Calendar for December 1-7

Sunday, December 1 2:00 Orchestra Practice 3:00 Handbells Practice 5:00-7:00 Live Nativity

M1 Students/FHallMonday, December 2 2:30 ROOTSWednesday, December 4 6:45 UMM/FHall 5:00 Midweek Meal-Pork Loin 6:00 Wednesday Worship

Disciple Bible Study 6:45 Hands for Him 6:50 10:50 Choir Rehearsal

Serving in December Offering Steward December 1: Richard Griffin & Glenn Hudson/Jerry CrosserCommunion Servers: Hands for HimMeal Ministry: Virginia Grimes, Pam Coates, Shirley Borden, Candy Goad, Suzanne ButtreyShut In Visitation: The Breakfast ClubShawl Ministry: Sharon BoydNursery Workers: Lindy Johnson, Erin Jackson, Emily Grace BellChildren Greeter: Emma Cate Carr

Memorials & HonorariumsHonoring and remembering those we love….

Budget Fund in memory of Freda BoldingHunters for the Hungry in memory of Bob & Betty CheesemanOrgan Fund in honor of Brother Randy

Welcome our new members: And the Lewter Family-Andrew, Megan, Mitchell & Andy (left to right)

Martin First United Methodist Church

First Sunday of Advent December 1, 2019We invite you to quiet personal meditation when the music prelude begins.

Please silence all electronic devices as we prepare to worship God.

Gathering and Welcome Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending with Doug Owens

Call to Worship Norma HolbrookI look from afar; and lo, I see the power of God coming, And a cloud covering the whole earth.You, go out to meet him, and say: “Tell us, are you he that should come to reign over your people Israel?”High and low, rich and poor, one with another, go—all of you—out to meet him, and say:

“Are you he who is to come?Hear, O Shepherd of Israel,

You that lead Joseph like a sheep, Tell us, are you the one who is to come?”

Stir up your strength, O Lord, and come to reign over your people Israel!

Opening Hymn Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus 196

Bidding Prayer Amanda CriceBeloved in Christ, we are to meet together in this Advent Season to prepare ourselves in heart and mind for the

coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Judge; to hear in Holy Scripture and in sacred song the message of salvation accomplished by him; and to bring to mind the great and glorious Day of His Final Judgment.

Let us ask our heavenly Father that by his mercy he will forgive our past deeds, whether committed or omitted through weakness, through ignorance, or even through willful disobedience. Let us bear in mind the perfect Sacrifice of his Son Jesus that bought us once and for all on Calvary’s tree. And let us seek his grace in order to amend our lives, that we may follow the pattern of his Son’s perfect life.

Let us hear in Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience to the glorious redemption brought to us by the Advent of our Savior, that we may look expectantly to the final day when he shall come in glory to fulfill his promise of a redeemed and transfigured creation. Let us pray:

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness and put upon us the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to life immortal, through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Act of Praise and Advent Candle What Shall I Give Him? Roots

Advent Scripture Lessons 1.O Wisdom Dan Scates

O WISDOM, who came forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end, and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: Come and teach us the way of prudence.

The Creation and Summons of Wisdom Proverbs 8:1, 10-11, 21-26, 32-35O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 211, vv. 1-2

2. O Adonai Kayci BordenO ADONAI and Leader of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in flames of the bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come, and with your outstretched arm redeem us.

The Giving of the Law at Sinai Exodus 24:12-18; 31:18O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 211, v. 3

The Beauty of God’s Commandments: Psalm 119:169-176 Katy CurseyLet my cry reach you, LORD;    help me understand according to what you have said.Let my request for grace come before you;    deliver me according to your promise! Let my lips overflow with praise    because you have taught me your statutes.Let my tongue declare your word,    because all your commandments are righteous.Let your power help me    because I have chosen your precepts.LORD, I long for your saving help!    Your Instruction is my joy!Let me live again so I can praise you!    Let your rules help me!I’ve wandered off like a sheep, lost.    Find your servant        because I have not forgotten        your commandments!

Music Offering What a Glorious Night Hands for Him Sadie Bell, Emily Grace Bell, Eden Brown, Jillian Brigance, Rachel Bowlin, Mary Anna Chester, Anna Cursey, Katy Cursey, Brentley Dowdy, Cara Brooke Hatler, Addison Galey, Bella Mancusi, Kate Stroh, Lindsey Hollowell (leader)

3. O Root of Jesse Matt BordenO ROOT OF JESSE, who stands for an ensign of the people, before whom kings shall keep silence and to whom the Gentiles shall make their supplication: Come, and deliver us and tarry not.

The Spirit of the Lord Will Rest Upon the Branch of Jesse’s Stem Isaiah 11:1-10O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 211, v. 4

4. O Key of David Anna CurseyO KEY OF DAVID and Scepter of the house of Israel, who opens and on one shuts, who shuts and no one opens: Come, and bring forth from prison the captive who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Christ, the Key of the House of David, Unlocks the Prison of Sin and Death Isaiah 22:22; 42:6-9O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 211, v. 5

Anthem Advent Hymn (Besig) Adult Choirs

5. O Morning Star, O Dayspring Emily Grace BellO MORNING STAR AND DAYSPRING, Brightness of the light eternal and Sun of Justice: Come, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of Death.

The Light of Christ Arises Upon a World in Chaos and Darkness Isaiah 9:2, 6-7O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 211, v. 6

6. O King of the Gentiles Adam WilsonO KING OF THE GENTILES and their Desired One, Cornerstone that makes both one: Come, and deliver us whom you formed out of the dust of the earth.

The Nations Bring Their Treasures to the Messiah Isaiah 60:1-7 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 211, v. 7

7. O Emmanuel Jackie JohnsonO EMMANUEL, our King and Lawgiver, the Desire and Hope of the nations and their Savior: Come and save us, O Lord, our God.

The Prophet Heralds the Birth of Emmanuel Isaiah 7:14; 42:1-7O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 211, v. 1

Sermon Randy Cooper Hymn I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light 206

Prayers

Holy Communion p. 17

Hymn Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending 718

Blessing Emma Cate Carr and Eli CatesMay Almighty God, by whose Providence our Savior Christ Jesus came among us in great humility,

sanctify us with the light of his blessing and set us free from all sin. Amen.May he whose second coming in power and great glory we await,

make us steadfast in faith, joyful in hope, and constant in love. Amen. May we who rejoice in the first Advent of our Redeemer, at his second Advent be rewarded with eternal life. Amen. And may the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit be upon us and remain with us forever. Amen.

Postlude

**This service is adapted from Advent Services of Lessons and Carols in Columbia, South Carolina; Greenwich, Connecticut; and Cambridge, England.

INTERCESSORY PRAYER CONCERNS: Ongoing Concerns: Ronnie Coleman, Sue Wright, Gordon Morris, Jane Rawls, Cynthia Haley, Les Macdiarmid, Ann & Buddy Pritchett, Ann Wall, Marie Chester, Billie Sue Walker, Ramona Hauhe, Virginia Clendenin, John Overcash, Marilucile Counce, Alan Moody, Neil Rawls, Bob Smith, Jill Brigance, Kathy Prewett, Angie Farmer, Gail Yates, Bishop Bill McAlilly, Superintendent Cynthia Davis. Friends & Relatives: Dwight Merritt’s nephew. Dana Kelly. Charlene Freeman’s son, Randy Horne. Dee Cannon’s friend, Marilyn Williams. Hal & Vicki Greer & Family. Angie Damron’s son and Dawne Belote’s brother, Steve Damron. Mack Thornton’s brothers-in-law, Butch Henley, Lynn White, and John Kinzel and sister-in-law, Linda Cushman. Phil Wade’s and Debbie Jorge’s father, Jesse Wade. Erica Bell’s father, Don Griffin. Romona Bell’s great niece, Samantha Angerbrant. Peggy King’s son-in-law, George Frels and friend, Leslie Justice. Janice Merryman’s cousin, Paul Blankenship. Courtney Williams. Gracie Davidson. Jeff Stockton’s friend, Becky Tofte. Lori Manley’s father, Charles Abbott. Steve & Bea Mohler’s daughter-in-law, Heather Mohler. Bill Stepp. Ben Luca. Jenise Butler’s cousin, April. Susan Parr. Camille Legins’ father.

Parsonage Last week in the bulletin was a letter about the prospect of a parsonage. If you did not receive the letter, there are additional copies available today at the sanctuary doors.

Trip to Israel Anyone? Randy hopes to lead a trip to Israel either in October 2020 or Spring 2021. If you are interested in learning more, please contact the church office. An information meeting will be planned.