First Sunday of Christmas
MT. TABOR LUTHERAN CHURCH
December 28, 2014
First Sunday of Christmas
Lessons and Carols
During Christmastime, our attention is drawn to the holy family: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. We, too, are
God's children and part of a holy family, set apart through the baptismal waters in which we have
been washed. As we end one year and begin another, we ask how God's likeness in Christ may become
more visible in us, God's new offspring.
PRELUDE
“Carols of Christmas”
“Silent Night”
Traditional
Joel Raney
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CHRISTMAS DIALOG
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
For a child has been born for us, a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
GATHERING SONG
“Angels We Have Heard on High”
ELW 289
OPENING PRAYER
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray. All-powerful and unseen God,
the coming of your light into our world has brightened weary hearts with peace.
Call us out of darkness, and empower us to proclaim the birth of your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen
LESSONS AND CAROLS
First Reading:
“Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”
Second Reading:
“O Little Town of Bethlehem”
Third Reading:
“The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came”
Fourth Reading:
“Angels, from the Realms of Glory”
Fifth Reading:
“Away in a Manger”
`
Isaiah 9:2-7
ELW 272
Micah 5:2-5a
ELW 279
Luke 1:26-35, 38
ELW 265
Matthew 1:18-25
ELW 275
Luke 2:1-7
ELW 277
Sixth Reading:
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
Luke 2:8-20
ELW 270
Seventh Reading:
“Joy to the World”
Luke 2:21-22, 25-33
ELW 267
Eighth Reading:
“What Child Is This”
Matthew 2:1-18
ELW 296
Ninth Reading:
“In the Bleak Midwinter”
OFFERING
ANTHEM
OFFERTORY HYMN
John 1:1-14
ELW 294
Silence for Reflection
“Christmas Hymn”
“Good Christian Friends, Rejoice”
Grant/Smith
ELW 288
RESPONSIVE PRAYER
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God's people on earth.
Blessed are you, Prince of peace. You rule the earth with truth and justice.
Send your gift of peace to all nations of the world.
Blessed are you, Son of Mary. You share our humanity.
Have mercy on the sick, the dying, and all who suffer this day.
Blessed are you, Son of God. You dwell among us as the Word made flesh.
Reveal yourself to us in word and sacrament that we may bear your light to all
the world.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come,
thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
BLESSING
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May you be filled with the wonder of Mary, the obedience of Joseph, the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the determination of the magi, and the peace of
the Christ child. Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit bless you now and forever.
Amen.
SENDING HYMN
“Go, Tell It on the Mountain”
ELW 290
DISMISSAL
Go in Peace, Serve the Newborn King!
Thanks be to God!
POSTLUDE
“Love Has Come”
Joel Raney
Lord Teach Us To Pray:
As God’s people called to love one another, let us pray for the following members of our church family, who
celebrate the anniversary of their baptism this week: Sara Berrian, Pam Burnett, Patricia Elledge, Vivian
Gaughan, Rick Lusk, Blanche Lybrand, Dusty Rhodes, Wade Roof, Irina Roof, Roger Smith, Larry Taylor,
Rhett Thomas III.
For Recovery and Healing:
It is our desire to keep the needs of God’s children for healing in our prayers. Please feel free to lift up these
names and any others you are aware of who are in need of healing by speaking their names out loud or
sharing them in your private thoughts during the time of prayers for healing in our petitions.
Members of Mt. Tabor:
Skeet Addy, Dot Jacobs, Frank Smith, Ross Barber, Jimmy & Hazel Rauch, Lois Cromer, Patrick Bradshaw, Lester Blume, Butch Anderson, Bill & Hilda Belch, Larry Bedenbaugh, Joyce Riley, Helen
Culpepper, Mike Lown, Nancy Sharpe.
Family and Loved Ones of Mt. Tabor:
Jimmy Dale Rauch, Carolyn Bickley, Iris Wellborn, Bill Hunnicutt, John Sippel, Misty Smith, Beverly J.
Hall, Sara Quinton, Rusty Coogler, Pam Bajuscik, J.P. Reilly II, W.S. (Bubba) Plowden, Crystal Collum,
Issac Hayes, Toy Nettles, Tiffany Moore, Cindy Clark, Adelynn Peterson, Rita Mellichamp.
Members of Mt. Tabor Serving in the Military:
Dallas Phillips
Family and Loved Ones Serving in the Military:
Jacob Roe, Jordan Henderson, Cody Spires, Zachery Gayden, Tyler Jones, Paul Catoe, Patrick Morris, Ben
Barron, Barry Duncan, Michael Barfield, Adam Mintz, Ben Able, Michael Hook, David Mathews, Bernd
Koehler, John Ward.
The Family Of:
Richard Price, Kathryn Petruskey, George Barber, Lyle Miller, Frances Judy, Robert Sox, Mickey Shealy,
Nancy Jo Johnson, Charlotte Looney, Claude O. Powell Jr., Buddy Harmon, Clyde W. Finney, Sarah Wallace.
Missionaries:
Jennifer Roberts—ELCA Missionary to Japan
Please help us keep our prayer list up to date by calling the church office with any names to be added or removed. Otherwise, names remaining on the prayer list for more than 2 months will be removed.
8:30 A.M.
Assistant Needed
Assistant Needed
Ray Conrad & Sybil Kennedy
Ray Conrad
Paula Taylor
Lucky Jones
Todd Sharpe
Rodney Edge
Mason Edge
Miley Rhodes
Sheri Self
Irelou Moye
Worship Assistants
11:00 A.M.
Acolytes
Wills King
Crucifers
Mary Katherine King
Lectors Nancy Stone-Collum & Randy Klapman
Liturgical Assistants
David Mellichamp
Greeters
Debbie McLeod
Ushers
Foster McLeod
Jacob Wilkerson
Tommy Smith
Curren Taylor
Communion Assistant
Fred Vallejo
Nursery Assistants
Julie Plane
Musicians
Irelou Moye
Welcome to Mt. Tabor
We are glad that you have chosen to worship with us today! Please fill out and return the
card in your pew rack so we may have a record of your attendance. Our ushers and greeters will be glad to answer any questions you may have about our worship service. We
hope that you will experience the presence of the Risen Christ in our worship today!
Mt. Tabor’s Nursery
A nursery is provided during both worship services for children of suggested ages infant
to 4 years old. However, we encourage all children to remain in worship as it is in worship
that they learn the faith of the church. In an effort to ensure a safe haven for our children,
parents are responsible for signing their child in and out of the nursery as stated in our
Risk and Abuse Policy.
Altar Flowers
The Altar Flowers are given to the glory of God by Sharon & Sarah Mattern in memory of
David Epting.
Bulletin Covers
The Bulletin Covers are given to the glory of God in honor of Little Joe Popkowski’s 2 nd
birthday given with love by his Aunt Boo and Uncle Alex.
Advent Wreath
The Advent Wreath is given to the glory of God by Sharon Mattern in honor of Jackie
Macaulay and all of her Staff at Jarrett’s Jungle.
This Week at Mt. Tabor…
Sunday, December 28, First Sunday of Christmas
8:00 am – Morning Hymn Choir
8:30 & 11:00 am – Lessons & Carols Service
9:45 am – Sunday School
9:45 am – Confirmation/ECR
Pledge Update
Pledges to date for 2015:
Total Pledges for 2014:
$376,835.00
$448,464.00
Pledges may be made through December.
Attendance/Pew Cards
Tuesday, December 30
NO Crossroads Bible Study
5:30 pm – Pipers Practice/AR
Wednesday, December 31
9:00 am – E-News Deadline
10:00 am –Bulletin Deadline
NO Noon Eucharist
NO Sing & Celebrate
NO Choir Practices
We ask that all members fill out an Attendance/Pew Card at least once a year so
their attendance is active in our records.
Please place your completed card in the
offering plate.
2015 Yearbook & Directory
All reports and personal information for
the 2015 Yearbook & Directory are due by
January 12. Contact the Church Office
with any name, address, phone, or email
changes, as well as cell numbers you would
like to have published.
Thursday, January 1, New Year’s Day
Church Office Closed
2015 Offering Envelopes
Saturday, January 3
12:00—2:00 pm – Girl Scouts/Upstairs
Sunday, January 4, Second Sunday of Christmas
8:00 am – Morning Hymn Choir
8:30 & 11:00 am – Holy Communion
9:45 am – Sunday School
9:45 am – Confirmation/ECR
Offering envelopes for the new year are
available in the hallway to the Assembly
Room. Please pick up yours and others that
you can deliver. If your family needs additional envelopes, please contact Stella in
the Church Office.
2015 Altar Flowers & Bulletins
The 2015 Altar Flower & Bulletin Calendars are posted on the bulletin board near
the Sunday School Office. If you would like
to reserve a date, please sign up on the bulletin board or contact the Church Office.
Sunshine Club
Please note the changes to our meeting time. The Sunshine Club will
meet on Thursday, January 8th, at 12:00 pm in the Assembly Room.
Pastor Wade will have the program. The menu will be vegetable soup
and cornbread. Come and celebrate the New Year with your senior
friends.
The Ladies Book Club will meet on January 6th at 6:00 pm at Airport High School Media
Center. The book being discussed will be Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain.
Budget Information
OFFERINGS: Budgeted for 2014
I. Weekly offering needed weekly to meet budget
Offering received for December 21
II. 2014 Budget Giving (through December 21 Week 51 of 52)
Offering Needed for Budget
Offering Received
YTD Expense
670,287.00
12,890.13
21,382.15
657,396.87
599,147.86
600,554.75
Child Protection Policy
Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church is committed to being a safe place for children and youth. Our
congregation has enacted policies and procedures designed to minimize the risk of abuse.
Copies of our Child Protection Policy are available in the narthex and in the Church Office .
Love Offering for December
Oliver Gospel Mission
The mission of the Oliver Gospel Mission is to
see that the broken and homeless are sheltered, given the gospel of Jesus Christ, and
equipped to live responsibly. The vision of
Oliver Gospel Mission is to exalt Jesus Christ
by facilitating life transformation among the
broken and homeless that they might radically enhance the community. To find out
more about the Oliver Gospel Mission, donate, or volunteer— visit their website at:
http://www.olivergospelmission.org/
Readings for the Upcoming Sunday
Jeremiah 31:7-14
Psalm 147:12-20
Ephesians 1:3-14
John 1:[1-9] 10-18
God’s Helping Hands for December
Cereal
Dry or Canned Milk
Staff
Reverend Wade T. Roof, III, Senior Pastor
Reverend Rus Stilwell, Associate Pastor of Visitation
Ms. Sharon Witherell, Director of Music/Organist
Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church
1000 B Avenue, West Columbia, South Carolina 29169
Phone: (803)796-5948 Fax: (803)794-4089
www.mttaborlutheran.org