Hear, The Parable of the Sower

December 4, 2022
Pastor Jacob Lee
Worship

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Service of Worship

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Thomas Helmore
Public Domain

Leader: God’s Spirit has led us here.
People: And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is PEACE.
Leader: God’s Spirit has led us here.
People: And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is HOPE.
Leader: God’s Spirit has led us here.
People: And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is JOY.
Leader: God’s Spirit has led us here.
People: And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is LOVE.
Leader: There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in the place,
ALL: And we know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord!

(Cynthia A. Wilson, Discipleship Ministry)

Lighting the Advent Candle

Opening Hymn — #211 “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (v. 1-4)

1. O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

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

2. O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
and order all things far and nigh;
to us the path of knowledge show
and cause us in her ways to go.

Refrain

3. O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times once gave the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.

Refrain

4. O come, thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
an ensign of thy people be;
before thee rulers silent fall;
all peoples on thy mercy call.

Refrain

O Come O Come Emmanuel (Veni Emmanuel)
Henry Sloane Coffin | Laurence Hull Stookey | Thomas Helmore
© Words: 1940, 1943, 1981, 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051

Holy Communion, UMH p. 15 — Word and Table III

The Lord be with you
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts
We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

…The pastor concludes:
And so,
with your people on earth
and all the company of heaven
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

…The pastor concludes:
And so,
in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice,
in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died;
Christ is risen;
Christ will come again.

All honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever.
now and for ever.

Amen.

Special Music – Rejoice Singers

Refrain (2x)
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere;
go, tell it on the mountain,
that Jesus Christ is born.

1. While shepherds kept their watching
o’er silent flocks by night,
behold throughout the heavens
there shown a holy light.

Refrain (1x)

3. Down in a lowly manger
the humble Christ was born,
and God sent us salvation
that blessed Christmas morn.

Refrain (3x)

Go Tell It On The Mountain
John W. Work Jr. | William Farley Smith
Words: Public Domain
Music: © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
CCLI License # 656051

Pastor’s Time With the Children

Announcements, Joys and Concerns, Pastoral Prayer, Lord’s 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, the power, and glory forever. Amen.

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 – Marshal

Mary Did You Know
Buddy Greene | Mark Lowry
© 1991, 1993 Rufus Music | Curb Word Music
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051

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.

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (Old 100th)
Louis Bourgeois | Thomas Ken
Public Domain

Offertory Prayer

Our God, architect of this world and all others: we know you had a vision for all your creation to dwell together. With the creatures of the air, earth, and sea, you long for us to live in respect and with one another. We give this morning, understanding that we have denied you that desire. We ask you to help us use who we are and what we have to heal this abused and broken world. In Christ, our Savior. Amen.

(Isaiah 11:1-10)

Scripture Reading — Matthew 13:18-23 (NRSV)

18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.a 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23 But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Response
The Word of the Lord:
Thanks be to God.

Anthem — Chancel Choir

Come To Us Now, Emmanuel
Don Besig | Nancy Price
© 1996 Jubilate Music Group LLC
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051

Sermon — Rev. Jacob Lee
“Hear, The Parable of the Sower”

Closing Hymn — #206 “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light”

1. I want to walk as a child of the light.
I want to follow Jesus.
God set the stars to give light to the world.
The star of my life is Jesus.

Refrain
In him there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

2. I want to see the brightness of God.
I want to look at Jesus.
Clear Sun of Righteousness, shine on my path,
and show me the way to the Father.

Refrain

3. I’m looking for the coming of Christ.
I want to be with Jesus.
When we have run with patience the race,
we shall know the joy of Jesus.

Refrain

I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light
Kathleen Thomerson
© 1970, 1975 Celebration
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051

Benediction

Postlude – Hani

O Come, All Ye Faithful
Arr. Edward Broughton
© 1971 Lorenz Publishing Company
Used by Permission. ONE LICENSE # A-401420