December 24, 2023 9:30 am Service

December 24, 2023 9:30 Worship Service
 
Prelude
Stephanie Shorden

Greeting
Rev. David Petty

Threshold Moment
Rev. David Petty
 
Sanctuary Choir
Upon this moment, upon this people, upon this place, the holy comes. And sacred knowing brings sacred being for sacred doing of God’s plan.

Pastor: Take one more deep breath and open your eyes slowly. As you are ready, I invite you to stand in body or spirit and face the back as the lights come into our midst. For those worshiping online, you are invited to light whatever candles you have available to you.

Witham & Edwards Family: Readers:
Please repeat after me [us]:
 
We pray for Peace this day.
We pray for Peace this day.
 
We open to see the Sacred reflected in all things.
We open to see the Sacred reflected in all things.
 
We open to see our deepest selves
We open to see our deepest selves
as a gift of holy presence.
as a gift of holy presence.
 
This is the gift of the Christ Mystery,
This is the gift of the Christ Mystery,
lighting the way to peace.
lighting the way to peace.
 
Congregation Sings
Upon this moment,
upon this people,
upon this place,
the holy comes.
And sacred knowing
brings sacred being
for sacred doing of God’s plan.
 
 *Gathering Songs
 The First Noel
 V. 1,2, 4 UMH #245
 WORDS: Trad. English carol (Luke 2:8-14; Mt. 2:1-12)
 
 1. The first Noel
the angel did say
was to certain
poor shepherds
in fields as they lay;
 
 in fields where they
lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night
that was so deep.
 
 Refrain
 Noel, Noel,
Noel, Noel,
born is the
King of Israel.
 
 2. They looked up
and saw a star
shining in the east,
beyond them far;
 
 and to the earth
it gave great light,
and so it continued
both day and night.
 
 Refrain
 Noel, Noel,
Noel, Noel,
born is the
King of Israel.
 
 4. This star drew nigh
to the northwest,
o’er Bethlehem
it took its rest;
 
 and there it did
both stop and stay,
right over the place
where Jesus lay.
 
 Refrain
 Noel, Noel,
Noel, Noel,
born is the
King of Israel.
 
 Angels We Have Heard on High
 v. 1, 2 UMH #238
 WORDS: Trad. French carol; trans. Crown of Jesus, 1862, alt. (Lk 2:6-20)

  1. Angels we have
heard on high
sweetly singing
o’er the plains,
 
 and the mountains
in reply
echoing their
joyous strains.
 
 Refrain
 Glo - - - - - ri – a,
in excelsis Deo!
Glo - - - - - ri – a,
in excelsis Deo!
 
 2. Shepherds,
why this jubilee?
Why your joyous
strains prolong?
 
 What the gladsome
tidings be
which inspire your
heavenly song?
 
 Refrain
 Glo - - - - - ri – a,
in excelsis Deo!
Glo - - - - - ri – a,
in excelsis Deo!
 
 Mystery Box

  Prayer Song
 Emmanuel
 UMH #204
 WORDS: Bob McGee, 1976 (Mt. 1:23)
 © 1976 C. A. Music (div. of Christian Artists Corp.)

  Emmanuel,
Emmanuel,
his name is called
Emmanuel.
 
 God with us,
revealed in us,
his name is called
Emmanuel.

Prayer, Silent Prayer and, The Lord’s Prayer
Jackie Fletcher

  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. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power and the Glory forever.
 Amen

  Prayer Response
 Emmanuel
 UMH #204
 WORDS: Bob McGee, 1976 (Mt. 1:23)
 © 1976 C. A. Music (div. of Christian Artists Corp.)

  Emmanuel,
Emmanuel,
his name is called
Emmanuel.
 
 God with us,
revealed in us,
his name is called
Emmanuel.

  Invitation to Offering
 Jackie Fletcher

  Offertory
 Gesu Bambino arr. Mark Hayes
 Deb DeLaney

  Prayer of Thanks and Dedication

 Rev. David Petty
  *Doxology
 Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow
 
 Praise God, from whom
 all blessings flow;
 Praise God, all creatures
 here below: Alleluia! Alleluia!
 
 Praise God, the source
 of all our gifts!
 Praise Jesus Christ,
 whose power uplifts!
 
 Praise the Spirit,
 Holy Spirit!
 Alleluia! Alleluia!
 Alleluia!
 
Scripture Reading
 Isaiah 7:10-16, Matthew 1:18-25
 Jackie Fletcher

  Isaiah 7:10-16:  Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” Then Isaiah said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.”

  Matthew 1:18-25  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 pregnant from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. 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 become pregnant and give birth to 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 given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.

  Prayer for Illumination
  Leader: May the words of my mouth,
People: and the meditations of all of our hearts
All: be acceptable in your sight, O Lord our rock and our redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

  Message
 Sacred Knowing
 Rev. David Petty

  *Hymn
 Joy to the World
 v. 1, 2, 4 UMH #246
 WORDS: Isaac Watts, 1719 (Ps. 98:4-9)

  1. Joy to the world,
the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
let every heart
prepare him room,
 
 and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven,
and nature sing.
 
 2. Joy to the world,
the Savior reigns!
Let all their songs employ;
while fields and floods,
rocks, hills and plains
 
 repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat
the sounding joy.
 
 4. He rules the world
with truth and grace,
and makes
the nations prove
the glories of
his righteousness,
 
 and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders
of  his love.
 
 Let There Be Peace on Earth
 UMH #431
 WORDS: Sy Miller and Jill Jackson
 © 1955.  Assigned to Jan-Lee Music, © renewed 1983

  Let there be peace on earth,
and let it begin with me;
let there be peace on earth,
the peace that was
meant to be.
 
 With God our creator,
children all are we.
Let us walk
with each other
in perfect harmony.
 
 Let peace begin with me;
let this be
the moment now.
With every step I take,
let this be
my solemn vow:
 
 to take each moment
and live each moment
in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
and let it begin with me.
 
 *Benediction
 Rev. David Petty

  Postlude
 Stephanie Shorden