Chatham Circuit

St Louisville, Chatham & Liberty UMC

December 8, 2024

Second Sunday of Advent

Prelude
Bringing the Light
Advent Reading

 

*Call to Worship:

 

L: A voice cries out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord!”

P: Make God’s paths straight.

L: Every valley will be filled,and every mountain will be leveled.

P: The crooked will be made straight.

L: The rough and rocky ways will be smoothed.

P: All will see the salvation of God.

L: See the light from on high. The dawn is breaking.

P: The Lord is coming! The Lord is coming!:

 

*Opening Prayer

Blessed is the Lord, and blessed are God’s people to whom God sends a savior, the messiah, who is Christ the Lord. Blessed is our God, and blessed are God’s gifts, that grace us with forgiveness and every good gift. Lord, you have come to dwell within us. Build your temple within our hearts. Amen.

 

Hymn: Be Still My Soul                                              #534

 

1 Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side. Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; leave to your God to order and provide; in every change God faithful will remain. Be still, my soul: your best, your heavenly friend through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

 

2 Be still, my soul: your God will undertake to guide the future, as in ages past. Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake; all now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know the Christ who ruled them while he dwelt below.

 

3 Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on when we shall be forever with the Lord, when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored. Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

 

The Lord’s Prayer

 

First Scripture:                                               Malachi 3:1 - 4

 

The Apostle’s Creed                                                 #881

 

Second Scripture:                                 Philippians 1: 3 - 11

 

Gloria Patri                                                                   #70

 

*Third Message Lesson:                                      Luke 3: 1 - 6

 

Spirit of the Living God                                            #393

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

 

The Message

What is in a Name?

Bryan Moore

 

Hymn: Oh, How I Love Jesus                                    #170

 

1. There is a name I love to hear, I love to sing its worth; it sounds like music in my ear, the sweetest name on earth.

 

Refrain: O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, because he first loved me!

 

2. It tells me of a Savior's love, who died to set me free; it tells me of his precious blood, the sinner's perfect plea. [Refrain]

 

3. It tells of one whose loving heart can feel my deepest woe; who in each sorrow bears a part that none can bear below. [Refrain]

 

Prayers of the People

Father, it is at this time that we humbly come to praise you for the joys in our lives and the lives of others and to beseech your mercies for challenges that we and others dear to us face. At all times and in all places, encourage us to listen to the direction of the Holy Spirit, who leads us to follow your acts of Grace and Mercy.

 

Invitation to Respond to God’s Grace

The Lord is coming. Prepare the way! Prepare to welcome the messiah! Welcome the redeemer with your very lives. Know the Lord’s tender mercy. Let all that you are become an offering pleasing to God. God’s love for us knows no bounds. In grateful response, may our gifts to others abound.

*Doxology/Prayer

We delight in your love and salvation, Lord, there can be no greater gifts than these. We will gladly serve you in holiness and righteousness. We offer ourselves. We offer all that you have provided us. May it be used to bring your light to those who dwell in darkness. Prepare us and complete us, Lord. Amen.

 

*Hymn: Fairest Lord Jesus                .                       #189

 

1 Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature, O thou of God and man the Son, thee will I cherish, thee will I honor, thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown.

 

2 Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands, robed in the blooming garb of spring: Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, who makes the woeful heart to sing.

 

3 Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight, and all the twinkling starry host: Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer than all the angels heaven can boast.

 

4 Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations! Son of God and Son of Man! Glory and honor, praise, adoration, now and forevermore be thine.

 

*Responsive Benediction

 

L: May your love overflow, rich and wholesome in the world.

P: May you be found pure and blameless, having prepared a way and a place for the Lord in your hearts.

L: May you reap the bountiful harvest of righteousness

that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

P: Amen!

 

Closing

 

“Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

 

St Louisville

Mark and Deb Soter               Bryan Miller

Warren & Cliver Family          Pound Family

Bob and Bev Bevard               John & Dawn Bevard

Steve and Kathy Robinson

 

Chatham

Frances Garno                        Warner Family

Carol & Paul Rostofer             Layman Family

Kayla

 

Liberty

John Prather                           Sally Lindsay

Sandy Hubbard                       Troy Mallow

Thelma McCurdy                    Velma

Maria                                       Ruth and Rick

 

Happy Birthday

 

12/8 Garrett Cliver

12/9 Becky Baldwin

12/11 Rob Runyon

12/14 Michael Byrnes

 

Chatham Charge News:

 

Bible Study This Week. Last Bible Study until after Christmas. Tuesday night at 7 PM via conference call line, as well as in person at St Louisville on Wednesday at 2PM. You can join either Bible Study by calling 508-924-5730. We will be studying from Colossians 3 & 4.

 

Due to concerns about people driving after dark, there will be only one Christmas Eve Service this year. It will be at Liberty Church at 4:00 PM. I hope that everyone will join in praising the coming of Our Savior!

 

St Louisville Church:

 

St Louisville Church’s Women of Faith will meet at Longhorn Steakhouse in Heath on December 17th at 12 Noon for their Christmas Luncheon. They will go from there to Jerry Marston’s home for dessert, gift exchange and meeting. They will visit shut-ins and share a sweet conversation and the Peace of the Season.

 

St. Louisville Church ringing of the Salvation Army bell, Saturday, December 16, 10-2 p.m. at the Walmart store on 21st Street. Again, anyone wishing to be a part of such is welcome. The event will be outside, so dress accordingly!

 

Words of Confession

O Lord, darkness surrounds us like a cold stone tomb,
until your light bursts into our lives like a clear, bright dawn.
We cover our eyes, we’re so unprepared for your coming.
Your light blazes forth like a white-hot fire, consuming all that it touches. How can we stand before you, Lord?  The road that we thought was straight and wide is now exposed as a twisted, crooked path, blocked by a mountain of sin. Where can we turn? Who will guide us back to the way of peace— the way that leads to you?

 

Words of Assurance

The Lord is merciful and forgiving, a great and compassionate savior. God rescues us from darkness and frees us from fear. Like a refiner’s fire, the Lord makes us shine with the brilliance of the purest gold and silver. The one who began this work in us seeks to bring it to completion. May the day of Christ find us flawless and without blame. Amen.

 

Contact info for Pastor Bryan

email: brmoore1@aol.com - phone: 614-323-9561