May 13, 2018 Christmas Eve, December 24, 2018 Questions? Ask anyone with a red nametag for information about our church. Welcome Flyers for new worshipers are found on the Welcome Table in the entryway. Please fill out the Thanks for Being Here card in the pew rack. Time will be given to write any prayer requests and/or comments on your worship experience on the back of the card, then place it in the offering plate. A staffed nursery is available in the education wing for children 5 & under. Children s activity bags for worship are available on the rack by the bookshelf. We are glad that you are here! Rev. Bill Reinhart, Pastor Tonight s Sermon: The Real Christmas Story: A Christmas Carol Nobody likes a Scrooge, especially during the Christmas season. But even Ebenezer Scrooge could have his heart softened and his life transformed. That s good news, because each of have been Scrooges in our own way, content to allow the poor to suffer. Jesus was born to transform the world. Will you say Bah Humbug!, or will you let the Holy Spirit give you a new chance at living! Copies of the sermon manuscript are available before the service from any usher, and can also be found posted on our church website. Words will be projected for all songs. Some songs are also found in the, black hymnal or gray songbook found in your pew and page numbers are listed accordingly in your bulletin. Coffee is served between worship services each week in the Fellowship Hall. Devotional resources are available on the bookshelf in the entryway. Hearing assist devices are available, please ask an usher. Joyful Praise Worship 8:15 am Coffee Fellowship & Education 9:20 am Celebration Worship 10:30 am
Joyful Praise Worship 5:00 pm Christmas Eve Worship The Real Christmas Story Music for Gathering You re Here Mary, Did You Know? Welcome and Announcements Invocation & Sharing Christ s Joy Pastor Bill Reinhart Prelude God is with Us Lighting the Advent Candle Candle Lighting I Am So Glad Each Christmas Eve Call to Worship Opening Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground) The Prophecy Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 NRSV Isn t He? The Dream Matthew 1:18-21 NRSV The Name Matthew 1:22-25 NRSV Emmanuel The Inn Luke 2:1-5 NRSV Bethlehem O Little Town of Bethlehem Sunday School children are invited to join the praise team up front for this song set Children s Message Jenga: Christmas Eve Edition Who Is This Child? Away in a Manger The Shepherds & Angels Luke 2:6-15 NRSV verse 1 The Nativity Luke 2:16-20 NRSV verse 2 Message A Christmas Carol: The Real Christmas Story [Media clip used in accordance with Christian Video Licensure 504157260] Unison Prayer Offertory Make Room 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. Sharing the Light of Christ Silent Night Candles will be lit during song Blessing Music for Departure
Help With the Christmas Dinner We have posted the Christmas Day Dinner signup sheets with many ways to support this wonderful community outreach ministry our 22 nd annual dinner!! Donate food, supplies or cash. (Food items need to be here by Sunday, Dec. 23 at worship.) Post flyers around town. Take a flyer to post in your apartment building or a favorite store. See Laurie immediately if you could help with this! Invite someone who might be alone pick up invitations and/or flyers in entryway. Help set up tables on Sunday, December 23. Volunteer to work one or more of the shifts on Christmas Day. End of Year Giving Deadline Please note, all 2018 contributions should be in by Monday, December 31. Thank you in advance for your faithful giving as we end 2018 and look to a new year. Though we are slightly behind currently, we hope to close the year with all our financial obligations met. Wesley Meal Cakes Needed It s hard to think past Christmas baking, but ten white cakes are needed for the Wesley meal on Saturday, December 29. Sign up today if you can provide one or two. Thanks! Take Poinsettias Home After Christmas Eve services are over, you are welcome to take home any poinsettias which you donated. Thank you again for brightening our sanctuary this Christmas season! Foster Parents Needed Wright County has a pressing and continuous need for foster parents. Children enter foster care due to significant life factors, often including abuse or neglect. The overall goal of foster care is to provide children with a temporary, stable, and caring family setting until they are reunited with their family or until a permanency plan is established for them. Those interested in learning more about foster care are invited to attend one of the upcoming orientations on January 8, February 12, April 9 or May 14 from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm at the Wright County Law Enforcement Center room S2021A. You may also contact Marisa Ferguson at 763-682-7484 or marisa.ferguson@co.wright.mn.us Coffee Hour Offerings To improve hospitality for guests, we moved the coffee hour fellowship basket from the front end of the refreshment table to the side counter where regulars can donate, but guests won t feel obligated. Your donations allow us to continue buying coffee direct from Guatemalan farmers, providing them a better living and us better coffee! Christmas Day Dinner Tomorrow You are welcome to come enjoy the Christmas dinner tomorrow at 1:00 pm, or if you re interested in helping, we re still a bit short of volunteers. See Laurie. Comfort Choir Available There is a small group of people in our congregation willing to come to the home or bedside of a person who is ill or in hospice, even on short notice, to quietly sing hymns or praise songs. If you have a family member or friend who might be blessed or comforted in this way, please contact Craig at 763-682-1994 or 763-242-7922. Confirmation Corner This Wednesday, December 26 we will not have class as it is Winter Break. The deadline has passed to register for the required Confirmation Retreat in January so please get the forms and money in ASAP. If you are in need of a scholarship, let the office know.
Music for Gathering O Come Little Children Christmas Medley Celebration Worship 7:30 pm Christmas Eve Worship The Real Christmas Story Welcome and Announcements Invocation & Sharing Christ s Joy Pastor Bill Reinhart Prelude O little Town of Bethlehem Lighting the Advent Candle Candle Lighting I Am So Glad Each Christmas Eve Call to Worship Opening Joy to the World #246 vss. 1&4 The Prophecy Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 NRSV Special Music O Holy Night The Dream Matthew 1:18-21 NRSV It Came Upon a Midnight Clear #218 vss. 1&4 The Name Matthew 1:22-25 NRSV Special Music Still, Still, Still The Inn Luke 2:1-5 NRSV Sing We Now of Christmas #237 vss. 1&3 The Shepherds & Angels Luke 2:6-15 NRSV # 220 vss. 1&2 The Nativity Luke 2:16-20 NRSV O Come All Ye Faithful #234 vss. 1&2 Message A Christmas Carol: The Real Christmas Story [Media clip used in accordance with Christian Video Licensure 504157260] Unison Prayer Offertory Do you Hear What I Hear? Four or More Men 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. Sharing the Light of Christ Silent Night Candles will be lit during song #239 vss. 1-3 Blessing Music for Departure
Next Sunday The Real Christmas Story: We will celebrate this First Sunday of Christmas by singing some favorite songs, sharing special music of the season, hearing some musings of Max Lucado, and more. Join us for worship as we let the sheer glory of the birth of Christ settle into our hearts to remind us as we head into a new year that we no longer wait or wander alone Christ is here with us, today and always! Serving Today Music Leaders at 5:00 pm Leaders: Debbie & Kendall Bishop Music Leaders: Joyful Praise Band Music Leaders at 7:30 pm Pianist: Jill Starr Organist: David Gaeth Flutist: Jensen Maiden Soloist: Gerry Starr Men s Director Dave Gaeth & Gerry Starr This Week in Ministry Monday, December 24 5:00 pm Candlelight Praise Service 7:30 pm Candlelight and Carol Service Tuesday, December 25 1:00 pm Christmas Day Dinner Wednesday, December 26 No Wednesday activities Saturday, December 29 8:00 am Wesley Meal Sunday, December 30 8:15 am Joyful Praise Worship 10:30 am Celebration Worship 609 8th Street NW Buffalo, MN 55313 763-682-3538 Office@buffaloumc.com www.buffaloumc.org Church Leadership & Staff Pastor: Rev. Bill Reinhart PastorBill@ Lay Assoc. Minister: Laurie Schroeder Laurie@ Youth Coordinator: Curtis R. Rieck Curtis@ Children s Coordinator: Debbie Bishop Debbie@ Administrative Asst: Michelle Jones Office@ Lay Leader: Paulette Moore Leadership Team: Pam Sieberg Staff Parish Team: Gail Hurley Property Team: Dave Sieberg Finance Team: Tyson Kaldenberg Bookkeeper: Patty Steer Patty@ Custodians: Bob & Ryan Highberg Bob@ NOTE: All email addresses are: @BuffaloUMC.com