• Second Sunday of Advent • WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Cards for prayer requests can be found in the small holders on the backside of each pew. After completing a card, please place it in one of the ushers’ baskets during the Opening Hymn.

Gathering ADVENT READING: Lighting the second candle

Let us pray: Kindle in our hearts, O God, the flame of love that never ceases, that it may burn in us, giving light to others. May we shine forever in your Presence, set on fire with your eternal Light, even your Son Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen! St. Columba, 6th century

Advent Readers: Jim, Liz, Jared, Luke & Michael Barta

CHORAL INTROIT:Let every heart prepare, Let every heart make room;Let each of us rejoice,Our King is coming soon

OPENING PRAYER Let us pray: (we begin with a few moments of silent prayer) Almighty God, you sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation. Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may celebrate the commemoration of the nativity, and may await with joy the coming in glory of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Proclamation and Response

* OPENING HYMN No. 211 (verses 1-4) VENI EMMANUEL “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

FIRST READING: Psalm 85: 1-2, 8-13 The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. ANTHEM: “Prepare the Way” Robert Lau

Prepare the way, O Zion, your Christ is drawing near!Let every hill and valley a level way appear. O blest is Christ that came in God’s most holy name.

SECOND READING: 2 Peter 3: 8-15 The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

* HYMN No. 209 “Blessed Be the God of Israel” MERLE’S TUNE

* GOSPEL READING: Mark 1: 1-8 The Gospel of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

SERMON “Prepare the Way” Rev. Russell Bowlin

APOSTLES’ CREED No. 881

CALL TO PRAYER No. 196 (verse 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.

(This Advent season, we celebrate the musical tradition of singing acapella during the seasons of Lent and Advent by singing our

Call to Prayer without the organ.)

CALL TO CONFESSION Let us confess our sins to God:

CONFESSIONMerciful God, in love you have made us, and through love you have kept us, and in your love would make us perfect: We humbly confess that we have not loved you with all our heart and soul and mind and strength, and that we have not loved one another as Christ loved us. Your life is within our souls, but our selfishness has hindered you. We have not lived by faith. We have resisted your Spirit. We have neglected your inspirations. Forgive what we have been; help us to amend what we are; and in your Spirit direct what we shall be; that you may come into the full glory of your creation, in us and in all people; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESSThe saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. If any one sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He is the atonement for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world! In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God! Amen.

* SHARING THE PEACE The Peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you.

OFFERING

OFFERTORY * DOXOLOGY, No. 95 OLD HUNDREDTH “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”

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.

Thanksgiving and Communion

* THE GREAT THANKSGIVING Musical Setting D, pp. 17-18 An offering may be left at the rail for the Christ’s Kitchen

(More information on the back of the bulletin.)

Our mission is to honor God through worship...

THE LORD’S PRAYEROur 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.

BREAKING THE BREAD

COMMUNION

COMMUNION HYMN No. 626 PICARDY “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNIONLet us pray: Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sending Forth

* HYMN OF INVITATION No. 715 DARWALL’S 148TH “Rejoice, the Lord Is King”

* BENEDICTION

* SENDING FORTH “Is There Room in Your Heart for a King?”

POSTLUDE

• • •

CCLI #1142459e.

Our worship service has ended. Our worship through service now begins.

* Please stand as you are able

10:40 a.m. Ushers: Lonnie Hillin (Head Usher) Jerry Cheatham, Mary Cheatham, Mark Stewart, Kay Chapman, Milton Chapman. Sound: Bob Chambless. Lay Reader: Kathy Valdez . Video; Don WhitakerCommunion Servers 10:40Dorothy Ryan, Ronnie Hillin, Maureen Sharp, Trudy Wortham & Kathy Valdez

Jarrell V. Sharp, Senior Pastor (jvsharp@swbell.net)Paul Whiteley, Associate Pastor (PaulWhiteley04@yahoo.com)

Russell Bowlin, Pastor of Youth/Young Adult Ministries (rbowlinfumcv@gmail.com)Glenn Hunter, Music Director (Hunter.Glenn@gmail.com)

Sean Folk, Contemporary Worship Leader (Ignitefumcv@gmail.com)Brooke Mercer, Children’s Director (fumckids@hotmail.com)

Child care is available.Wireless hearing devices are available.

...witness and service to others as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

The W

eek A

head -

Decem

ber 7 -

13*

Indi

cate

s tha

t chi

ld ca

re is

pro

vide

d in

the C

hild

ren’s

Min

istry

Cen

ter f

or ch

ildre

n ag

e 5 a

nd u

nder

. N

o pr

ior n

otice

or

regi

strat

ion

is ne

cess

ary.

For

info

rmat

ion,

cont

act o

ur C

hild

ren’s

Coo

rdin

ator

: aim

eefe

nwic

kfum

c@gm

ail.c

om.

Sunday, December 7 8:00 a.m. Chancel Choir 8:30 a.m. Worship* 9:30 a.m. Sunday School* 9:30 a.m. Cherub Choir, CMC-C115 10:40 a.m. Worship* 11:00 a.m. IGNITE* 12:00 p.m. Lunch Bunch, Red Lobster 5:30 p.m. Sisters Emmaus Group, Parlor 6:00 p.m. UMYF, ATTIC, GymMonday, December 8 8:00 a.m. Prescription Assistance 1:30 p.m. Staff Meeting, Conference Room 4:30 p.m. Upward Basketball, CLC 5:15 p.m. Trustee’s Meeting, Seekers Class Room 6:00 p.m. Handbells, Bell Choir Room 7:30 p.m. Hannah Circle, ParlorTuesday, December 9 10:00 a.m. MDS Board Meeting, MDS Computer Lab 4:30 p.m. Upward Basketball, CLC 6:00 p.m. Budget Meeting, The Crossing 7:00 p.m. Compassionate Friends, Seekers Room 7:00 p.m. Pickle Ball, CLCWednesday, December 10 6:00 a.m. Men’s Emmaus, Wesley Hall 9:00 a.m. Holy Strollers Mom’s Group, CMC* 5:00 p.m. 1st Family (formerly WNL) 7:15 p.m. Choir Rehearsal 7:15 p.m. IGNITE Music Rehearsal Thursday, December 11 6:30 a.m. Men’s Emmaus, Crossing 11:45 a.m. Men’s Emmaus Group, Wesley Hall 12:15 p.m. Advent Organ Recital, Sanctuary 5:00 p.m. Come One, Come All, Reece Home 4:30 p.m. Upward Basketball, CLC 1:30 p.m. Quilt Ministry, The Crossing 5:30 p.m. Stewardship Committee, The Parlor 7:00 p.m. Choir Concert, SanctuaryFriday, December 12 9:00 a.m. Pickle Ball 3:00 p.m. TBS Planning Meeting, ParlorSaturday, December 13 8:00 8.m. Upward Basketball, CLC

First United Methodist Church~ Victoria ~

December 7, 201410:40 a.m.

Please keep the following in your prayers: Linda Addison Evelyn Cano Michael Chew, US Army Molly Goode Greg Grubbs- Army

Cameron Harris-Air ForceBrooke HesterJacob & Karla HoweKaren Johnson

Tommy & Belinda Romanowski Liz TortorichMaryann Ziescnang - Navy

Please join us Thursdays at 12:15 for a 30 minute program of Advent music. This makes a perfect lunch break, and a chance to escape from the demands of the day, to have some time to reflect, unwind, and recharge. Dates are Dec. 4th, 11th, and 18th.

"A Thousand Years of Christmas", Thursday, Dec. 11th at 7:00 P.M.

The concert will feature Christmas music from as early as the year 900 A.D., all the way to music composed this year! Admission is free; please plan on coming, and bring a friend or neighbor to this great event.

"A Thousand Years of Christmas"Music, Music, Music!

Advent Organ Recitals!

Join us for this year’s Choir Christmas

Concert,

To order poinsettias in memory or in honor of your loved ones please fill out the form and turn into the Church office with $10 by Friday, December 12. Forms are in the sanctuary and can be found in the small holders on the backside of each pew or in the FUMC office. Flowers will be placed in the Sanctuary &

IGNITE Sunday, December 21 and December 28. They can be picked up after the second service on December 28th or before 10 am on Monday, December 29. The poinsettias remaining will be delivered to our members who are shut ins or in nursing homes.

Poinsettias

Budget Committee Meeting The finance committee will have its first meeting to develop our Mission Plan for 2015. The meeting will be on December 9th at 5:30 p.m. in Wesley Hall and will dismiss at 7:00 p.m. this meeting is open to all members of First United Methodist Church Victoria. This is the first of four (4) meetings to be held in December to work on the Mission Plan. If you cannot attend the first meeting there will be others during the month and the dates will be announced later.

Please consider joining us to help develope our 2015 Mission Plan. Refreshments will be served!

December Communion Offering - CHRIST’S KITCHENChrist’s Kitchen was born out of a UMW study on hunger in 1985. The ladies first served sandwiches out of their vehicles. Now, this wonderful organization stands on its own and has served over 2 million meals. Help FUMC continue the connection through the December Communion offering. To volunteer contact Gene Martin at 575-4232

Homebound Commuion Servers: Susan & Chuck Boyd, Joye & Robert Tripson, Linda & Hugh Hanes, David Brown, Ronni Hillin & Dorothy Ryan.

Financial Update (In Whole Dollars)2014 Annual Mission Plan - $1,098,834

Avg. Needed Weekly - $21,131 Average Received Weekly - $19,018Contributions Received Week of 11/30/14 - $13,256

Plan YTD Actual YTD NeededIncome 1,027,388 912,859* 114,529Expenses 990,912 906,182 *** Includes pledges paid in advance for 2014 and special offerings** Reflects $43,063 (38%) of apportionments paid and $103,000 total prepaid pledges