Welcome – Pastor Gayle
Bringing in the Light – Acolyte
Call to Worship – Choir
Hymn – People, Look East – UMH 202
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.
Refrain:
People, look east and sing today;
Love, the Guest is on the way.
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
Refrain
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.
Refrain
Angels announce with shouts of mirth
him who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming
with the word, the Lord is coming.
Refrain
Lighting Advent Candle – Love
Let us pray: God of love, may everything we do become an expression of your love. Amen
Hymn – Love Came Down at Christmas – UMH 242
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 neighbor, love for plea and gift and sign.
Jesse Tree Symbol
Praises and Prayer Concerns
Pastoral Prayer – Pastor
Hymn – O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (verse 7) – UMH 211
O come, Desire of nations bind all people in one heart and mind.
From dust thou brought us forth to life; deliver us from earthly strife.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
Scripture Reading – Matthew 1:18-25
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 pregnant from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. 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. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife but had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.
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 – Pastor Gayle
Prayer of Confession: Lord, you have examined me and you know me. You know me at rest and in action; you understand my thoughts from far away. Forgive me for failing to show your forgiving and merciful love to others. Forgive me for being focused inwardly on myself, seeing only my own wants and needs. You trace where I will travel and where I will rest. You are familiar with the paths I will have to take. Shine your holy, healing, and restoring light on me. Guide me to your path of love and grace. Into your hands I commit my spirit and yield my life. 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.
Announcements
Song – Star-Child – The Faith We Sing 2095
Star-Child, earth-Child, go between of God,
love Child, Christ Child, heaven’s lightning rod.
Refrain:
This year, this year, let the day arrive
when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive!
Street child, beat child, no place left to go,
hurt child, used child, no one wants to know.
Refrain
Grown child, old child, memory full of years,
sad child, lost child, story told in tears.
Refrain
Spared child, spoiled child, having, wanting more,
wise child, faith child, knowing joy in store.
Refrain
Hope for, peace Child, God’s stupendous sign,
down to earth Child, Star of stars that shine.
Refrain
Benediction
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Please pray for: Zachary, 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
Christmas Eve Candlelight service at 5 PM
This Week at Cokesbury
Advent Study: 4 weeks The Uncluttered Heart by Beth A. Anderson. Sunday mornings following worship.
Prayer Wednesdays 5:30pm in Narthex
Choir practice Saturdays at 12 noon adults.
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.