Smithville United Methodist Church
PO Box 293, 505 N Hwy 169
Smithville, MO 64089
816-532-3200
Celebrating Life Through
Divine Worship
1st Sunday of Advent
10:00 AM, November 28, 2010
The time of centering: God calls us now in this Christmas season to become new, to make room for our own nativity, even where there is no room at the inn. Where we are fearful – Hope. Where we are bitter – Love. Where we are sad – Joy. Where we are busy – Peace. Let this hour be a time to embrace all these gifts from God. Welcome …
PRELUDE - As the music begins, our worship service begins
ENTRANCE OF THE LIGHT
INVOCATION
Today we begin the Advent journey to Bethlehem. For Joseph and Mary, it was an arduous
journey from Galilee to Judea, from Nazareth to their ancestral home in
Bethlehem. But just as God is with us in
the journeys of our lives, God was with them – giving them hope, preparing the
way, even as the prophet had predicted.
WELCOME
*SONGS OF PRAISE “Emmanuel, Emmanuel”
“How Majestic is Your Name”
*LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE
LEADER: Christians around the world begin this day to
await the advent of Christ. We join with
a joyous and hopeful throng in lighting the Advent candles, symbols of our
faith and signs of God’s love.
PEOPLE: We gather as a people of hope.
LEADER: Christian people around
the world stand today in breathless anticipation of a miracle that has been
repeated for hundreds of years, yet that astounds us anew each year.
PEOPLE: Our hope springs anew, from an ancient vision.
LEADER: As we light the first Advent candle, let it
stand for hope based not on wishful thinking, but on deep conviction. We believe, we have seen, we have received
the Promise and the Great Gift, and therefore, in the midst of darkness and
imperfection, we hope.
PEOPLE: We gather expectantly, joyfully, and with deep commitment, for we have
heard that a special Child is to come, that God is to be among us, and that
soon we will see a new creation on earth.
We are a people of hope.
The Mewmaw Family: Lighting the
Advent Candle of Hope
CHILDREN’S SERMON – Children are invited to come forward
SPECIAL MUSIC Debbie
Shoaf
TIME OF PRAYER
Silent Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
OUR DISCIPLESHIP OF GIVING
Offering
*Doxology
*Pray of Dedication
*HYMN OF PREPARATION “Come, Thou Long Expected
Jesus”
SCRIPTURE LESSON Matthew 1:18 -21
MORNING MESSAGE “The Gift
of Hope”
UNISON READING
We believe in God, our source of hope, which though fragile and often
dashed is surprising strong and resilient.
We believe that hope is given so that we can wake each morning with a
sense of wonder. We believe that hope is
woven with faith and love to form a tapestry of beauty and possibility. We believe that out of suffering and destruction
can emerge something new, a new earth with the mark of God upon it. We believe our efforts make a difference and
transform hope into bread for the hungry, clothes for the poor, and love for
the forgotten. We believe the church is
a community of hope, living the love of Jesus for all creation, continually
renewed each Advent season by the fresh winds of the Spirit.
*HYMN FOR GOING FORTH “O Come, O Come
Emmanuel”
TAKING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST INTO THE WORLD
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
*Please stand if you are able when indicated by an asterisk
