St. Andrew

United Methodist

Church Rev. Jeff Childress

January 06, 2019

Epiphany

Sunday

Prepare the Way: Series Overview

Advent marks the beginning of another year in the cycle of Scriptures that presents the narrative of the love of God revealed to the world. We will begin this new liturgical year with a seven-part Advent/Christmas/Epiphany sermon series from Discipleship Ministries called, Prepare the Way. Jesus is coming! It is our responsibility to “prepare the way” and get ready. In this season, how will we make a place for Christ to be known in our community?

First Sunday of Advent December 2 Stand Jeremiah 33:14-16 and Luke 21:25-36 The first week of Advent points directly at Christ’s coming, with the passage as one of hope and encouragement. Though fear and foreboding are significant elements of this event, Jesus says, “stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Lk. 21:28).

Third Sunday of Advent December 16 Do Zephaniah 3:14-20 and Luke 3:7-18

This third week of Advent is always an occasion of joy. With these Scripture lessons, however, comes an expectation that the people of God will “do” something to be a part of the inheritance promised to Abraham. Zephaniah instructs the people to “not let your hands grow weak” (Zep. 3:16), and John offers further teaching: “Bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Lk. 3:7-16).

Fourth Sunday of Advent December 23 Christmas Cantata

There is Peace in the World Tonight St. Andrew Chancel Choir

Christmas Eve December 24 Arrive Isaiah 9:2-7 and Luke 2:1-20

Christmas Eve now becomes the point of arrival as Christ—the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”—comes to the world.

First Sunday after Christmas Day December 30 Search Matthew 25:31-45 In the ways Jesus comes, it is often easy to become so overwhelmed that we cannot see the presence or work of Christ around us. We often find ourselves searching for Jesus, despite knowing all the places and ways in which Christ can be found.

Epiphany Sunday January 6 Find Isaiah 60:1-6 and Matthew 2:1-12

With enough searching, however, the promise we are given with the story of the Epiphany, is that all who search for Jesus will find him.

ENTRANCE AND GATHERING

Welcome and Grace of Hospitality

*Bringing In the Light of Christ and Opening Praise (screen) Come Celebrate Jesus

* Call to Worship

O come, let us worship the Lord and consider what wondrous things God has done: The Magi who study the heavens follow a guiding star!

O come, let us worship the Lord and consider what wondrous things God has done: The peoples who live in the shadows see a glorious light!

O come, let us worship the Lord and consider what wondrous things God has done: The Christ who embodies the Word unveils the hidden plan, making us joint heirs of the promise of salvation through the gospel!

O come, let us worship the Lord, for God has done wondrous things!

*Hymn No. 254 We Three Kings of Orient Are

Prayer of Approach (in unison)

Light of Christ, awaken us this hour to the glory of your presence in our midst. Shine among us in such a way that the darkness without, and within, may be pushed back so that we might truly see what is really real. Help us to recognize our sin for what it is. Enable us to behold the world as you created it to be; as you created us to be. Empower us to move from darkness to light; from sin to new life. May your light within us shine through into worship this day, and all days. This we pray in the name of the Word made flesh, the light which is the light of all people, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Tithes and Offerings

*Doxology No. 95

Children’s Moment Kara Graham Children ages 3 years – 5th grade may go to Children’s Church.

Please follow the adult leaders as they exit the door behind the piano. Choral Anthem Jesus, Our Noel Chancel Choir Phil Owens, solo

PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE Old Testament Lesson Isaiah 60:1-6

*Gospel Lesson Matthew 2:1-12 Sermon Prepare the Way: Find Rev. Jeff Childress Morning Prayer Response to the Spoken Word

A Communion Rose

Lord, you gave me a rose so fair It’s dewdrops were tears of my despair,

And glistening in the morning sun, My tears had broken and become undone.

The fragrance sweet set me at peace, My soul was quieted in its’ release,

And breezes blew round about I thought that I could shout.

By: Laura Bathurst

But not a sound came from these lips,

Upon the bread and wine did I sip, And close around in kneeling prayer,

I felt as if You were there.

My petition rose like flowers bloom, Pointing to the sun, in my tiny room,

And yes the fragrance lifted me, Above the branches of the tree.

You see my Lord, He can complete His will in me and give it feet,

To carry on His work right here, With all the people I hold dear.

SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION Hymnal Page 12

Invitation to the Lord’s Table

Confession and Pardon

The Great Thanksgiving

Receiving the Bread and Cup

Prayer of Thanksgiving

SENDING FORTH

*Affirmation of Faith At the Dawn of a New Year

At the dawn of a new year, we come to welcome hope for a new world.

Let the darkness lift, to welcome a dawn of plenty, with enough for everyone and people ready to share.

Let the day begin, with new energy for the struggle to protect our children and to care for the vulnerable.

Let the light shine, to open a path to safety for all who are seeking home and longing for life.

Let the sun rise on new talks and new resolve to end war and division and to find solutions that will last. At the dawn of a new year we come to declare our hope and to welcome a new world.

*Please stand if you are able. CCLI#1116193

Bridal Shower

—HONORING—

Melissa Thomas

Sunday, January 13, 2019

HOSTED BY MONIQUE GERMAN

St. Andrew Fellowship Hall

2PM until 4PM

Melissa and Justin are

registered at Belk & Zola.com.

Other suggestions are Lowe’s and

Amazon Gift cards.

Husband to be: Justin Baker.

*Hymn No. 585 This Little Light of Mine *Benediction *Closing Praise No. 557 Bless Be the Tie That Binds

This Week at St. Andrew January 6, 2019 - January 12, 2019

Jesus, Juice & Java 9:00am

Sunday School 9:30am

Morning Worship 10:30am

Covenant Bible Study 5:00pm

Sunday January 6, 2019 Wednesday January 9, 2019

Kids for Christ 6:30pm

Bible Study 6:30pm

Chancel Choir 7:30pm

Thursday January 10, 2019

Saturday January 12, 2019

Covenant Bible Study 9:00am

Gym open for walkers 5:30pm

Lucille Searcy Circle 6:30pm

Gym Open for walkers 8:00am

Tuesday January 8, 2019

Gym Open for walkers 5:30pm

Epiphany January 6, 2019

On This Twelfth Day, or Three Kings Day, otherwise known as Epiphany, think of the gift that you will offer to God in the coming year. The gift of time? The gift of your talents? Your service in the community? Your witness and testimony? The gift of undying love and devotion?

Their greatest gift comes to us in the form of a realization. The Wise Men were the first Gentiles to recognize that Jesus belongs to everyone. Good news is for everyone, not just a select few.

Youth Meet and Greet Sunday January 13th.

On January 13th immediately following the morning

Worship there will be an informal youth meet & greet

in the Youth room. Parents are invited to attend.

SHARE is a non-profit community action agency that

provides a wide range of services to low and moderate-

income residents in upstate South Carolina.

SHARE provides monetary funds to families who can’t

afford to keep their heat on; it is part of Operation Warmth.

SHARE Birth to Five is a school readiness program that

provides comprehensive child development services to

eligible families. The overall purpose is to provide a

program that will give preschool children and their families

a variety of experiences which will broaden their horizons

and their understanding of the world in which they live,

expand their thinking, improve their health, build

self-confidence and self-concepts that will better assist

them living with themselves and others.

SHARE's Homeless Services programs offer four units of

transitional housing or rapid rehousing assistance which

helps families and individuals experiencing homelessness

a way to move into an apartment or home.

Monetary donations for SHARE may be placed in the

offering plate or turned in to the church office. Please

designate on your envelope or check as SHARE.

Thank you for supporting our Monthly Missions at

St. Andrew!

January 2019

Mission of the Month

Living the Covenant,

The second segment of the three-part Covenant Bible Study

series, will resume in January. The Sunday group will meet at

5 P.M. on January 6th and the Thursday group will meet on

January 10th at 9 A.M. Both groups will meet in the

Family Life Center.

Christmas Honorariums

Jae & Karen Justus

Family

Christmas Memorials

Bill Mills Emma Mills

Bill Mills Roy Gibbons

It’s time to start

gathering the

things you

no longer treasure

for the Churchwide Yard Sale.

February 23 , 2019.

REGULAR SCHEDULED MONTHLY

MEETINGS/ACTIVITIES

Every Sunday Jesus, Juice & Java @ 9:00am

Sunday School @ 9:30am

Morning Worship Service @ 10:30am

UMYF @ 5:00pm

Every Wednesday Bible Study @ 6:30pm

Kids For Christ @ 6:30pm

Chancel Choir @ 7:30pm

Blood Pressure Screening Every 1st Sunday @

10:15am - 10:30am

11:30am - 11:45am

Communion Service Every 1st Sunday @ 10:30am Service

Ad Board Meeting Every other 3rd Monday @ 7:00pm

Bells of St. Andrew Every 1st, 3rd & 4th Thursday@ 7:00pm

COM Every other 2nd Sunday @ 6:00pm

Finance Committee Every 3rd Monday @ 6:00pm

Lucille Searcy Circle Every 2nd Thursday @ 6:30pm

Men’s Club Meeting Every 2nd Tuesday @ 6:30pm

Sweet Spirits Every 3rd Tuesday @ 11:30am

Trustees Every 2nd Monday @ 6:30pm

Walkers Every Tuesday 5:30 - 6:30pm

Every Thursday 5:30 - 6:30pm

Every Saturday 8:00 - 9:00am

Walkers can also meet downtown Easley on the 3rd Saturdays

@9:00 am.

Family & Friends Ken Black Patricia Booty Jane Campbell (Lucy Rackley’s sister)

Janet Chase Janet Crane Susan Dodgens Robin Few Pat Finley Thelma Ford Lala Freeman Anita Gilland (Kristi Padgett’s

Mother)

Laine Lemon Ken Mattison Annie McJunkins Ann Owens Lucy Rackley Harold Rampey JR Thomas Val Thornton John Vanderhoof Military Michael Burton Anthony Grayson Tom Hansen Kyle Moytka Douglas Nobles Gabe Pszonowsky Nathan Rampey Kristian Robinson Stephan Sampson Andrew Simer Shawn Weiler

Homebound Helen Chastain Joyce Crowe Betty Owens Ray and Mary Pace John Smith Magdalene Williams Mildred Williams Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Nursing Homes

Brookdale Dwaine & Ruth Stanley Margaret Sorrells National Health Care Doris Hayes Oakview Assisted Living Anne Keith Magnolias of Easley Pete Bush Ed MCCollum

Prayer Requests

St. Andrew United Methodist Church

309 Pelzer Highway Easley, South Carolina 29642

Phone: 864-859-1567

Office Hours Monday - Thursday 8:30am - 4:00pm

Email

churchoffice1567@yahoo.com AbundantlivingSAUMC@gmail.Com

Website

www.standrewunited.weebly.com

Sunday, January 6, 2019

Nursery

Eliza Finley & Angie Johnson

Greeters

Gerri Houston & Rhonda Groen

Ushers

Randall West

Fred Owens

Julian Ford

Tim Graham

Communion Servers

Tony & Ann Ellenburg

David McInturff