The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

December 19, 2021
Pastor Stacy Dickson
Worship

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Service of Worship

Christmas Meditation (Adeste Fideles)
William Faulkes
Public Domain

Opening Prayer
Across the universe creation waits for the prophets to speak their words of expectation and their vision of renewal. May we gather round them today once more and let their longing grip us and lead us into birth and blessing. So come now my friends this is the meeting place of promise and prophecy let us listen through the ancient words that we might be ready to hear a baby’s cry.

Opening Hymn — #196 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

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

2. Born Thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (Hyfrydol)
Charles Wesley | Rowland Hugh Prichard
Public Domain

Lighting the Advent Candle

Joys and Concerns, Pastoral Prayer

Pastoral Prayer
Lord Jesus, master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day. We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom. We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence. We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light. To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!”

(Henri Nouwen)

For those who are called and able, gifts and tithes can still be made through online giving, by mailing them in, and by dropping them off to the office through the secure mail slot to the left of the double door entry to the church hallway.

Offertory — Cody and Samantha

Advent Doxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen…

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Doxology for Advent
Thomas Ken | Dean McIntyre
© United Methodist General Board of Discipleship
Used by Permission

Offertory Prayer

Lord bless the gifts that have been given and the hands that have given them. As we enter into this final week of preparations for Your Son’s birth, help us to find our way to be in step with you. Guide our feet, hands, and hearts as well as the ministry of our church to reach out to the lost and the lonely as well as the joyful and the wayfarers. We pray all of this to you, our gracious and loving God, amen.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 3:1-12 (NRSV)

1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”a 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.’”
4 Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you witha water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you withb the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Sermon — Pastor Stacy Dickson
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

Closing Hymn — #218 It Came upon the Midnight Clear

1. It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth,
to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to men*
from heaven’s all gracious King.”
The world in solemn stillness lay,
to hear the angels sing.

2. Still through the cloven skies they come
with peaceful wings unfurled,
and still their heavenly music floats
o’er all the weary world;
above its sad and lowly plains,
they bend on hovering wing,
and ever o’er its Babel sounds
the blessed angels sing.

3. And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow,
look now! for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
and hear the angels sing!

4. For lo! the days are hastening on,
by prophet seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years
shall the time foretold
when peace shall over all the earth
its ancient splendors fling,
and the whole world send back the song
which now the angels sing.

* all may be substituted.

It Came Upon The Midnight Clear (Carol)
Edmund Hamilton Sears | Richard Storrs Willis
Public Domain

Benediction

Rise and shine, for today is a day of rejoicing. Today is a day where we can lift our heads high and proclaim the glory of the Lord. Today is a day where we are reminded that nothing of this world can steal Christmas from us, for Christ will shine on Christmas morning and will be the joy this world needs. Go and get ready, for Christmas is coming!

Postlude – Hani

From Thy Throne So High
C. W. Gluck
Public Domain