A Service of the Nativity Fourth Sunday in Advent

Transcription

1 A Service of the Nativity Fourth Sunday in Advent December 24, :00 HANDBELL PRELUDE Still, Still, Still *CHORAL INTROIT *OPENING HYMN AND PROCESSIONAL Silent Night Pg. 239 *CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: Are you all blessed? People: Yes we are! Leader: Does God favor you? People: Yes God does! All: God heard our cries of mercy. And God sent us Jesus! OPENING PRAYER All: Holy God, we are getting ready for Christmas. Presents are being put under trees. Dinner menus are being planned. Last minute errands are being run. Traveling has begun. As we get wrapped up in this season of Christmas, we often forget what truly matters. In all of our dealings with presents, we forget to be present for one another, especially those outside of the circle that we call family. In our focus on things, we forget that the best gift many of us can truly share in the gift of our time. Time for conversation. Time for service. Time for worship. God, as Mary sings her song rooted in eternal hope in your mercy, may we share mercy where we can, when we can, in the many ways we can, sharing the love of God incarnate that Jesus Christ brought to us. Amen. *HYMN O Come All Ye Faithful Pg

2 LIGHTING OF THE FOURTH ADVENT CANDLE OFFERTORY PRAYER All: Great God our Redeemer, we sing your praises. Your glorious love shines in the face of Jesus, born a babe in this dark world. We marvel that he generously humbled himself to bring salvation. How precious is your gift of love! Let the light in our sanctuary and our songs of praise spill through the windows to neighbors dwelling in darkness. May our gifts and offerings reflect the light of Christ and, as beacons in the night, draw people far and near closer to you. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen. THE GIVING OF THE GIFTS OF LOVE HANDBELL OFFERTORY The Babe of Bethlehem THE SERVICE OF THE NATIVITY Leader: The Nativity is a visual proclamation of the Christmas story. Each piece of the Nativity unfolds the story of Christ s birth. It is a story of hope because God built a bridge of Divine Love from Himself to us. It is a story that shines through the birth of every child and resonates in the supportive ties of every family. Tonight we begin our Christmas Season with this Service of the Nativity. *HYMN O Little Town of Bethlehem Pg. 230 Mary s Story Leader: Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God, to a named Mary. Gabriel said to her, Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you. But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and pondered what manner of greeting this was. Then Gabriel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and

3 bring forth a Son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever and of His Kingdom there will be no end. Then Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I have not known a man? And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be the Son of God. For with God nothing will be impossible. Then Mary said, Here am I, the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her. Action: Mary is brought and placed in the Nativity during song. Joseph s story Leader: Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. Action: Joseph is brought and placed in the Nativity during song. Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem Leader: And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So everyone went to their own towns to be

4 registered. And Joseph also went, out of the city of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David. He went to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was expecting a child. Joseph and Mary sought for a place to stay. But there was no place, no room in the inn. At the city s edge was a stable, there Mary and Joseph found warmth and protection. *HYMN Angels from the Realms of Glory Pg. 220 Action: The Manger is place. The Birth of Jesus Leader: So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, wrapped Him in bands of cloth, and laid Him in a manager, because there was no room for them in the inn. *HYMN There's a Song in the Air Pg. 249 Action: Jesus is brought and placed in the manger during the first verse. Action: The animals are brought and placed around the Nativity during the second verse. God Is With Us Leader: All this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, A young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means God is with us. Action: The Christ Candle in the Advent wreath is lit. The Shepherds Story Leader: Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

5 Then the angel said to them, Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy for all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you; you will find a Child wrapped in bands of cloth, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the heavenly host praising God and saying; Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among all people! So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us. And they came quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the Child, who was lying in a manger. Action: The angels and shepherds are brought and placed in the Nativity. The Magi s Story Leader: Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to pay him homage. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had entered the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and fell down and paid him homage. Then opening their treasure chests, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. SPECIAL MUSIC We Three Kings Handbell Choir Action: The Magi are brought and placed in the Nativity. We Gather at the Manger Leader: Heaven looked down on that Holy Night as a manger became an altar and a stable became a cathedral. History now looks back to that moment in time when God came in Jesus to reveal Himself to people everywhere.

6 COMMUNION The humble shepherds were there. The Wise Men bowed before Him. And tonight you and I join them as we gather around the manger. What a night! A Holy Night! A night of hope for today and tomorrow. *CLOSING HYMN Joy to the World Pg. 246 **************************************** WORSHIP ASSISTANTS Readers Bettye Gramlich and Dan Kalendek Altar Guild Peggy Whiting and Pat Walter Acolytes Ella Widomski and Bailey Cordell Cribbery Amy Harryman and Leah Reminder: Contributions for 2017 must be received by December 30, Anything received that date will be credited to The Church office will be closed from December 25 through January 2, If you have any emergency during that time please call Pastor Vic directly. Envelopes The 2018 offering envelopes are available for pick-up. They are located in the Narthex. Please be sure to take your envelopes, we will not be mailing them. After the holiday the envelopes will be in the Fellowship Hall. Any questions please contact Pat Walter. We will have 1 service on Sunday December 31 st it will be at 10:00 Postal service at PHUMC - Please remember to check the Christmas mailboxes on the second floor for your Christmas cards.

7 MINISTRY TEAM LEADERS Rev. Victor Harner, (home) Denise Boyd, Praise Band and Handbell Choir Mary Schramm, Administrative Assistant Rachael Desfosses, SS Superintendent Donald E. Appel, Director of Music Peggy Whiting, Senior Lay Leader Kim Harner, 9:30 Lay Leader Al Simkins, 8:15 Lay Leader To be included in our distribution list, please send an to with a subject line of "Add to list". To our visitors Welcome to Perry Hall United Methodist church. We hope you have felt welcome in our fellowship. We want to invite you to take a moment and stop at the narthex. We have some materials there that tell you a little more about our church. We hope you find the information helpful. You may also contact Pastor Victor Harner, at or at perryhallumc@verizon.net or rovervic@verizon.net.