“The Joy of Home” Sunday December 12, 2021

Salem United Methodist Church of Keedysville, MD (301) 432-4046 www.salemcommunity.org www.facebook.com/SalemUMC Order of Worship Sunday December 12, 2021 Third Sunday of Advent PRELUDE GREETING and WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP: LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH Reader One: It’s a reunion every time we go home, every time we embrace those we love, no matter how long it has been. It feels like sunrise, like the clouds are parting and the rain has ended. It is joy, nothing less than pure joy to grab hold of those who are home for us, who make home for us. Whether we wake up to them every day, or travel many miles to see them again, it is joy to go home. Reader Two: The prophet Zephaniah tells us to rejoice at the thought of going home. The prophet tells us to imagine being set free, being unburdened, being released to live, to fully live in the grace and wonder of life itself, surrounded by those who love us like no one else. And then to live like that was our truth even now, even here. It is joy to go home. Reader One: John the Baptist reminds us, however, that it takes choices to live in this joy. It doesn’t just happen; we choose to make life a joy by how we love others, by how we serve and give and care for others, by how we do the job we do and how we impact the world around us. We build joy as we build a home in this world and the next. Reader Two: We light these candles, the candle of hope, and of peace, and of joy, as a sign that we are on our way home. (Please pause as we light three candles on the Advent wreath, the respond) All: We can see the destination. What joy, what joy! It is time to go home. OPENING HYMN “There’s a Song in the Air” UMH v 1 & 2 There’s a song in the air! There’s a star in the sky! There’s a mother’s deep prayer and a baby’s low cry! And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing, For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King! There’s a tumult of joy o’er the wonderful birth, For the virgin’s sweet boy is the Lord of the earth. Ay! The star rains its fire while the beautiful sing, For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King! QUILT BLESSING AND DEDICATION THE SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS PASTORAL PRAYER THE LORD’S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. SCRIPTURE Luke 3:7-18 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them. SERMON “The Joy of Home” Pastor Suzanne Jones OFFERTORY DOXOLOGY “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” UMH 95 OFFERTORY PRAYER God who gives all gifts, we bring you our fruit of compassion so that others who have little will have enough. May these gifts be used to share your love and be pleasing to you. In the Savior’s name, we pray. Amen. CLOSING HYMN “Lord of the Dance” UMH 261 I danced in the morning when the world was begun, And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun, And I came down from heaven and I danced on earth. At Bethlehem I had my birth. Refrain: Dance then, wherever you may be; I am the Lord of the Dance, said he. And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be, And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he. I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee, But they would not dance and they would not follow me; I danced for the fishermen, for James and John; They came to me and the dance went on. (Refrain) CLOSING & BENEDICTION POSTLUDE