Piano Meditations

 Slide Show

 Greeting

 

*Silence

*Lighting the candles

 

 Prelude                                “Good Christian Men Rejoice” – arr. Held                                                                       

                                            

*Opening Hymn #238         “Angels We Have Heard on High”

 

 Lighting of the Fourth Advent Candle (see insert)

                               

*Hymn #217                        “Away in a Manger”   

                  (Bring written joys and concerns forward during this hymn.)

 

 Sharing Joys and Concerns

       (After each joy, we pray, “Thanks be to God;” after concerns, “Lord have mercy.”)

 

 Prayers for Illumination #599  (stanza 1)

 

 Old Testament Reading      II Samuel 7:1-11

 

New Testament Reading      Romans 16:25-27

 

*Hymn #216                         “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gospel Reading                 Luke 1:26-38      

 

 Sermon                          

 

 Offerings                           “Come, All Ye Shepherds” – arr. Warner

 

*Doxology #95                   “Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow ”

 

*Closing Hymn #240         “Hark!  The Herald Angels Sing”                                                                                   

              

 Benediction

 

 Postlude                             “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” –arr. Hustad                                     

 

Assisting in worship today:  J. Michael Smith, preacher; Gordon Wilson, organist, and Karen Henderson, piano meditations

__________________________________________________________________________

 

Flowers in the Chancel area presented by Steve & Sandy Ater in memory of their parents, Clara Mae Ater and Alberta & Robert McGeehon

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Contact information for Grace Church

Church phone:  (217)328-1414                       

Address:  2004 Philo Road, Urbana, IL  61802

Check the Web at:  www.urbanagrace.org   (site updated almost daily)

e-mail:  urbanagrace@urbanagrace.org            

pastor’s cell:  898-3148

 

Sources of information

Tapes of Sunday worship and sermons

Weekly letter from the pastor*

“Assorted Notes” from the pastor*

Weekly Update of Church Activities*

Slide show of memories and announcements (before/after worship)

“Snap Shots” of happenings, people in church*

Reports of officers, budget, meetings, church organization (office)

Web site (www.urbanagrace.org)

Sign board along the road, posters and bulletin boards, handouts

 

We are working to make sure everyone receives all the information and material he or she wants—in the form (e-mail, postal, pick up, etc.) best suited to each person.  Please take responsibility to communicate with the office what resources you want and how we can best deliver them to you.  Items marked with an (*) can be picked up in the entryway of the sanctuary.

 

Special services at Grace Church (ask an usher for details)

Nursery service during worship services for all children 4 and under. 

Transportation to and from worship services

Large print bulletins and song sheets.  Hearing aids 

 

Organized Activities around the church this coming week: 14

 (pick up a copy of the Weekly Update for details)

Opportunities for Involvement:  see notebook in the entryway to the sanctuary, or call the office

For spiritual needs or pastoral services:  call the church office:  328-1414

 

 

 Ritual for Lighting the Fourth Advent Candle

 

(Light the first candle.)

 

We light the first candle, reminding us of God’s promise of peace on earth.

 

(Light the second candle.)

 

We light the second candle, reminding us that we are to dispel the darkness of sickness, poverty, injustice, and suffering all around us.

 

(Light the third candle.)

 

We light the third candle, reminding us to be constant and patient in our relationships and

in our living.

 

 Matthew 1:18-25

 

     18.  Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way.  When his mother Mary

            had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be

            with child from the Holy Spirit.

     19.  Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public

            disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.

     20.  But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a

            dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife,

            for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

     21.  She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from

            their sins.

     22.  All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

     23.  “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,

            which means ‘God is with us.’”

     24.  When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he

             took her as his wife, 

     25.  But had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him

            Jesus.

     

O God, we can only admire the righteousness and trust of Joseph, who – in the face of public

scorn and humiliation – took upon himself the responsibility of caring for Mary and her

unborn child, and who was faithful to your call.

(Light the fourth candle.)

 

Lord, may the light of this candle illumine our path through life, so that our way is the way of righteousness, trust, and faithfulness.

                       

Song:  “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear,” stanza 2 (United Methodist Hymnal, 218).

 

       It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old,   

       From angels bending near the earth, to tough 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.                

 

(All):  Come, Lord Jesus, come.  Amen.