Greeting – Greet each other in the name of the Lord. Good Morning! Buenes Dias. Welcome. Bienvenidos.
Let us know of your presence if you are joining us on-line. Prayer requests may be emailed to cokesburyumc@gmail.com
Lighting of Advent Candle
Reading: After the angel came to Mary and told her that she would conceive the child in her womb and would call him Jesus, Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) And Mary sings her song of praise: “My soul magnifies the Lord…. He has scattered the proud. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones. He has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry. He has provided for the poor.” We marvel at Mary, the mother of the Messiah, herself a single, teenaged mother, herself poor and powerless. But she understood that the baby she would call Jesus was sent, not just to her, but to the world. He was sent to the hungry; to the weak; to the very young and very old; to those who suffer or are in pain.
Light the fourth candle of the Advent wreath
Reading: As we light this fourth candle to remember Mary, the mother of Jesus. May the light of this candle also remind us that the light of Jesus shines for everyone. Let us pray: Lord, help us see your reflection in everyone we encounter, especially those we assume are different from us. Help us learn to be part of the answers to one another’s prayers. Amen
(Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent by Enuma Okoro)
All: Come, Lord Jesus. Amen
Song – O Come, All You Faithful – UMH 234
O come, all you faithful, joyful and triumphant.
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold him, born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore him, O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all you citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;
O come, let us adore him, O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
C. Frederick Oakeley, John Francis Wade CCLI# 31054
Scripture – Luke 1: 39-45
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
L: The word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God!
Song – Come, Emmanuel – Worship and Song 3130
Come and speak to us, come and renew us,
come and live through us, Emmanuel.
Grace to implore us, ever before us,
come and restore us, Emmanuel.
Come, Emmanuel; come Emmanuel. Come, Emmanuel; come, Emmanuel.
Love that begins us, pardons and wins us,
come and reign in us, Emmanuel.
Come and speak to us, fill and renew us,
come and live through us, Emmanuel.
Come, Emmanuel; come Emmanuel. Come, Emmanuel; come, Emmanuel.
Twila Paris CCLI# 3999938
Sermon – Rev. Gayle Porias
Pastoral Prayer
Offering Song – Love Has Come – Worship and Song 3059
Love has come, a light in the darkness!
Love shines forth in the Bethlehem skies.
See, all heaven has come to proclaim it;
hear how their song of joy arises:
Love! Love! Born unto you, a Savior!
Love! Love! Glory to God on high.
Love had come and never will leave us!
Love is life everlasting and free.
Love is Jesus within and among us.
Love is the peace our hearts are seeking.
Love! Love! Love is the gift of Christmas.
Love! Love! Praise to you, God on high!
Words: Ken Bible. Music: Traditional French. CCLI# 2060820
Prayer of Dedication:
(All) Loving God, your Church joyfully awaits the coming of its Savior, who enlightens our hearts and dispels the darkness of ignorance and sin. Pour forth your blessings upon us and upon our humble gifts. Make them acceptable to be used in your service to promote justice and mercy for all the people of the world. Amen
Song – Star-Child – The Faith We Sing 2095
Star-Child earth-Child go-between of God,
love Child, Christ Child, heaven’s lightening rod.
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.
This year, this year, let the day arrive
when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive!
Grown child, old child, memory full of years,
sad child, lost child, story told in tears.
This year, this year, let the day arrive
when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive!
Spared child, spoiled child, having, wanting more,
wise child, faith child, knowing joy in store.
This year, this year, let the day arrive
when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive!
Hope-for-peace Child, God’s stupendous sign,
down-to-earth Child, Star of stars that shine.
This year, this year, let the day arrive
when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive!
Shirley Erena Murray and Carlton R. Young CCLI#1929319
Benediction: When the light is not as bright; when the darkness takes over; May the glowing ember within- the love of God- be fed and nurtured by the hope we share with each other. Love is come and will continue to enter into our hearts and our lives, transforming us into the image of Jesus Christ.
Ushers will dismiss us row by row beginning with the back rows. You may leave your offering in the
plate at the back. Please do not gather in the narthex after the service but go to the parking lot for
fellowship.
Announcements
Christmas Eve services at 3PM and 7PM
Ushers needed for Sunday worship. Please call Gordon Freeman at 703-680-4629 for information and to volunteer.
Poinsettias for the Sanctuary. You are invited to purchase and bring a poinsettia for the sanctuary on Sunday December 19th . You may take them after Worship on December 26th.
Handbell Choir: Practice for Christmas Eve on Saturday December 18 at 2pm
Hat and Mitten Tree: The air is turning cold and we want all children to have warm clothing for the winter. Winter hats, scarves, and mittens are needed. Please bring new, unused items and hang on the Hat and Mitten Tree. Also, you may make monetary donations towards coats and boots that will be purchased for children in need of these items at Featherstone Elementary School.
The Cokesbury UMC Prayer Group meets weekly at the church on Mondays at 6pm on Zoom – all are invited to join and participate! Please send or share all prayer concerns with Pastor Gayle so we may give each concern prayerful attention.
https://zoom.us/j/98610851248?pwd=MVZkSHlPeGdyLzhZT2o5WVh2NGpuUT09
Meeting ID: 986 1085 1248 Passcode: 940573
One tap mobile: +13017158592,,98610851248#,,,,*940573# US (Washington DC)
Advent Prayer December 22nd at Noon in sanctuary and on Facebook Live,
A.C.T.S is in need of the following items:
Canned Vegetables, especially peas, 15 oz size, Low sodium canned vegetables, Snack items, individually packed, Pop-top canned prepared meals suitable for our homeless clients, Single serve prepared food suitable for our homeless clients, Laundry Detergent, Dish Detergent, Cleaning Supplies in general, Toiletries and Personal Hygiene Items, Size 4T pull-ups, Size 6 diapers.
The Finance Committee will be providing a monthly Cokesbury Financial Health report.
October Revenue: $7,618.80
Expenses $9677.71
Loss: $2058.91
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