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    Dec 13, 2020

    Do Not Be Afraid: Mary

    Do Not Be Afraid: Mary

    Passage: Luke 1:26-38

    Speaker: Rev. Jennifer Eschliman, Pastor

    Category: Advent

    The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." (Luke 1:30 NRSV)
    Third Sunday in Advent
    December 13, 2020 - 10 am
     
    watch as you follow along with the service
               
    Prelude: Oh, Come, Emmanuel 
     ~ Wilbur Held
                 
    Welcome
     
    Call to Worship
    Into Mary’s ordinary life, the angel broke, announcing something new, something that would change everything.
    Into our lives, and into the world, God longs to come - bringing new life, bringing hope, bringing joy.
    But there’s so much to do. Life is so busy.
    And so much struggle in the world, so much hurt and pain.
    Yet into the mess of the world, Jesus came, and into the mess of our lives, He still comes.
    Let every heart, starting with ours, prepare Him room!
     
    Opening Hymn: Joy to the World (UMH #246)
     
    Verse 1
    Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; 
    Let ev'ry heart prepare him room,
    And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing,  And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.
    Verse 2
    Joy to the world the Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ;
    While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains 
    Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy,
    Repeat, repeat the sounding joy
    Verse 3
    No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground;
    He comes to make His blessings flow
    Far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found,
    Far as, far as the curse is found.
    Verse 4
    He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove
    The glories of His righteousness,
    And wonders of His love, and wonders of His love,
    And wonders, wonders of His love.
     
    Lighting the Advent Wreath: The Lee Family
     
    Opening Prayer
    Loving God, at every new birth we experience joy, but we are especially grateful for the joy You bring us at the birth of the Christ Child. In a world where there has been so much sadness, fear and loss, we invite Him once again to come. Help us to open our own hearts to receive the joy that He brings, as we hold onto the promise that He will one day come again to make all things well. We ask this in the name of the One born in Bethlehem. Amen.
     
    A Message for Young Disciples Cara Norris
     
    Anthem: Do You Hear What I Hear 
    Soloist: Kim Moon
     
    Proclamation and Response
     
    Gospel Reading: Luke 1:26-38 (NRSV)
     
    26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
     
    Leader: This is the Word of God.
    All: Thanks be to God!                                                                                                                                       
     
    Message: Do Not Be Afraid: Mary        
    Pastor Jen Eschliman
     
    Prayers of the People                    
     Joys & Concerns
    The Lord’s Prayer              
     
    Offering Ourselves and Our Gifts to God              
       Give to RUMC
     
    Closing Song: Mary Was the First One to Carry the Gospel
    Mark Lowry | William J. Gaither
     
    Chorus
    Mary was the first one to carry the gospel
    When the angels brought the news of that precious little Boy
    Mary was the first one to carry the gospel
    And that news brought joy, sweet joy
     
    Verse 1
    The shepherds watched their flocks by night and nearly fell asleep
    Another lonely quiet night of watching all those sheep
    Until a choir of holy angels pierced the night with songs of joy
    Good news I bring for Christ the King is Mary's baby Boy
    Chorus
     
    Verse 2
    Hosanna to the highest and to Christ His only Son
    God's glory wrapped in swaddling clothes, the meek and lowly One
    This baby Boy will change the hearts of all who can believe
    What prophets told has come to pass, a virgin has conceived
    Chorus
     
    Sending Forth
     
    Announcements
    Christmas Eve Services 4:00 P.M. Drive-In Service
    For those who would like a safe, in-person experience on Christmas Eve, we invite you to join us in the parking lot at 4:00 p.m. for a joyful service that includes your favorite carols and reminders of God’s most precious gift to us in Jesus Christ.
     
    Unlike our summer drive-in services, you will be able to leave your engines (and heat) ON and tune in using your car radio!
     
    7:00 P.M. Traditional Service via Zoom
    For those who would prefer worshiping from the comfort and safety of your homes, please join us at 7:00 p.m. for a live Zoom service streamed from the Sanctuary. If you can’t tune in right at 7:00 p.m., this service will also be available for viewing by 9:00 p.m. on our website. We’ll be sharing more information over the next week about options for picking up candles for candlelight “Silent Night” over Zoom.
     
    Christmas Eve Choir
     
    Be Part of Our Christmas Eve Carols!
    We’re inviting people of all ages to participate in the virtual carols that we’ll be using at our 7:00 p.m. service on Christmas Eve. Even if you can’t read music, you can sing the melody and be part of our online choir. Children and youth are encouraged to join us!
     
    If you would like to be part of this project, you will need one device with a headphone jack that can play audio or video files, and one device that can record you. Smartphones work great!
     
    The songs are: Joy to the World, O Come, All Ye Faithful and Silent Night
     
    If you are interested, please email Robine at to be added to the email distribution list for accompaniment files and instructions. The deadline for submitting recordings is Sunday, December 20.
                             
    Alternative Christmas
    One more week for Alternative Christmas – more information in your December Newsletter
     
    Benediction
                             
    Postlude: Sussex Carol
     ~Peter Niedmann
     
    Scripture Credit:
    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:
     
    Opening Hymn: Joy to the World (UMH #246)
     Words & Music: George Frideric Handel | Isaac Watts } arr. Dan Eschliman
    CCLI Song # 24016|Public Domain CCLI License # 1011499
     
    Anthem: Do You Hear What I Hear 
    Soloist: Kim Moon
     Noel Regney | Gloria Shain | Camp Kirkland
    © 1962 Jewel Music Publishing Company, Inc./ASCAP|Used by permission. One License #401088-M
     
    Closing Song: Mary Was the First One to Carry the Gospel
    Mark Lowry | William J. Gaither
    CCLI Song # 2972310|© Mark Lowry Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing); Hanna Street Music (Admin. by Gaither Copyright Management) Used by permission. CCLI License # 1011499