First Sunday of Advent
Prelude
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship—Rev. Ron White
Leader: How shall we prepare this house for the coming of the King?
People: With branches of cedar, the tree of Royalty.
Leader: How shall we prepare this house for the coming of the Eternal Christ?
People: With garlands of pine and fir, whose leaves are ever-living, ever-green.
Leader: How shall we prepare this house for the coming of a Savior?
People: With wreaths of Holly and Ivy, telling of his passion, death, and resurrection.
Leader: How shall we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Son of God?
People: By hearing again the words of the prophets who foretold the saving work of God.
Leader: For God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the World, but that the world through him might be saved.
People: Glory to God in the Highest.
Opening Prayer: Rev. Jason Elmore
1st Carol —“Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates”—UMH #213 (vs. 1-2, 4)
Reader 1: The Meaning of this Service (Hanging of the Greens)—Rev. L. Bryan McClain
Reader 2: Advent—Lynn Tostaine
2nd Carol —“Hail to the Lord’s Anointed”—UMH #203 (vs. 1-2)
Reader 3: Preparing the Sanctuary—Evergreen—Larry O’Dell
Reader 4: The Holly & Ivy—Linda O’Dell
Wreaths will be hung on the doors and the holly and ivy placed on the altar rail
Reader 5: The Christmas Tree—Gene Hawkins
Reader 6: The Christmas Lights—Hugh Miles
The Tree is Lit
Reader 7: The Chrismon—Jolee Hutcheson
UMW—Carolyn Bowman—will share the history about two special Chrismons
3rd Carol —“Star-Child”—TFWS #2095 (vs. 1, 5)
Reader 8: The Christmas Poinsettia—Tom Koertge
Flowers will be placed around the front of the church as music is played
4th Carol —“Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”—UMH #216 (vs. 1, 2)
Reader 9: The Paraments and Advent Colors—Kristie Willis
Reader 10: Covering the Communion Table—Mike Collins
Reader 11: Purple, The Color of Royalty—Jody Fridley
Purple Stole will be placed on Pastor Bryan
Reader 12: The Advent Candles—Carolyn Sharp
Curtis and Unetta Jones will light the first advent candle
5th Carol —“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”—UMH #211 (vs. 1)
Reader 13: The Nativity—Unetta Jones
Children will be invited to set up the Nativity as “Away in a Manger” is sung
6th Carol —“Away in a Manger”—UMH #217
Reader 14: Christmas Carols—Rev. R. Jason Elmore
7th Carol —“Angels We Have Heard on High”—UMH #238 (vs. 1-3)
Reader 15: The Christ of Christmas—Rev. Ron White
Reading Unison—Matthew 1:20b — 21
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save your people from their sins.”
Offering
Offertory—The Chancel Choir—“Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”
Benediction—Rev. L. Bryan McClain