Advent 4
A Time to Center Ourselves for Worship
The Snow Lay on the Ground: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tcBHZDJHMw
Light a Candle
C
all to Worship: responsive
One:
Into our world as into Mary’s womb…
All:
Come, Lord Jesus
One:
Into the forgotten places, as into the stable…
All:
Come, Lord Jesus.
One:
Into the lives of the poor, bringing hope; in to the lives of the
powerful, bringing rest; into the lives of the wise, bringing restlessness; and
into our lives and longings; whatever our estate….
All:
Come, Lord Jesus.
One:
This is the good news: Christ is coming, and blessed are those who wait
on the Lord
All:
Therefore come quickly, Lord.
Amen.
Cloth for
the Cradle
A Time for Children--Pray for children everywhere that the promised peace that comes with God's child may be known to them.
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
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. And lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Old Testament: Isaiah 7:10-16
*Hymn: O Come, O Come Emmanuel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C65aJef1J_Y
Gospel: Matthew 1:18-25
Sermon: Someone like me?
In the Gospel lesson we learn of Joseph who is ready to leave the whole pregnant girlfriend situation behind. He is a kind man so he is willing to do this in a quiet manner but leave her he will. It is in a dream that the angel comes and suggests something different, something crazy, something that in a million years Joseph would never have planned for himself. But that is God for us, always expecting more for and through us.
We often have our own best laid plans ones that seem doable, or at least on a par to our ordinary living, even in our adventures we exercise a bit of restraint. How often do we have a safety net or backup plan in place when we set off for something out of character? How often do we rest in place waiting for just the right moment to make a move?
The truth is that recognizing we are not in control is often the moment we become free to accept the crazy and seemingly impossible God has planned for us.
In the movie Evan Almighty, God asks a senator named Evan to build an ark and starts changing him to be like Noah-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrP8aOsM5RU
When God really grabs a hold of us there is no going back. Joseph could not turn back once he accepted his role in delivering Christ to the world, we cannot turn back once we realize that we too are called to deliver Christ to the world. How do we do that? With love for our neighbor, by sharing meals and stories with those who are not like us, we bring Christ to the world by extending kindness and respect to others. The Prince of Peace was born with the help of a simple man named Joseph and will be born again this season with the help of someone like you. "Really someone like me?" "Yes someone like you?" Thank God.
*Closing Hymn: Let There Be Peace on Earth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRFNg-Eyt_0
Benediction/Postlude:
You are the God who is always coming to us. help us open our hearts to all you want to give us, and tell us and ask of us. Help us to be willing to live with desire, and newness, and wonder, and truth, and to give ourselves up to the journey. Susan K Bock
Weekly Announcements:
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No Quilting
Monday the 23rd.
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Christmas Eve
Service 6:30 (Family friendly)
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A.A Friday at
12:00pm
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Pastor Gayle
will be available Monday, Tuesday and Friday this week
Cox Memorial United Methodist Church
Middle St. Hallowell, ME 04347
(207) 622-6636
Pastor: Gayle Holden
Cell phone: 751-0273
E-mail: gayle.holden62@gmail.com
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