Welcome to New Hope United Methodist Church December 28, 2014

Today:Youth Group, 5:30 p.m. Monday: Prayer Meeting, 7 p.m. – All are welcome Wednesday:Ministry at McDonald’s, 12 noon – All are welcome Community Meal, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. – All are welcome! Coming Soon:Trustee Meeting, January 5 th, 7 p.m. Choir Practice Resumes, January 7th Finance Meeting, January 8 th, 7 p.m. Children’s Choir/Chime Resumes, January 11 th New Testament Bible Study begins, January 11 th, 8:30 a.m. Mark Your Calendar! 100 th Anniversary Homecoming! May 17 th, 2015

Meditation Isaiah 63:7 NRSV I will recount the gracious deeds of the LORD, the praiseworthy acts of the LORD, because of all that the LORD has done for us, and the great favor to the house of Israel that the LORD has shown them according to his mercy, according to the abundance of his steadfast love.

Musical Prelude Bringing in the Light of Christ

Call to Worship - Aston Williams (Psalm 148:1-5) One:Praise the LORD! Many: Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise the LORD in the heights! One:Praise the LORD, all ye angels; praise GOD, all the heavenly host!

Call to Worship (cont) Many: Praise the LORD, sun and moon; praise GOD all you shining stars! One:Praise the LORD, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Many: Let us praise the name of the LORD, for the LORD spoke and everything was created. Amen.

Angels from the Realms of Glory Hymnal # 220 Used By Permission. CCLI License #

Angels from the realms of glory, wing your flight o’er all the earth; ye who sang creation’s story now proclaim Messiah’s birth: Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King.

Shepherds, in the field abiding, watching o’er your flocks by night, God with us is now residing; yonder shines the infant light: Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King.

Sages, leave your contemplations, brighter visions beam afar; seek the great Desire of nations; ye have seen his natal star: Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King.

Saints, before the alter bending, watching long in hope and fear; suddenly the Lord, descending, in his temple shall appear: Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King.

Lighting of the Christmas Candle

Opening Prayer (based upon Psalm 148:11-14) Praise the LORD rulers of the earth and all peoples! Young men and women alike, old and young together, we praise the name of the LORD, for God’s name alone is exalted; GOD’s glory is above earth and heaven. The LORD has raised up a horn for God’s people, so we gather to offer ourselves in thanks and praise. Amen.

Children’s Time Lauren & Powell Smith

What Child is This Hymnal # 219 Used By Permission. CCLI License #

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?

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.

This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary.

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh, come, peasant, king, to own him; the King of kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone him.

This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary.

Special music Gesu Bambino Susan Di Bianca And David Jett

Offering Our Gifts to God

Traditional Praise Response Hymnal #95 Used By Permission. CCLI License #

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Good Christian Friends, Rejoice! Hymnal # 224 Used By Permission. CCLI License #

Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; give ye heed to what we say: News, news! Jesus Christ is born today!

Ox and ass before him bow, and he is in the manger now. Christ is born today, Christ is born today!

Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; now ye hear of endless bliss: News, news! Jesus Christ was born for this!

He hath opened heaven’s door, and ye are blest forever more. Christ was born for this, Christ was born for this!

Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; now ye need not fear the grave: News, news! Jesus Christ was born to save!

Calls you one and calls you all to gain his everlasting hall. Christ was born to save, Christ was to save!

Prayers of the People Responses: Joys: Thanks be to God! Concerns: Lord, have mercy. Silent Prayer

Hymnal #895 Used By Permission. CCLI License #

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.

Gloria Patria Hymnal #70 Used By Permission. CCLI License #

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

O Little Town of Bethlehem Hymnal #230 Used By Permission. CCLI License #

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie; above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above, while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love. O morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth, and praises sing to God the King, and peace to all on earth!

How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given; so God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!

Luke 2:21-24 NRSV -Barbara Roberson After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

Hark the Herald! Hymnal #240 Used By Permission. CCLI License #

Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King; peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”

Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies; with th’angelic host proclaims, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!” Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the ever lasting Lord; late in time behold him come, offspring of a virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th’incarnate Deity, pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings.

Mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die, born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth. Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Luke 2:25-27 NRSV -Gail Hall Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple;

Luke 2:27-32 NRSV and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

Luke 2:33-35 NRSV And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Seeing God at Work

Love Came Down at Christmas Hymnal #242 Used By Permission. CCLI License #

Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine; Love was born at Christmas; star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead, Love incarnate, Love divine; Worship we our Jesus, but wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token; love be yours and love be mine; love to God and all men, love for plea and gift and sign.

Luke 2:36-38 NRSV - Tony Marino There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Benediction May the God of Anna and Simeon, Mary and Joseph, you and me, cause us toe grow like Jesus, in wisdom and strength. May the grace of God be upon us. Amen.