December 3, 2017 Worship Service - 9:00 10:15 a.m. Fellowship Time 10:15 a.m. 10:45 a.m Sunday School - 10:45 a.m. 11:45 a.m. Calendar and Announcements for the Week of December 3, 2017 Wed. 6 th 9:00 a.m. Prayer and Praises 10:00a.m. Bible Study 5:30p.m. Meal 6:00p.m. Youth/Kids 6:15p.m Bells 7:00p.m. Choir First United Methodist Church of Middlebury 720 South Main Street P.O. Box 347 Middlebury, IN. 46540 Phone: 574-825-2585 Email: fumcm@maplenet.net - www.fumcmiddlebury.org Fri. 8 th 9:00 a.m. Bible Study UPCOMING EVENTS December 11 6:00p.m. - Newcomers Comm. Meeting 6:30p.m - Care Comm. Meeting - Finance Comm. Meeting - Worship Comm. Meeting 7:30p.m. Admin. Comm. Meeting December 15 11:45a.m. Elderberries December 22 29 : Office Closed Attendance, Tithes & Offering, Capital Campaign November 26, 2017 9:00 a.m 181 Sunday School 58 Offering Required to Meet Budge Weekly YTD Sunday YTD $6,867.85 $353,463.65 $7,108.75 $341,219.25 Capital Campaign November 26 To Date $4,978.34 $1,874,004.34 Pastor Rev. Ron Russell Director of Youth Ministries Jeff Hernley Director of Children s Ministries Sarah Houser Choir Director Craig Baker Organist Peggy Yeater Hand Bell Director Sam Pohl Worship Leader Missy Pixley Greeters Ron & Leah Schrock, Betty Drake, Marilyn Ritter Usher Joe & Loanna Smucker, Keith & Nikki Gingerich, Youth (Head Ushers: Joe Smucker & Keith Gingerich) Ministers Our Congregation
ORDER OF WORSHIP *Congregation, please stand as you are able Please record attendance in the pad in your pew. Visitors, please fill out an information card which can be found in the pad pocket and place it in the offering plate. Join us for refreshments in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the service. PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP Ringing of the Chimes Entrance of the Worship Leaders (The people are invited to stand and greet one another) Silence our minds and hearts as we prepare for worship LIGHTING OF THE FIRST ADVENT CANDLE Brent Houser Family CHANCEL CHOIR There s A Song Handt Hanson PRELUDE Wake, Awake, For Night Is Flying F. Ritter Of The Father s Love Begotten L. Smith *CALL TO WORSHIP We are Your People. The sheep of Your pasture. We, Your children, will praise You forever. With each generation we will recount Your praise. Lead, guide and direct our every step. Help us to lead others to Christ, our Savior. *OPENING HYMN O Come, O Come, Emmanuel #211 Verses 1,2,6,7 CHORAL CALL TO PRAYER A Nativity Prayer PASTORAL PRAYER LORD S PRAYER #895 OFFERTORY Lo, The Christ Child Comes Johann G. Störl *DOXOLOGY (Tune: For the Beauty of the Earth) As they offered gifts most rare at the manger rude and bare, so may we, with holy joy, pure and free from sin s alloy. All our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to Thee our Heavenly King. Amen. CHILDREN S TIME Sarah Houser After story time the children will return to their parents for the remainder of the service. During communion, parents may prefer children receive a blessing instead of Communion. Please indicate wishes to the pastor at the pastor s serving station during the communion time. CHOIR ANTHEM Let The Christ Child In Joy Althouse Sally Albreacht *HYMN OF PREPARATION Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus #196 OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE Leviticus 12:1-8 NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE Luke 2:25-35 MESSAGE Simeon s Hope Pastor Ron Russell COMMUNION #8 *CLOSING HYMN I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light #206 *BENEDICTION RESPONSE (Tune: O Come All Ye Faithful ) The Lord bless and keep you, look with love upon you, be gracious and cause His face to shine with peace. Glory be to Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Savior close beside us, God s Love from harm to hide us, The Spirit s power to guide us ever more. OFFERING AND PRAYER OF DEDICATION (in unison) Heavenly Father, as we now step into the Advent season, help us to be mindful, watchful, and live expectantly. As we give gifts this season, help us to give from our hearts, with having the joy of knowing Your Son. Thank you Lord, for the most amazing gift ever given to mankind. In His precious name we pray. Amen.
HEALING MINISTRIES Lonnie Franks Tina Miller Don & Berneita Smucker Tom & Donna Carney s daughter Linda Larry Carlson Greg Fiandt John Yoder Deb McGrory Lisa Kyle, Kay Nethercutt s daughter Pray for our Military Personnel and Police Officers Brent Houser, LaGrange County police officer Sgt. Joel Sutterfield, Hamilton County Indiana, Grandson-in-law of Dave & Kay Kimmel Kyle Kalb, Goshen police officer, son of Sandra & Kimber Kalb Alex Houser, Austin Texas police officer, son of Phil & Cindy Houser Buzz Wasson, Air Force reserve Tyler Helmuth, nephew of Eric Houser stationed in Afghanistan Jeremy DeKay, Army, Tom & Donna Carney s nephew Alex Davis, Marine, stationed in California, Grandson of Jeff & Lisa Hernley Brad Wickey, Air Force, friend of Dian & Paul Wilkey Ted Behncke, Army Reserve, Jack & Marilyn Cook s son-in-law Matt Russell, son of Pastor Ron and Lori All Military Families and Families of Police officers Get connected! Would you like to be socially connected?! We are in need of social committee volunteers. Volunteers help prepare fellowship snacks and coffee/juice following the worship service. Contact Laura Chapman (574-238-1874) or the church office if you would like to help. Pastor Ron has started his new Sunday school class called The Searchers; it is held in room 147. Disciple Class - Tuesday Jan. 9 th, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. will start the 11 week Journey through the Gospel of John. The study follows the Disciple Study format of daily personal reading and study, reinforced by a video presentation and discussion during each weekly session. Each session will be about 90 min. The book fee will be $14.00 and it can be payable after class begins. The sign up sheet will be on the small table outside the sanctuary. Last day to enroll will be Sunday, December 24, 2017. If you have any questions please contact Mike Judson at: E-mail: mjudson1756@gmail.com Cell Phone: 574-536-9851 If you would like to purchase a poinsettia this Christmas, there is a signup sheet at the table between the mail boxes. Here we go a caroling! Help us bring Christmas cheer to shut-ins and the beloved senior members of our congregation. Meet at the church on Sunday evening, December 10, at 5:00 for an evening of caroling. Bring along a finger food or snack to share in a time of yuletide fellowship when we return to the church. Steamy hot chocolate will be provided. All ages and voices are welcome! ~ Rosa Troyer & Patti Weirich FUMC sent 94 boxes to Operation Christmas Child. Thank you everyone who participated. This is a great way to spread God s word to children around the world. Youth mark your calendars! Friday, Dec. 22 nd at 5:30 is the annual Christmas Party as Pastor Ron and Lori s house. On Sunday, Dec. 31 st is the New Years Eve lock-in Party from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. FUMC is in charge of working at the food pantry every Saturday in January. They will need about 8 to 10 volunteers who can work from 8:00 to 12ish. We will also need to provide juice, milk, and donuts/rolls/muffins on two of the Saturdays. The sign-up sheet will be at the table between the mail boxes with more information. Pastor Ron and Lori invite all of you to their Annual Christmas Open House Sunday, December 17 th from 1p.m. to 4p.m.
HEALING MINISTRIES Lonnie Franks Tina Miller Don & Berneita Smucker Tom & Donna Carney s daughter Linda Larry Carlson Greg Fiandt John Yoder Deb McGrory Lisa Kyle, Kay Nethercutt s daughter Pray for our Military Personnel and Police Officers Brent Houser, LaGrange County police officer Sgt. Joel Sutterfield, Hamilton County Indiana, Grandson-in-law of Dave & Kay Kimmel Kyle Kalb, Goshen police officer, son of Sandra & Kimber Kalb Alex Houser, Austin Texas police officer, son of Phil & Cindy Houser Buzz Wasson, Air Force reserve Tyler Helmuth, nephew of Eric Houser stationed in Afghanistan Jeremy DeKay, Army, Tom & Donna Carney s nephew Alex Davis, Marine, stationed in California, Grandson of Jeff & Lisa Hernley Brad Wickey, Air Force, friend of Dian & Paul Wilkey Ted Behncke, Army Reserve, Jack & Marilyn Cook s son-in-law Matt Russell, son of Pastor Ron and Lori All Military Families and Families of Police officers Get connected! Would you like to be socially connected?! We are in need of social committee volunteers. Volunteers help prepare fellowship snacks and coffee/juice following the worship service. Contact Laura Chapman (574-238-1874) or the church office if you would like to help. Pastor Ron has started his new Sunday school class called The Searchers; it is held in room 147. Disciple Class - Tuesday Jan. 9 th, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. will start the 11 week Journey through the Gospel of John. The study follows the Disciple Study format of daily personal reading and study, reinforced by a video presentation and discussion during each weekly session. Each session will be about 90 min. The book fee will be $14.00 and it can be payable after class begins. The sign up sheet will be on the small table outside the sanctuary. Last day to enroll will be Sunday, December 24, 2017. If you have any questions please contact Mike Judson at: E-mail: mjudson1756@gmail.com Cell Phone: 574-536-9851 If you would like to purchase a poinsettia this Christmas, there is a signup sheet at the table between the mail boxes. Here we go a caroling! Help us bring Christmas cheer to shut-ins and the beloved senior members of our congregation. Meet at the church on Sunday evening, December 10, at 5:00 for an evening of caroling. Bring along a finger food or snack to share in a time of yuletide fellowship when we return to the church. Steamy hot chocolate will be provided. All ages and voices are welcome! ~ Rosa Troyer & Patti Weirich FUMC sent 94 boxes to Operation Christmas Child. Thank you everyone who participated. This is a great way to spread God s word to children around the world. Youth mark your calendars! Friday, Dec. 22 nd at 5:30 is the annual Christmas Party at Pastor Ron and Lori s house. On Sunday, Dec. 31 st is the New Years Eve lock-in party from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. FUMC is in charge of working at the food pantry every Saturday in January. They will need about 8 to 10 volunteers who can work from 8:00 to 12ish. We will also need to provide juice, milk, and donuts/rolls/muffins on two of the Saturdays. The sign-up sheet will be at the table between the mail boxes with more information. Pastor Ron and Lori invite all of you to their Annual Christmas Open House Sunday, December 17 th from 1p.m. to 4p.m.