Wesley United Methodist Church Grand Forks, ND

December 18, 2016

Our purpose is to make new disciples of Jesus Christ for

the transformation of the world

Welcome to Worship at Wesley

December 18, 2016 4th

Sunday of Advent

Gathering Gathering Music God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen Adult Bells Arr. Dan R. Edwards

Ring the Bells on Christmas Day! Arr. Jerry Westenkuehler

Welcome and Announcements

* Greetings of Christian Fellowship

*Call to Worship and Advent Candle Lighting

Leader: We have lit three candles—for hope, for peace, and for joy. Today we light the

fourth candle—the candle of love. With this flame we signify the love of God that

surrounds and fills us at all times, but that we recognize in a special way in the Christmas

story. There is no greater power than love. It is stronger than rulers and empires, stronger

than grief or despair, stronger even than death. We love, because God loves us.

People: Loving God, we open ourselves to you this Christmas season. As these

candles are lit, light our lives with your imagination. Show us the creative power of

hope. Teach us the peace that comes from justice. Fill us with the kind of joy that

cannot be contained, but must be shared. Magnify your love within us. Prepare our

hearts to be transformed by you, that we may walk in the light of Christ. Amen.

* Lighting the Candle of Love O Come, O Come Emmanuel Red Hymnal 211 vs. 1 - 4

Leader: We light this candle with the certain knowledge that God is always coming into

the world.

Welcome to Wesley! If you have questions or special needs, please speak to an usher.

Worship activity bags for children are hanging on a rack at the back of the church.

Our ushers have large-print hymnals available.

Nursery care is provided for infants and toddlers in Room 202.

Please remember to silence your cell phone during worship.

People: We will seek God, not in a long ago stable or ancient manger, but in the

people we meet and the depths of our own hearts.

Leader: May the blessings of Christmas make you a blessing to others; may the peace of

the season pervade all that you do.

People: We will welcome the challenge of discipleship. We will offer ourselves as

God’s ministers. We will live in hope, peace, joy, and love.

Choir Emmanuel Soon Will Appear Nancy Price and Don Besig

Receiving Prayer of Illumination

O Lord, your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Give us grace to

receive your truth in faith and love, and strength to follow on the path you set before

us; through Jesus Christ, Amen.

1st Scripture Lesson Luke 22:7-13 New Testament, pg. 81

2nd

Scripture Lesson Psalm 22:1-5 Old Testament, pg. 473

Children’s Time

3rd

Scripture Reading Luke 2:1-7 New Testament, pg. 54

Message “When God Comes Down:

Innkeeper” Rev. Howie Baird

Musical Response Innkeeper Kellie Burgess and Marge Myrold Roger Emerson

Responding Call for Prayer

If able, please stand where asterisks appear. CCLI Lic. 90636

Prayer of Confession

Almighty God; we enter your presence confessing the things we try to conceal from

you and the things we try to conceal from others. We confess the heartbreak, worry,

and sorrow we have caused, that make it difficult for others to forgive us, the times

we have made it easy for others to do wrong, the harm we have done that makes it

hard for us to forgive ourselves. Lord have mercy and forgive us through Christ.

Amen.

Assurance and Forgiveness

Pastoral Prayers

Lord’s Prayer

Special Music Mary, Did You Know Jeanette Ringuette Arr. Lloyd Larson

Receiving of Tithes and Offerings

Offering Music What Child is This Jeanette Ringuette Arr. Gordon Schuster

*Doxology

*Prayer of Dedication

God of faithfulness and encouragement, we are grateful for the hope you freely give.

By Christ’s birth in a lowly stable, you prepared the way for his ministry,

crucifixion, and resurrection from the dead. Fill us with your Spirit to tell others the

good news. As we present our offerings, we ask you to bless the youth and adults

whose lives will be uplifted through the mission of this congregation. We pray

through Jesus our risen Lord. Amen.

*Closing Hymn Hail to the Lord’s Anointed Red Hymnal

Going Benediction

Musical Response “Go Now in Peace” (2x’s)

Closing Song The Promised Savior Marge Myrold James Southbridge

Greeters: 9:00 – Andrea, Lily & Amelia Snortland

Acolyte: 9:00 – Eli Zerr Lay Reader: 9:00 – Kellie Burgess

Please feel free to communicate with us: Website: www.gfwesley.org

E-mail: gfwesley@midconetwork.com Phone: 701.772.1869

Address: 1600 4th

Ave. N. Grand Forks, ND 58203

Wesley UMC is excited to announce that you can manage your giving online! Giving online is easy and allows you to set up automatic recurring contributions and view your complete

online giving history from anywhere you have access to the internet. Simply scan your QR Code with your smart phone and/or follow these easy steps:

Visit the church website at www.gfwesley.org Click on Online Giving then on Make a Donation.

Make a one-time donation or follow the instructions to create a profile and schedule recurring contributions.

Thank you for your support!

@ www.gfwesley.org

… like us on Facebook to keep up with what's going on at Wesley

SignUpGenius online system. A program that lets congregation members know when we

need volunteers like ushers, greeters, communion servers. To be included on the list for

these emails, contact Penny Millspaugh at pjmillspaugh@gmail.com. Penny Millspaugh will

be available today between services to assist people for sign-up to serve. Look for her in the

lobby.

Lay Ministry Class

The Basic Lay Ministry class, a one-day class, will be offered at Wesley UMC on January 14 and at Flame of Faith (West Fargo) February 11 from 9am-4pm. The course discusses 1) Methodism, the United Methodist Church and its principles, 2) ministry in its broadest sense and 3) Spiritual Gifts. Each participant will complete a Spiritual Gifts questionnaire to help them identify their gifts because when gifts match ministry and align with God's will powerful things can happen. Everyone is welcome, but the class is recommended for persons in leadership positions within churches and for those who participate as United Methodists in ministry outside of church walls. The class is required for those who wish to become certified as a lay preacher or Certified Lay Minister. For more information go to www.dakotasumc.org/laity/training/ or call Taya Swanson (Dakotas Conference Office) at 605-990-7796.

Sunday, December 18 8:15 a.m. Coffee Fellowship 9:00 a.m. Traditional Worship 10:10 a.m. Sunday School for all ages 11:15 a.m. ignite Contemporary Worship 5:00 p.m. Youth Group Monday, December 19 6:00 p.m. SPRC meeting; Trustees meeting 7:00 p.m. Finance / Church Council Tuesday, December 20 3:00 p.m. Coffee Club, Panera Wednesday, December 21 1:30 p.m. Quilting, Room 305 No Choir Rehearsal Saturday, December 24 1:30 p.m. & 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Worship Sunday, December 25 10:00 a.m. Christmas Day Worship (no Sunday School)

The Church Office will be closed on Monday, December 26 & January 2

Last week’s attendance: 161 Last week’s giving: $3,387.95

Offering to date: $267,181.79

2016 Annual Expense Budget Goal: $325,146.00

We’re glad you are here today!

Thank you for your support!

Wesley UMC Calendar for

December 18 – December 25

Christmas Eve Worship Services

December 24, 2016

1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Christmas Day & New Year’s Day Worship Services December 25, 2016

January 1, 2017

10:00 a.m.

(no Sunday School)

Youth Group. Today is the youth group potluck dinner for youth and their families! It will be from 5 to 6 pm today and will be followed by an ugly sweater contest, a white elephant gift exchange, and Christmas games. Families are encouraged to stay the entire time and participate in the festivities!!

Alternative Gifts

Looking for the perfect Christmas gift?

Cards will be available to send to someone in whose name you would like to make a donation for special mission projects. These alternative gifts may be purchased in the church lobby area and will support your choice of Heifer International or Solar Oven Project. Look for the Alternative Gifts table in the lobby. Please contact Janette Yaeger with any questions.

Today, Heifer is recognized around the world for its effective approach to ending poverty. Because of Heifer, Hundreds of thousands of families are able to feed their children and give them a better future. Heifer provides much more than food. You bring hope and triumph of the human spirit.” - Former President Bill Clinton

Solar Oven Partners, Inc., an arm of the Rotary Club of Brookings, SD, USA, was organized to provide low cost solar ovens and related technology to individuals, families, and humanitarian programs. Our project is guided by the Rotary International Ideal of “Service Above Self” and seeks to empower others to use abundant, free solar energy to cook, bake, and preserve food, and to pasteurize safe drinking water.

Please stop at the table in the lobby to contribute to this project. We have cards available to send to those you wish to remember with a gift at Christmas time.

UMW Cookie Sale. Thank you to everyone who donated cookies for the Cookie Sale last Sunday, and, of course, thank you to all of you who purchased cookies. The proceeds of over $300 will go towards mission activities of the United Methodist Women. UMW Recognition. Each year, Wesley UMC United Methodist Women recognizes people in our congregation that have gone above and beyond in their commitment and service to our church and community. Last Sunday, Kellie Burgess and Anne Bryson were given a pin and certificate as Special Mission Recognition recipients. Dawn Boyd was chosen as this year's Jewel of a Woman and was awarded a jeweled pin and a certificate. We thank them for their service and congratulate them.

Contributions for 2016 must be postmarked by December 31 or dropped off to church office by January 3.

December 18, 2016 11:15 am

“ignite” Contemporary

Today’s Music In the River

Blessed Be Your Name O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Forever Reign

Today’s Scriptures Luke 22:7-13 Psalm 22:1-5

Luke 2:1-7

Message “When God Comes Down:

Innkeeper” Rev. Howie Baird

All bids for the silent auction are due today at 12:15pm.

Star Givers & Christmas Shoebox

Thank you to all whom in some way

contributed towards our Christmas Shoebox

Project and Star Givers Gifts. What a

wonderful show of support and generosity by

our congregation. Please remember to pray

for the recipient of your gifts.

Please Donate Your 2017 Calendars

Many of you donate to various charitable organizations, then receive more calendars

from these organizations than you can use. Please donate these calendars by placing them in the box which has been placed on the

table near the back entry of Wesley UMC. These calendars can be put to good use by

Roger Ose Ministries; they are distributed to people in need in MN, and other parts of the

world.

Have you turned in your pledge? We are finalizing our 2017 budget at Council this month on December 19, and pledge cards can help us to have a better picture of where our income might be. Cards are available in the back of the sanctuary.