BATH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
340 Oak Grove Ave. Bath, ME 04530
Phone 443-4707; parsonage 443-4574
Website: www.bathumc.org
E-mail: [email protected]
Facebook.com/Bath United Methodist Church
Sunday School: 10:15 a.m. for children
Pastor Office Hours: Mon. and Wed. 9-5
Church Office Hours: Mon., Tues., and Thurs. 9-noon
Welcome to
United Methodist Church of Bath
December 21, 2014
We Gather as God’s People
Greetings and Announcements
Lighting of the Candles/Silent Prayer
Introit
“O, Holy Night,” A. Adam
“Angels We Have Heard on High”
Judy Rathbun, Wendy Morton, Rian Lewis
Lighting the Advent Candle
One: Rejoice always! Pray without ceasing.
All: We give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus.
Light the first, second and third candles
One: Rejoice, for the Gospel of the Lord has been spread and lives have been transformed. Like Mary,
we praise and thank the Lord for the good news of God’s reign breaking in to our broken world. When
God’s reign breaks in, an ordinary and powerless girl named Mary becomes the most blessed of
women. God continues to do great things for all those who come with faith. God stands with the
weak, lifts up the small, defends the persecuted, fills the hungry and remembers the forgotten. Our
God values people first no matter how miserable, lowly and beat down they are. That gives us hope
and joy as we proclaim and embody the Gospel to the world. The Good news of the Lord has been
announced to the world!
All: Our spirit rejoices.
One: We sing of God’s love and goodness and faithfulness to the people.
All: Our soul vui mu’ng.* (*“Rejoice” in Vietnamese, phonetically “vwee muhng”)
One: Let us share the good news of God’s reign with joy and gladness and thankfulness.
All: Our heart rejoices.
Light the fourth candle.
One: Rejoice always!
All: The Child of peace is coming!
*Opening Hymn
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (verses 1-4)
UMH 211
Blessing One Another
Special Music
“The Birthday of a King”
Judy Rathbun
We Hear God’s Word
Scripture
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Romans 16:25-27
Quiet Meditation
A Time for the Child in All of Us
*Hymn
Scripture
Message
“To a Maid Engaged to Joseph”
Luke 1:26-38
UMH 215
We Respond to God’s Word
Sharing Our Thanksgivings and Petitions
Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
We Offer our Morning Gifts and Tithes
Offertory
“The Little Drummer Boy”
Rian Lewis, Abby Lewis
*Doxology: Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise Him, all creatures here below; praise Him
above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Offering Prayer of Dedication: God of the wilderness, we give these offerings in gratitude, rejoicing in
the abundance of your gifts to us. We give these offerings in faith, trusting that you will provide for our
needs. We give these offerings in hope, knowing you can use them to spread your love in this world. And
with these offerings, we give ourselves; may we live with generous hearts, with open hands. Amen.
We Go Forth in Witness and Service
*Hymn of Parting:
*Benediction
“What Child Is this”
Closing Voluntary
(* Indicates stand if you are able)
UMH 219
The altar flowers today were provided by Deanna and Bob Wayman in celebration of Mae and Bob
Wayman’s anniversary.
Today is the last opportunity to sign up to receive the Upper Room Discipline. The order will be placed
tomorrow. The sheet is on the table in the Narthex.
Christmas Eve services will be held at the church at 4:00 pm and 11:00 pm.
services will be at 4:00 pm.
Upcoming Events
1st and 2nd Sundays: Choir Practice in the Tower Room, 9:30 am
Every Monday 5-7 pm: Weight Watchers
Every Tuesday: Bible Study at 10:00 am and 7:00 pm
Every Tuesday 7-9 pm: Barbershop Group
Every Wednesday: Prayer Group at 2:00 pm
Every Wednesday: Girl Scouts troop 6:00-7:30 pm
Every Thursday: Women’s Ecumenical Bible Study 9:00 am
Dec 24: Christmas Eve services at 4:00 pm and 11:00 pm
Dec 31: New Year’s Eve service at 4:00 pm
Jan 8: Trustees meet 7:00 pm at the church
Jan 11: Finance Committee meets after church service
Jan 17: Men’s Club meets 8:30 am at Mae’s Cafe
Jan 17: Fried Chicken Supper 4:30-6:00
Serving This Morning – Ministers – All of Us
Greeters – Katherine Barter & Judi Rittall
Lector – Shirley Lewis
Organist – Iris Fields
Teachers – Pastor Neil, Mary Truesdell
Webmaster – Bob Wayman
Ushers – Wendy Morton & Cheryl Lewis
Coffee Host– Deanna Wayman
Videographer – Ralph Lewis
Child Care Provider – Abby Lewis
Newsletter Coordinator: Myrtle Hicks
New Year’s Eve