UNIVERSITY PARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Love. Uncensored. Third Sunday in Advent

Prepare

December 17, 2017

11:00 AM

GET INVOLVED

Alternative Giving Stop by the table in the Narthex and donate to your agency of choice. Make your checks out to University Park United Methodist Church. You can also donate on line by going to uparkumc.org. Red Poinsettias to Adorn the Sanctuary and Chapel For the price of $10 you may purchase a poinsettia to adorn the sanctuary or chapel for Christmas Eve. You may take it home following the 7pm or 11pm Christmas Eve services. A sign-up chart is available on the door to the Sanctuary in the foyer. Make your checks out to UPark UMC and give it to Jessica Carmer in the office or go to uparkumc.org and click on the Giving tab and pay through the Flower Fund. Christmas Eve Brunch Are you looking to share conversation and a meal with others this holiday season? Join us for brunch at 10 am, Sunday, December 24 at University Park, UMC. All are welcome. If you are able, bring a brunch dish to share. It is helpful to RSVP to https://goo.gl/ forms/5ElGnxWMkB5v24jf1 so we have a seat for everyone, but know you are welcome even if you don't. You may also contact Laurie Day at daylauriea@gmail.com or 303-895-5342. Christmas Day Act of Comfort and Joy On Christmas Day, UPark will bring tidings of comfort and joy to the halls of Jewell Care Center with Christmas carols, cookies and fruit, and care packages for the staff. Meet at UPark at 10am on December 25th. We will carpool over to JCC, located at 4450 E Jewell Ave, Denver, CO 80222. We anticipate leaving the care center by noon. Contact Liza Stoltz Hanson if you are planning on joining us! If you would like to contribute, bring cookies or fruit to UPark on Christmas Eve and drop off in the work room, or place gift cards in $5/$10 amounts to Target or King Soopers/Safeway in Liza's box in the workroom. Combined Services There will be one combined service at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary on December 31. There will be no Sunday School. Christmas Eve Services Services on December 24, 2017 will be held at the following times: 4:00PM, 7:00PM, and 11:00PM.

2017 PAGEANT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Cast

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES

8:30AM in Wasser Chapel

11:00AM in the main Sanctuary

ABOUT US

University Park United Methodist Church 2180 S. University Blvd Denver, CO 80210 (303) 722-5736 upark@uparkumc.org www.uparkumc.org Evanston Center for Wholeness and Healing 2122 S. Lafayette St Denver CO 80210 (303) 722-7217 evanstoncenter@uparkumc.org www.evanstoncenter.com

Program Director Sunday Assistance Music Costumes Stage Director Christian Education Director Choristers

Duane Buys Hannah Westra and Quinn Brown

JoAnn Gudvangen-Brown Sarah McDaniel, Heidi Seaborn,

Marilyn Meredith Ree Brown

Duane Buys Tamiya Mickelsen

For a complete list of events and committee meetings, please visit us at uparkumc.org.

Narrators Mary Joseph Innkeeper Angel 1 Angel 2 Angel 3 Shepherd Shepherd Shepherd Magi 1 Magi 2 Magi 3

Miles Kahn & Daniel Long Katherine Rohs

Samuel Seaborn Dominic Green

Abby Long Kaitlyn Flynn Abby Heider

Elana Kahn Sean Flynn

Charlie Rankin Connor Green

Elliot McDaniel Joel McDaniel

Production

ORDER OF WORSHIP December 17, 2017 , 11:00AM

Sanctuary

PRELUDE: Carol Medley Traditional WORDS OF WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Duane Buys Parents, please keep your children with you until the asterisks (**) indicate your child’s costume group is to come forward. *CALL TO WORSHIP Miles Kahn Miles: We come together today to celebrate children and the birth of Christ within us. May Christ be born in you. People: May Christ be born in you. Let heaven and nature sing. Let joy be born today. Joy to the world. *HYMN 246: JOY TO THE WORLD vs. 1, 2, & 4 LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES The Johnson Family Miles: My Soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. (Luke 1 46b- 48a;51-53) Mary…a young woman, pregnant and unmarried…declares the greatness of God and recognizes the unique calling she has received. As with so many other mothers before and after her, She does not know what joys or sorrows may follow the birth, but she is ready to rejoice in God, her Savior. Let not your spirit be down cast. Look upward now and see him appear to confirm the highest aspirations for which we long. HYMN 213: LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, YE MIGHTY GATES vs. 1 & 4

THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS: JESUS IS BORN! Miles: Many, many years ago in a town called Nazareth, God’s people were waiting for the Messiah to come. They were waiting in hope and faith because God had promised he would send them a spiritual leader, a savior. During this time, there was a young, engaged couple named Mary and Joseph. The Angel Gabriel told Mary and Joseph that Mary would have a baby and that she would name the baby “Jesus Christ” because Jesus means “salvation” and Christ means “the anointed one.” They were married and waited for His birth. The emperor, a powerful ruler across the sea, decided to count all the people in his kingdom so that he could make them pay a tax for living there. He ordered everyone to go back to the towns where they were born to be counted. This meant that Mary and Joseph had to travel from Nazareth to the city of Bethlehem. It

was a long hard journey, especially for Mary, because she would soon have her baby. HYMN 230: O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM vs. 1, 3, & 4 Miles: It was late in the day when Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem. They were tired and hungry, but the village was crowded with so many people that they couldn’t find a place to stay. Joseph: Mary, what are we going to do? I can’t find a place for us to stay. Can we keep walking to another town? Mary: I am tired and hungry and this baby will be here soon. We need to find a dry place to stay here in Bethlehem. Miles: What would they do? Where could the baby be born? Finally, one innkeeper felt sorry for Mary and Joseph. Innkeeper: There is no room in the inn, but you may find shelter this night in my stable with the animals. **[As Mary and Joseph move to the manger, the shepherds and children in sheep costumes come down the aisle and congregate by the organ.] Miles: There, in the quiet of the night, with the animals looking on, Jesus was born. Mary wrapped him in bands of cloth to keep him warm and laid him in the manger. Joseph: He is beautiful, Mary. What shall we name him? Mary: We shall name him Jesus. HYMN 250: ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID’S CITY vs. 1 & 2 **(Children in donkey and cow costumes come forward during the singing of the carol and go to the manger.) Miles: In the hills around Bethlehem, shepherds stayed awake all night, guarding their sheep against robbers and wild animals. Suddenly, a bright light filled the dark sky. Angel 1: Be not afraid, for I am bringing you good news of great joy for All people! To you is born this day in the city of David, a savior! Angel 2: This will be a sign for you: you will find the child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger. Miles: And suddenly there was with the angels a multitude of heavenly Host, praising God! All Angels: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among all people! **[After the first verse of “Angels We have Heard on High,” all children in angel costumes come forward and join the angels, shepherds, and sheep by the organ.] HYMN 238: ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH vs. 1, 2, & 3 Shepherds: Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which God has made known to us. Daniel Long: The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem. There they found the baby Jesus, just as the angels had said. They knelt before him, filled with joy. Even the animals rejoiced over the birth of the baby.

HYMN 219: WHAT CHILD IS THIS? vs. 1 & 3 Daniel: Far, far away, in a distant land, some Wise Men searched the sky. One night, they saw a bright, new star. For many days the Wise Men traveled through strange lands, following the star. Magi 1: A child has been born King of the Jews. We have seen the star rising, and have come to bring gifts in respect. Magi 2: We have seen the star rising in the westward sky. Magi 3: We have traveled from afar and have come to bring gifts in respect. HYMN 254: WE THREE KINGS vs 1-5 CHORISTERS SING: Hymn 431: Let There Be Peace on Earth By Sy Miller & Jill Jackson Hymn 234: O Come, All Ye Faithful By John F. Wade Daniel: This night was tiring, painful, historic, and so unforgettable. It has shown us what royalty really is. Jesus would grow up to say, “He who is last will be first. He who is first will be last.” He proved it to us this night. CHILDREN SING HYMN 217: AWAY IN A MANGER vs. 1, 2, & 3 (Congregation joins in on 2nd and 3rd verses) CHILDREN SING HYMN 239: SILENT NIGHT vs. 1 & 2 (Congregation joins children on 2nd verse) BLESSING OF THE CHILDREN Rev. Jackson *HYMN 251: GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN vs. 1-3 **Parents are asked to retrieve their children at this time and keep them with you. No children’s church, but the Nursery is open.

THE PEOPLE OFFER THEIR RESPONSE PASTORAL PRAYER THE LORD’S PRAYER #895 OFFERTORY: Away In A Manger (Medley) Arr. Mark Hayes *PRESENTATION OF OFFERINGS AND DOXOLOGY

THE PEOPLE GO FORTH TO SERVE *HYMN 249: THERE’S A SONG IN THE AIR Christmas Song *BENEDICTION Rev. Jackson POSTLUDE: Go Tell It on the Mountain Arr. Mark Hayes

Flowers today are given by Lola Ozman in memory of Dale and in honor of her family.