December 20, 2020

 

 

PETALUMA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

THE WORSHIP PODCAST

December 20, 2020

THE 4^th SUNDAY IN ADVENT

The Order of Service

BIRTHING THE PROMISE

Advent 4

 

 

PRELUDE:  “It Came Upon  Midnight Clear”  played by Marilyn Lee, Organist

 

GREETING:  Pastor Schuyler Rhodes

 

ADVENT WORDS AND CANDLE LIGHTING: Charlotte Peterson

                                                           

CALL TO WORSHIP: Elizabeth Truesdell

Into this moment we are called as mid-wives awaiting a birth.

Into this season we are pulled by the chords of love as we make our way to the manger.

Into this world we are placed as ones who have been touched by this birth we await.

Come, let us gather our doubts and our inattention as God calls to focus and to worship.

Come, let us offer hour hearts and our lives to the Holy Child.

 

OPENING HYMN: “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” (UMH 203) played by Marilyn Lee

1 Hail to the Lord's Anointed,
great David's greater Son!
Hail in the time appointed,
his reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression,
to set the captive free;
to take away transgression,
and rule in equity.

2 He comes with succor speedy
to those who suffer wrong;
to help the poor and needy,
and bid the weak be strong;
to give them songs for sighing,
their darkness turn to light,
whose souls, condemned and dying,
are precious in his sight.

 

CALL TO CONFESSION: Rob Bickmore

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Elizabeth Truesdell

Gracious God, we feel the vibrating presence of your love as we await your coming in the child Jesus.  We feel a rising kind of joy.   We sense your longing for us and we know that it is not you but we who are hesitant and frightened.   We know that is is we and not you who allow ourselves to be trapped in the web of our wounds and our hurt; our cynicism and our anger.   So we pray a Christmas prayer of confession.    Forgive us, God, for those things that we have left undone, knowing that you call us to do them.   Have mercy on us for those things that we have done that hurt and wound.    Prepare us, we pray, for the coming of this child.  Awaken in us a new found joy as we take this baby in our arms and accept your precious gift of new life.   Hear us, hold us, shake us up as we stand trembling as the angels sing. AMEN

 

WORDS OF ASSURANCE: Rob Bickmore

 

SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 1: 26-38

read in English by Elizabeth Truesdell

read in Fijian by Vakatawa Sekuri Yadraca

 

SPECIAL MUSIC: “My Soul Magnifies the Lord” by Schuyler Rhodes and Lisa Quoresimo

 

SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 1: 46b-55

read in English by Nora Tallent

read in Fijian by Vakatawa Sekuri Yadraca

 

SERMON: “Birthing the Promise” Pastor Schuyler Rhodes

 

THE PASTORAL PRAYER: Pastor Schuyler Rhodes

 

THE LORD’S PRAYER:     

read in English by  Charlotte Peterson 

read in Fijian by  Vakatawa Sekuri Yadraca

 

THE OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS AND TITHES:  Pastor Schuyler Rhodes

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OFFERTORY:  “The Snow Lay on the Ground”  played by Marilyn Lee

 

PRAYER OF DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT:   Pastor Schuyler Rhodes

 

CLOSING HYMN: “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”  (UMH 218) played by Marilyn Lee

1 It came upon the midnight clear, 
that glorious song of old, 
from angels bending near the earth 
to touch their harps of gold: 
"Peace on the earth, good will to men, 
from heaven's all-gracious King." 
The world in solemn stillness lay, 
to hear the angels sing. 

2 Still through the cloven skies they come 
with peaceful wings unfurled, 
and still their heavenly music floats 
o'er all the weary world; 
above its sad and lowly plains, 
they bend on hovering wing, 
and ever o'er its Babel sounds 
the blessed angels sing. 

 

THE BENEDICTION:  Pastor Schuyler Rhodes

 

POSTLUDE: “O Come All Ye Faithful” played by Marilyn Lee