuck Bryan Dave Felak Dave Cavazos Todd Campbell

3 DECEMBER 16, :30 & 11:00 a.m. Sanctuary Services Third Sunday in Advent Gaudete Sunday GREETING & ANNOUNCEMENTS PRELUDE Appalachian Carol (Goeller) CALL TO WORSHIP Praise Ye the Lord of Hosts (Saint-Saëns) CONGREGATIONAL HYMN #250 Once in Royal David s City ADVENT WREATH LIGHTING with RESPONSE Liz & Rick Benton (8:30); Babs & Leroy Farr (11:00) Congregational response #211, verse 3 RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS (11:00) THE WINTER ROSE by Joseph Martin Presented by St. John s Chancel Choir and Orchestra Catherine Stapleton Nance, Director Christopher Nash, Organ Jerry Fuller, Marshall Mahoney and Meredith Boylan, soloists Rev. Dr. John M. Stapleton, Jr. Narrator Winter Rose In the silence of the winter, while stars shown high above, God sent from heaven s garden a Rose to show his love. It opened in the dark of night while the world was fast asleep. So perfect was its beauty, it made the heavens weep. The angels paused to wonder upon that winsome sight. And kings and shepherds gathered to worship in its light. They all breathed in its beauty, a precious, sweet perfume. And in the bleak midwinter the Rose began to bloom. O let us now remember when God put on the thorn. And Love restored the garden and the Winter Rose was born. When Will He Come? When will he come, the Child of the promise? When will he come, our prophet and king? When will he come, Redeemer, Messiah? When will he come and teach us to sing? Come, Lord Jesus, come today! When will he come, the Rose of Sharon? When will he come in peace to reign? When will he come in power and glory? When will he wipe our tears away? When will he come and free our hosannas? When will the glory of Zion descend? When will he reign in glory forever and set our hearts free? Gloria. When will the music begin? Glory to the Lord, blessed Redeemer, prophet and king. Let hosannas resound through the heavens. Let every voice sing alleluia. Come Lord Jesus today! Advent Cry Veni, veni, Redemptor (come Redeemer). Peace will come on the wings of a promise. Hope will come like the morning s first call. Joy will come on the winds of the Spirit. Love will come. Peace will come on the wings of the angels. Hope will come like a song in the night. Joy will blossom like roses in springtime. Love will come. Every Valley Every valley shall be lifted, every mountain be made low, and the crooked be made whole. Sound the trumpet for the glory of the Lord shall be revealed. Come, Emmanuel! Rejoice give thanks and sing! Shall come to Thee, O Israel. God s glory be revealed. Carol of Remembrance To a tiny stable lowly, long time ago came the Son of God most holy, long time ago. Angels filled the night with singing, stars were aglow, songs of joy through heaven ringing, long time ago. Little baby in a manger, prophets foretold; God s own Son and yet a stranger, long time ago.

4 Lullaby to a Rose Little Jesus, in my arms, close your weary eyes. Dream of stars and angel songs. I will stay here by your side. Sleep in peace tonight. Holy Jesus, Gift divine, I will sing to sleep your fears. You are safe, my child. I recall on the day when the angel came in mystery and heavenly power. God prepared a vessel pure to hold his precious flower. One day the world will know you are heaven s miracle; only God can make a rose. Lullay. In the Judean Hills Offertory: Away in a Manger (Wilberg) *CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: #221 In the Bleak Midwinter There will be no Children s Church this Sunday. Dance Into the Light Glory to God! Gloria! Jesus is born in Bethlehem. Creation greets her king! Arise for a star awaits to lead you through the night. Come follow the music of angels wings and dance into the light. Bethlehem, wake! The time has come. Open your hearts to the Lord. Will you turn the king away-o will he be ignored? O will you miss your miracle? Messiah comes tonight! O will you hear the angels sing and dance into the light. Gloria! Alleluia! People arise! A song awaits, a love song in the night. Come take the hand of the Morning Star and dance into the light! Rose Tree Carol Winter s frozen winds were stilled in the midst of snowing. Though the world with dark was filled, hope for life was growing. Then a rose tree blossomed fair, God s own perfect flower so rare. On the tree once bare, grew a rose so fair. O the rose tree blooming, fragrant its perfuming. Through the shadows of the night wise men searched the heavens. There they saw a wondrous light, and it seemed to beckon. Come to Bethlehem and see. Come and worship Christ the King. See the shining star spreading light afar. O the star was glowing. Brightness around them growing. People on that blessed morn sing an alleluia. Come to where the Lord was born. Let creation praises bring glory to the King of kings. Let the people sing, let the steeples ring Allelu, lift a joyful alleluia! Winter Rose Reprise Look to the Rose Rose of Sharon, what a name for the Son of God who came. If you seek God s love today, look to the Rose. Rose of Sharon, thorns your crown, image of God s grace come down. Where does God s great love abound? Look to the Rose. From dry ground God s gentle flower came to show us love s true power. Then one day upon a hill one by one the petals fell. Rose of Sharon, bloom today, may your fragrance never fade. Plant him in your heart today, look to the Rose. Lo, How a Rose Lo, how a rose e er blooming from tender stem hath sprung. Of Jesse s lineage coming as saints of old have sung. It came a flower bright amid the cold of winter, when half-spent was the night. Isaiah was 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 halfspent was the night. O rose 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. Alleluia! *CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: Hallelujah Chorus (Messiah) (Sheet music is available from the ushers) BENEDICTION Aiken Brass is appearing today with a gracious contribu on by Christy and Steve Kisner in honor of Mrs. Fern Kisner and their grandchildren, Robbie, Riley and Diana Street, Cooper Kisner, and Kate and Henry Kisner. Thank you to Lionel Smith, Ltd. for the dona on of the tuxes and accessories worn by the Chancel Choir Men. SERVING THIS WEEK 8:30 & 11:00 Dr. Tim McClendon and Rev. Nancy Reed (Pastors) 11:00 Crucifer - Jared Uhle; Acolytes - Amy Draeger and Lucas Yeh December Worship Support - Jean Geiger, Keenan Kizer, Peg Robinson, Penny Rouch, and Millie Winston

5 INN ANGEL JOSEPH GIFT SON WISE MEN GOD JESUS FRANKINCENSE MARY NATIVITY GOLD MANGER STABLE MYRRH STRAW ANIMALS STAR DONKEY BETHLEHEM SERVING THIS WEEK: 9:02 Dr. Tim McClendon; Worship Leader-Harry Sampson; Music Jane Timmerman & The 9:02 Band

6 Psalm 9:02 I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praises to Your name, O Most High. Sunday, December 16, 2018 Gathering Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee L. van Beethoven Greeting and Announcements Please enter your name in the Friendship Pad and pass it down the row. If you are new to St. John s, please add your contact information. When the pad reaches the end of the row, pass it back so we may learn each other s names. Lighting of the Advent Candle Lisa & Jason Muckinhaupt, Wyatt and Audrey O come, O come, great Lord of might, who to thy tribes on Sinai s height in ancient times once gave the law in cloud and majesty and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel. Song of Praise Light Of the Stable Selah Affirmation of Faith We Believe Newsboys Children s Sermon Harry Sampson Offering 1 Oh, What A Glorious Night Sidewalk Prophets Foundation Youth Band Pastoral and 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. Scripture Zephaniah 3:14-20 Sermon A Day of Singing Dr. Tim McClendon Closing Song Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground) C. Tomlin Benediction Sending Forth 1 You may text your gift to St. John s by texting stjaiken to and following the instructions