ADVENT 4

St. Paul’s United Church, Boissevain, Manitoba 11 a.m. Sunday, December 18, 2016 Second Sunday of Advent (LOVE) White Gift Sunday Minister: Rev. Rolanda Taylor St. Paul’s Musician: Brenda Lyons WELCOME AND GATHERING    **Please stand if you are able   Prelude Greetings and Church Announcements

Announcements · Sunday, December 18, 2016 - Children’s nativity - Please join us after the service in the lower hall for Soup & a Bun, a Sweet and beverage! Thanks to G.I.F.T. for providing and serving the lunch in celebration of our children! · Wednesday, December 21, 2016 - The Longest Night - Palliative Care group - CE building for the evening. We will decorate during the day as well. · Saturday, December 24th, 2016 - Christmas Eve service at St. Paul’s 5:00 pm and Minto - 6:30 pm. · Thursday, January 12, 2017 Worship Team meet · Tuesday, January 24th, 2017 -LGBT Group now known as Boissevain Community GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) meet in the CE room at 7:00 pm · Confirmation classes start spring of 2017. For those interested please contact Rev. Rolanda Taylor. · Consider PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance). If you wish to give to St. Paul’s United Church by this method or would like more information on it, please call Cora at the church office 204-534-6347.  · If anyone is donating in response to the stewardship canvass, please indicate that it is a stewardship donation. · PFLAG Canada provides information and support, compassion and understanding to all people with questions or concerns about sexual orientation and gender identity. For more information there are brochures at the back of the church, or contact SERC, 161-8th St., Brandon, (204) 727-0417. · During the week when rooms or areas are being used please assure that the following is done: · Turn down the heat when leaving · Turn off all the lights inside and outside · Keep marked doors in the basement closed Please help us keep costs down     

Hymn of Praise: VU #60 “O Come All Ye Faithful” 1 Hymn of Praise: VU #60 “O Come All Ye Faithful” 1. O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; come and behold him, born the King of angels: R R: O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord. 2. God of God, light of light, lo, he abhors not the virgin's womb, very God, begotten, not created: R

VU #60 “O Come All Ye Faithful” cont’d 3 VU #60 “O Come All Ye Faithful” cont’d 3. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, sing, all ye citizens of heaven above; Glory to God in the highest: R R: O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord. 4. See, how the shepherds summoned to his cradle, leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear; we too will thither bend our joyful footsteps; R

VU #60 “O Come All Ye Faithful” cont’d Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to thee be all glory given; word of the Father, now in flesh appearing: R R: O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

Invitation to Worship God Call To Worship: (responsive) God is with us Invitation to Worship God Call To Worship: (responsive) God is with us! We know God is with us; the prophets foretold God’s Promised One. We believe God is with us, for we have read the story of Joseph’s acceptance of Mary, whom God had chosen. We experience God with us, for our hearts are moved with the wonder of God’s love, in the child who is to be born. We will prove God is with us through words of compassion and deeds of caring. God is with us. Emmanuel, we give God thanks!

(Two Blue Candles and One Pink Candle are Lit) Advent Lighting Welcome to the Season of Advent. Each week, as we mark this special time before the celebration of Jesus’ birth, we will light the Advent Candle of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Today, we will light the Advent candles of Hope, Peace, and Joy.   (Two Blue Candles and One Pink Candle are Lit) Wake up! Open your ears! Jesus is coming, He’s practically here! He’ll teach us to love those we like and those we don’t, for his love is stronger than ours on its own.

Light of the Advent Candle of Love (Blue Candle) Thank you, God, for sending Jesus, your gift of love to the world. Help us to work with him to bring love to those whose hearts are broken or filled with anger and pain. Let this candle remind us that the light of Christ is shining in our hearts and can spread from us to others when we live in love. Amen. Sue Browning, Grace U.C., Sarnia Ont. The Gathering. 2009/10 Year C Seasonal Ideas and Resources

** Advent Hymn: VU# 7 “Hope is a Star” (vs. 1, 2. 3) 1. Hope is a star that shines in the night, Leading us on till morning is bright. R   R: When God is a child there joy in our song. The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid. 2. Peace is a ribbon that circles the earth, giving a promise of safety and worth. R 3. Joy is a song that welcomes the dawn, telling the world that the Saviour is born. R

Prayer of Confession: You stand by us, O God, when our life is turned upside down. You stand by us, when we are supposed to make changes to our lives. You stand by us, when we are afraid and we feel we are alone.

Assurance of Pardon (responsive) Accepting a new way for ourselves is taken in small steps. It is not easy, however, we can start a new beginning. Living God, may your Holy Spirit help us to love ourselves and others more. Help us to give each other: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love that we know that you are present in our lives. Amen.

THE GOOD NEWS We await for the Saviour who brings Love Scriptures: Luke 1:1-20 This is the Good News that Jesus brings to all nations! We thank You, O God, For Bringing Us Hope, Peace, Joy and Love! CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

Message: God With Us! Hymn of Praise/Choir Anthem: VU #74 “What Child is This” 1. What child is this, who laid to rest, on Mary's lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet while shepherds watch are keeping? R   R: This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary!

Hymn of Praise/Choir Anthem: VU #74 “What Child is This” cont’d R: This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary!   Why lies he in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christians, fear; for sinners here the silent Word is pleading. R So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh, come, one and all, to own him. The King of kings salvation brings; let loving hearts enthrone him. R

VU #541 “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow” OUR RESPONSE   Minute for Mission The Offering: **Dedication VU #541 “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow” Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures high and low; Give thanks to God in love made known: Creator, Word and Spirit One.

**Offering Prayer When the world is ready for the coming of Jesus, nations will talk peace, and back their words with actions. When the church is ready for the coming of Jesus, members will encourage each other, and share with the wider faith community. When each one of us is ready for the coming of Jesus, our struggle with security will be over, and we will know God’s love for us and with us forever. God will bless these gifts as we prepare for the coming of God’s Promised One. To God be glory and praise! Amen.

**Closing Hymn of Praise: VU #75 “While Shepherds Watched Their Flock”  Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession **Lord’s Prayer **Closing Hymn of Praise: VU #75 “While Shepherds Watched Their Flock” 1. While shepherds watched their flocks by night all seated on the ground, the angel of the Lord came down, and glory shone around.

VU #75 “While Shepherds Watched Their Flock” cont’d 2. "Fear not," said he, for mighty dread had seized their troubled mind; "glad tidings of great joy I bring to you and humankind. 3. "To you, in David's town this day is born of David's line a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord; and this shall be the sign:   4. "The heavenly babe you there shall find to human view displayed, all meanly wrapped in swathing bands, and in a manger laid."

VU #75 “While Shepherds Watched Their Flock” cont’d 5. Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith appeared a shining throng of angels praising God, who thus addressed their joyful song:   6. "All glory be to God on high, and on earth be peace; good will to all from highest heaven begin and never cease."

Benediction The task of God was experienced by Mary and Joseph **Benediction The task of God was experienced by Mary and Joseph. It is there for us too! The hope of God was experienced by Mary and Joseph. The peace of God was experienced by Mary and Joseph. The love of God, in the baby Jesus, was embraced by Mary and Joseph. Emmanuel, God is with us too!

VU #29 “Hark the Glad Sound” vs. 1 **Choral Response: VU #29 “Hark the Glad Sound” vs. 1 Hark the glad sound, the Saviour comes, the Saviour promised long. let every heart prepare a throne, and every voice a song.   Choral Amen Thank you for joining us in worship today Reproduction of music text is with permission under license 606994 Today’s lectionary is taken from Prayers to Share: Responsive Prayers for each Sunday of the Church Year. David Sparks. Wood Lake Publishing 2016.

VISITORS’ GUEST BOOK We are happy you have come to share in Worship with us this morning. Please sign the Guest Book by the entranceway.