1. Welcome to New Hope United Methodist Church
December 10, 2017

2. Announcements Today, Cherubs Choir, 11:15am, RM11
Parents of Young Children, 11:15am, RM2
Young Adults, 11:15am, RM6
Youth, 5:30pm, Upstairs
Tuesday, Bible Study, Mathew, 11am, RM2
Ad Council, 7pm, Upstairs
Wednesday, Chime, 6pm, Sanctuary
Choir, 6:45pm, Sanctuary
Cantata, 7:15pm, Sanctuary
Saturday, UM Men’s Breakfast, 8am, Upstairs

3. Meditation
Mark 1:1-2
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
"See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way…”

4. Bringing in the Light of Christ
Musical Prelude
Bringing in the Light of Christ

5. Introit
Wait for the Lord
(Jacques Berthier)
Choir

6. *Call to Worship
One: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight!
Many: We praise God for making a way for us – a way to turn Godward and receive forgiveness for our sins.

7. Many: John proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.”
One: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight!

8. Come, Thou Lon-Expected Jesus (Verse 1)
*Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
196
WORDS: Charles Wesley, 1744
1. Come, thou
long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.

9. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

10. Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (Verse 2)
2. Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.

11. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.

12. Advent
*Opening Prayer: Advent
201
The Book of Common Prayer; alt. by Laurence Hull Stookey
Merciful God, you sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation.
Alt. © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House

13. Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may celebrate aright the commemoration of the nativity,

14. and may await with joy the coming in glory of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Amen.

15. Children’s Time

16. Let Every Heart Prepare a Throne
Anthem
Let Every Heart Prepare a Throne  
(Mark Patterson)
Choir

17. Lighting of the Second
Advent Candle

18. Light the Advent candle, two think of humble shepherds, who
*Advent Song
Vs. 2
TFWS
2090
Light the Advent candle, two
think of humble shepherds, who
filled with wonder at the sight
of the child on Christmas night.

19. Candle, candle, burning bright, shining in the cold winter night;
fill our hearts with Christmas light.

20. TFWS 2068 I love you Lord, and I lift my voice to worship you,
O my soul rejoice.
Take joy, my King, in what you hear,
may it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.

21. Scripture Reading
Ezekiel 1:1-3, 2:1-5
1. In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. 2 On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), 3 the word of the Lord came to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was on him there.

22. 2. He said to me: O mortal, stand up on your feet, and I will speak with you. 2 And when he spoke to me, a spirit entered into me and set me on my feet; and I heard him speaking to me. 3 He said to me, Mortal, I am sending you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this very day. 

23. 4 The descendants are impudent and stubborn
4 The descendants are impudent and stubborn. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, “Thus says the Lord God.” 5 Whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house), they shall know that there has been a prophet among them.

24. The Message

25. Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
Silent Confession

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

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

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

29. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;
Glory Be to the Father WORDS: Lesser Doxology, 3rd-4th cent. 70
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;

30. as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

31. Offering Our Gifts to God

32. Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow (Old 100th)95
WORDS: Thomas Ken, 1674
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below;

33. praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

34. O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Antiphon 1)
211
WORDS: 9th cent. Latin; trans. st. 1, 3, 5ab, 6cd, 7ab, The Hymnal, 1940; st. 2, Henry Sloane Coffin, 1916; st. 4, 5cd, 6ab, 7cd, Laurence Hull Stookey, 1986
1. O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
Sts. 1, 3, 5ab, 6cd, 7ab © 1940, 1943, renewed 1981 The Church Pension Fund; trans. sts. 4, 5cd, 6ab, 7cd © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House; antiphons © 1962 Sisters of St. Benedict

35. that mourns in lowly exile here until the Son of God appear.

36. O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Refrain)
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

37. O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Verse 2)
2. O come, thou wisdom from on high, and order all things far and nigh;

38. to us the path of knowledge show and cause us in her ways to go.

39. O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Refrain)
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

40. O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Verse 3)
3. O come, O come, great Lord of might, who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height

41. in ancient times once gave the law in cloud and majesty and awe.

42. O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Refrain)
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

43. O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Verse 4)
4. O come, thou Root of Jesse’s tree, an ensign of thy people be;

44. before thee rulers silent fall; all peoples on thy mercy call.

45. O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Refrain)
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

46. O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Verse 5)
5. O come, thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home.

47. The captives from their prison free, and conquer death’s deep misery.

48. O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Refrain)
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

49. O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Verse 6)
6. O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thy justice here;

50. disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight.

51. O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Refrain)
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

52. O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Verse 7)
7. O come, Desire of nations bind all peoples in one heart and mind.

53. From dust thou brought us forth to life; deliver us from earthly strife.

54. O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Refrain)
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

55. *Benediction
Please join us for food and fellowship in the Hospitality Room following the service.