BULLETIN | Livingston UMC

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* indicates an invitation to rise in body or in spirit, as you are able

Prelude

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

Arranged by Mark Hayes
Tune: HYFRYDOL
by Rowland H. Prichard, 1839

Chris Warner, Organist

Welcome

Pastor Angie

*Call to Worship

Jen Brizendine

Leader: We gather together in this place:
All: prophets and dreamers, singers and poets,
Leader: we who dare to imagine a world renewed;
All: we who dare to dream God’s dream.
Leader: We watch with Malachi and John.
All: God’s peace will soon appear.
Leader: The hills and valleys will meet,
All: and all things will be at rest.
Leader: We long for a world restored, renewed.
All: The fire of God’s justice burns in our hearts.
Leader: Come and worship, all you who dream and wait.
All: We have come to wonder and praise.

*Opening Hymn

God Almighty, We Are Waiting

Ann Bell Worley and Rowland Pritchard

1 God Almighty, we are waiting
for a Savior to appear.
Meet us in our desert journey;
give a sign that you are near:
burning bushes, parted waters,
food aplenty in the wild.
As we look for signs and wonders,
help us see you in a child.

2 God Incarnate, we are waiting
for the feast day of your birth.
Looking back and looking forward
to the Christ's return to earth.
Help us to proclaim the gospel,
'til the world is reconciled.
Let us set your holy table
for each woman, man, and child.

3 God the Spirit, we are waiting
for your presence here and now.
Humbled by our sinful weakness,
at your mercy we will bow.
Search our hearts and make us ready,
speak in language strong and mild,
help each one of us, your people,
to receive you like a child.

Lighting the Candles of Advent

Reader: The birth of Jesus has been told and retold a thousand times and in a thousand ways.
All: Its impact cannot be contained in any one perspective. But who is telling the story changes how we hear it, how we imagine it, how we experience it. We light the candle of hope because hope creates a path for a new, unknown story to unfold.

(The first candle is lit; the reading continues.)

Reader: Jesus, like Malachi, John, and other prophets before him, calls us in the loudest of cries to peace.
All: Today, we also light the candle of peace because peace requires us to pay attention to the needs of those around us.

(The second candle is lit.)

The First Reading

Malachi 3:1–6

Children's Moments

Jesus Loves the Little Children

George Frederick Root and Clare Herbert Woolston

Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Morning, evening, day, and night,
They are precious in His sight -
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Prayer Requests / Prayers of the People

Feel free to text any prayer requests to Pastor Angie at (614) 309-6645.

If you prefer your prayer request remain private, or for others to know only that you request prayer, please indicate this when sending your request.

The Offering

To support our ministries, Livingston United Methodist Church depends on the financial support of our members and friends of the church like you. Visit our Donate page to give your gift today.

Offertory Music

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

Arranged by James Koerts
Tune: HYFRYDOL
by Rowland Prichard

*Advent Doxology: O Come, O Come

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.
Praise God, all creatures here below.
Praise God above, ye heavenly host.
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee,
O Israel.

*Prayer of Dedication

*Praise Time

Come, Emmanuel

Twila Paris

1 Come and speak to us, come and renew us,
come and live through us, Emmanuel.
Grace to implore us, ever before us,
come and restore us, Emmanuel.

Refrain
Come, Emmanuel; come Emmanuel.
Come, Emmanuel; come Emmanuel.

2 Once mercy found us, still you astound us,
hold and surround us, Emmanuel.
Living inside us, faithful to guide us,
cover and hide us, Emmanuel.
[Refrain]

3 Love that begins us, pardons and wins us,
come and reign in us, Emmanuel.
Come and speak to us, fill and renew us,
come and live through us, Emmanuel.
[Refrain]

4 Come and speak to us, come and renew us,
come and live through us, Emmanuel.
Grace to implore us, ever before us,
come and restore us, Emmanuel.
[Refrain]

Come, Let Us Dream

Text: John Middleton / Tune: English folk melody; harm. by Dean McIntyre

1 Come, let us dream God's dream again.
Come, one and all, let us ascend
the mountaintop where those of old
saw God's new day on earth unfold.

2 The lame shall walk, the blind shall see,
the doors swing wide, all prisoners free,
the lowly raised, the proud brought low.
This is God's dream: let justice flow.

3 When hatred ends and war shall cease,
so all may dwell in deepest peace,
then be assured the time is near
when perfect love casts out all fear.

4 But know the cost of claiming sight
of God's new day, of wrongs made right,
for some have paid the highest price,
their lives for us, a sacrifice.

5 Prophets are scorned in their own lands
and martyrs slain by righteous hands;
though dreamers die, the dream will live,
for we have yet our lives to give.

*The Gospel Reading

Matthew 3:1–12

Message

The Will to Dream: Prophetic Peace

Pastor Angie

Invitation to Holy Communion

Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another. Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.

Unison Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Words of Forgiveness

Hear the good news: Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; that proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.

In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! Glory to God. Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

…the prayer continues

…And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn.

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

…the prayer continues

…in union with Christ’s offering for us we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

…the prayer continues

Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever. Amen.

And now, with the confidence of being children of God, let us pray:

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. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Receiving the Bread and Cup

Unison Prayer after Communion

Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*Closing Hymn

Help Us Accept Each Other

Fred Kaan and John Ness Beck

1 Help us accept each other as Christ accepted us;
teach us as sister, brother, each person to embrace.
Be present, Lord, among us, and bring us to believe
we are ourselves accepted and meant to love and live.

2 Teach us, O Lord, your lessons, as in our daily life
we struggle to be human and search for hope and faith.
Teach us to care for people, for all, not just for some,
to love them as we find them, or as they may become.

3 Let your acceptance change us, so that we may be moved
in living situations to do the truth in love;
to practice your acceptance, until we know by heart
the table of forgiveness and laughter's healing art.

4 Lord, for today's encounters with all who are in need,
who hunger for acceptance, for righteousness and bread,
we need new eyes for seeing, new hands for holding on;
renew us with your Spirit; Lord, free us, make us one!

*Benediction & Sending Forth

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Postlude

Prepare the Royal Highway

Setting by Wilbur Held
Based on BEREDEN VÄG FÖR HERRAN
17th-century Swedish folk tune

We encourage parishioners to remain seated and enjoy the talents of our organist during the Postlude.