Worship Service - December 15, 2024

                                      Elkton United Methodist Church

                                              Third Sunday of Advent

                                           Sunday, December 15, 2024

                                                            10:00 a.m. 

---

GREETING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE/INTROIT.................... “LOVE WAS BORN IN A MANGER”¹..................... DARRIN PETERS &

                                                                                                                                            SUZETTE BURGESS

OPENING

TIME OF CENTERING PRAYER

RESPONSE #3049 (W&S)......................................................................................... “WAIT FOR THE LORD”

Wait for the Lord, whose day is near.  Wait for the Lord:  keep watch, take heart.

 

**CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:       Children of God, our world is full of the fruit of humanity’s greed, apathy,

                   and neglect for the love of God, neighbor, self, and all creation.

People:       What then, should we do?

Leader:       Turn to God, for our world is also full of the fruit of God’s love that wells

up all around us, sustaining us, saving us, reviving us to live as the people

of God.

People:       What, then, should we do?

Leader:       Turn to God, for God encircles us on every side, Love divine present with

us in creation, in community, and in the anticipated arrival of the infant

Emmanuel.  What then, children of God, should you do?

All:             We will live in joyful presence with God and neighbor, turning away

                   from sin and toward a life with God and one another marked by joy,

                   justice, and mercy.  AMEN. 

**HYMN #234 (UMH)....................................................................... “O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL” VV. 1-3, 6

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH

OPENING PRAYER (IN UNISON)

Eternal Creator, with you each moment of life is full of wonder and surprise. We pray 

you to make us watchful as we await the coming of Christ.  Grant that we may not be 

found sleeping in sin, but awake and rejoicing in your newness of life.  Through the 

same Jesus Christ our Savior.  AMEN.

 

**GOSPEL LESSON, LUKE 3:7-18 (PAGE 60)

Leader:   This is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ!

People:  Thanks be to God!

 

**RESPONSE #204 (UMH)................................................................................... “EMMANUEL, EMMANUEL”

Emmanuel, Emmanuel, his name is called Emmanuel.  God with us, revealed in us, 

his name is called Emmanuel. 

PRAYER CONCERNS/PASTORAL PRAYER 

THE LORD'S PRAYER (IN UNISON)

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, and the power, and the 

glory, forever.  AMEN.

 

RESPONSE #2215 (TFWS)................................................................................................. “CARES CHORUS”

I cast all my cares upon you, I lay all of my burdens down at your feet, and anytime 

that I don't know what to do, I will cast all my cares upon you. 

CALL TO OFFERING 

OFFERTORY 

**DOXOLOGY #95 (UMH)..................................... “PRAISE GOD, FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW”

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen. 

**OFFERTORY PRAYER

                                                                   CHRISTMAS CANTATA

                                                                          “City of Hope”

                                                                 by Tom Fettke & Jay Rouse

 

                                                                  Director - Suzette Burgess

                                                Narrators - Nancy Crawford & Dick Gochnauer

                                                             Accompanists - Brian Willmore 

                                                                    A Bright Shining Hope

                                                               O Little Town of Bethlehem

                                                   Mary’s Canticle (Erika Belanger – soloist)

                           Away in a Manger (Lindsay Durham, Carol Nickle, Marissa Price – trio)

                                                                        Bethlehem Noels

                                                                         Child of Hope

                                                                       The Virgin Mary

                                                                Praise to the Holy Child

                                                   O Holy Night (Josh Willmore – soloist)

**HYMN #246 (UMH)..................................................................................................... “JOY TO THE WORLD” 

**BENEDICTION

May the sacred music of this morning continue to sing to your heart as you go and share the 

good news of God’s love and Christ’s coming.  AMEN.

 

**CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE

Bind us together, Lord, bind us together with cords that cannot be broken.

Bind us together, Lord, bind us together, bind us together in love.  

POSTLUDE......................... “COME, THOU LONG EXPECTED JESUS”¹...... ARR BY GREG HAMILTON

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> 

                        Flowers on the altar and organ are presented by Maryann and Wayne Scholz

                                        in memory of their daughter, Tina, and grandson, Danny

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> 

**Indicates the congregation should stand if able

UMH: United Methodist Hymnal (red cover)

TFWS: The Faith We Sing (black cover)

W&S:  Worship & Song (green cover)

¹Public Music performance provided for and reported to CCLI Licensing

Copyright License:  #1824650/Recording License:  CSPL148932