Smithville United Methodist Church
PO Box 293, 505 N Hwy 169
Smithville, MO 64089
816-532-3200
Celebrating Life through Divine Worship
4nd Sunday of Advent
10:00 AM, December 19, 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 home …
PRELUDE - As the music begins, our worship service begins.
ENTRANCE OF THE LIGHT
INVOCATION
Most gracious God, prepared our hearts and minds to receive your gift of deep peace. Take away our weariness of spirit. Hush the anxieties that shout in our minds. Release us from bondage to irritations that deplete our energy. Prepare us now to receive your living Word with joy! Amen.
WELCOME
DEDICATION OF COATS & BLANKETS COLLECTED
*SONGS OF PRAISE “Star-Child” & “The King of Glory Comes”
*LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE
LEADER: The season of Advent continues: Four thousand years of waiting for the Messiah, commemorated by the lighting of four candles.
PEOPLE: We join with a hopeful throng in the lighting of the Advent candles, symbols of our faith and signs of God’s love.
LEADER: We are a people of hope, a people of love.
PEOPLE: We are a people of joy.
LEADER: Today we light the candle of peace.
PEOPLE: This light, too, must brave great darkness.
LEADER: We are conscious that we live in a world too often devoid of peace, and that even as persons, we frequently find ourselves restless and frantic.
PEOPLE: Peace is not merely the absence of war and conflict, but peace that is the fullness of blessings for all – that is the peace for which we dare to hope.
LEADER: The Christ comes to bring peace to those who have been separated from God and one another.
ALL: In the name of that child born so long ago, the Prince of Peace, today we light the candle of peace.
The Crider Family: Lighting the Advent Candle of Peace
SPECIAL MUSIC “Have You Heard” by Choir
CHILDREN’S SERMON – Children are invited to come forward
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”196
SCRIPTURE LESSON Luke 2:8-14
MORNING MESSAGE “The Gift of Peace”
“The Gift of Christmas Peace” a video narration by Lee Hunold
*HYMN FOR GOING FORTH “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” 211
TAKING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST INTO THE WORLD
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
*Please stand if you are able when indicated by an asterisk
Please pray for: Kathy Dibben, Lou Petersen Fred Darr, Carol White, Barb Kravec, Marilyn Phopheter, Janet Anderson, Margaret Calvert and for all the people that are having medical or surgical worries.
The memorial book is opened in loving memory of Bertha Medearis
Altar flowers in honor of the Adult Choir for sharing the gift of music
by Andrea & Madelyn Knutter
CHRISTMAS CAROLING
The SUMC choir invites you to join us in doing some caroling on Wednesday evening, December 22nd. We will meet at the church around 6-6:15 pm to carpool from there. We will be caroling at the two Smithville nursing homes and then will do some doorstep caroling to those who are shut in this season. After the caroling, anyone is invited to Andrea’s dad & stepmother’s home (where Madelyn and Andrea currently live) for some homemade hot cocoa, apple cider, cookies, warm fire and fellowship. Blessings to all this holiday season! Address of Andrea & Madelyn Knutter: 615 NW 144th Street, Smithville, MO 64089, 816-532-8581.
NUMANA CHRISTMAS COLLECTION
We will be taking up a special Christmas collection for Numana. Envelopes are provided in the bulletin or on the table on the east wall of the Great Room. Numana provides meals to countries that are in need of help. We will be packaging meals for Haiti on January 8th with other United Methodist Churches. Please use the envelope on the table against the east wall to make your donation. We have committed the first $1,000 to go to Numana. If we get more than that it will go to the Smithville Ministerial Alliance for the needs of the community.
CHOIR CONCERT AND SING-A-LONG
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2010
7:00 PM
“THE GIFT OF LIGHT”
December 24, 2010
7:00 PM and 11:00 PM
Communion/Worship Service
Christmas Day Dinner will begin at noon on December 25th. Meat and drinks will be provided. Please bring a side dish. This ministry is provided for new SUMC transplants with no close relatives. SUMC members who are confined to their home and a special invite to residents of the Smithville low income housing program. The meal will be followed by games and fellowship. Should the weather not cooperate the reschedule date will be January 1, 2011.
The 2011 Altar flower chart is now available in the Great Room on the bulletin board on the east wall if you wish to sign up for flowers. Flowers are $12.00. Make your check out to SUMC. Please put “flowers” in the memo and drop in the collection or leave in the office. On the chart put your name and what the flowers are for (honor, memory, etc.). If you have any questions please see or call Lu Darr at 532-0106.
QUILTS AND BLANKETS FOR SALE
The quilting and crocheting ladies have several hand crochet baby blankets and children’s quilts for sale. These make wonderful Christmas presents. For more information contact Karen Streiff at 816-532-0372.
SECRETARY ON VACATION
Ginger will be out of the office starting Wednesday, December 22nd and returning on Monday, December 27th. Happy Holidays!
