Click HERE for a printable version of Order of Worship
Dear Church Family,
We want to share with you the Order of Worship that we will use on the morning of Sunday, December 22, 2024. We will start the service at 10 am.
Please join us in-person or virtually by using either the conference call number, the live stream via Zoom, Facebook, or our website.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to worship. Thank you so much. Welcome to St. Matthew’s UMC!
If you have difficulties with the Facebook link, feel free to join Zoom.
Live-Stream
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- Meeting ID: 996 0251 9769
- Password: 14900
- St. Matthew’s UMC via Facebook
- St. Matthew’s UMC via Website
Conference Call
- Conference Call Dial-In: +1-301-715-8592
- Enter Access Code: 996 0251 9769 #
- Password: 14900 #
- Then, please wait for the host to begin.
Closed Captioning Available
Worship, classes, and meetings Zoomed now have the capability for closed captioning. The catch is that you must “turn it on”.
To do that, click on the button labeled “More…”. Then in the droplist, click on “Show Subtitles”.
If you need further assistance with this, please contact georgewood@stmatthews-bowie.org
Sunday, December 22, 2024: The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Prelude: Intonation on Veni Emmanuel
—David P. Dahl (b. 1937)
Welcome
*CALL TO WORSHIP/ADVENT WREATH PRAYERS:
L: Today we light all four candles of our Advent wreath.
A: We light the candle of HOPE, the candle of PEACE,
the candle of JOY, and the candle of LOVE.
L: I give you a new commandment:
A: Love one another as I have loved you.
*Prayer (in unison)
God of love, you sent your Son, Jesus,
to shine bright like the sun, lighting the way for all who walk in darkness.
May the light of Christ’s hope, peace, joy and love
shine bright in us as we approach his coming,
that we may be ready to welcome him. Amen.
*OPENING HYMN:
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Vss 1 & 5-7 only UMH 211
PRAYER OF CONFESSION: —Rev. Nathan Decker
Lord of Christmas Love,
we have done wrong.
We have tarnished the gift you gave freely.
We have buried you so deeply in our hearts
that the world doesn’t see you.
We have not followed Christ.
We have ignored your teachings.
We have lived lives of apathy against your love.
We have built fences and fortresses to push people away.
We have silenced the screams of those in need.
Forgive us, we pray.
Free us from our sin.
Free us from our captivity.
Free us to a life lived in love through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Words of Assurance
*ACT OF PRAISE: Gloria Patri UMH 71
Joys & Concerns
Pastoral Prayer & The Lord’s Prayer
*HYMN BEFORE SCRIPTURE:
The King of Glory Come TFWS 2091
Today’s Epistle reading is taken from the Letter to the Hebrews
(Hebrews 10:5-10)
5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,
“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body you have prepared for me;
6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings
you have taken no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘See, I have come to do your will, O God’
(in the scroll of the book it is written of me).”
8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “See, I have come to do your will.” He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. 10 And it is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
The Word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD.
*Please stand as you are able for the Gospel Acclamation
and remain standing for the reading of the Gospel.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Halle, Hallelujah TFWS 2026
This morning’s Gospel reading is from the Gospel of Luke
(Luke 1:39-45)
39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
The Gospel of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD.
Music for Meditation: Of the Father’s Love Begotten
—Christopher Uehlein (1931-2019)
Children’s Message
Music at the Gradual: Lo! How a Rose E’er Blooming
—Melchior Vulipus & Michael Praetorius, 1599;
arr. Carl Johengen, 2024
Message —Rev. JW Park
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Music during the Offertory: Lo! In the Time Appointed —Healey Willan (1880-1968)
DOXOLOGY UMH 95
Presentation of Staff Gift
Announcements
*CLOSING HYMN:
Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates UMH 213
Benediction
*CHORAL BENEDICTION RESPONSE:
May the Peace of God —Garry A. Cornell
Postlude: Fantasy on Truro —David M. Lasky (b. 1957)
DAILY SCRIPTURES
Mon: Isaiah 7:10-17 Tues: Matthew 1:18-25
Wed: Isaiah 40:1-11, 28-31 Thur: Ezekiel 34:11-16
Fri: Isaiah 9:1-7 Sat: Philippians 4:4-9
SPECIAL THANKS TO TODAY’S VOLUNTEERS!
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Greeters |
Henry Berfield, Mary Fauntleroy |
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Ushers |
Corey Smith*, Angela Cockrell, Sarta Freeman, Maysen Gore-Duran |
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Acolytes |
Cheyanne Belcher, James Belcher |
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Liturgist |
Robert Matthews |
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Counters |
Scot Dahl (lead), Pat Layfield, Bruce Thoman |
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Wreath Lighters |
The Lightfoot-Taylor Family |
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Musicians |
Chancel Choir |
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Broadcasting |
The Hulens, George Wood, Steve Smith, Bruce Thoman, Zoom Team |
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Welcome Desk |
Jane Thessin |
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Christmas Brunch |
Ray Orocco-John, Christin Vare |
WHAT’S HAPPENING…
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Today |
11am |
2nd Annual Christmas Brunch |
Fellowship Hall |
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Adult Sunday School |
Parlor |
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Children’s Sunday School |
Room 222 |
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4pm |
Youth Group |
Room 226 |
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Mon. |
7pm |
Gloria Ringers |
Choir Room |
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Tues. |
5pm |
Children & Family Christmas Eve Service (no Communion or Childcare) |
Sanctuary |
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8pm |
Christmas Eve Service w/Communion (no Childcare) |
Sanctuary |
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Wed. |
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Thurs. |
7pm |
Chancel Choir |
Choir Room |
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Sat. |
930am |
Altar Guild |
Sanctuary |
MORNING PRAYER CALL: Monday-Saturday, 630-645am
Dial 267-807-9601 and enter access code: 111-576-270 #
December 23 – 28: Diane Waldo
Opportunities to Study and Worship (see “What’s Happening…” for weekly updates)
– Tuesday Morning Bible Study meets at 945am in the Parlor.
– Tuesday Evening Bible Study will resume January 14th at 7pm on Zoom.
– Wednesday Evening Simple Prayer Join us in the Sanctuary at 7pm.
– Adult Sunday School meets in the Parlor at 845am and 11am.
– Children’s Sunday School meets at 11am in Room 222 Wesley Wing.
– Youth Group Sundays at 4pm in Room 226 Wesley Wing.
– Christian Book Club will meet on Tuesday, December 17th, at 7pm on Zoom.
– God & Guinness meets the 2nd Sunday of each month at 12pm.
Announcements
REMINDERS
The Church Office will be closed from Tuesday, December 24th through Wednesday, January 1st, and reopen on Thursday, January 2nd.
Please check with your group(s) for any holiday-related schedule changes.
Advent Messages from Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling
Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling is publishing a series of messages for this Advent season. Bishop Easterling’s Advent Messages have become available only after we have already sent out the Midweek Messenger. If you would like to read her newest message before the Sunday service to which it pertains, check her office website each Friday during Advent https://www.bwcumc.org/about/bishops-office and scroll down to the box labeled “IN HER OWN WORDS.”
Adult Sunday School – 11am – Parlor
This week’s topic: “A Christmas Carol” with George C. Scott.
Kitchen Cleaning – Friday, December 27th
We ask all committees, teams, and individuals who may have containers, dishes, or items leftover from previous events to please stop by and pick them up within the next two weeks. If you would like to volunteer to help clean, please contact Lisa Klein at lisasklein68@yahoo.com
Year-End Donations – due to church by 11am on Sunday, December 29th
The Finance Committee would like to thank each of you for your generous contributions. Due to deadlines imposed by our bank, for your contribution to be recognized in your 2024 giving, it must be received by 12/29. Please do not forget your church and the financial commitment you made through your pledge last year. Those received after will be included in your 2025 giving statement. Questions: Lisa Wilson, Financial Secretary (Lisawilson@stmatthews-bowie.org).
UWF Epiphany Brunch – Sunday, January 11th at 10am
The annual Epiphany Brunch, hosted by the United Women in Faith, will be held on the second Saturday in January instead of the usual first Saturday. Please mark your calendars.
Appalachian Service Project (ASP) Dates Are Set
Our youth will be heading to our 2025 ASP from July 6th to 12th. Anyone in high school or above who is interested in serving on this trip, please let Becky Roper know (beckyroper@stmatthews-bowie.org). We will hold a meeting for those interested at the end of January and will post related details in the January Circuit Rider. Keep an eye out for more information!
Little Free Pantry Update
The Little Free Pantry needs a shopper. The shopper is reimbursed for the groceries they purchase. Cereals, proteins, soup, and canned fruit are also needed. Beth Lingg (bethlingg@comcast.net)
Bowie Food Pantry Update
The Food Pantry is extremely grateful for the donations of food and funds throughout 2024, including a donation and visit to the Pantry by the EEC kindergartners! Currently, the greatest needs are for granola bars, microwave popcorn, and toilet paper. Please leave donations in the shopping cart in the coatroom.
CONTACT US
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Facebook Page |
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Senior Pastor |
Rev. JW Park |
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Dir. Music Ministries & Adult Education |
Isaac Borocz |
isaacboroc |