HANDBELL ANTHEM Soliloquy on "Silent Night" arr. Leonard G. Lutz
A TIME OF PRAYER
Choral Call to Prayer Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (verse 1) No. 229
Prayer/Lord's Prayer
Choral Response Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (verse 1) No. 229
CHORAL ANTHEM Comfort and Joy Joel RaNey
SCRIPTURE Isaiah 12:2-6
Luke 1:39-56
HYMN (remain seated) Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming No. 216
SERMON A SONG IN THE SOUL: Rev. Mary Birgelaitis
Joy Receives
OFFERING
Call to Stewardship and Mission
Offertory The Holly and the Ivy Traditional/arr. Cindy Berry
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 Angels We Have Heard on High No. 238
*BENEDICTION
And now, may the peace of God, that passes all understanding,
be with you now and forevermore.
Rejoice in God always!
Again, we say, rejoice!
CHORAL RESPONSE Angels We Have Heard on High (refrain) No. 238
Gloria, in excelsis deo. Gloria, in excelsis deo!
POSTLUDE What Child is This? Trad. English melody/arr. Dan Coates
*Please stand as able.
Music Director: Julia Burns Piano/Keyboard: Dennis Eiler
Today's Scripture
Today's Liturgist: Joyce Singelman
Isaiah 12:2-6
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be
afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the Lord,
call on his name; make known his deeds among the
nations; proclaim that his name is exalted.
Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
let this be known in all the earth.
Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great
in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Luke 1:39-56
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a
Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the
house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When
Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in
her womb. And Elizbeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you
among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And why has this happened to me, that the mother of
my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the
sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped
for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there
would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by
the Lord."
And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my
spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with
favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now
on all generations will call me blessed for the Mighty
One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to
generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he
has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with
good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has
helped his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy ,
according to the promise made to our ancestors, to
Abraham and his descendants forever."
And Mary remained with her about three months and
then returned to her home.
ATTENDANCE GIVING
WEEK 8:30 10:30 IN-PERSON VIDEO TOTAL
11/17 59 78 137 40 177 $ 2,214
11/24 37 48 85 26 111 $ 2,040
12/01 30 50 80 24 104 $ 9,553
12/08 34 44 78 4 80 n/a
Our Fiscal Year started July 1 Weekly Oering Needed $6,321
STEWARDSHIP REPORT: n/a
Today's Hosts:
TRUSTEES
Next Sunday
Dec. 22
MISSION TEAM
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
805 481-2692 fumcag@yahoo.com worshipweekly.com
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
Mon Dec 16
6PM Gerry's Quilt Class-CH.
Tue Dec 17
9:00 AM Senior Exercise-CH, 10:00 AM Sew & Sews-MMR, 11:00
AM Chair Yoga- CH, 5:00 PM Bell Choir Rehearsal-Handbell Room.
Wed Dec 18 9 AM Church Work Morning-CH
Thu Dec 19
9:00 AM Senior Exercise-CH, 11 AM Chair Yoga-CH, 4:00 PM
Children's Center Board-MMR, 5:00 PM Bell Choir Rehearsal-HR,
6:00 PM Chancel Choir-Sanctuary.
Fri Dec 20 10:30 AM UWF Book Club-Library.
Sun Dec 22
8:30 AM Contemporary Service-Sanctuary.
10:30 AM Traditional Service-Sanctuary.
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.
ORDER OF WORSHIP
Third Sunday of Advent
December 15, 2024 10:30 AM
"My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!”
---Luke 1:46b-47
PRELUDE Bethlehem Morning Morris Chapman/arr. Melody Bober
INTROIT How Great Our Joy John Rutter
HANDBELL INTROIT Appalachian Christmas arr. Douglas E. Wagner
*THE CALL TO WORSHIP
Sing for joy.
We rejoice in Christ’s love.
Pray with hope.
Our hope rests in God alone.
Journey with trust.
God’s Spirit is guiding our way.
*OPENING HYMN There’s a Song in the Air verses 1-3 No. 249
WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS
OPENINNG PRAYER
Come, Lord Jesus.
Come into our lives and renew us.
Where there is hatred, heal us with love.
Where there is discord, calm us with peace.
Where there is sin, cover us with grace.
Where there is despair, strengthen our hope.
In your blessed name we pray. Amen.
CHILDREN'S MOMENT Carolyn Russell
LIGHTING THE THIRD ADVENT CANDLE The Candle of Joy
(congregation sings “Away in the Manger” as children come forward)
Tuesday, December 24, Christmas Eve
7:00 PM
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.
Monday, December 30
People's Kitchen Food
Prep-K
Tuesday, December 31
Food Distribution at
People's Kitchen Site
Saturday, January 25, 11 AM Fellowship Ministry visit to
the elephant seals in Cambria.
Depart at 10 AM to carpool
from the church.
Sign up in the Narthex.
