A TIME OF PRAYER

Choral Call to Prayer Star-Child TFWS #2095

Prayer/Lord's Prayer

Choral Response Star-Child TFWS #2095

CHORAL ANTHEM Christmas is Coming Joel Ramey

SCRIPTURE Malachi 3:1-4

Luke 3:1-6

HYMN (remain seated) It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (verses 1,2 & 4) No. 218

SERMON A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS: Rev. Mary Birgelaitis

Faith Prepares

OFFERING

Call to Stewardship and Mission

Offertory Angels from the Realms of Glory Henry Smart

Doxology/Prayer of Dedication

Praise God whose dawn transfigures night,

whose Daystar shines for us on high,

whose Spirit brings into our sight

the hope to which our world draws nigh.

*CLOSING HYMN Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates No. 213

*BENEDICTION

CHORAL RESPONSE Good Christian Friends, Rejoice No. 224

Good Christian friends, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice.

Now ye hear of endless bliss, News, news! Jesus Christ was born for this.

He hath opened heaven’s door, and ye are blest forevermore.

Christ was born for this, chrst was born for this!

POSTLUDE Let All Things Now Living Ash Grove

*Please stand as able.

Music Director: Julia Burns Piano/Keyboard: Dennis Eiler Organ: Brad Bettencourt

Today's Scripture

Today's Liturgist: Michelle Richardson

Malachi 3:1-4

See, I am sending my messenger to prepare

the way before me, and the Lord whom you

seek will suddenly come to his temple. The

messenger of the covenant in whom you

delight--indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of

hosts. But who can endure the day of his

coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers'

soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of

silver, and he will purify the descendants of

Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until

they present offerings to the Lord in

righteousness.

Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will

be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old

and as in former years.

Luke 3:1-6

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor

Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of

Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his

brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and

Trachonitis and Lysanias ruler of Abilene,

during the high priesthood of Annas and

Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son

of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into

all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a

baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of

sins, as it is written in the book of the words of

the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying

out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the

Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley

shall be filled, and every mountain and hill

shall be made low, and the crooked shall be

made straight, and the rough ways made

smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of

God.'"

Invite Your Family, Friends & Neighbors to Join Us at Church

ATTENDANCE GIVING

WEEK 8:30 10:30 IN-PERSON VIDEO TOTAL

11/10 37 49 86 16 102 $ 4,579

11/17 59 78 137 38 175 $ 2,214

11/24 37 48 85 21 106 $ 2,040

12/01 30 50 80 15 95 $ 9,553

Our Fiscal Year started July 1 Weekly Oering Needed $6,321

STEWARDSHIP REPORT:

YTD Received $132,543 YTD Budgeted $137,082

Thanksgiving Received $2,902 Thanksgiving Budgeted $3,500

Today's Hosts:

ENDOWMENT/

ELT

Next Sunday

Dec. 15

TRUSTEES

First United Methodist Church of Arroyo Grande

275 N. Halcyon Road, Arroyo Grande 93420

(805) 481-2692 fumcag@sbcglobal.net worshipweekly.com

First United Methodist Church of Arroyo Grande

275 N. Halcyon Road, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420

For information on flower

dedications and ordering

altar flowers,

please contact the church office.

Abbreviaton

Legend

CH--Criswell Hall

S--Sanctuary

K--Kitchen

L--Library---

Room #123

MMR--McMillen

Room #113

PS--Pastor's Study

HR--Handbell

Room #115

AGUM CHILDREN'S CENTER CHRISTMAS

PROGRAM, Thursday, Dec. 12, 6:00 PM in the

Sanctuary, followed by a social in Criswell Hall.

Don't miss this festive

performance by the

children!

Mon Dec 09

9:45 AM FUMCC Rehearsal- S, 6PM Gerry's Quilt Class-CH.

Tue Dec 10

9:00 AM Senior Exercise-CH, 9:45 AM FUMCC Rehearsal- S, 10:00

AM Sew & Sews-MMR, 11:00 AM Chair Yoga- CH, 1:00 PM Bible

Study-CH, 5:00 PM Bell Choir Rehearsal-Handbell Room.

Wed Dec 11

9 AM Church Work Morning-CH, 9:45 AM FUMCC Rehearsal- S,

10:00 AM UWF Steering, Library, 1:30 PM Mission Team-MMR.

Thu Dec 12

9:00 AM Senior Exercise-CH, 9:45 AM FUMCC Rehearsal- S, 11:00

AM Chair Yoga-CH, 5:00 PM Bell Choir Rehearsal HR, 6:00 PM

Children's Center Christmas Program-S, 6:30 PM Chancel Choir-S.

Sun Dec 15

8:30 AM Contemporary Service-Sanctuary,

10:30 AM Traditional Service-Sanctuary

Tuesday, December 24, 7:00 PM Christmas Eve

Join us to sing carols, hear the original Christmas story

and worship by candlelight. Let us come together on this

special night to celebrate the birth of the Christ child.

The ANGEL TREE is set up in

Criswell Hall! The gifts are due

no later than 12/18/24 by noon.

They can be brought to the tree

or to the church office with prior

notice.

December 08, 2024 10:30 AM

ORDER OF WORSHIP

Second Sunday of Advent

CENTERING WORDS

Prepare the way of the Lord,

make his paths straight

---Matthew 3:3b

PRELUDE -- --

INTROIT Sing We Now of Christmas (verse 1) No. 237

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!

*THE CALL TO WORSHIP

Prepare the way of the Lord

God’s kingdom has drawn near.

Prepare the way of peace.

Salvation is at hand.

Prepare the way of the Lord.

We come to worship, pray and praise.

*OPENING HYMN People, Look East No. 202

WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS

OPENING PRAYER

Loving God,

We thank you for your presence with us always.

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus,

we pray for the coming of your justice on earth.

May we be faithful in following our Lord in this moment

and in the days ahead.

Amen.

CHILDREN'S MOMENT Carolyn Russell

LIGHTING OF THE FIRST ADVENT CANDLE The Candle of Faith

(congregation sings "Away in the Manger" as children come forward)