First United Methodist Church

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First United Methodist Church

Welcome! We are a Congregation Caring For and About God’s Community

December 5, 2021 – 10:00am Second Sunday in Advent

* Please Stand if you are able

GATHERING AND PRAISE

Prelude: “Creator of the Stars of Night” Sarum Plainsong; arr. Michael McCabe

Welcome and Announcements – Please sign in on the Attendance pads, or use your phone and the QR Code to the right to sign in electronically or use this link: https://form.jotform.com/211785166356159.

*Opening Hymn UMH #209: “Blessed Be the God of Israel” (vs. 1 & 2)

For those who need to see the full music, it is attached at the end of this document CCLI License # 1003593

1) Blessed be the God of Israel, who comes to set us free Who visits and redeems us,

and grants us liberty.

The prophets spoke of mercy, of freedom and release;

God shall fulfill the promise to bring our people peace.

2) Now from the house of David, a child of grace is given;

A savior comes among us to raise us up to heaven.

Before him goes the herald, forerunner in the way.

The prophet of salvation, the harbinger of day!

PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE

*The Lighting of the Advent Wreath – Andy, Stacy, Alexa, Haleigh, & Meredith Sharrow READING (see attached if you’d like to follow along)

UNISON PRAYER: Hope of the World, you invite us to be still and know that you are God. Enter our hearts with your promised light. Free us from our pain, sorrow, and bitterness. Help us treasure the parts of our past that nourish us, but also help us grow beyond the parts of our past that poison us. As we wait for you, birth your hope inside us and give us the courage to share your hope in the face of failure or despair, through Christ our Hope. Amen.

SONG #209 “Blessed Be the God of Israel”, vs. 3:

On prisoners of darkness the sun begins to rise, The dawning of forgiveness upon the sinner’s eyes, To guide the feet of pilgrims along the paths of peace;

O Bless our God and Savior with songs that never cease!

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Time of Silent Meditation

The Pastoral Prayer lifting Celebrations and Concerns

The Lord’s Prayer – 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.

Living Our Gratitude

♫ Please continue to support your church family as we recover from this season of pandemic. Enjoy the musical selection as a time to give

thanks to God for all with which you have been blessed.

Use the QR code to the right or give online here:

https://www.firstumcsaginaw.org/give/

Offertory Anthem: “Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming” arr. Jean Anne Shafferman

The Doxology: Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; UMH #94 Praise God all creatures here below: Alleluia! Alleluia!

Praise God, the source of all our gifts! Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!

Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

The Unison Prayer of Thanksgiving: God of hope and grace, we pray that the gifts we offer this morning might be used in compassion. We give these gifts, hoping they will heal some of the hurting; and as they do, make the crooked road straight for the coming of the Christ. May the hills that separate us from sisters and brothers be made flat and may the valleys of our isolation be raised up, so we will be ready to welcome the Christ as one people. In that holy name, we pray. Amen

Hymn #242: “Love Came Down At Christmas”

1) Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine;

Love was born at Christmas;

Star and angels gave the sign.

2) Worship we the Godhead, Love incarnate, Love divine;

Worship we our Jesus,

But wherewith for sacred sign?

3) Love shall be our token;

Love be yours and love be mine;

Love to God and neighbor, Love for plea and gift and sign.

Children’s Message – A special moment just for kids

Choral Anthem: “Sounds of Advent” arr. Lee Dengler

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Scripture Lesson: Luke 3:1-16 Pew Bible N.T. pg. 56-57 1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, ²during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. ³He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, ⁴as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. ⁵Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; ⁶and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ⁹Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10 And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” ¹¹In reply he said to them,

“Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” ¹²Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” ¹³He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.”

14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.” ¹⁵As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, ¹⁶John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Response to the Word

L: This is the Word of God for the people of God P: Thanks be to God!

The Sermon: “PREPARE THE WAY” Pastor Amy Terhune

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The Sacrament of Holy Communion:

L: The Lord be with you, P: And also with you.

L: Lift up your hearts.

P: We lift them up to the Lord.

L: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

P: It is right to give our thanks and praise!

L: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere,

to give thanks to you, Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth.

You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life.

When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast.

You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God, and spoke to us through your prophets, who looked for the day

when a voice would cry out in the wilderness, and the glory of the Lord would be revealed.

And so with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

P: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might,

Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!

L: Holy are you, and blessed is your son, Jesus Christ,

Whom you sent in the fullness of time to be a light to the nations.

He humbled himself in obedience to your will, and feely accepted death on a cross.

On the night he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said

“Take; eat; this is my body given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Likewise, when the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to you,

gave it to his disciples, and said: “Drink from this all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.

As often as you drink of this, remember me.

And so, in remembrance of these, your mighty acts in Christ Jesus,

we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving, as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

P: Christ has died; Christ is risen, Christ will come again!

L: Let us pray: Holy God, pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here.

And on each person within reach of my voice.

Bless our offerings of bread and juice, that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ; that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.

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By your Spirit, make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world,

until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast together at his heavenly banquet.

Through your son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and forever. Amen.

Those who worship with us in person this morning are invited to come forward, take a cup with a piece of bread and a serving of juice and return to your seats. When all have been served, we will eat the bread and drink the

juice together. Leave your plastic waste in the pew and it will be gathered following worship for recycling.

Those who worship online from home this morning are invited to use what you have in your home (bread, crackers, juice, etc.) to participate in the sacrament along with the congregation.

Special Music During Communion: “Savior of the Nations, Come”

by Johann Walter; arr. Rudy Davenport

WE GO AS WITNESSES FOR CHRIST IN THE WORLD

*Closing Hymn UMH #202: “People Look East”

1) People, look east. The time is near Of the crowning of the year.

Make your house fair as you are able, Trim the hearth and set the table.

People, look east and sing today:

Love, the guest, is on the way.

2) Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare, One more seed is planted there:

Give up your strength the seed to nourish,

That in course the flower may flourish.

Love, the rose, is on the way.

3) Stars, keep the watch.

When night is dim

One more light the bowl shall brim, Shining beyond the frosty weather, Bright as sun and moon together.

Love, the star, is on the way.

4) Angels, announce with shouts of mirth Christ who brings new life to earth.

Set every peak and valley humming With the word, the Lord is coming.

Love, the Lord, is on the way.

*Benediction:

L: Go from worship today in the hope born of faith. May hope be in your speaking, your working, your study, your thinking, and your giving, that Christ for whom we wait may be glorified.

P: We go in hope to love and serve the Lord and all God’s people. Thanks be to God.

Amen.

* Postlude: “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”

13^th Century Plainsong; arr. Gilbert Martin

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The Advent Readings this year are adapted from The Redemption of Scrooge by Matt Rawle.

ADVENT TWO: HOPE

Reader #1: Ebenezer Scrooge is a cold and bitter man. But as we travel together with Scrooge and the First Spirit into Christmases Past, we discover that Scrooge was not always so bitter. He remembers his beloved sister Fran with affection, and his first mentor, Old Mr.

Fezziwig, who threw a holiday celebration for his staff each Christmas.

Reader #2: We also see the first signs of humanity in Ebenezer Scrooge. He feels compassion as he watches his younger self abandoned by his father and excluded by other boys at school. And we see his deep regret when his fiancée ends the engagement. She has

realized that Ebenezer’s love of money has overwhelmed any love he might once have felt for her.

Reader #1: Ebenezer Scrooge is stuck. He is mired in pain and greed which have poisoned his whole being. Scrooge has become mean, scornful, and hard-hearted. And he because he is stuck in his own suffering, he has no peace in his mind and no hope in his heart.

Reader #2: The writer of Hebrews says that “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for.” A hopeless faith is like getting in the car to take a trip, not knowing where you are going.

You trust the trip will go well and you’ll return safely, but without a destination, you wander aimlessly. Hope is what keeps us from following a blind faith. Hope is the destination. And faith trusts that we’re going there together with God.

Reader #1: Today, we light the candles of peace and of hope. We acknowledge Christ as the Hope of the World, trusting then when we slow down and still ourselves within, Christ will free us from the “stuck-ness” of our past and give us hope that we can be part of God’s work to make our world better and brighter. (Light two purple candles)

Reader #2: Let us pray:

ALL: Hope of the World, you invite us to be still and know that you are God. Enter our hearts with your promised light. Free us from our pain, sorrow, and bitterness.

Help us treasure the parts of our past that nourish us, but also help us grow beyond the parts of our past that poison us. As we wait for you, birth your hope inside us and give us the courage to share your hope in the face of failure or despair, through Christ our Hope. Amen.

SONG – UMH #209: Blessed Be the God of Israel, vs. 3

On prisoners of darkness the sun begins to rise, The dawning of forgiveness upon the sinner’s eyes, To guide the feet of pilgrims along the paths of peace;

O Bless our God and Savior with songs that never cease!

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

TODAY’S VOLUNTEERS: Thank you for your service!! Liturgist: Stacy Sharrow / Greeters: Kay Mertz, Bill and Sue Johnson / Ushers: Wayne Henney, Bill Cowdry, Angie Smith and Dr. Larry Kelly HOSPITALIZED THIS WEEK: Carol Brown, Valerie Howey

OUR PRAYERS OF SYMPATHY are extended to the family of Catherine Kovacs (husband Ron) who passed away in Traverse City on 11/26/2021. The Kovacs were members here for many years.

PLEASE HOLD IN YOUR PRAYERS: Mark Abbe, David Barker, John & Myrna Cammin, Bonnie &

Pat Dole, Esther Cavendish Fisher, Dr. Kirk Herrick, Glenn Hinds, Barb Kropp, Walt & Joyce Maltman, Camille Marek, Sheldon Markley, Cheryl Marks, John Mertz, Merlyn Mondol, Bob & Sharon Mueller, Dave & Jean Nelson, Ron Perry, Anne Ruffle, Eugenia Shek, Wendy Southgate, and Mac & Joanna Thompson. Also, please pray for all who are grieving, for UMCOR, for all suffering from Covid-19, for our situation with A Place For Grace, and for a way to peace/equality for humankind.

WEEKEND FOOD BACKPACKS – Hunger doesn’t take the weekend off, therefore we provides 48 backpacks to send home on weekends with children at Westdale and Arrowwood Elementary Schools whose families struggle with food insecurity. We need people to help deliver food to the schools sometime during the school day on Mondays each week. To help, call the church office at (989) 799- 0131 or sign up to help online at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B044DAFAC2BA0FD0-food.

THANK YOU to all who stayed to help Deck the Halls! You’ve made our building lovely for the season!

HELP NEEDED – Families, couples, and individuals needed to light the Advent Wreath at the 5pm Service on Christmas Eve. Also, four readers needed to read scripture at the 7:30pm service on Christmas Eve.

Special Music for Christmas Eve still needed.

CHRISTMAS COOKIE WALK / SALE to raise funds for Youth Mission Trip to Puerto Rico on Sunday, December 19, 2021 immediately following worship. Christmas Cookie donations gratefully accepted.

Get a plate of 1 dozen variety of Christmas cookies for $5.

CARD MINISTRY for December has been cancelled. See you on the 4^th Monday in January at 6:30pm!

TURN IN YOUR 2022 PLEDGE CARDS anytime before the end of 2021. Thank you for supporting your church! Pledge online at https://www.firstumcsaginaw.org/pledge/.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA! Be sure to check in on Facebook! The more of us that do, the more people learn about who we are!

YouTube: Saginaw First UMC Twitter: FirstUMCofSaginaw

Instagram: saginawfumc Facebook: First United Methodist Church of Saginaw

First United Methodist Church

4790 Gratiot Road, Saginaw, MI 48638-6242; (989) 799-0131; Fax (989) 799-4240 e-mail: firstumsag@aol.com website: http://firstumcsaginaw.org

Senior Pastor ... Rev. Amy Lee Brun Terhune ... pastoralbt@outlook.com / (989) 274-6363 (cell phone) Office Administrator/Treasurer ... Dina Draper Custodian ... Tina Castle Organist ... Bryan Latimer Director of Music & Chancel Choir ... Rod Bieber Bell Choir Director ... Catherine McMichael Nursery Supervisors ... Diane Maturen, Carolyn Rottiers Audio Visual Technicians ... Nic Courier, Brian Hatch, Andy Sharrow, Izzy Terhune

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Worship Schedule

• Second Advent 12/5/2021 – Worship/Communion 10:00am

• Third Advent 12/12/2021 – Worship 10:00am

• Fourth Advent 12/19/2021 – All Music Sunday 10:00am

• CHRISTMAS EVE FAMILY WORSHIP SERVICE – 5:00pm

• CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE – 7:30pm

• Christmas Sunday 12/26/2021 – 10:00am ONLINE ONLY

Please note: we will not be worshiping in person on Sunday, 12/26/2021.

To give our staff a holiday weekend off, the service will be pre-recorded and streamed online Sunday morning.

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Mission

CHRISTMAS MIRACLE OFFERING will go to purchase gift cards and needed Christmas Meals for the families of the 48 Backpack Children (see above), plus additional youth from White Pine Middle School and Heritage High School. Our goal is to raise $4K to help 80 families.

Contributions needed by December 12, 2021.

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Education

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS PARTY for kids up to 5^th grade – Sunday 12/12/2021 – 11:30am-1:00pm.

Includes lunch, Bible story, craft, baking project, games, and treats.

YOUTH SHOPPING TRIP for 6^th-12^th graders to Frankenmuth – Sunday 12/19/2021, after sale (Noonish) CHRISTMAS COOKIE SALE for Youth Mission Trip to Puerto Rico – Sunday 12/19/2021 after worship FOUR-WEEK ADVENT ADULT BOOK STUDY on The Redemption of Scrooge by Matt Rawle

Books available from the Main Office for $10.

6:00-7:00pm in person on Tuesdays: 11/30, 12/7, 12/14, 12/21 7:30-8:30pm online on Wednesdays: 12/1, 12/8, 12/15, 12/22