Caldwell United Methodist Church

 Bring Individuals to Christ    Nurture spiritual growth

Invite others to discipleship

December 23, 2007  Fourth Sunday of Advent

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(Please sign the attendance sheet in the pew pad.)

 

PRELUDE:  Lighting of the Candles

 

WORDS OF GREETING:      God is Good  -  All the time

All the time  -  God is Good

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & BIRTHDAYS

 

*MORNING GREETINGS:  Greet those around you with handshakes

                                             or hugs and words of greeting or joy.

 

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP

One:    Eternal God, in your providence you made all ages

            A preparation for the kingdom of your Son.

All:       Make ready our hearts for the brightness of your glory

            And the fullness of your blessing in Jesus Christ our

            Lord.  Amen.

 

*OPENING SONG:  “O Come, All Ye Faithful”

                                 #234 in your Hymnal

 

CHILDREN’S MOMENTS: 

                        The Children will be singing, “Glory”

 

PREPARATION FOR PRAYER:  “Through It All” #507 in your Hymnal

 

SHARING OUR JOYS AND CONCERNS

            Following each joy, please respond:

                        For These gifts, We thank you, God.

            Following each concern, please respond:

                        God, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SILENT PRAYER                                    

PASTORAL PRAYER

THE LORD’S PRAYER   

        

SHARING GOD'S BLESSINGS  (Loose change: Holiday Baskets)

 

*OFFERING RESPONSE   “Praise God from Whom All Blessings

                                              Flow”  # 95 in your Hymnal

 

*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Holy God, the mystery of your eternal word took flesh among us in Jesus Christ.  At the message of an angel, the virgin Mary placed her life at the service of your will.  Filled with the light of your Spirit, she became the temple of your Word.  Strengthen us by the example of her humility, that we may always be ready to do your will, and welcome into our lives Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

A READING FROM THE BIBLE:  Matthew 11:2-11

 

ANTHEM:  “African Star Carol” Michael Barrett

 

MESSAGE:   “Scandalous Peace”  Rev. Grace Baldridge

 

*CLOSING SONG:  “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

                                  #230 in your Hymnal

 

*WORDS OF PARTING

 

*PARTING SONG:   “King of Kings” (See PowerPoint)                             

 

 

 

8504 Caldwell Road, Mukwonago, WI  53149

(800) 570-4440

www.CaldwellUMC.org
CaldwellUMC@earthlink.net

Pastor Grace Baldridge’s Cell Phone  (262) 751-0955

Secretary’s Phone:  (262) 662-0264

 

Ministers                                                                                       All of us

Pastor                                                                      Rev. Grace Baldridge

Choir Director                                                     Deanna Shimko-Herman   

Greeters & Ushers this week                                       Ken & Nancy Pugh

Reader this week                                                         Teri Pritchett-Steib

Nursery                                                                   Replacement Needed        

Dates to Remember

 

December 24       Christmas Service                                7:30 PM

      December 25       Christmas Day office closed

      December 27       No choir Rehearsal

      

 

 

Volunteers for Next Sunday

 

Greeters & Ushers                                   Janke family                               

Reader                                                     Jennie Sanchez                        

Nursery                                                    Replacement Needed

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Birth of Jesus the Messiah

18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah* took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ 22All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
   and they shall name him Emmanuel’,
which means, ‘God is with us.’ 24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son;* and he named him Jesus.

Points to Ponder

1.            Mary and Joseph were caught in a “scandal” according to those in their time.  How did they react?

2.            What is scandal?

3.            How can the peace of the coming Christ child be scandalous?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Daily Prayer

Please use this guided prayer as a way to pray daily for the whole world.

Together, let us pray

For the people of this congregation…

For those who suffer and those in trouble…

For the concerns of this local community…

For the world, it’s peoples, and it’s leaders…

For the Church universal – it’s leaders, it’s members, and it’s mission…

In communion with the saints…Amen