First United Methodist
Church of Wilmington
December 8, 2002 Second Sunday in Advent 10:15 a.m.
ORDER OF
WORSHIP
As you prepare your hearts and your minds for
worship, reflect on these words:
“We’re ready for a
birthday. And our homes are at their
best. Dear God, help us prepare our
hearts for You, the honored Guest.”
ENTRANCE
Prelude and Lighting of the
Altar Candles Acolytes
Lighting
of the Second Advent Candle
*Processional
Hymn No. 234 “O Come, All Ye Faithful” (vs. 1-4)
HANGING OF THE GREENS
Introit
No. 204 “Emmanuel, Emmanuel” Chancel
Choir
Introduction
by Pastor
Call
to Worship:
Leader: Good morning!
People: Good morning!
Leader: How shall we prepare this
house for the coming of the King?
People: With branches of cedar, the tree of royalty.
Leader: How shall we prepare this house for the coming of
the eternal Christ?
People: With garlands of pine and fir, whose leaves are ever living, ever
green.
Leader: How shall we prepare this house for the coming of our
Savior?
People: With wreaths of holly and ivy, telling of his passion, death,
and resurrection.
Leader: How shall we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Son of God?
People: By hearing again the words of the prophets, who foretold the
saving work of God.
Leader: For God did not send the
Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might
be saved.
People: Glory to God in the highest!
Prayer (Unison)
To You, O Lord, we dedicate these symbols of the
season and of our Christian faith. We
also dedicate our lives anew to the service of Christ and pray that they may be
filled with Your love, so perfectly revealed through the birth and life of Your
Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. In whose
name we pray. Amen.
God
Will Send a Righteous King Jeremiah
23:5-6
Hymn
No. 196 “Come, Thou Long-Expected
Jesus”
The
Fourth Servant Song Isaiah 53:1-6
Hymn
No. 203 “Hail to the Lord’s
Anointed” (stanzas 1 & 2)
FRIENDSHIP
AND STEWARDSHIP
Parish
Life
Pastoral
Prayer and Lord’s Prayer Choral Response
Presentation
of Tithes and Offerings
Offering
Invitation
“What shall we give to the Christ Child unworthy as
we are? Perhaps a blanket for His
bed. Perhaps a shiny star! Perhaps I’ll read Him poetry or sing Him a
lullaby. Or maybe I’ll hold His hand if He begins to cry.” Clay Harrison
Offertory
Music “Holly Tree” Chancel Choir
*The
Doxology
No. 95
*Offertory
Prayer
The
Mystery of the Incarnation John 1:1-5, 9-14
Hymn
No. 219 “What Child is This” (stanzas 1 and 3)
BLESSING OF THE TREE
Reading Titus 3:4-7
Prayer (Pastor)
Holy Lord, we come with joy to celebrate the birth
of your Son, who rescued us from the darkness of sin by making the cross a tree
of life and light. May this tree,
arrayed in splendor, remind us of the life-giving cross of Christ, that we may
always rejoice in the new life that shines in our hearts. We ask this through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
BLESSING OF THE ADVENT
WREATH
Reading Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
Litany
Leader: Christ came to bring salvation and has promised to come
again. Let us pray that we may always
be ready to welcome him.
People: Come, Lord Jesus.
Leader: That the keeping of
Advent may open our hearts to God’s love.
People: Come, Lord Jesus.
Leader: That the light of Christ may penetrate the darkness
of sin. People: Come, Lord Jesus.
Leader: That this wreath may constantly remind us to prepare for the
coming of Christ.
People: Come, Lord Jesus.
Leader: That the Christmas season may fill us with peace and
joy as we strive to follow the example of Jesus.
People: Come, Lord Jesus.
Prayer (Pastor)
Loving God, your Church joyfully awaits the coming
of its Savior, who enlightens our hearts and dispels the darkness of ignorance
and sin. Pour forth your blessings upon
us as we utilize this wreath. May their
beauty reflect the splendor of Christ who is Lord forever and ever. Amen.
Hymn
No. 211 “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” 1st–3rd Stanzas
(Those who
wish to rededicate themselves to God, or give thanks to God for His many
blessings are invited to come forward by the second stanza of this hymn)
Prayer of Thanksgiving
(Pastor)
*Hymn
No. 211 “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” 4th Stanza
*Benediction (Pastor)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ. May the Lord of peace be with you, all this
Christmas season and always. Amen.
Benediction
Response “I Believe in Bethlehem”
Sunday School Children and Pastor Neil
Carrying
the Light Into the World
Postlude
*
If you are able please stand
ASSISTING IN THE SERVICE
Liturgist: Mar
Tacadena Pianist: Trini Yadao
Acolytes: Heather
Cadlaon & Julie Viray
Ushers: Jake Pascua (Head Usher), Det Rasing, Fred
Slover, James Davis and Tony Villanueva
Second Sunday in Advent Candle Lighting – Hulett Family
Ushers Next Week: Ben Jacusalem (Head Usher), Mar Tacadena, Paul Cadlaon, Joel Dauz and
Danny Dela Cruz
Third
Sunday in Advent Candle Lighting – Fajardo Family
Offering
Steward Schedule
December
8 Lemuel Blanco, Leofin or Anita
Blanco
December
15 Conchita Bower
December
22 Lita Cabrera
December
29 Paul and Agnes Cadlaon
Financial Report – December 1,
2002
Regular
Envelope Offering $ 2,990.00
Loose
Offering 105.25
Thanksgiving 20.00
Christmas
Toys and Food 150.00
All Sunday school classes
12.38
T
O T A L $
3,277.63
Financial Secretary: Rolando and Jane Mangaoang
T O D A Y!
Sunday school for children – theme “Exploring Faith”
Sunday school for adults – Ilocano and English
Choir Practice after church upstairs in choir room
Choir Practice – Tuesday December 10 at 7:00 pm in sanctuary
Young Adult 7:30 pm - Youth 8:30 pm – Friday Bible Study
Christmas Caroling – December 14 and 21
Sunday School Christmas Program – December 15
Potluck
lunch after church, Program will begin at l:00 pm
Night Worship (Simbang Gabi) Dec 17-20 from 7:30 to 8:30 pm
Christmas Eve (Candlelight)
service – December 24 at 7:30 pm
Christmas Institute – December 26th
thru 30th at Mile High Pines
