St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

10 W. Farnum St.., Lancaster, PA 17603

Phone: 393-3035 & 290-7830 Fax: 393-4902;

 Internet: www.stpaulspa.org

Pastor’s Residence - 285-7584

 

OUR MISSION:  To know Christ and make him known!    

2009 – Our 158th Year in Mission and Ministry

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 20, 2009                                                    9:00 am

WE WELCOME you as you join us today in worship and fellowship. Here at St. Paul’s, we consider ourselves to be a church with a heart in the heart of the city.  If this is your first visit with us, please introduce yourself to any of the ushers on duty. We pray that you will find our worship meaningful and our fellowship friendly and inviting.  We invite you to join us as together we seek to know Christ and make Him known.

 

We invite our visitors to come again, and if you are seeking a church home of your own, a welcome and a place await you here at St. Paul’s. Your need for counseling on spiritual or emotional matters, arrangements for entry into membership, pastoral visits, and the celebration of a baptism or a marriage, can be met by contacting the church office at 393-3035, or the Pastor directly, at 615-2883.

 

A vital part of our worship experience each Sunday is the after- worship fellowship time in the Wesley Chapel. We value this time as an opportunity to meet and deepen the fellowship among our members and visitors. Please join us in today’s fellowship time hosted by Dorothy Canter.

 

 

BULLETIN COVERS this week are sponsored by Jeanette Hellinger.

Text Box: Resident Bishop, EPC: Bishop Peggy Johnson District Superintendent: Rev. James B. Todd Pastor: Rev. Dr. John G. Smith Organist Emeritus: Otis D. Kitchen Minister of Music: Dorothy Canter Lay Liturgist: Glenda Machia Usher Leader: Nancy Herr Last Sunday’s Stewardship Report Attendance: Worship - 43 Sunday School - 22 Total of Offerings & Tithes: $1,542.00 Worship – 10:15 AM: 59 Last Sunday’s receipts: $1047.75  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Order of Worship

 

December 20, 2009

 

THE CHURCH GATHERS FOR WORSHIP             

 

PROCESSIONAL      "Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head"     Rick Barham
                                                                                                 Traditional

            (Entrance of Worship Leaders)

 

GREETING                                                                            

 

WELCOME, ANNOUNCEMENTS & INVOCATION

                    

LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH

   Pastor:      Our journey through Advent brings us today to the Sunday

                    before Christmas Day.  Today, scripture, song and the spoken

                    word will announce that ‘Love Came Down at Christmas.’

 

  People:     Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!

 

  Pastor:       We relight our first Advent candle which reminds us that we

                    are Waiting. (Pause) We also relight our second Advent

                    candle to remember that we are also Preparing for Christ’s

                    coming. (Pause) We relight last week’s candle to show that as

                    we wait and prepare we are also like Mary, Rejoicing in God

                    our Savior. (Pause) In lighting today’s candle, we take as our 

                    theme, Loving. God took the initiative to love us, and is  

                    constantly challenging us to love one another.  (Pause)                           

Sung Response:                                                   (UMH # 230, Stanza 4)

“O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray;

Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.

        We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!

 

 

 

CHOIR SELECTION           "The Bethlehem Carol"                 

 Philips Brooks and Lewis Redner
                                                                        arr. by Audrey Snyder

 

INVITATION TO WORSHIP                                             Lay Liturgist

 

*HYMN                    "O Come, All Ye Faithful"                     UMH # 234

                                                                                          (Stanzas 1, 2 & 3)

 

PRAYER                                                                           Pastor Smith

 

SCRIPTURE READINGS                                               Exodus 3:7-10            

                                                                                    (Pew Bible, OT pg 50

                                                                                                  John 3:16-17

   (Pew Bible, NT pg. 94)

 

PAGEANT                                                                        The Children

 

            Sheriece – Narrator                Mark- Narrator
            Catherine – Mary                   Michael – Joseph
            Angel – Sierra                         Angel – Sheriece
            Angel - Lauren                                   Angel – Elisabeth
            Angel – Jaden                         Angel - Logan
            Shepherd – Anthony               Shepherd – Wylique
            Shepherd – Hunter                 Shepherd – Tom
            Sheep – Keneesha                  Sheep – Carrie Ann
            Sheep -  Mareesha                 Wiseman – Tony
            Wiseman – Andrew                Wiseman - Keelan

 

ADVENT MEDITATION                   “Loving”                  Pastor Smith

 

PRAYER & THE LORD’S PRAYER

 

OFFERING OF GIFTS AND TITHES

    Offertory                     "Redeeming Love"                   William Gaither

   *Doxology    “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” UMH # 95

 

*HYMN                    "Once in Royal David’s City"                UMH # 250

                                                                                            (Stanza 1, 2 & 4)

 

*THE SENDING FORTH & BENEDICTION

 

*POSTLUDE             "The Birthday of a King"        William Neidlinger

 

* Indicates the congregation should stand, if able.

 

 

CONTINUING PRAYERS are requested for:

            Art Hensel                              Millie Lively

            Marjorie Morris                     Gladys Harner                        Anne Kendig                          Dorothy Ashcraft                        Otis Harrison                          Lois Barninger          

            Helen Lockard                                   Eunice Schlegelmilch

            Ella Porter                              Honora Williams

Ruof Family                             Paul Kepperling

Joe Clerico                             Military serving overseas

 

 

 

BIBLE READINGS for Dec. 21 thru Dec. 27, 2009:

 

Dec. 21                        Zephaniah 3:14-20      Luke 1:1-25

Dec. 22                        1 Samuel 2:1b-10        Luke 1:26-38

Dec. 23                        2 Samuel 7:1-17          Luke 1:39-56

Dec. 24                        Isaiah 59:15b-21         Matthew 1:18-25

Dec. 25                        Miacah 4:1-5,5:2-4     John 3:26-31

Dec. 26                        Isaiah 62:1-5               Matthew 2:1-12

Dec. 27                        1 Samuel 1:1-2,7b-28  Luke 2:22-40

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Thought for the Week “Born in a manger, now preparing us a mansion.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

NEED A LAST-MINUTE CHRISTMAS GIFT for your neighbor, your cousin or someone else special? Both Giant and Darrenkamps have many items other than food. Buy a gift card for one of those stores from Dick Campbell (Giant) or Dorothy Canter (Darrenkamps).

 

FOR SALE - Some members of the congregation have expressed interest in buying the old white cupboard in the  hallway downstairs. If you are one of those people, please put a bid in a sealed envelope and give it to Linda by December 27. Because the cupboard is solid wood, it is heavy. If you buy it, plan to take it as soon as possible. It must be removed with great care, not scraped over the new floor.

 

TENDING OUR TALENTS - What talents will you use to build God’s kingdom here at St. Paul’s? November 29, each person in the congregation was given a $5 talent.  Each person was asked to use the special talents God has given them to increase the funds to be used for ministries at St. Paul’s.  A special return of the talents celebration will be held on Sunday, January 31, 2010 when all are asked to return their gifts to God.  Anyone with questions should contact Glenda Machia at 295-9455. 

 

Mark Your Calendars – Tending Our Talents Event

Saturday, January 16, 2009 ---  Jamaican Celebration and Dinner.

Watch for a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board.

 

FELLOWSHIP TIME  - We are in need of treats for Fellowship Time.  If you would like to host Fellowship Time please sign the sign-up sheet  on the bulletin board outside the church office.

 

INK CARTRIDGES - Ever wonder what to do with your empty printer cartridges instead of throwing them away?  Let’s help to stay green; turn  your used cartridges in to the church office or give them to Linda.  We use them to obtain our office supplies from Staples.  Staples then recycles the cartridges.

 

CHRISTMAS CAROLING - Come join the fun TODAY.  We will meet at St. Paul’s around  4:30 pm.  Bring your smiling faces and your joyful voices!  Please bring a snack to share following caroling.

 

CHURCH CALENDAR

(Week of Dec. 20  thru Dec. 27, 2009)

 

TODAY:    (12-20)   Advent 4

                    9:00 am                       Worship Service &

                                                      Children’s Pageant          

                   10:45 am                    Fellowship Time

                   11:00 am                    Sunday School

                    4:30 pm                     Christmas Caroling

                              6:00 pm           Alcoholics Anonymous

 

MONDAY:  (12-21)                           

                    8:00 am                     Church Office Open

                    6:00 pm                     Kids’ Night

 

 TUESDAY:  (12-22)  

                    8:00 am                     Church Office Open

                 

WEDNESDAY:  (12-23)                 

                     8:00 am                    Church Office Open

                    10:00 am                   Food & Clothing Banks

                      7:00 pm                   Choir Practice

 

THURSDAY:  (12-24) 

                  8:00 am                       Church Office Closed

                  6:00 pm                       Christmas Eve Service

                 

FRIDAY:  (12-25)                   

                 

                                 MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEXT SUNDAY:  (12-27) 

                     9:00 am                      Worship Service

                   10:45 am                    Fellowship Time

                   11:00 am                    Sunday School

                              6:00 pm           Alcoholics Anonymous