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    Dec 20, 2020

    Do Not Be Afraid: Joseph

    Do Not Be Afraid: Joseph

    Speaker: Rev. Jennifer Eschliman, Pastor

    Category: Advent

    “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife." (Matt. 1:20 NRSV)
    Fourth Sunday in Advent
    December 20, 2020 10 am
     
                           
    Prelude In the Bleak Midwinter
    Christine Martin & Laura Eigel
                           
    Welcome                   
                                                               
    Call to Worship
    Christmas is the time when the love of God was made visible. 
    In Jesus, we see the lengths to which God would go to draw us close:
    taking on our fragile humanity and entering time as an infant.
    In this season of longing and expectation,
    let us prepare to welcome the love of God in Christ.       
    Into the busyness of our lives, as well as the lonely spaces,
    let us prepare to welcome the love of God in Christ.       
    Into our homes and our situations,
    let us prepare to welcome the love of God in Christ.
    Into our hearts, and the often hidden parts of our lives,
    let us prepare to welcome the love of God in Christ.
     
    Opening Hymn People, Look East   UMH #202
     
    Verse 1
    People, look east. The time is near of the crowning of the year.
    Make your house fair as you are able, trim the hearth and set the table. People, look east and sing today: Love, the Guest, is on the way.   
    Verse 2
    Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare, one more seed is planted there.
    Give up your strength the seed to nourish, that in course the flower may flourish. People, look east and sing today: Love, the Rose, is on the way.
    Verse 3
    Stars, keep watch. When night is dim, one more light the bowl shall brim, Shining beyond the frosty weather, bright as sun and moon together. People, look east and sing today: Love, the Star, is on the way.           
    Verse 4
    Angels announce with shouts of mirth him who brings new life to earth.
    Set every peak and valley humming with the word, the Lord is coming. People, look east and sing today: Love, the Lord, is on the way.
     
    Lighting the Advent Wreath The Sasse Family
    Opening Prayer
    Eternal God, thank you for your gift of love, shown to us perfectly in Jesus Christ our Savior. As we prepare to hear the story of your Love made flesh, make us ready for his arrival. This Christmas, may our experience of your love for us extend beyond mere knowledge to a reality that fills us and drives away all uncertainty, guilt and despair. We ask this in Christ’s most holy name. Amen.
     
    A Message for Young Disciples Cara Norris
     
    Anthem: Sing We Now of Christmas
    Chancel Singers
     
    Proclamation and Response
     
    Gospel Reading: Matthew 1:18-25 (NRSV)
     
     
    18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
    23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
     
    Leader: This is the Word of God.
    All: Thanks be to God!
                             
    Message: Do Not Be Afraid: Joseph
    Pastor Jen Eschliman
     
    Prayers of the People                   
                Joys & Concerns                  
                The Lord’s Prayer               
     
    Offering Ourselves and Our Gifts to God        
     
    Closing Song: Joseph’s Song
    Phil Gobrecht & Rick Harris
     
     
    Verse 1
    How could it be, this baby in my arms sleeping now so peacefully The Son of God, the angel said, how could it be
    Verse 2
    Lord I know He's not my own, not of my flesh, not of my bones Still, Father, let this baby be the Son of my love
    Bridge
    Father show me where I fit into this plan of Yours
    How can a man be a father to the Son of God
    Lord, for all my life I've been a simple carpenter
    How can I raise a King, how can I raise a King
    Verse 3
    He looks so small His face and hands so fair
    And when He cries the sun just seems to disappear
    But when He laughs it shines again; How could it be
    Bridge           
    Verse 1
     
    Sending Forth
     
    Announcements
    Christmas Eve Services
    Christmas Eve Choir
    Alternative Christmas
    December 27 Service
     
    Benediction
                             
    Postlude O Holy Night
    Adam O’Dell
    ~Mark Hayes            
                           
    Scripture Credits:

    The scripture reading is from the Holy Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.

    Song Credits:
     
    Prelude In the Bleak Midwinter
    Gustav Holst | arr. Karen Buckwalter  
    Music: Public Domain
    Opening Hymn People, Look East   UMH #202
    Eleanor Farjeon | Martin Shaw
    Words by permission of David Higham Assoc. Ltd. Tune: © 1928, Oxford University Press. Used by permission. One License #401088-M 
    Anthem Sing We Now of Christmas
    Traditional French Carol | arr. Marty Parks
    © 2019 Timespann Music (admin. by Music Services) All Rights Reserved. BMI| Used by permission. One License #401088-M
    Closing Song: Joseph’s Song
    Michael Card
    © Mark Lowry Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing); Hanna Street Music (Admin. by Gaither Copyright Management)
    Used by permission. CCLI License # 1011499