Sunday December 22, 2024
Prelude
Announcements
Bell Choir – “Angels We Have Heard On High”
Opening Prayer
1st Scripture Reading – Micah 5:2-5a
Choir Anthem – “Do You Hear What I Hear?”
Lighting of the Advent Candle – Steve & Nancy Domke
Joys & Concerns
/ Pastoral Prayer / Lord’s Prayer / Choral Response
Loving the Wider World through Our Giving
(Doxology #95)
2nd Scripture Reading – Luke 1:39-55
Pastor’s Message “Come Let Us Adore Him – Promise” – Pastor Devin
Christmas Pageant – “A Nativity Story”
Greyson Griffin Nora Griffin Grace Khoury Hazel Khoury John Khoury Cameron Paradise Nolan Paradise Eliza Smith Everett Smith Laney Smith Margaret Smith Veda Smith Eddie Zaiglin
Benediction
Postlude

1st Scripture Reading – Micah 5:2-5a The Ruler from Bethlehem 2 But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. 3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth, 5 and he shall be the one of peace.

2nd Scripture Reading – Luke 1:39-55 Mary Visits Elizabeth 39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeti ng, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” Mary’s Song of Praise 46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant. Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name; 50 indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has come to the aid of his child Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

Advent Candle – Dec. 22 – Week 4 – Love Reader One: When the people were looking for deliverance, the prophet Micah declared, “But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah…from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient day.” (Micah 5:2). But what if Micah is also talking to us, proclaiming, “But you, O Romeo United Methodist Church, from you shall come forth for me…” What? What might God be calling forth from us? Congregation: God invites us to receive the promise of God’s salvation and the sustenance of God’s mercy and grace, enabling us to live the promise as God-bearers to the world. As Christ was born in Bethlehem, so too we answer God’s invitation to have Christ born among us today and every day. Reader Two: We light this candle of love as a sign of our commitment to live as people of God’s promise, a promise of salvation and flourishing for all people that springs forth from God’s love for all creation. Light the fourth candle (3 purple and 1 pink) of the Advent wreath.