Welcome to New Hope United Methodist Church

1. Welcome to New Hope United Methodist Church December 27, 2015

2. Announcements Today: Youth, 5:30 pm Wednesday: Community Meal 2 – 7 pm @ Christ Lutheran Sunday: Worship @ 8 a.m. Informal & 10 a.m. Traditional

3. Meditation Isaiah 63:7 NRSV Aston Williams I will recount the gracious deeds of the LORD, the praiseworthy acts of the LORD, because of all that the LORD has done for us, and the great favor to the house of Israel that the LORD has shown them according to his mercy, according to the abundance of his steadfast love.

4. Musical Prelude Bringing in the Light of Christ

5. Call to Worship Psalm 148:1-5 Susan Di Bianca One: Praise the LORD! Many: Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise the LORD in the heights! One: Praise the LORD, all ye angels; praise GOD, all the heavenly host! Many: Praise the LORD, sun and moon; praise GOD all you shining stars! One: Praise the LORD, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Many: Let us praise the name of the LORD, for the LORD spoke and everythingwas created. Amen.

6. Once in Royal David’s City (Hymnal #250) Used By Permission. CCLI License # 11148194

7. Once in royal David's city stood a lowly cattle shed, where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed; Mary, loving mother mild, Jesus Christ, her little child. He came down to earth from heaven who is God and Lord of all, and his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall. With the poor, the scorned, the lowly lived on earth our Savior holy. 

8. Jesus is our childhood's pattern; day by day, like us he grew; he was little, weak, and helpless, tears and smiles like us he knew; and he feeleth for our sadness, and he shareth in our gladness. And our eyes at last shall see him, through his own redeeming love; for that child so dear and gentle is our Lord in heaven above; and he leads his children on to the place where he is gone. 

9. Lighting of the Christmas Candle

10. Opening Prayer based upon Psalm 148:11-14 Praise the LORD rulers of the earth and all peoples! Young men and women alike, old and young together, we praise the name of the LORD, for GOD’s name alone is exalted; GOD’s glory is above earth and heaven. The LORD has raised up a horn for GOD’s people, so we gather to offer ourselves in thanks and praise. Amen.

11. Children’s Time Lauren & Powell

12. Carol What Child is This Hymnal # 219 Used By Permission. CCLI License # 11148194

13. What child is this who, laid to rest, on Mary's lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary. .

14. Why lies he in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christians, fear, for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.  This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary. 

15. So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh, come, peasant, king, to own him; the King of kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone him.  This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary. 

16. Special Music Come and Behold Him (John Chisum & George Searcy) Susan DiBianca

17. Offering Our Gifts to God

18. Alleluia Praise Response Hymnal #95 Used By Permission. CCLI License # 11148194

19. 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.

20. CAROL There’s a Song in the Air! Hymnal # 249 Used By Permission. CCLI License # 11148194

21. There's a song in the air! There's a star in the sky! There's a mother's deep prayer and a baby's low cry! And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing, for the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King! 

22. There's a tumult of joy o'er the wonderful birth, for the virgin's sweet boy is the Lord of the earth. Ay! the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing, for the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King! 

23. In the light of that star lie the ages impearled; and that song from afar has swept over the world. Every hearth is aflame, and the beautiful sing in the homes of the nations that Jesus is King! 

24. We rejoice in the light, and we echo the song that comes down through the night from the heavenly throng. Ay! we shout to the lovely evangel they bring, and we greet in his cradle our Savior and King!

25. Prayers of the People Rylan Williams Silent Prayer

26. Hymnal #895 Used By Permission. CCLI License # 11148194

27. Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

28. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

29. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

30. Gloria Patria Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. Used By Permission. CCLI License # 11148194

31. CAROL Infant Lowly, Infant Holy Hymnal # 229 Used By Permission. CCLI License # 11148194

32. Infant holy, infant lowly, for his bed a cattle stall; oxen lowing, little knowing, Christ the babe is Lord of all. Swift are winging angels singing, noels ringing, tidings bringing: Christ the babe is Lord of all. 

33. Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping vigil till the morning new saw the glory, heard the story, tidings of a gospel true. Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing, greet the morrow: Christ the babe was born for you.

34. Scripture Reading Luke 2:21-24 Gabby Lesher 21 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 

35. Scripture Reading Luke 2:21-24 Gabby Lesher 23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

36. CAROL The First Noel Hymnal # 245 Used By Permission. CCLI License # 11148194

37. The first Noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; in fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold winter's night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel. They looked up and saw a star shining in the east, beyond them far; and to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued both day and night. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel.

38. And by the light of that same star three Wise Men came from country far; to seek for a king was their intent, and to follow the star wherever it went. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel. This star drew nigh to the northwest, o'er Bethlehem it took its rest; and there it did both stop and stay, right over the place where Jesus lay. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel. Then entered in those Wise Men three, full reverently upon the knee, and offered there, in his presence, gold and myrrh and frankincense.  Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel.

39. Then entered in those Wise Men three, full reverently upon the knee, and offered there, in his presence, gold and myrrh and frankincense. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel.

40. Scripture Reading Luke 2:25-35 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon;d this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.e27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeonf came into the

41. Scripture Reading Luke 2:25-35 temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, 29“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; 30for my eyes have seen your salvation,31which you have prepared in the presence of all

42. Scripture Reading Luke 2:25-35 Peoples,32a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” 33And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeoni blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35 so that the inner

43. Scripture Reading Luke 2:25-35 thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

44. Witness to the Presence of Jesus John Gray

45. CAROL Sing We Now of Christmas Hymnal # 237 Used By Permission. CCLI License # 11148194

46. Sing we now of Christmas, Noel, sing we here!Hear our grateful praises to the babe so dear.Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel!Sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel!Angels called to shepherds, "Leave your flocks at rest,journey forth to Bethlehem, find the child so blest." Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel!Sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel! In Bethlehem they found him; Joseph and Mary mild,seated by the manger, watching the holy child. Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel!Sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel! From the eastern country came the kings afar,bearing gifts to Bethlehem, guided by a star. Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel!Sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel! Gold and myrrh they took there, gifts of greatest price,there was never a stable so like paradise. Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel!Sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel!

47. From the eastern country came the kings afar,bearing gifts to Bethlehem, guided by a star. Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel!Sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel! Gold and myrrh they took there, gifts of greatest price,there was never a stable so like paradise. Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel!Sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel!

48. Scripture Reading Luke 2:36-38 36 There was also a prophet, Annathe daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

49. Benediction Go Tell It On the Mountain! Hymnal # 251(Chorus Only) Used By Permission. CCLI License # 11148194

50. Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!