We promise to uphold Grace United Methodist Church with our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service and our witness.

OUR PRAYERS: As of December 27, 2019

Prayer Request: Larry (Carla) Ellis, Charlie Timmons, Martha Claire Farmer, Faye Phillips, Martha McGough, Bev Whitney, Bob Lemon, Jennifer Brissie, daughter of Diana Brissie; Terry Hyatt, brother of Cheryl May University Hosp.: Horace Sweat

NHC: Audrey Watson

Select Specialty: (Hospital, Augusta) Rev. Terry (Lena) Roof A special thank you to our Church Family from Lena & Terry Roof.

OUR PRESENCE: December 22 & 24 2019 Worship : 447 Christmas Eve: 872 Sunday School: 226

OUR SERVICE: December 29, 2019

Acolytes: Chase Chiswell, Ella Carr Crucifer: Cara Chiswell Count Team: 12/30 Mae Parcel, Barry Whitney, Connie Sawyer Offertory Duty Alan Nance 8:30 Speaker: Martha Ginn, Lay Servant 8:30 Greeter(s): Ray Griffin 11:00 Greeter(s): (Main) Kurt & Kathy Bradley (GA Ave.) Mickey & Peggie Ruben LifeSong Greeters: (Kitchen) Wayne Hucks Main) Joanne Watson (Elevator) Kay Poss LifeSong Refreshments: Family Foundations Sunday school class Doorstep Visitation: Sandra & Garry Guest Flower Committee: Terri Billiter, Charlene Miller

Our Witness:

Calendar HIGHLIGHTS for the week of December 29, 2019 (Please refer to online calendar and the newsletter for a detailed listing of ALL weekly activities & events!)

Welcome / Opening Prayer Andy Morris, Director of Youth Ministries

Welcome and Worship

Congregational Songs Great Things

Build My Life

Welcome / Dismiss BLAST

Dismissal of children ages 4K - 4th grade for “BLAST JR.” (4 & 5k) & “BLAST”

Offertory Prayer How Great Thou Art

Hearing God’s Word

Sermon Andy Morris

Responding to God’s Word

Communion Rev. Dr. John Newell

Be Thou My Vision

Sending Forth

Closing Song Way Maker

Announcements

Apostle’s Creed / Benediction Andy Morris

December 29, 2019

Celebrating Worship

at

“To Know Christ and Make His Love Known”

This Week at Grace

BLAST 1 & 2: Include BLAST Jr. (4k-5k) and BLAST (1st-4th grade)

• 8:45 AM, BLAST 1 during LifeSong Service, Asbury building 4th & 5th classes

• 9:45 AM Preschool and Children’s Sunday School PreK - Lower level of the Asbury building Elem. - Upper level of the Asbury Building

• 11:00 AM BLAST 2 during the traditional worship service, Asbury, 4th & 5th classes

Grace United Methodist Church 639 Georgia Ave. | North Augusta, SC 29841

www.gotgraceumc.org | 803-279-7525

2019 General Budget 1,417,783.00

Requirements to date 2019 1,390,515.00

Receipts through 11/22/2019 1,345,087.29

Amount needed weekly 37,600.00

Received 11/22/2019 26,386.25

PLEDGE UPDATE for 2020: If you haven’t already pledged,

please send your completed card to the attention of Marianne Harlan.

2020 Pledges received to date: 182 families pledged $863,116

2020 Projected budget: $1,411,000

SUNDAY, Dec. 29 9:45 AM 5th Sunday Gathering in the Wesley Center, SS hour

Worship Times: 8:30 AM, 8:45 AM, & 11:00 AM 8:45 & 11:00 AM BLAST & BLAST, Jr., Asbury 4th & 5th rooms 9:45 AM 5th Sunday Gathering Music & Bible Study, Wesley Center, All adults welcome 9:45 AM Sunday School, Campus 11:00 AM Traditional Service, Sanctuary 4:00 PM Wesley Singers, Music room 6:00 PM Youth Sunday Night Program, Youth Wing

MONDAY, Dec. 30 9:15 AM Jazzercise, Curly’s Court Gym

TUESDAY, Dec. 31 OFFICE CLOSED at Noon

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 1

Happy New Years OFFICE CLOSED

THURSDAY, Jan 2 6:00 PM Jazzercise, Curly’s Court Gym 7:00 PM NA Foster Mom’s Bible Study, Conference room

FRIDAY, Jan 3 9:15 AM Jazzercise, Curly’s Court Gym

SATURDAY, Jan 4 9:15 AM Jazzercise

Rosebud in Honor of Birth

Reese Harper Pennington, daughter of Brandon & Amanda Pennington, granddaughter of Connie & Ted Pennington, born on Dec. 12.

- 95

Offertory Piano Sonata op.13, movement 2 Thomas Lloyd, piano By Ludwig van Beethoven

Advent Doxology: To the tune of O Come, O Come Emmanuel Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Hymn of Preparation Good Christian Friends, Rejoice Hymn 224

Sermon Text Matthew 2: 13-23 Rev. Dr. John Newell

Sermon “Round Abouts” Rev. Dr. John Newell

Hymn of Commitment: Go, Tell It On The Mountain Hymn 251

Benediction Rev. Dr. John Newell

Choral Benediction The Irish Blessing Chancel Choir & Congregation May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be at your back.

May the sun shine warmly on your face. May the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, until we meet again May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Please stand as you are able

Music used by permission: Church Copyright License No. 1133262

For the Hearing Impaired: We have assisted listening devices available from our Ushers for your use during our worship services.

Welcome and Announcements Martha Ginn, Lay Servant

Call to Worship Praise the Lord from the highest heaven! Let the sun and the moon and the stars in the sky sing praises to our God! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the deepest valley! Let the mountains and the hills, the fruit trees and tall cedars, sing praises to our God! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord all the peoples of the earth! Let the old and the young, the mighty and the meek, lift their voices and praise God’s holy name! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Opening Prayer Gracious Savior, it was no heavenly messenger or angel that came into our lives to save us; it was no passing fancy that led to our freedom from captivity; it was no painless gesture that pioneered our salvation; it was your very presence; it was a plan with roots as deep as the sea; it was an act of long-suffering love. Be with us now, as we praise you with our lips and love you with all our heart. Be with us now, for we are your people, and you are our God. Amen.

Hymn of Praise O Little Town of Bethlehem Hymn 230

Prayer of Confession Holy One of God, we rejoice with the angels who proclaimed your birth and saved your life, but we pay little heed to the messengers who proclaim your birth to save our lives; we celebrate the heavenly light that guided the wise to Bethlehem, but we fail to see the light that can see us safely through our darkest journeys. Open our eyes anew, that we might see the old stories come alive and find the grace we need to meet each day with hope and joy. We pray in the forgiving name of the new-born Savior, Jesus. Amen.

Words of Assurance God is faithful and abounding in steadfast love. In Christ, God has come to us to be our salvation. In the birth of Jesus, God lifts us up and carries us all the days of our lives. Alleluia!

Passing of the Peace (Congregation greets one another in the name of the Lord) Minister: The Peace of the Lord be always with you People: And also with you

Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s Prayer Lord’s prayer: Hymnal pg. 895

Offering Doxology Praise God, from Whom all Blessings Flow Hymn 95

PROCLAIMING GOD’S WORD

Hymn Go, Tell It On the Mountain Hymn 251

Scripture Hebrews 2: 10-18 Martha Ginn

Sermon ”Our Brother” Martha Ginn

RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD

Affirmation of Faith Apostles’ Creed Hymn 881

Hymn of Commitment Joy To The World Hymn 246

Benediction Martha Ginn

Pianist: Dee Dee Carn

For the Hearing Impaired: We have assisted listening devices available from our Ushers for your use during our worship services.

Altar Flowers for December 29 The flowers on the Altar are to the Glory of God and

memory of the 80th birthday of Marie Clement

by her family

Rosebud on the Altar Cora Evangeline, daughter of Peter and Kelsey Shull, granddaughter of Doug and Lisa Shull, born on Dec. 13.

December 29 - 1st Sunday after Christmas

White (and Gold) are joyous and festive colors, used during the Christmas and Easter Seasons and on high days during the Seasons after Epiphany and Pentecost.

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Dr. John Newell

Voluntary Come Thou Almighty King Christopher Leysath, organ

Chiming of the Trinity (Please stand when chiming begins)

Call to Worship Rev. Dr. John Newell Praise the Lord from the highest heaven! Let the sun and the moon and the stars in the sky sing praises to our God! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the deepest valley! Let the mountains and the hills, the fruit trees and tall cedars, sing praises to our God! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord all the peoples of the earth! Let the old and the young, the mighty and the meek, lift their voices and praise God’s holy name! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Processional Hymn Angels We Have Heard on High Hymn 238

Passing of the Peace (Congregation greets one another in the name of the Lord) Minister: The Peace of the Lord be always with you People: And also with you

Prayer of Confession

Holy One of God, we rejoice with the angels who proclaimed your birth and saved your life, but we pay little heed to the messengers who proclaim your birth to save our lives; we celebrate the heavenly light that guided the wise to Bethlehem, but we fail to see the light that can see us safely through our darkest journeys. Open our eyes anew, that we might see the old stories come alive and find the grace we need to meet each day with hope and joy. We pray in the forgiving name of the new-born Savior, Jesus. Amen.

Words of Assurance God is faithful and abounding in steadfast love. In Christ, God has come to us to be our salvation. In the birth of Jesus, God lifts us up and carries us all the days of our lives. Alleluia!

Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s Prayer Rev. Dr. John Newell

Anthem Holy, Holy, Holy Chancel Choir By Franz Schubert

Children’s Time: Rev. Dr. John Newell

Dismissal of children ages 4K - 4th grade for “BLAST JR.” (4 & 5k) & “BLAST (1st-4th)”

(This hymn location was after the Doxology and in the section of Proclaiming...before Scripture)

We welcome our guests and encourage everyone to please sign the attendance pad on your pew or row. We also would like to invite anyone

who has a desire to join our church to please indicate so on the attendance pad or contact one of the ministers in the church office, 279-7525.

A nursery is provided for infants through 3 year old's

on the bottom floor of the Asbury Building.

FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS WORSHIP SCHEDULE December 29, all services

8:30 AM Gathering Service, Martha Ginn, Sanctuary 8:45 AM LifeSong Service, Andy Morris, Wesley Center 9:45 AM 5th Sunday Adult SS Music and Bible Study, Wesley Center (after LifeSong) 11:00 AM Traditional Service, Rev. Dr. John Newell, Sanctuary

UPCOMING JANUARY PROGRAMS WINGS Meals resume, Jan. 8, 5:30 PM, Wesley Center, reservations by Tues. Jan. 7 WINGS Programs: 6:15 Campus

Pastor’s Bible Study on Matthew, resumes Jan 8 at 6:15 PM by Rev. Tommy Wilkes Good Stuff to Know for Adults series, begins Jan 15 at 6:15 led by Detective Chris Lind, NAPS

Sunday Sermon Series, “The Walk” (6 weeks) Jan. 12 - Feb. 16 Project Warm, Jan 17 & 18, Wesley Center breakfast & off-campus house repairs