JOYS AND CELEBRATIONS CHIMES OF THE TRINITY FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH DECEMBER 18, 2016 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT LOVE PRELUDE (Please prepare for worship though prayer and silent meditation.) Dan Gill CHORAL INTROIT Sing We Now of Christmas, Vs. 2 CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive) I have good news for you. Your Savior has been born -- Christ the Lord! Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. PRAYER OF INVOCATION O God of Elizabeth and Mary, you visited your servants with news of the world's redemption in the coming of the Savior. Make our hearts leap with joy, and fill our mouths with songs of praise, that we may announce glad tidings of peace, and welcome the Christ in our midst. Amen. LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE *HYMN No. 220, Vs. 1, 2, 4 OFFERTORY PRAYER THE OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS *DEDICATION OF THE OFFERING No. 95 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. *HYMN No. 230, Vs. 1, 2, 4 ANTHEM Angels from the Realms of Glory The Doxology O Little Town of Bethlehem Close to Christmas Adore Noel CHILDREN S TIME Robert Glenn (Following this part of the service, preschool children may go to the nursery, and children in grades K-6 may go to Creation Station.) PRAYERS AND CONCERNS OF THE PEOPLE Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.
SERMON But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, God is with us. When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. The word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. *APOSTLES CREED No. 881 *HYMN No. 236, Vs. 1, 5 *BENEDICTION His Name Is Called Emmanuel Rev. Scott Wilks While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks *CHORAL BENEDICTION (Following the Benediction, please greet one another with joy and affection.) *POSTLUDE *Please stand as you may be able. (Items in BOLD are unison.)
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH DECEMBER 18, 2016 CALENDAR/EVENTS Sunday School: Don t forget Sunday School classes, which meet at 10:00 a.m. every Sunday morning! Choir Rehearsal: Wednesdays 6:00 p.m. UMM: Second Saturday of the month at 8:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. UMW: Second Thursday of the month at noon in the Fellowship Hall. Unique Boutique: The Boutique is open every Wednesday & every First Saturday of the month from, 10 am- 2 pm. If that is not convenient, please call Sue Evans. Youth Group: The FUMC Youth Group, lead by Katie Stout, meets every Wednesday at 6:30 pm. CHURCH EVENTS FOR DECEMBER 2016 & JANUARY 2017 Dec. 18: Christmas Music presentation followed by the Holiday Fellowship Dinner Dec. 24: 5 pm, Christmas Eve Service with Communion, music, short message, and candle light singing Dec. 25: Eleven O clock Service ONLY, no Sunday School, no snacks, just the Morning Worship Service. Jan. 8: Spaghetti Luncheon Fund Raiser for Youth Resurrection Trip (Tentative). NOTICES From Wanda Payne: Thank you to Danny Herman for providing the van used by the carolers on Sunday evening. Thank you to Pastor Scott who drove to Johnson City on both Saturday and Monday to pick up and deliver the rental and for driving our children and youth. Thank you to those of you who stood in the cold or invited us into your homes to hear the singing. AND thank you to all of you who contributed toiletries, socks, and money toward providing these little gifts to the Nursing Home residents who were pleased with the singing, the presence of children and youth, and the remembrances. Visiting five homes and the Nursing Home provided our young ones with an enjoyable, rewarding, and memorable experience. REMINDER: Fellowship luncheon this Sunday immediately after the service, please plan to participate. Fellowship is a vital part of a healthy church family. Also, please plan to participate in some small (or large) way in clean up. Many hands make light work. Disaster Assistance: Financial donations for the fires in Gatlinburg may be made online at disasterresponse.holston.org or you may make an offering through the church by giving a check to our church and in the memo line write "fires." Large Print Hymnals are available. If you would like to use one, please notify an usher. Pastor Scott can be found on Facebook, (540) 818-9155, or parsonwilks@gmail.com.
Please silence your Electronic Device during the service out of respect for others. The Telephone number for the church is (423) 727-7554 and the parsonage is (423) 727-7572. VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE Date Coffee Greeters Children's Sermon Children's Church Bulletin Board 12/04 Wright Fagan Communion Pennington 12/11 Walsh Perry/W. Smith Wright Angel 12/18 Gill Winningham Glenn Tierney 12/25 N/A McGee Wilks Bontrager Angel Dec - mid Jan