December 21, 2025 Sunday Morning Worship 1st United Methodist, Elizabethton, TN
The Chiming of the Hour Welcome and Meet and Greet Bill Heaton Prelude “A Rosetti Christmas”1 † Call to Worship “He Came Down”2 † Hymn “Angels from the Realms of Glory”3 †Lighting of the Altar Candles † Greeting The Roark Family Today we light four candles- the first Candle is called HOPE. It is a reminder that God's promises are true. The second Candle is called PEACE. It is a reminder of God's gentle loving peace for our lives. The third Candle is called JOY, Because of God's presence in our lives. The fourth Candle is called LOVE, Because of God's great love for us. We light these candles, called HOPE, PEACE, JOY, and LOVE, May God bring brightness of hope, peace, joy, and love to our lives. †Advent Hymn “Advent Song”4 † Opening Prayer Bill Heaton † Gloria Patri “Glory Be to the Father”5 Affirmation of Faith “The Apostles’ Creed” Children’s Procession “Jesus Loves Me”6 Children’s Time Pastor Mark Anthem “Shine for Me Again, Star of Bethlehem”7 Scripture and Sermon Rev. Mark B. McFadden Matthew 1:18-25 Romans 1:1-7 “What Shall We Bring About?” Prayer of Confession (Moira B. Laidlaw) In this season of Christmas preparations, It is easy to overlook the depth of divine love in the birth of Jesus Christ. When we have failed in word or deed to proclaim that the birth of Jesus is the wonderful and true reason for the Christmas season, Forgive us, O God. Rekindle our sense of wonder at your choosing to share our humanity by being born, As we all were, a vulnerable and helpless baby. Merciful God, as we watch and wait for your breaking into our world once more Shape and reshape our priorities, So that our most cherished gift is our witness to your love, In ways that are transforming, visible and lasting. Declaration of Pardon (Moira B Laidlaw) God entered our world in Jesus Christ, not to condemn the world, But that the world might be saved through him. Having been reconciled to God and one another through Jesus Christ, We have been restored and saved! Dwell in peace with God and one another. So be it! Prayers of the People Lord's Prayer Presentation of Tithes & Offerings The Offertory “The Father’s Rose”8 † Doxology “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”9 †Hymn, UMH 328 x 2 “Love Has Come”10 †Benediction † Postlude “Emmanuel Comes”11 1 Mark Hayes Music by Gustav Holst 1874-1934 © 2006 Lorenz Publishing Co. 2 The Faith We Sing No. 2085 CCLI # 2590259 HE CAME DOWN Words & Music: Trad. Cameroon. Transcribed by John Bell © 1990 WGRG The Iona Community (Scotland), admin. By GIA Publications, inc. 3 The United Methodist Hymnal No 220 CCLI# 31669 REGENT SQUARE Words: James Montgomery, 1816. Music: Henry T. Smart, 1867. Public Domain 4 The Faith We Sing No. 2090 CCLI # 216714 ADVENT CANDLE SONG Words & Music: Mary Lu Walker. (Luke 2:1-20) © 1975 Mary Lu Walker 5 The United Methodist Hymnal No.70 CCLI # 7106692 WORDS: Lesser Doxology, 3r-4th cent. MUSIC: Charles Meineke, 1844 © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House PUBLIC DOMAIN 6 The United Methodist Hymnal No.191 CCLI # 2648376 JESUS LOVES ME Words: Anna B. Warner, 1860; Music: William Batchelder Bradbury, 1862 PUBLIC DOMAIN 7 Words by Sherri Otteson Bird; Music by Dan Carter. 72328041982, 2008. Third edition © 2024, by Jackman Music. 8 Mark Hayes MUSIC: 11th-century plainsong melody: DIVINUM MYSTERIUM © 2006 Lorenz Publishing 9 The United Methodist Hymnal No.95 CCLI 56204 PUBLIC DOMAIN. Words: Ken Thomas, 1674. Music: Attributed to Louis Bourgeois, 1551 PUBLIC DOMAIN 10 The Celebration Hymnal No. 256 CCLI# 7232804 BRING A TORCH Words: Ken Bible Music: traditional French © 1996, LNWhymns.com, admin. By The Copyright Company 11 Mark Hayes © 2006 Lorenz Publishing.
