2 SAINT PAUL'S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Fleetwood, Pennsylvania Fourth Sunday of Advent December 20, 2015

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1 2 SAINT PAUL'S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Fleetwood, Pennsylvania Fourth Sunday of Advent December 20, 2015 GATHERING PRAYER Almighty God, by the power of your Holy Spirit open our eyes, ears, hearts and our very lives to your presence this day. As we worship you this day, may our lives be a healing remembrance of your love to all the lives of those we touch. Amen INTROIT THE PROCESSIONAL HYMN What Child is This #148 We gather in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit! People: (Singing) Amen! The peace of Christ be with you. People: And also with you. Let us share signs of Christ s peace with one another. (The congregation may be seated.) JOYS AND CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH CENTERING PRELUDE If I d been there by Robert Leaf Children s choir The Fourth Sunday in Advent 10:25 a.m. Lisa Bogacki, Matthew, Erin and Joshua All(singing) 3 Though we know your story, we resist the costs of following you. We pass by those considered lowly in this world. We turn away from hungry people who still wait to be filled. Forgive us, we pray. Help us to work for the justice you intend. Make us messengers of the peace you bring. As we wait for you, turn our apathy into acts of love and service. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Emmanuel. Amen. (Silent Prayers of Confession) Friends, God is for us and not against us. For that very reason, God sent the Son into the world not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Believe the good news: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Feasting on the Word Worship Companion. Copyright Come, Thou long expected Jesus, Born to set Thy people free, From our fears and sins release us, Let us find our rest in Thee: Israel's strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art, Dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart. Let us say again what it is that we believe. PENITENCE (Congregation Standing) In the world, and in this season, there are many claims on our lives. We take this time to remember that in our baptism, Christ claimed us as his own. We acknowledge before God and one another that we have not followed Jesus Christ with all our heart and mind and strength. Trusting in God s grace, let us pray. All: God our Savior, we ask for your mercy. Though we have heard Mary s song, we still seek security in pride and power and possessions. All: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. (The congregation may be seated.)

2 PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION 4 WORD OLD TESTAMENT Micah 5:2-5a OT pg. 865 EPISTEL Hebrews 10:5-10 NT pg. 224 CHOIR ANTHEM Like A Child I Wait Schram flute soloist- Holly Walter Like a child, I wait for the promises to be fulfilled; for Emmanuel to come, the completion of God s will. And so I trust His Word with a simple, childlike faith. Till our Savior has come like a child, I wait. Emmanuel will come! He s the gift that Christmas brings: the precious Prince of Peace, the glorious King of kings! Our Emmanuel will come! And until that blessed day, with a pure and open heart, like a child, like a child, I wait. Anticipation builds for the Savior to appear, fill our darkness with His light, give us hope to calm our fear. Then we will know, the joy of a Savior we can touch; our Redeemer in the flesh; God Himself with us! Emmanuel will come! He s the gift that Christmas brings; the precious Prince of Peace, the glorious King of kings! Our Emmanuel will come! And until that blessed day, with a pure and open heart, like a child, like a child, I wait, I eagerly wait. Like a child I wait. SERMON TEXT Luke 1:39-45 NT pg. 57 (The Congregation stands) 5 SERMON Believing the Unbelievable (The Congregation stands) RESPONSIVE HYMN Lift Up Your Heads, O Mighty Gates #117 (The Congregation may be seated.) PASTORAL PRAYER LORD S PRAYER OFFERTORY SENTENCES GIVING OFFERTORY We Three Kings by J. Hopkins DOXOLOGY All (singing) OFFERTORY PRAYER Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, you heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. SENDING THE RECESSIONAL HYMN O Little Town of Bethlehem #133 THE BENEDICTION THREE FOLD AMEN CHIMES POSTLUDE And the Glory of the Lord by G. Handel All (singing): Let s worship and adore Him, Let s worship and adore Him, Let s worship and adore Him, Christ the Lord. (Congregation may be seated)

3 6 MISSION STATEMENT As Followers of Jesus Christ we commit ourselves to: Enthusiastically proclaim and teach God s love through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Share God s love with neighbors near and far. Live as a Christian community of hope, acceptance, and encouragement in a rapidly changing world. WELCOME TO ST. PAUL S If you are visiting and would like to know more about St. Paul s please fill out the visitor s card located in the pew rack and place it in the offering plate. One of our pastors will contact you. There are assisted listening devices for the hearing impaired available at the sound board in the rear of the church. Children are always welcome in our worship space (as are the joyful noises that they sometimes add). For those moments when it might be needed, we do have a nursery room in the rear of the church that anyone with younger children is welcome to use. The room is equipped with a speaker that will allow you to continue enjoying the service. Please ask an usher if you need any assistance. Activity bags for children can be found on a rack in the Narthex. ANNOUNCEMENTS (For the week of December 20, 2015) The Altar Flowers are sponsored by Lynda Shenk in honor of her grandson, Dakota Milyo s 15 th birthday. The Bulletins are sponsored by Pearl Noll and Family in memory of her husband, Elwood Noll on his 86 th birthday yesterday. The Upper Room Publication for this month is sponsored by Lynda Shenk to honor, Wendy Milyo, Dakota Milyo and Jane Folk on their birthdays and also to thank all the volunteers who have so willingly helped with the Helping Hands ministry. Coffee Time Sponsor: Barb Hoffman and Jen Mowry Readers: 8:55 a.m. 10:25 a.m. Stacy Laucks Acolytes: 8:45 a.m. Dakota Bryniarski and Sarah Beers 10:25 a.m. Kamille Orth and Ian Snyder Ushers: 8:45 a.m. David Balmer, Sharon Koller, Betsy Becker, AllenCrockett 10:25 a.m. Gail Noll, Jim Ott, Chad Walter, Mike Werner 7 Attendance: December 13, : :25 94 Finance Update: Income Expense Difference Revised October $42,996.44** $50, $7, November $50, $41, $9, Year to date $482, $515, $32, **Removed $10,000 gift to Endowment from General Account.

4 God s Family St. Paul s UCC Sunday School Christmas Service As you enter God s sanctuary, use this time to clear your heart and mind through quiet time and prayer. As you listen to the music of the preludes, open your heart to receive God s personal message. We would kindly ask that you refrain from flash photography during the service. PRELUDES Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer Aiden Strohl (trumpet) Jingle Bells Emily Laucks (piano) Silent Night Kaitlyn Pytleski (saxophone) Colin Snyder (saxophone) Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer Kassidy Hill (vocal) Good King Wenceslas Kayla Laucks (trumpet) Up on the Housetop Emilee Scheffler (saxophone) Jingle Bells Penny Wentz (saxophone) Carol of the Bells Krystal Hill (violin) PASSING OF THE PEACE JOYS AND CONCERNS LIGHTING OF THE FOURTH ADVENT CANDLE 1 st Grade Reader: Emily Laucks 2 nd Grade Reader: Sarah Snyder 3 rd Grade Reader: Mason Strohl 4 th Grade Reader: Kayla Laucks 5 th Grade Reader: Aidan Strohl 6 th Grade Reader: Michaela Ernst 7 th Grade Reader: Sam Ruemmler 8 th Grade Reader: Riley Wentz 9 th Grade Reader: Kaili Gore 10 th Grade Reader: Rachel Levan 11 th Grade Reader and Candle Lighting: Max Ruemmler CHILDREN S CHOIR If I d been there by Robert Leaf SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PRESENTATION Sharing of Christmas Cards 7 th Grade Class Card: Teacher: Mrs. Hoffman Instrumental: Hark the Herold Angels Sing by: Wesley Congregation joins in Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled Joyful all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies With angelic host proclaim: Christ is born in Bethlehem Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! Nursery Class Card: Christmas Lambs Teacher: Mrs. Knerr Various Songs & Verse Card of Thanks: Christmas Tree Ornaments 4 th Grade Class Card: Teachers: Miss. Agnew Scripture Drama & Miss. Bogaki Zachariah s story by Gillian Agnew Elizabeth and Mary s story taken from Mary s Story by M.M. Brem Kind. / 1st Grade Class Card: Christmas Bells (original art) Reading: A Happy Time by Ada Tomlinson Vocal: Caroling, Caroling by Burt Teacher: Mrs. Richdale Youth Class Card: Teacher: Mr. McKinney Original Poem 5 th /6 th Grade Class Card: Teacher: Mrs. Mowry Multi-media Presentation and Sleep-a-thon 2 nd / 3 rd Grade Class Card: Teacher: Mrs. Keck Original Reading and Art Work Family Christmas Card: Children s Gift from the Sunday School & the Board of Christian Education

5 PASTORAL PRAYER PRAYER LORDS PRAYER OFFERTORY SENTENCES OFFERTORY God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen The First Noel Silent Night GIVING Jamin Valick (violin) Jaiden Valick (violin) Kamille Orth (violin) Emma Biggs (cello) Olivia Downs (saxophone) Taylor Pavlick (saxophone) Michaela Ernst (flute) Thank you to all who helped and participated in the Sunday School Christmas Program. This year in Sunday School we have been talking about what it means to be part of God s Family. Two months ago I challenged each class to use their talents and ideas to create a Christmas program piece that shares what God s family means to them. Each class worked hard to create a unique, individual piece that reflected their personalities and gifts. I am always awed by the talent and enthusiasm we have in our Sunday school, and I know that you will be as well. Thanks be to God who has given us these talents and the ultimate Christmas blessing - his own son Jesus Christ. Stacy Laucks Coordinator of Educational Ministries DOXOLOGY All (singing) Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, you heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. OFFERTORY PRAYER SENDING THE RECESSIONAL HYMN O Little Town of Bethlehem #133 BENEDICTION THREEFOLD AMEN CHIMES POSTLUDE And the Glory of the Lord by G. Handel