The Mission of Wesley Church is to: KNOW Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. GROW in faith through worship, prayer, and study. GO...

Transcription

1 The Mission of Wesley Church is to: KNOW Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. GROW in faith through worship, prayer, and study. GO... in service to Christ and His world. The purpose of Wesley Church is to create disciples who serve Jesus Christ. Pastor: Gary D. Weaver ~ Director of Music: Jordan Markham Acolytes: Hanna Everhart, 8 a.m.; Maggie Hosler, 10:30 a.m. Liturgists: Brenda Brewer, 8 a.m.; Jennifer Anderson, 10:30 a.m. The altar flowers are presented to the glory of God and in loving memory of Robert W. Dunn by Sue Dunn and Daughters, Donna and Debbie. Let us know you worshipped at Wesley Church this morning by completing the communication/attendance registration card which was handed to you when you entered the sanctuary. If you have recently moved or changed telephone numbers, be sure to indicate that information. New residents and visitors: please provide as much of the contact information as possible. Each week on the reverse side of the communication card, you will find a list of opportunities in which you can become involved at Wesley Church. This week s card includes several for you to consider. These are only for your consideration; you are not obligated to check any of these boxes. Completed cards should be deposited in the baskets located near each entrance or placed in the offering plate. Thank you for letting us know you worshipped at Wesley today. Wesley United Methodist Church 130 West Third Street, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania Telephone: Fax:

2 Welcome to 8 a.m. worship at Wesley Church *Please stand where indicated by the asterisk. Congregation responds in bold italics. THE PRELUDE THE WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS *THE CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: God has gathered us to this place, People: where we hear those stories which show us what the kingdom of God is like. Leader: God summons us to this place, People: where we can learn how to serve our God without reservation, or hesitation. Leader: God will send us from this place, People: to tell others of God s hopes and dreams, so they, too, can choose to follow God. *THE HYMN O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee UMH # 430 Hymn Tune: Maryton *THE GLORIA PATRI UMH # 70 Hymn Tune: Meineke THE MORNING PRAYER (Joshua 24, Matthew 25: 1-13) )) You let us choose, O God, between You and the false gods of this world. In the midst of the night of sin and death, wake us from our slumber and call us to greet Christ, so that with eyes and hearts fixed on Jesus, we may follow to eternal light. Amen. THE OFFERING with offertory In Christ Alone *THE DEDICATION OF OUR GIFTS TO GOD UMH # 95 Hymn Tune: Old 100th *SIGNS OF PEACE AND HOSPITALITY THE AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Apostles Creed, Traditional Version UMH # 881 THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF GOD and 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. THE PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of Your Holy Spirit, that, as the Scriptures are read and Your Word proclaimed, we may hear with joy what You say to us today. Amen.

3 THE PSALTER (read responsively) Psalm 78: 1-4, 9-20, 32 b - 38 a UMH # 799 THE HYMN Open My Eyes, That I May See UMH # 454 *THE GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 25: New Testament Pew Bible Page 26 Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. THE MESSAGE Pastor Gary Weaver *THE HYMN Freely, Freely UMH # 389 *THE BENEDICTION (in unison) May the Lord bless you, and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Numbers 6: *THE POSTLUDE Welcome to 10:30 a.m. worship at Wesley Church *Please stand where indicated by the asterisk. Congregation responds in bold italics. THE PRELUDE THE WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS *THE CALL TO WORSHIP (I Thessalonians 4: 13-18, Matthew 25: 1-13, Amos 5: 18-24) Leader: Are you awake? Are you alert? ` People: Christ is coming into our lives in a new way. Leader: Are you watching the signs? Are you interpreting what is happening today? People: Christ is coming into our lives in a new way. Leader: Do you see opportunities for ministry? Do you see the poor, the homeless, the hungry, the needy? People: Christ is coming into our lives in a new way. Leader: Come, let us worship and let us work in the reign of God. People: Christ has extended the invitation: let us work together in the reign of God on earth. *THE PROCESSIONAL HYMN O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee UMH # 430 Hymn Tune: Maryton THE MORNING PRAYER Leader: You do not want us to be ignorant of Your dreams and hopes for us, God of holiness, so You speak to us in parables, so we might pay careful attention to Your words; You tell us stories about our grandparents in the faith, so we might become mentors to our grandchildren, and theirs.

4 People: Filling us with the holy oil of generosity and grace, You make us ready to welcome Jesus Christ into our lives, and to open our hearts to those who are in need. On this day, we choose to serve You, God in Community, Holy in One, Even as we pray as Jesus teaches us, 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. THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM William Maynard Drumm, son of Brittany and David Drumm THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF GOD THE OFFERING with offertory anthem by the Sanctuary Choir THE CHILDREN S CHAT *SIGNS OF PEACE AND HOSPITALITY written by Thom Shuman THE PSALTER (read responsively) Psalm 78: 1-4, 9-20, 32 b - 38 a UMH # 799 THE HYMN Open My Eyes, That I May See UMH # 454 *THE GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 25: New Testament Pew Bible Page 26 Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. THE MESSAGE Pastor Gary Weaver *THE RECESSIONAL HYMN Freely, Freely UMH # 389 *THE BENEDICTION May the Lord bless you, and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Numbers 6: *THE POSTLUDE Confirmation 2018 Informational Meeting Next Sunday Confirmation is the time when a personal decision is made to confirm the vows of our baptism. At Wesley United Methodist Church, this happens as a group of students in Grades 7-12 join together for a time of exploring who Christ is, what it means to know God through a life-long relationship, and how we live our faith as United Methodists. For many persons, the Confirmation ceremony is their first public affirmation of faith. The confirmand is taking responsibility for living as a member of the body of Christ and for fulfilling God's purposes. Confirmation 2018 is not simply a rite of passage nor just a class to complete. It is a step in a life-long journey of pursuing the heights, depths, and widths of God s love and making a vow to live in relationship with God for the rest of our life. There will be a parent and confirmand meeting next Sunday, November 19, at 9:15 a.m. The meeting will be held in the sanctuary. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Gary.

5 Next Sunday: UMW World Thank Sunday The United Methodist Women s World Thank Sunday will be observed next Sunday, November 19. Members of Wesley s UMW will serve as greeters and ushers, and a UMW member will be honored with a special mission recognition. Following both worship services, the UMW will collect a World Thank Offering. The donations collected at this time will be directed to the Susquehanna Conference to be used for mission outreach in the United States and around the world. Please plan to worship next Sunday, and be generous to the UMW World Thank Offering. UMW Christmas Party All women of Wesley are invited to be part of this year s UMW Christmas Luncheon to be held on December 13, at 12 noon, at Pine Barn Inn. On the menu will be a buffet of beef tips with mushrooms and herb-baked haddock that will also include vegetables, salad, dessert, and beverages. Entertainment for this year s Christmas luncheon will be Meg Geffken who will portray Clara Barton. Devotions will be led by Betty Brown. To attend, make a reservation by Monday, December 4, Contact Madelyn Miller ( ), Judy Ryan ( ), or Jean Robinson ( ) to reserve your space. G.L.O.W. has adopted a family for TreeFest this year, and you can help the youth make it a merry Christmas for their family of six two parents, two girls (ages 3 and 13), and two boys (ages 15 and 17). To contribute to this family s holiday happiness, please consider donating items the youth are collecting holiday boxed and canned foods and other helpful foods such as peanut butter, cereal, spaghetti noodles, etc. In addition to the food items, the youth will be collecting toiletries and gifts. The members of G.L.O.W. will also be helping to distribute the TreeFest trees, decorations, gifts, and food to all of the families who receive them. Please be supportive of G.L.O.W. s efforts in helping to make this a merry Christmas by contributing some items to benefit the adoptive family and other families who may not receive as much for those with whom they are matched. Look for the donation box in the Third Street narthex, and place contributions there. The youth will be collecting items now through Sunday, November 26. Thanksgiving Community Worship Service A special worship service to celebrate Thanksgiving will take place next Sunday, November 19, at Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ, 260 East Seventh Street, Bloomsburg. Pastors and lay persons taking part will represent several local churches during this time of praise, worship, and thanksgiving. Everyone in the community is invited to attend this Thanksgiving worship service that will take place a 7 o clock in the evening. Please plan to attend. Special Invitations for Women and Men Wesley Quilters meets each Monday afternoon from 1-3 p.m. in the social room. All are invited to join this special ministry. It is a wonderful time to share a hobby along with the fellowship of some very special folks. All quilters, both women and men, are invited. The Men of Wesley invite all men to be part of the monthly breakfast meetings held on the third Saturday morning of each month. The November breakfast gathering takes place this coming Saturday, November 18, at 8 a.m., at Morris s Family Restaurant, on Route 11, in South Centre Township. Invite a friend, too, for this time of food and Christian fellowship.

6 Serving You Today Greeters/Ushers (8 a.m.) Patti and Terry Hock Greeters (10:30 a.m.). Mary Ann Schalles, Third Street Wanda Sheatler, Market Street Ushers (10:30 a.m.) Kathy Heddens, Chris Long, Stephen Krum, Wendy Krum, Dave Swisher, Nancy Swisher, Elmer Robinson, and Jean Robinson Children s Chat Leader Ann Beagle Sound Technicians Makiah Brewer, 8 a.m. Steve Karaffa, 10:30 a.m. Projectionists Tanner Kocher, 8 a.m. Drue Gerasimoff, 10:30 a.m. Combined Nursery Volunteers (10:30 a.m.) Glenda Kowalski and Adria Unger November Altar Guild Frieda Hackett Gloria Young This Week at Wesley Today: 12 noon ~ Wired Bonsai Trees 6:30 p.m. ~ G.L.O.W p.m. ~ Starlght Monday: 1 p.m. ~ Wesley Quilters Deadline for the December/January issue of Wesley Tidings Tuesday: 8:15 a.m. ~ Wesley Staff 1 p.m. ~ Prayer Shawl Ministry Wednesday: 4: 15 p.m. ~ Joyful Ringers 5 p.m. ~ Young People s Choir 7 p.m. ~ Ballroom Dance 7 p.m. ~ Board of Trustees 7 p.m. ~ AFG Stepping Stones to Recovery 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 3-5 p.m. Hoagie Pick-Up Thursday: 2:30 p.m. ~ Holy Communion at Geisinger-Bloomsburg Health Care Center 6 p.m. ~ Puppet Play Practice 6:15 p.m. ~ Bells In Bloom 6:30 p.m. ~ Cub Pack 25 7:30 p.m. ~ Sanctuary Choir Friday: 6 p.m. ~ Wedding Rehearsal 7 p.m. ~ G.L.O.W. Lock-In Saturday: 8 a.m. ~ Men s Breakfast at Morris s Family Restaurant 10:30 a.m. ~ Community Friendship Meal Sponsored by G.L.O.W. Youth 3 p.m. ~ Jesse Duke and Ashton Keefer Wedding Next Sunday: 8 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship 9:15 a.m. ~ Sunday School for all ages 9:15 a.m. Confirmation Informational Meeting 5 p.m. ~ G.L.O.W. TreeFest

7 The construction of Bethlehem was finished on October 26, and the pieces of the city have been securely packed away until the Advent Season. It s now time to begin collecting the accent pieces to enhance the city. If you have access to any of the following items that you would be willing to loan to the church for use during Advent, please get in touch with Beth Mauk, or complete this form by checking the appropriate boxes. Ancient oil lamps Real grapevines Silk grapevine garland Plastic grapes: any color Large pottery Old, large baskets Sheaves of wheat Old millstones Name: Telephone: E:mail: Place complete forms in the offering plate, or drop off at the church office.

8 Wesley s Hands-To-Hearts Committee is once again looking forward to sponsoring the church s annual Birthday Party for Jesus. Parents: Do you need a little spare, uninterrupted time to do some Christmas shopping, decorating, card writing, etc.? Then bring your children to this event, and give yourselves a couple of hours for your own busyness. This favorite children s activity takes place in the social room and is for children ages 2-8. There will be singing, games, crafts, a birthday party, and a special visit from the big man with a white beard. All children are welcome. If you are interested, please complete this form, and return it to the church office by Monday, November 27 it can be placed in the offering plate or mailed or dropped off. Please note: all children who attend should bring a gift of a non-perishable food item to benefit the Bloomsburg Food Cupboard. Child s Name Child s Age: Child s Name Child s Age: Child s Name Child s Age: Telephone: Parent s Signature: Contact telephone number for parent or other person in case of emergency:

9 It s Christmas poinsettia ordering time. Help decorate Wesley Church by placing a plant in memory of a loved one. It s Christmas poinsettia ordering time. Help decorate Wesley Church by placing a plant in honor of a loved one. This form to be used only for Memorial Plants. This year, red, white, and pink poinsettias will adorn Wesley Church for Christmas. Plants will be put in place for Sunday, December 17. and remain for Christmas Eve services on December 24. All persons are welcome to order poinsettias. However, note that you will be responsible for taking your plant(s) following the 11 o clock Christmas Eve worship service. If you do not want your poinsettia(s), please find a friend, relative, or a shut-in who might appreciate the gesture during the Christmas season. Cost per plant is $9. (Payment must be included at time of order.) Make checks payable to Wesley Church Flower Fund. To order, complete this form (one form per plant, please) and place in the offering plate, return to the church office, or send to: Patti Hock 123 Dahl Road, Bloomsburg, PA Deadline to order plants: Friday, December 1, 2017 I would like to order a: red poinsettia plant white poinsettia plant pink poinsettia plant This plant to be placed in memory of: By: This form to be used only for Honorary Plants. This year, red, white, and jingle bell poinsettias will adorn Wesley Church for Christmas. Plants will be put in place for Sunday, December 17. and remain for Christmas Eve services on December 24. All persons are welcome to order poinsettias. However, note that you will be responsible for taking your plant(s) following the 11 o clock Christmas Eve worship service. If you do not want your poinsettia(s), please find a friend, relative, or a shut-in who might appreciate the gesture during the Christmas season. Cost per plant is $9. (Payment must be included at time of order.) Make checks payable to Wesley Church Flower Fund. To order, complete this form (one form per plant, please) and place in the offering plate, return to the church office, or send to: Patti Hock 123 Dahl Road, Bloomsburg, PA Deadline to order plants: Friday, December 1, 2017 I would like to order a: red poinsettia plant white poinsettia plant pink poinsettia plant This plant to be placed in honor of: By:

10 Christmas is a comin and... it s time to order Christmas poinsettia plants for the Geisinger House of Care. Help bring joy to others at this glorious time of year. This form to be used only for Geisinger House of Care. Orders are being taken for poinsettia plants which will be placed at the Geisinger House of Care for the enjoyment of the patients and families staying there during the Christmas season. There is no color choice for the poinsettia plants placed at the House of Care. If you would like to purchase a poinsettia plant for this purpose, complete this form (one form per flower, please) and place in the offering plate, return to the church office, or send to: Patti Hock 123 Dahl Road, Bloomsburg, PA Deadline to order plants: Friday, December 1, 2017 Cost per plant is $9. (Payment must be included at time of order.) Make checks payable to Wesley Church Flower Fund. This plant to be placed in memory of: By: This plant to be placed in honor of: By:

11 Please print all information. 130 West Third Street, Bloomsburg, PA Dr. / Mr. / Mrs. / Ms. Name: Change in contact information address: 1st-Time Guest 2nd-Time Guest Regular Attendee Member Address: Apt: Town/City: State: Zip: Best Contact Telephone: ( ) If 1st or 2nd-time guest, how did you hear about Wesley Church? (Name of person who invited you, radio, website, newspaper, other.) The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany, February 12, I/we will provide one or more home-baked items for this Saturday s UMW bake sale held in conjunction with the Men of Wesley s Annual Spaghetti Dinner. I/we will attend this Saturday s Men of Wesley s Annual Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, and I/we will invite a friend, neighbor, or relative to join me/us. I/we will support the Bloomsburg Community Peanut Butter Drive by contributing one or more jars of peanut butter to benefit The Bloomsburg Food Cupboard (peanut butter contributions should be made by this Friday, February 17). Look for the collection containers in the Third Street and Murray Avenue entryways. No glass jars, please. The regular monthly Food Cupboard requests are also being accepted. For the month of February, the needs are cereal and canned fruit. 13th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Event Today: 1-3 p.m. Bloomsburg High School Cafeteria Theme: Creating Conversations for a Caring Community (A dialogue about diversity within the community focusing on class and poverty a key component of Dr. King s message.) This community event is sponsored by the Coalition for Social Equity, The Bloomsburg Foundation, Wesley United Methodist Church/Bloomsburg Ministerium, and The Friends Meeting.