1. family and parenting
2. children

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP
Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 21, 2014 Altar Color: Purple
PRELUDE
Bill Kutz, Organist
Variations on “Adeste Fideles” (O Come, All Ye Faithful) – Marcel Dupre
What Child Is This – Richard Purvis
CHIMING OF THE HOUR
*PROCESSIONAL (ANTHEM)
Chancel Choir
Angels’ Carol – John Rutter
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
*MOMENTS OF FRIENDSHIP AND OPPORTUNITY
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
240
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH
Scott & Angie Bigham, Kadie & Peyton Burton
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
*GLORIA PATRI
The Apostles’ Creed
881
70
OFFERING
OFFERTORY SOLO
Jennifer Wiggins, Mezzo Soprano
O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings To Zion – G.F. Handel
(From “THE MESSIAH”)
*DOXOLOGY
95
SILENCE & PASTORAL PRAYER – LORD’S PRAYER
CHILDREN’S SERMON
John MacKeil
*SONG OF PRAISE
Emmanuel, Emmanuel
Emmanuel, Emmanuel, his name is called Emmanuel.
God with us, revealed in us, his name is called Emmanuel.
204
Candlelight Carol – John Rutter
SERMON
*HYMN OF PARTING
God Is Jealous
Chancel Choir
Rev. Alice MacKeil
Angels We Have Heard on High
*BENEDICTION
*EXTINGUISHING OF THE ALTAR CANDLES
*CARRYING OUT OF THE LIGHT
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE
Shalom to You
Shalom to you now, shalom, my friends.
May God’s full mercies bless you, my friends.
In all your living and through your loving,
Christ be your shalom, Christ be your shalom.
Monday, December 22, 2014
No Centering Prayer
No Christian Believer
No Young Adult Small Group
Wednesday, December 24, 2014 – Church Office Closed
5:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve Nativity Practice
6:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Thursday, December 25, 2014 – Church Office Closed
Merry Christmas!!
Sunday, December 28, 2014
9:45 a.m.
Sunday School Assembly (FH)
11:00 a.m.
Worship
No UMYF
Monday, December 29, 2014
No Centering Prayer
No Christian Believer
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
No Young Adult Small Group
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
No Children’s Activities
No Jimmy Townsend Handbell Ringers
No Chancel Choir
Thursday, January 1, 2015 – Church Office Closed
Happy New Year!!
Sunday, January 4, 2015
9:45 a.m.
Sunday School
11:00 a.m.
Worship
No UMYF
ATTENDANCE:
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE
Exodus 34:14 [Pg. 71]; Deuteronomy 6: 13-15 [Pg. 143]
ANTHEM
4th SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Sunday School Assembly (FH)
Worship
Contemporary Praise Service (Sanctuary)
No UMYF
“God Is Jealous”
Unwrap these questions this week:
This Christmas, will you put God first?
Will you open your heart and your life to God’s leading?
Will you trust in God’s great love and dare to believe that God’s plans for you
are greater than anything you can imagine?
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
*CALL TO WORSHIP
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
(vs. 1 & Refrain) 211
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.
Refrain: Rejoice, Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
*OPENING PRAYER
*OPENING HYMN
Sunday, December 21, 2014
9:45 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m.
UNDER WRAPS: The Gift We Never Expected
Our Pastor will continue our Advent Sermon Series this week called,
Under Wraps: The Gift We Never Expected.
238
Acolytes
Acolytes
666
*POSTLUDE
Bill Kutz, Organist
Toccata on “Mendelssohn” (Hark, The Herald) – David Willcocks
12/7
12/14
S. SCHOOL
WORSHIP
38
32
132
169
CHURCH OFFICE HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
The Church Office will be closed the following days:
 Wednesday, December 24, 2014
 Thursday, December 25, 2014
 Thursday, January 1, 2015
NEWSLETTER SCHEDULE
We will not be mailing out a newsletter next week (Christmas week). The
next mailing will be on December 31. The January calendar will be mailed in
that issue. Since the January calendar will not be mailed out next week, we
would like to wish the following a “Happy Birthday”:



January 1st: Laura Culbertson and Jane Nash
January 2nd: Erica Sutton Culbertson
January 3rd: Anmei Rupnick
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for fighting for our hearts – for my heart. I
confess that I easily wander away from you and give my heart to things and
people. I confess that I often love myself more than I love you. Help me to
understand the power of your love for me, and teach me how to show your
love to others. Be first in my heart, Lord. Make me ready to receive all that
you want to do in and through me. Amen.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!
CHURCH LEADERSHIP RETREAT
Saturday, January 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Please pick up a 2015 Church Leadership list on the table outside of Karen’s
office so you can see what Committees and Ministry Teams you are to serve
on in 2015. All are invited to attend our CHURCH LEADERSHIP
RETREAT on Saturday, January 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in the
Fellowship Hall. The Leadership Retreat will begin with Pastor Alice leading
in a time of meditation and vision for our church. Then the major church
committees (Evangelism, Worship, Education, Missions, Finance, and
Trustees) with members of Ministry Teams under them will meet to evaluate
2014 and make plans for 2015. We will close by meeting back together again
to hear reports from each of the committees.
MEMORIALS
In Memory of: Mintor & Gertrude Brown
Given by: Margaret B. Young
In Memory of: Albert Busby
Given by: Emil & Mary Lou Finley; Anita & Jack King;
Michael & Dianne Sutton
In Memory of: Miriam Dawson
Given by: Libby Boone
In Memory of: Florene Wise
Given by: Carol & Gene Curry; Emil & Mary Lou Finley;
Mrs. Dorothy McConnell
HONORARIUM
In Honor of: Bill & Elizabeth Kutz
Given by: Myron Stockman
SERVING THIS MORNING: Sunday, December 21, 2014
Sunday School Greeters: Harry & Penny Pabst; Spike & Melissa Tilden
Ushers: Jim Stroud, Diane Allen, Tom Ashley, Toby Dillard
Crucifer: Mollie Ashley
Acolytes: Katelyn Martin, Sarah Roberts
Adult Helpers: Tom & Shannon Ashley
Lay Liturgist: Homer Elwood
Nursery: Susan Pruitt
Children’s Church: Linda Brown, Dianne Sutton
Martha Franks Driver: Emil Finley
Flowers: The flowers are given in loving memory of Mr. & Mrs. Horace
C. Patterson and Wyatt Carlisle Roper and are given by Bill Patterson
Family.
SERVING: Sunday, December 28, 2014
Sunday School Greeters: Emily Terrell, Jean & Donna Whitlock
Ushers: Randy Hillmann, Dick Althouse, Buck Crabtree,
Willie Jones, Gene Madden
Crucifer: Mollie Ashley
Acolytes: Katelyn Martin, Sarah Roberts
Adult Helpers: Tom & Shannon Ashley
Lay Liturgist: John MacKeil
Nursery: Hannah Patterson
Children’s Church: Noel, Hope, & Emily Spencer
Martha Franks Driver: Emily Terrell
Prayer Concerns
Emma Allen – mother of Paula Moss who has been ill
Libby Boone – health issues – 113 Forest Dr., Laurens
Jane Ann Cassell – hip replacement surgery at Laurens Co. Mem. Hospital
Jane Dzelzitis – recuperating at McCready Manor
Bobby O’Bryant – under Hospice care for lung cancer
Bill Taylor – breathing problems and weakness – 710 E. Main St., Laurens
CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY is extended to Jack & June Templeton and
Betty Jo Templeton & Family on the death of their brother-in-law, Jim
“Hawk” Hawkins.
MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGEMENT
Nancy Babb – 1 Martha Franks Dr., DS 110 & 112
Thomas Gallman – (brother of Greenwood District Secretary) – NHC of
Laurens, 301 Pinehaven St. Ext., Rm. 423A
CHRISTMAS EVE
CANDLELIGHT SERVICE
Wednesday, December 24
6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
This worship service will include a live nativity, scripture readings,
the singing of Christmas carols, solos, Holy Communion, and lighting a
candle as we sing “Silent Night.
SOCK TREE
We will be collecting socks during the month of December for
the children at Epworth Children’s Home. Please place socks on
the small tree located in the back of the Small Sanctuary.
At First United Methodist Church
we challenge each other to be BOLD,
to step out in faith as disciples of Jesus Christ.
BIBLE VERSE FOR DECEMBER
But when the right time came, God sent his Son,
born of a woman, subject to the law.
God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law,
so that he could adopt us as his very own children.
Galatians 4: 4-5 NLT
“NOT A SILENT NIGHT”
Please join us for our Advent / Christmas study this Sunday,
December 21st at 9:45 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. This week’s
discussion leader is Allan Burden.
THE
FIRST
UNITED
METHODIST
CHURCH
LAURENS, SOUTH CAROLINA
Vol. XXXI I
December 21, 2014
No. 50
343530262723N2221No.1010091006070351515515051
No.N484744342438393738373673637
CONTEMPORARY PRAISE SERVICE
Sunday, December 21st
6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Special Christmas music by our own Praise Band.
Speaker: Don Hocker
$ $ $ $ $ REMINDER $ $ $ $ $
According to income tax regulations, a contribution must be received by
December 31st in order to be counted as a donation in 2014. A check that is
dated in December but not received until January, while it can be counted
toward your 2014 pledge, must be reported as a 2015 contribution for tax
purposes. The only exception to this rule is a check that is mailed and
postmarked in December 2014.
FINANCIAL REPORT
December 16, 2014
MONTH TO DATE
YEAR TO DATE
Revenue - - - - - - $ 22,145.66
$ 295,148.09
Expenses - - - - - $ 16,081.91
$ 276,608.78
Net - - - - - - - - - $ 6,063.75
$ 18,539.31
STAFF MEMBERS
Pastor
Financial Secretary
Director of Music/Organist
Church Secretary
Ministers
Alice MacKeil
Lucy Crowder
Bill Kutz
Karen Reeder
Entire Congregation
Church Phone Numbers
984-7696 or 984-2067
984-2969 (fax)
715-0430 (Parsonage)
864-420-0004 (Pastor’s Cell)
e-mail addresses
[email protected]
[email protected]
4th Sunday of Advent
Web Page Address
firstmethodistlaurens.com
But when the right time came, God sent his Son,
born of a woman, subject to the law.
God sent him to buy freedom for
us who were slaves to the law,
so that he could adopt us as his very own children.
Galatians 4: 4-5 NLT