December 13, 2009                Third Sunday of Advent                                9:30 a.m.       

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Prelude            “O Come, O Come Emmanuel/Emmanuel”   (Tornquist)           Joel Dizon

- A time for quiet meditation as people gather to worship

- Think and know that God is in our midst                    

Contemporary Songs of Praise                                                                       

            · “People, Look East”                                                                                 UMH #202

            · “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light                                                    UMH #206

        · “Toda la Tierra”                                                                                          UMH #210

Welcome (guests are honored, birthdays and wedding anniversaries are celebrated)

+ Lighting of Advent Candles                                                 John & Karen Carpenter

    L: We light the third candle as a symbol of Christ our Joy. May

         the joyful promise of your presence, O God, make us rejoice in

         our hope of salvation. O come, O come, Emmanuel.

    P:  Loving God, your Church joyfully awaits the coming of its Savior, who

         enlightens our hearts and dispels the darkness of ignorance and sin.               

+ Call to Worship (Responsively)                                                    Debbie Wise

Sing praises to the Lord, who has done marvelous things.

   Let it be known in all the earth.

Shout aloud and sing for joy,

   For in our midst is the Holy One of Israel.                                        [Isaiah 12]

+ Opening Hymn                  “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed”                               UMH#203

+ Invocation                                                                                                     Debbie Wise

Words of Welcome/Greeting                                                                          Pastor Fred

WE LISTEN TO GOD’S WORD

Children’s Moment                                                                                    Karen Carpenter          

(Children 5 and under are invited to the nursery downstairs)

Scripture Lessons                  Zephaniah 3:14-20 (OT 1110)                          Debbie Wise

                                                  Philippians 4:4-7 (NT 291) 

Gospel Lesson                              Luke 3:7-18 (NT 89)                                   Debbie Wise

An Advent Message        There’ll Always Be A Christmas                  Chancel Choir                                    

A nursery is provided downstairs for children from infant up to age 5 only.

Sunday School starts before the sermon, continuing until the fellowship hour begins. Young people remain in service. Children’s bulletin are available in the entryway.

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

+ Hymn                         “Take My Life, and Let It Be”                   UMH #399

Announcement of Ministry Opportunities                                         Pastor Fred

Sharing of Our Tithes and Offerings

Offertory                                                                                                     UMYF         

+ Response  “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”         UMH #94

      + Prayer of Dedication                                                         Debbie Wise

Sharing our Joys & Concerns                                                     Pastor Fred

   L: In Your mercy/In our joy                C: Lord, hear our prayer.

Pastoral Prayer/The Lord’s Prayer                                                     UMH #895

WE GO FORTH TO SERVE

+ Hymn                               “Joy to the World”                             UMH #246

+ Closing Prayer & Benediction                                                Pastor Fred

                        Join us for fellowship downstairs !        

Meditation

Almighty God, the Source of all joy: We ask that we, being gathered together in the unity of faith to await the coming of your Son, may go forth undefiled to meet Him in the company of all your saints; Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit dwells in glory everlasting. Amen.

                       [GELASIAN SACRAMENTARY; ALT. TJC]

Third Sunday Lectionary Theme

The Messiah who floods into our world at Advent is more than a spiritual phenome- non: he is also an ethical, moral, political demand. John the Baptizer, the one who introduces a Messiah who saves by calling forth a new people who not only believe in Him but who also follow Him down a narrow, sometimes perilous, ultimately life-giving way to freedom. If I am preaching today (our choir is), I would have titled my sermon, “Could Something Spiritual Be Political As Well?” The good news that comes among us at Advent (see the last two readings in Luke chapter 3) tells that it is also demanding news. It first denounces about humanity’s wrongdoings, shortcomings, and rebelliousness against God; and then it announces the ought-to-hear good news of salvation to be found in Jesus Christ alone.  

Next Week’s Lectionary Readings ~ 4th Sunday of Advent

Micah 5:2-5a

Luke 1:47-55

Hebrews 10:5-10

Luke 1:39-45

Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.

Welcome Visitors!

We are happy you are worshiping with us! Please take the time to fill out the welcome pad as it is passed in your row. If you need assistance for settling in and/or serving in a faith community, please feel free to contact the pastor or anyone of us.

                           Announcements                            

·         Today, young people will give Offertory Number during worship service.

·         Today, Chancel Choir is performing Christmas Cantata.

·         Today at 3:00pm, Parsonage Open House (merienda fellowship)

·         Dec 16-24, 6:30pm, “Simbang Gabi” (Christmas Watch Service)

·         Save the date, Dec 24, 7:00pm , Christmas Eve Service

·          Dec 26-30, Youth Christmas Institute (in the Philippines)

·         Save the date, Dec 31, 8:00pm, Covenant Renewal Service

·         To update membership directory, please provide the office your complete mailing/ home address, telephone no, and e-mail address. Most specially if there are changes to save postage in the case of returned mails.

·         Sign-up now for January Worship Leadership: liturgist, greeters, ushers, etc.

·         Thank you to our December serving group, people whose last names begin with A.

ATTENDANCE & OFFERINGS

CHURCH WEEKLY GATHERING SCHEDULE