December 15th Worship Service

Welcome and Announcements

*Praise Song
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”………..UMH 211

Prelude

*Processional
In this place, among these people
God is worshipped, God is praised.
We have seen the signs and wonders;
The lost are found here, the dead are raised.
We are living the Gospel story;
lives are changed, and mountains moved.
Won’t you come and work among us?
You are welcomed, you are loved.

*Call to Worship
Leader: Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say Rejoice.
All: Our joy is in the Lord who blesses us.
Leader: Shout for joy, for the Lord is near!
All: Our praises ascend to God for the mighty things God has done.
Leader: Let your praise dance and swirl in tribute to God!
All: Surely God blesses and saves us. Hallelujah! Praise be to God. AMEN.

*Gloria Patri……………………………UMH  70

*The Apostle’s Creed, Ecumenical Version………………UMH 882

*Hymn
Lord of the Dance”……………………..UMH 261

Lighting of the Advent Candle

Reader One
All: Faced with the troubles and the suffering of the world, we choose to live in joyful presence to God and one another. We will not turn away from the pain and the hurt in our world, and we will not stop rejoicing in God, whose salvation fills us to overflowing, so that God’s love might flow through us and flood our troubled world with hope, peace, and joy.

Reader Two

Special Music…………………………….Nick Pulaski

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns

The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology…………………………………….…UMH 95

*Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn
In the Bleak Midwinter”…..………..UMH 221

Sharing of the Word

Old Testament Reading
Isaiah 12:2-6……………………………..……..………….Page 558
*Gospel Reading

Luke 3:7-18………………………………………………Page 834

Message by Paster Gary Peterson
“Not All Is Good During This Joyous Season”

Prayer

*Hymn
Joy to the World”…………………..UMH 246

Benediction

Postlude – Please be seated

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard

Liturgist – Reba Peterson

Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News

December 8th Worship Service

Welcome and Announcements

*Praise Song
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”……..UMH 196

Prelude

*Processional
In this place, among these people
God is worshipped, God is praised.
We have seen the signs and wonders;
The lost are found here, the dead are raised.
We are living the Gospel story;
lives are changed, and mountains moved.
Won’t you come and work among us?
You are welcomed, you are loved.

*Call to Worship
Leader: A voice cries in the wilderness:
All: “Prepare the way of the Lord!”
Leader: A challenge is uttered from on high:
All: “Make straight the paths of our God.”
Leader: Every valley will be lifted up.
All: Every mountain will be made low.
Leader: The winding path will be made straight,
All: And every rough way will be made smooth.
Leader: Come! Let us worship the God of our salvation.

*Gloria Patri……………………………UMH  70

*Opening Prayer

*Hymn
Give to the Winds Thy Fears”…………….UMH 129

Lighting of the Second Advent Candle

Reader One
All: In a world driven by a passion to maintain the status quo, we choose to live with a passion for God’s peace, to listen to those who call us to righteousness, and to submit ourselves to God’s grace, that we might be refined and purified until we reflect God’s love throughout the earth.

Reader Two

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns

The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology…………………………………………UMH 95

*Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn
He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought”.…..UMH 128

Sharing of the Word

Old Testament Reading
Malachi 3:1-4……………………..……………….Page 778
*Gospel Reading

Luke 3:1-6…………………..……………Page 834

Message by Paster Gary Peterson
“Preparing To Greet Our Lord”

Prayer

*Hymn……”Away in a Manger”…………………UMH 217

Benediction

Postlude – Please be seated

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard

Liturgist – Ellen Zimmerman

Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News

December 1st Worship Service

Welcome and Announcements

*Praise Song
Blessed Be the God of Israel”………….UMH 209

Prelude

*ProcessionalIn this place, among these people
God is worshipped, God is praised.
We have seen the signs and wonders;
The lost are found here, the dead are raised.
We are living the Gospel story;
lives are changed, and mountains moved.
Won’t you come and work among us?
You are welcomed, you are loved.

*Call to Worship
Leader: As we journey through the Sundays of Advent, listen to the promises of God:
All: A righteous branch springs forth,
Leader: A Promise of justice and righteousness,
All: A promise of safety.
Leader: Listen to the promise of Jesus:
All: The kingdom of God draws near.
Leader: Keep alert; watch for signs of hope.
All: Our Advent journey begins

*Gloria Patri
………………………UMH  70

*Opening Prayer

*Hymn
My Hope Is Built”……………………….UMH 368

Lighting of the First Advent Candle

Reader 1

All: While fear, anxiety, misinformation, and suspicion surround us on every side, we choose to watch and wait in hope, preparing our hearts to notice and cooperate with God’s grace already at work in our midst.

Reader 2

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns

The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology……………………………….…UMH 95

*Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn
I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light”.….UMH 206

Sharing of the Word

Old Testament Reading
Jeremiah 33:14-16………………………..……………….Page 645
*Gospel Reading

Luke 21:25-36……………………………………………Page 856

Message by Paster Gary Peterson
“Come, Let Us Adore Him”

Communion

Prayer

*Hymn
O Come, All Ye Faithful” (ver. 1, 2 & 3)…..UMH 234

Benediction

Postlude – Please be seated

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard

Liturgist – Bev Grumm

Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News

Pastor’s Ponderings

As I promised you on Sunday, November 24th, during worship at the end of my message, I would provide for you in the December Good News Letter, scriptures from the Bible that may speak to you during this Advent Season.

Advent is a season observed by many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting in preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas. During Advent, it is common for followers of Jesus Christ to read and reflect on specific Bible verses or passages that relate to the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love, which are symbolized by the Advent Candles that we light each Sunday during Advent and on Christmas Eve.

For your study during Advent, I would like to suggest these readings from Scripture:

Sunday, December 1st– Isaiah 9:2-6    
Hope                   
Sunday, December 8th – Isaiah 40:3-5
Peace
Sunday, December 15th – Isaiah 12:2-6
Joy  
Sunday, December 22nd – Luke 1:46–55
Love
Tuesday or Wednesday December 24th and 25th, Christmas Eve and Christmas – Isaiah 40:9-11  
Rejoicing

Scriptures to be read and meditated on during other days of Advent:

Isaiah 7:10-13
Isaiah 9:2-7
Isaiah 11:1-10                                                       
Isaiah 40:1-5
Isaiah 52: 7-9                                                       
Genesis 3:8-15
Genesis 15:1-6                                                                              
Deuteronomy 18:15-19              
Psalms 89:1-4
Micah 5:2-3                                      
Zachariah 6:12-13
Malachi 3:1-6                                                        
John 1:1-8                                         
John 1:9-18
Mark 1:1-3                                                              
Luke 1: 5-13                                      
Luke 1:14-17
Luke 1:18-25                                                         
Luke 1:26-35
Luke 1:39-45                                    
Luke 1:46-56
Luke 1:57-66     
Luke 1:67-80 
Luke 2:1-20
Luke 2:2135                                                                                                                  
Matthew 1:18-25
Matthew 2:1-2                                   

As you read scripture from your Bible each day, might I suggest a quiet time and place, maybe a candle flickering. As you read each scripture, look for Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

May this Advent Season be a blessed time filled with the grace of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! .

Announcements and Stuff

Mission Project for December

In the past, Claybanks had assisted Montague UMC with hosting families in the Family Promise Program. With a permanent home now in Muskegon we are reconnecting with Family Promise to sponsor a family for the holiday season. A special Love offering will be taken up on Sunday, December 8th to support a family with gifts for the children and parents of a family.

Peru Mission Update
From Richard Lindell

Preparations are continuing for the mission trip with his church. They are preparing medical supplies, clothes, and eyeglasses which will be distributed between everyone’s checked baggage for the trip. Travel plans are being completed for the group. Richard will continue to keep us up to date on the trip as their departure date comes closer. He is appreciative of our prayers and support.

Upcoming Worship Schedule

DECEMBER
 SCRIPTURE AND MESSAGE

Sunday, December 1
First Sunday of Advent
Jeremiah 33;14-16
Luke 21:25-36
Come, Let Us Adore Him

Sunday, December 8
Second Sunday of Advent
Malachi 3:1-4
Luke 3:1-6
Preparing To Greet Our Lord

Sunday, December 15
Third Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 12:2-6
Luke 3:7-18
Not Is All Good During This Season of Joy?

Sunday, December 22
Micah 5:2-5a
Luke 1:26-45
Are We Ready to Receive The Promise?

Tuesday, December 24
6 p.m. – Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Light and Joy

Sunday, December 29
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
Luke 2:15-21
Going Home Transformed

November 24th Worship Service

Welcome and Announcements

*Praise Song
Rejoice, the Lord Is King”……………UMH 715

Prelude

*Processional
In this place, among these people
God is worshipped, God is praised.
We have seen the signs and wonders;
The lost are found here, the dead are raised.
We are living the Gospel story;
lives are changed, and mountains moved.
Won’t you come and work among us?
You are welcomed, you are loved.

*Call to Worship
Leader: Blessed are those who trust God, whose trust is in the Lord.
All: They are like trees planted by water, sending out roots by the stream.
Leader: They have no fear of summer’s heat, nor do they wither in the sun.
All: Come to the waters of life all you who trust in the Lord. We have come to worship and to send forth our roots into streams of God’s living water!

*Gloria Patri……………………………UMH  70

*Opening Prayer

*Hymn
This Is My Father’s World”…………………UMH 144

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns

Shalom Offering

The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology……………………………UMH 95

*Prayer of Dedication

*HymnGreat Is Thy Faithfulness”…………….UMH 140

Sharing of the Word

Epistle Reading
2 Timothy 3:16-17………………………..……………….Page 967
*Gospel Reading

Luke 24:28-32……………………………………………Page 861

Message by Paster Gary Peterson
“Preparing for Advent Through our Bible”

Prayer

*Hymn
Soon and Very Soon”………………..UMH 706

Benediction

Postlude – Please be seated

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard

Liturgist – Konnie Grant

Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News