Welcome – Pastor Gayle
Bringing in the Light – Acolyte
Call to Worship – Choir
Hymn – Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming – UMH 216
Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as those of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
when half spent was the night.
Isaiah ‘twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
with Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind.
To show God’s love aright, she bore to us a Savior,
when half spend was the night.
O Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
dispel in glorious splendor the darkness every where.
True man yet very God, from sin and death now save us,
and share our every load.
Lighting Advent Candle – Joy
Let us pray:
God of joy, may we dream dreams and share tales of hope as we enter into this third week of Advent. We praise you might name. Amen
Hymn – O Little Town of Bethlehem (verse 3 ) – UMH 230
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.
Jesse Tree Symbol
Praises and Prayer Concerns
Pastoral Prayer – Pastor
Hymn – O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (verse 6) – UMH 211
O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thy justice here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
Scripture Reading – Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his
kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
L: The Word of God in scripture; for the Word of God within us and for the Word of God among us we say:
All: Thanks be to God.
Message – “God’s Joy” – Pastor Gayle
Prayer of Confession: O God, whose will is justice for the poor and peace for the afflicted, let your herald’s urgent voice pierce our hardened hearts and announce the dawn of your kingdom. We confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not done your will and rebelled against your love. We have not loved our neighbors, and have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Let our complacency give way to conversion, oppression to justice, and conflict to acceptance of one another in Christ as we yield joyfully to your way and will of love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pastor: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
People: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
Glory to God. Amen.
Passing the Peace – May the peace of Christ be with you.
Offering – Joyfully offering our time, talent, energy, and resources
Doxology – UMH 95
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
praise God all creatures here below,
praise God above you heavenly hosts.
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Holy Communion
The Great Thanksgiving – UMH 9
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Pastor: And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Pastor: in union with Christ’s offering for us as we proclaim the mystery of faith:
All: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
The Lord’s Prayer – UMH 895
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 for ever. Amen.
Sharing the Bread and Cup – All are invited to the Lord’s table to receive the bread (the body of Christ, the Bread of heaven) and the cup (the blood of Christ, the cup of salvation).
Prayer of Thanksgiving – UMH 11
Announcements
Song – I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light (verse 3) – UMH 206
Benediction
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Please pray for: Bel, Steve, Donna and Fred, Kyle, Jackson-Hester family, Gordon and Joan, Judy S., Jaxson F., Brenda, Israel, Palestinans, Barbara H., Marc T., Blanche, Bob and Kathy, Nalo, Wenona, Mark Y., Louise Y. Requests will be kept on the list for 4 weeks and then may be re-submitted. Send prayer requests to Pastor Gayle- prayer cards or email cokesburyumc@gmail.com
This Week at Cokesbury
Advent Study: 4 weeks “The Uncluttered Heart” by Beth A. Anderson. Sunday mornings following worship through December 24th.
Prayer Wednesdays 5:30pm in Narthex
Weekend food packing after worship in fellowship hall.
Choir practice Saturdays at 12 noon adults. 2pm children.
Later this month
Christmas Family Fun Night: cookie decorating, crafts, carols, chocolate, cider, cinema. Saturday December 23rd. 4:00pm.
Christmas Eve Candlelight service at 5:00pm
Welcome Table Potluck second Sundays at 11:30 am.
Friday with Friends every Third Friday at 11 am. Bring a bag lunch. Food and conversation.
Loving Our Neighbors
Featherstone and Rippon Schools:
- Weekend food bags. See shopping list for needed items. Also, gallon size zip lock bags.
- Winter clothing, socks and underwear. See list.
Community Garden: See the new garden plots.
English Language class next semester begins in March
Connect with Cokesbury:
703.494.5400
Gmail : CokesburyUMC@gmail.com
Website : CokesburyUMC.church
Facebook : facebook.com/cokesburywoodbridge
YouTube : youtube.com/@cokesburyumcwoodbridge5242
Instagram : instagram.com/cokesburyumc_woodbridge/
Contact Pastor Gayle: 703.980.1029. Mondays are her sabbath.