GREETING AND SHARING GOD’S PEACE
Sharing Joy by greeting each other from where you are seated.
WORSHIP TEAM:
SCRIPTURE READING Julia Piper
Luke 1: 41-55
L. The word of God for the people of God. P. Thanks be to God
MESSAGE: “BeingPresent: Joy” RESPONSE TO THE WORD
OFFERING AND TRADITIONAL DOXOLOGY
OFFERING: Feel free to place your gifts, offerings, and tithes in the container in the aisle behind the last pew, as you enter. We thank you and may God bless each of you.
*HYMN #240 ” Hark the Herald Angels Sing ” ( on screen )
*SENDING FORTH WITH BLESSING
CLOSING CHORUS “Shalom to You ” ( on screen)
Attendance and Financial Information – December 10, 2023 Worship –95 Online engaged and viewed 582
Gethsemane United Methodist Church
PO Box 185 369 Allport Cutoff Allport, PA 16821
Church Office Telephone: 814-345-6860 Pastor’schurchofficehours: Mon.,Tues,&Wed. 9-12am
Parsonage Telephone: 814-345-6931 Pastor Julia Cell: 814-883-8602 Daycare telephone: 814-345-3809 Church Email address: gumc.office@gmail.com Church Website: www.gethsemanechurch.org WiFi Password: Trustinchrist
“Being Present: Joy””
Gethsemane United Methodist Church
December 17, 2023 9:00 am
Also available by
Streaming Facebook, or join us in your car with the radio tuned to 94.1 FM.
Welcome, brothers and sisters in Christ, as we gather for
Praise, Prayer, Word and Worship!
“Joy is not in things, It is in us. “
Richard Wagner
3 nd Sunday of Advent
December 17, 2023
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.”
1 John 4:9
PREPARATION AND PRAISE
GREETING and ANNOUNCEMENTS GATHERING PRAISE SONG
PRELUDE
We are excited that you are worshiping with Gethsemane today. CALL TO WORSHIP:2
Leader: Today we will read the words of Isaiah offering a prophetic vision that Jesus then claims for his ministry. Likewise, we are called to claim the gift of being fully present with all people — those who mourn, those who grieve, those who have suffered indignity and oppression. Mary’s Magnificat is prophetic as well. She claims the overturning of injustice even before it has come to pass. In the difficulty of her situation, she “sings” with joy about the very real presence of God growing within her.
Sing Chorus:
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a Wise [One], I would do my part; Yet what can I give Him: I will give my heart.
Reader: We unwrap a present on this third Sunday of Advent with great anticipation for the gift that God will reveal.
People: We open our hearts as we open the gift!
Reader: The promise of Joy is the Divine Gift we receive.
People: And what will we do with it?
1 /CCLI#1492484
2 /CCLI#15041408 (United Methodist Book of Worship 1965, ALT.)
Reader: The gift of joy is not the equivalent of happiness, but rather the deep conviction that we are called to be present in the work of bringing about “great things” — a better world for those who need it most. People: We light this Candle of Joy as a sign that we will be Present with Joy in the world.
[congregation joins singers in this repeat of the song]
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a Wise [One], I would do my part; Yet what can I give Him: I will give my heart
OPENING PRAYER:
Holy Living Light of God, you are our Joyful Presence. Let this joy grow in our lives each day, so we can
be a Present of Joy to others. Unwrap and open our hearts. May it be so. Amen.
*HYMN #89 “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore thee” ( on screen)
SCRIPTURE READING:
Judy Larson
Isaiah 61: 1-4, 10
L. The word of God for the people of God. P. Thanks be to God
JOYS AND CONCERNS “I Cast All My Cares Upon You” I cast all my cares upon you.
I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet. And anytime that I don’t know what to do, I will cast all my cares upon you
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE “Jesus Loves Me”
PRAYER OF INTERCESSION (In unison after prayer)
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.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
(Matthew 6:9-13)
