December 20, 2015 Fourth Sunday of Advent Website:umcsparta.com

Transcription

1 Sparta United Methodist Church Church office hours: Mon-Thurs (8:30 am-3:30 pm) Office: Parsonage: Fax: N. Main Street, P. O. Box 697, Sparta, NC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Church Office: Rev. Bob Miller: Director of Discipleship: Director of Music: Church Website: WEEKLY BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS should be submitted to the office by Tuesday and MONTHLY NEWSLETTER ARTICLES submitted by the 15th of each month. Contact the church office to RESERVE ROOMS for activities to be added to the church calendar. Please let the church office know of name, phone, address UPDATES and information corrections. There is a 6-week delay for processing changes for Offering Envelopes. CHILDREN S CHURCH is available for children ages 3 years thru 3rd grade at. Children go to the classroom following the Children s Sermon. Please TURN CELL PHONES OFF in gatherings, as we want to be reverent and respectful in our time of communal worship. WATCH CHANNEL 98 & CHANNEL 21 for Sunday Worship Service; Sunday-11:00 am; Monday and Friday-3:00 pm; Tuesday-8:00 pm. WATCH THE SUNDAY SERVICE anytime at on your computer. Select Sparta United Methodist Church and the date of the service you would like to watch. INCLEMENT WEATHER updates/closings will be announced on TV channels WXII 12 and Fox 8 WGHP and the Phone Tree will send out a congregational message. PRAYER REQUEST CARDS ~ If you have a prayer or praise request today, please fill in the information on a prayer request card that can be found in the envelope slots at the ends of the pews or you can get one from an usher or greeter. During the Passing of the Peace time return the card to an usher, Pastor Bob, or place in the baskets located on the altar rails. The prayer or praise request will be lifted up at the Opening Prayer time during the worship service. SUMC BLOG-Words For The Journey- ~ Check out the weekly devotional posts related to the Sunday sermon to deepen your faith and stay connected SANCTUARY FLOWER CALENDAR-Please check the 2015 Flower Calendar by the office for available Sunday dates to provide flowers in the sanctuary in memory of or in honor of a loved one. Sanctuary flower forms are located below the calendar. Arrangements may be taken following the 11:00 service. Our Church Mission Statement Sparta UMC is a family of those who proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ and serve all God s people in our community and around the world. December 20, 2015 Fourth Sunday of Advent Website:umcsparta.com

2 THE ORDER OF WORSHIP 9:00 am December 20, :00 am Fourth Sunday of Advent PRELUDE Nancy Jones GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD WELCOME & PASSING OF THE PEACE Welcome others by saying, The Peace of Christ Be With You. LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES 9:00 am 11:00 am *CALL TO WORSHIP Luke 1:46b-55 L: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, P: my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, who has looked with favor on me, a lowly servant. L: From this day all generations shall call me blessed: P: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is the name of the Lord, whose mercy is on those who fear God from generation to generation. L: The arm of the Lord is strong, and has scattered the proud in their conceit, P: God has cast down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. L. God has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich empty away. P: God has come to the aid of Israel, the chosen servant, remembering the promise of mercy, the promise made to our forebears, to Abraham and his children for ever. Theresa March & Carol Perdue John & Jody Tracy HYMN No. 219 What Child Is This Congregation *THE APOSTLES CREED Pg. 881 OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Micah 5:2-5a OFFERING/ANTHEM Glory to God in the Highest Heaven Choir *DOXOLOGY PASTORAL PRAYER GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 1:18-23 SERMON God Is With Us Ben Gatton RESPONSE TO GOD S WORD *HYMN No. 245 The First Noel Congregation *BENEDICTION *CHORAL RESPONSE DEPARTURE TO SERVE POSTLUDE Nancy Jones *Standing as you are able. I m so glad I m a part of the family of God; I ve been washed in the fountain. Cleansed by His blood! Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod. For I m part of the family, the family of God. SANCTUARY FLOWERS The beautiful flowers in the sanctuary today are given by Larry and Donna Myers in praise and in celebration of Jeff and Jen on their seventh wedding anniversary and for our grandson, Colten. ~~~~~~~~~~ The beautiful flowers in the sanctuary today are given by Darrell and Judy Pugh Brooks in loving memory of Hazel and Charles Pugh. PROCLAMATION

3 Liturgist Children s Church Offering Counters Communion Servers Ushers Greeters Liturgist Offering Counters January Communion Servers January Ushers 12/27 January Greeters 12/27 12/27 This Week Debbie Edwards Martha Thompson Don Cobb & Jane Wallace Theresa March Connie Edwards & Connie Amburn Martha Thompson Carol Upchurch Upcoming Ken Lewis Jennifer Robinson & Jody Tracy Gray & Jane Sloop Jane Wallace Jerry Mullis Sunday Monday Sunday Monday Week of December 20-December 26, 2015 Wednesday 9:00/11:00 am 10:00 am 3:30 pm 5:30 pm 6:30 pm Week of December 27-January 2, :00 am 11:00 am 2:00 pm 1:00 pm 3:30 pm Wednesday 10:00 am 5:30 pm 5:30 pm 6:30 pm 6:30 pm Sunday Worship Sunday School No FUSION The Well NA meeting/fellowship SS Girl Scout Troop/CC No Choir Practice ROCK Ministry-canceled FUSION Youth-canceled Thursday Christmas Eve Service Friday Christmas Day PLEASE NOTE: The church office will be closed Christmas week. We will be checking the voice mail so please leave a message if you call the office. Sunday School Sunday Worship GS Cookie Party/FH Prayer Group/Library No FUSION The Well NA meeting/fellowship SS Girl Scout Troop/CC Disciple Study Choir Practice ROCK Ministry-canceled Fellowship Supper/FH FUSION Youth-canceled Thursday New Year s Eve Friday New Year s Day TODAY S PRAYER CONCERNS OUR SYMPATHY TO the family of Byron Johnson the family of Ann Webster OUR THANKSGIVINGS Keith Oliver in church today HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO Sam Carlan December 20 Beverlee Scott December 23 Dwayne Beasley December 24 Vickie Scott December 24 Micah Miller December 25 Rob Vaughan December 25 PLEASE PRAY FOR... Ongoing: Peace in the world; our pastor and our ministries; our country & leaders; homeless; Ellen Church-health; Jane Farr-health; Sharon & Leland Simons; Arnold Wagoner; Kimberly Parsons; Jo Burch; John and Junior Boyer; Faye Cornelius; Pam & A.M. Phipps, Corine Bare; Keith Oliver-recovery; Scott and Lisa caring for Scott s mom; Ora Brady-health December 6: Rachel Nichols-salivary gland cancer; Mary Wilson-on life support; Kathy Murphysurgery; Dillon Starbird-success finishing high school; Rose Dukes-bronchitis; Tammy Sykessurgery; Pam Greer-tests; Sandy & Wayne Lovett s son-in-law, Bob Lavery-health/healing from recent surgery December 13: Nancy Jones mother, Dorris Sebastian-broken leg; Jimmy Grainger-recovery; Traver Simons-car wreck injuries; Karen Millerhealth/tests; Peggi Ciolfi-surgery/recovery HOMEBOUND/NURSING HOMES Lewis Bobbitt Genesis Health Care-Sparta John Boyer Grayson Nursing & Rehab-VA Jo Burch Winston-Salem, NC Ellen Church Independence, VA Paul Church Commonwealth AL, Hillsville, VA Paul Cooper Genesis Health Care-Sparta Boyd Farmer Woodland Terrace, Cary, NC Watana Marion Carillon AL, Clemmons, NC Thomas Myers Dobson Tim Myers Dobson Bobby Saintsing Triad Nursing/Rehab-High Pt. Mary Wagoner Genesis Health Care-Sparta

4 STAFF LOVE OFFERING GIFT Today is the last day our Staff Parish Committee will be accepting a love offering for our pastor and staff. Please indicate your designated gift in the memo section of your check or offering envelope. Thank you for faithfully supporting this annual! CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE Thursday, December 24 at Come celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ with our church family! DECEMBER FELLOWSHIP SUPPER Wednesday, December 30 at 6:30 pm Bring a dish to share and your spouse, friends, and neighbors for great fellowship! UPPER ROOM DEVOTIONAL January-February 2015 The Upper Room devotionals are now available at the Mission Corner cabinet outside the church office. Enjoy a quiet moment in your busy day with suggested scripture, a short devotion, and a prayer focus. Thought for the day~january 1~Today, I will try harder to see my world as God sees it. PRAYER REQUEST CARDS If you have a prayer or praise request today, please fill in the information on a prayer request card that can be found in the envelope slots at the ends of the pews or you can get one from an usher or greeter. During the Passing of the Peace time return the card to an usher, Pastor Bob, or place in the baskets located on the altar rails. The prayer or praise request will be lifted up at the Pastoral Prayer time during the worship service. SUMC BLOG ~ Words for the Journey Have the church blog sent straight to your inbox! Go to and click on one of the blog post titles. Then at the bottom right hand corner you will see a little dark rectangle with a plus sign and the word follow. Click that and enter your address and every post to the blog will come straight to your inbox! Attendance/Giving ~ December 13, 2015 Service 0 10 am Service 140 Sunday School 61 Weekly Needs $4,269 Last Week s Offering $4,046 YTD Needs $211,122 YTD Offering $200,285 Sparta UMC Staff Pastor Rev. Bob Miller Administrative Assistant Donna Myers Discipleship Ben Gatton Children s Ministries Talina Pipes Music Director Nancy Jones Choir Director Scott Turnmyre Nursery Melissa Kennedy Today s Anthem Glory to God in the Highest Heaven By: Pepper Choplin R: Glory to God in the highest heaven, glory to God, now a Child is born. Glory to God in the highest heaven, glory to God, He is Christ the Lord. Glory to God in the highest heaven, glory to God, now a Child is born. Glory to God in the highest heaven, glory to God, He is Christ the Lord. Glory to God in the highest heaven Don t be afraid, for I come to you, coming to bring you amazing news. In Bethlehem, now a Child is born, a Savior, He is Christ the Lord. R Shepherds, now to the manger go. Find the Child in swaddling clothes. When you see Him you ll lift your voice and praise the Lord with joyful noise! R Sing, Glory to God. Sing, Glory to God. He is Christ the Lord. Glory to God, we re singing, Glory to God, glory to God.

5 ADVENT WISHES During this Advent season I resolved to do more this year to focus on the Real meaning of Christmas. But I resolved the same thing last year and the year before that; and I didn t do much differently. What exactly am I supposed to squeeze into a full plate of activities? Should I decorate the house a little less, buy fewer presents for my family, stay home instead of attending the Christmas parties? Or maybe I could skip some of the cooking, and what about not sending any Christmas cards this year? Actually, I love all these preparations for Christmas. When I was growing up, Christmas preparations revolved around my father s jewelry store. The display window was decorated just so; my mother always placed a nativity set in the window of the store when she decorated it for Christmas. A Christmas parade early in the shopping season brought out our customers. Extra merchandise was purchased and my mother added the Christmas wrapping paper and ribbon to the worktable. There were no shopping centers or malls, so main street was decorated and the whole town turned into a sort of winter wonderland. The local radio station played non-stop Christmas carols and every store up and down the street tuned in. Shoppers could follow the songs all along their shopping routes. I loved all the shoppers, the decorations, the Christmas music, and the presents. Our entire little town hummed with the spirit of Christmas. My Dad used to say how nice it would be if everybody was as happy and kind the rest of the year as they are at Christmas. As a youngster, I didn t give much thought to Advent except as it was presented in the lights and sounds and smells of the holiday. We often had a candle-light service at our church, and much of the excitement and joy of the season seemed to slow down and concentrate into that service. It is just at this point of writing, while I am pondering what to say about the Real meaning of Christmas, that fourteen people are killed by the violent acts of two people in San Bernardino, California. People everywhere pray for Peace, Give us Peace that violence might end. And I think about the fact that we call Jesus the Prince of Peace. Why doesn t God give us Peace? Thinking about Peace, I find myself drawn to the nativity scene, to the manger and the child in the manger. Those images remind me that I need to start at the center point of the nativity, the manger, if I want to find the Peace that eludes me. This nativity image has something to teach me, both about God and about myself. The manger is in the center of the stable where the animals are fed. Forking the hay or other grain into the manger is a key part of the farmer s day. The manger serves as a gathering place for the animals. Here there is the warmth of their bodies; and we see that each animal has its own personality. We can t hang around the manger and not feel a connection to the animals, the earth, and to the rhythm of life on the farm. This image of the manger shows us a God who is at home in humble surroundings and is found where life is lived on its most basic terms. This is a God not separate from life, but present at the heart of life. The nativity scene also has something to teach me about myself. I look at the manger and am surprised - here is a baby. This unexpected image catches my attention. When I look closely at this baby in the manger, I see that he contains within himself everything he needs to live a meaningful life with peace and joy. This baby brings a gift to us. He shows us that the same divine source resides within (Continued on back) ADVENT WISHES During this Advent season I resolved to do more this year to focus on the Real meaning of Christmas. But I resolved the same thing last year and the year before that; and I didn t do much differently. What exactly am I supposed to squeeze into a full plate of activities? Should I decorate the house a little less, buy fewer presents for my family, stay home instead of attending the Christmas parties? Or maybe I could skip some of the cooking, and what about not sending any Christmas cards this year? Actually, I love all these preparations for Christmas. When I was growing up, Christmas preparations revolved around my father s jewelry store. The display window was decorated just so; my mother always placed a nativity set in the window of the store when she decorated it for Christmas. A Christmas parade early in the shopping season brought out our customers. Extra merchandise was purchased and my mother added the Christmas wrapping paper and ribbon to the worktable. There were no shopping centers or malls, so main street was decorated and the whole town turned into a sort of winter wonderland. The local radio station played non-stop Christmas carols and every store up and down the street tuned in. Shoppers could follow the songs all along their shopping routes. I loved all the shoppers, the decorations, the Christmas music, and the presents. Our entire little town hummed with the spirit of Christmas. My Dad used to say how nice it would be if everybody was as happy and kind the rest of the year as they are at Christmas. As a youngster, I didn t give much thought to Advent except as it was presented in the lights and sounds and smells of the holiday. We often had a candle-light service at our church, and much of the excitement and joy of the season seemed to slow down and concentrate into that service. It is just at this point of writing, while I am pondering what to say about the Real meaning of Christmas, that fourteen people are killed by the violent acts of two people in San Bernardino, California. People everywhere pray for Peace, Give us Peace that violence might end. And I think about the fact that we call Jesus the Prince of Peace. Why doesn t God give us Peace? Thinking about Peace, I find myself drawn to the nativity scene, to the manger and the child in the manger. Those images remind me that I need to start at the center point of the nativity, the manger, if I want to find the Peace that eludes me. This nativity image has something to teach me, both about God and about myself. The manger is in the center of the stable where the animals are fed. Forking the hay or other grain into the manger is a key part of the farmer s day. The manger serves as a gathering place for the animals. Here there is the warmth of their bodies; and we see that each animal has its own personality. We can t hang around the manger and not feel a connection to the animals, the earth, and to the rhythm of life on the farm. This image of the manger shows us a God who is at home in humble surroundings and is found where life is lived on its most basic terms. This is a God not separate from life, but present at the heart of life. The nativity scene also has something to teach me about myself. I look at the manger and am surprised - here is a baby. This unexpected image catches my attention. When I look closely at this baby in the manger, I see that he contains within himself everything he needs to live a meaningful life with peace and joy. This baby brings a gift to us. He shows us that the same divine source resides within (Continued on back)

6 each human being. The manger containing the Christ child is right here in every one of us. We don t have to go to Bethlehem, we can look inside our own hearts and find the Christ child within. As the Child in the manger contains everything he needs to live in peace and joy, so too are those same energies given to us. When we tune-in to our divine source, we can find the same elements of meaning, peace, and joy within ourselves. These energies that are already within us may be compared to seeds. They are waiting for us to feed and water them. The peace, love, and joy we seek are not Things given to us, nor are they found outside of ourselves. I cannot bring out this Peace or live in it unless I choose to tend it and care for it as I would care for an infant. I can t grow Peace for anyone else, only for myself. If I feel no peace, I haven t tended the energy of Peace within myself. The practice of watering these seeds is a lifelong practice, one that starts in silence, that is grounded in centering prayer. It is the silence of centering prayer that creates a space for these seeds to sprout and to grow. Without space, peace will be uneasy, love will be conditional, and joy will be dependent on what is happening to me. I also need practices to strengthen the energies of peace, joy, and love. Practicing Not Judging, Letting Go, and Deep Listening, I nurture Peace growing within me. Structuring my daily activities so that I have time for centering prayer, study, community, and rest helps me create peaceful surroundings to live in. As I hold the image of the manger in front of me, I think about what I seek here. What I seek is the deepest desire of my heart. Is it peace? Is it love? Is it joy? Whatever I seek is not going to come from outside, I must find it within and bring it into my life by nurturing and strengthening it every day. Only then will I be able to say that I am celebrating the Real meaning of Christmas. Only then will I find the Peace, Joy, and Love that I pray for. My Christmas wish for you is that you may tend the Blessing of the Christ Child so that the seeds of Peace, Joy, and Love grow stronger in you every day. ~~Pratt Davis, Sparta UMC Lay Leader~~ O Lord, in preparing to see you more fully we have allowed ourselves to be blinded to the presence we are already capable of recognizing. Forgive us for putting second matters first, for being distracted rather than edified. Remove from us all that competes with your way for us. Quiet us down, that we may be still and know that you are God, that in silence we may hear your Word with new clarity and keep it with new intensity. Grant this for the sake of Jesus, whom we would worship in spirit and in truth. Amen This Day A Wesleyan Way of Prayer each human being. The manger containing the Christ child is right here in every one of us. We don t have to go to Bethlehem, we can look inside our own hearts and find the Christ child within. As the Child in the manger contains everything he needs to live in peace and joy, so too are those same energies given to us. When we tune-in to our divine source, we can find the same elements of meaning, peace, and joy within ourselves. These energies that are already within us may be compared to seeds. They are waiting for us to feed and water them. The peace, love, and joy we seek are not Things given to us, nor are they found outside of ourselves. I cannot bring out this Peace or live in it unless I choose to tend it and care for it as I would care for an infant. I can t grow Peace for anyone else, only for myself. If I feel no peace, I haven t tended the energy of Peace within myself. The practice of watering these seeds is a lifelong practice, one that starts in silence, that is grounded in centering prayer. It is the silence of centering prayer that creates a space for these seeds to sprout and to grow. Without space, peace will be uneasy, love will be conditional, and joy will be dependent on what is happening to me. I also need practices to strengthen the energies of peace, joy, and love. Practicing Not Judging, Letting Go, and Deep Listening, I nurture Peace growing within me. Structuring my daily activities so that I have time for centering prayer, study, community, and rest helps me create peaceful surroundings to live in. As I hold the image of the manger in front of me, I think about what I seek here. What I seek is the deepest desire of my heart. Is it peace? Is it love? Is it joy? Whatever I seek is not going to come from outside, I must find it within and bring it into my life by nurturing and strengthening it every day. Only then will I be able to say that I am celebrating the Real meaning of Christmas. Only then will I find the Peace, Joy, and Love that I pray for. My Christmas wish for you is that you may tend the Blessing of the Christ Child so that the seeds of Peace, Joy, and Love grow stronger in you every day. ~~Pratt Davis, Sparta UMC Lay Leader~~ O Lord, in preparing to see you more fully we have allowed ourselves to be blinded to the presence we are already capable of recognizing. Forgive us for putting second matters first, for being distracted rather than edified. Remove from us all that competes with your way for us. Quiet us down, that we may be still and know that you are God, that in silence we may hear your Word with new clarity and keep it with new intensity. Grant this for the sake of Jesus, whom we would worship in spirit and in truth. Amen This Day A Wesleyan Way of Prayer