Gritty Hope

Gritty Hope

Mill Plain UMC ,Gritty hope December 19,2021

Live stream with Pastor Sue
Accompanied by a worship assistant
Accompanist Andrea Llafet

Mill Plain UMC10 am
Sunday December 12,2021

Gritty Hope

Music:
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Soon and Very Soon
Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming
Oh little town of Bethlehem

To Make an Offering: https://millplainumc.org/giving/

Mill Plain UMC 10 a.m.,

Sunday, December 19h, 2021

Prelude

Greeting

Worship Assistant:  Where is hope?

People:  From the smallest, least important places, shall come God’s salvation.

Worship Assistant:  Where is hope?

People:  Hope is in the ugly thing with teeth and claws that thrives in the discards.

Worship Assistant:  Where is hope?

People:  Hope leaps within us at the sound of an unexpected greeting, in the scurry of feet in the corner, in the light that shines in the darkness and will not be overcome.

Worship Assistant:  Where is hope?

People:  Today we light four Advent candles, a growing beacon of hope in a fearful world.

(Four Advent candles are lit)

Worship Assistant:  Where is hope?

People:  The hope of he world awaits us.  Thanks be to God!

Song  Come thou long expected Jesus

Song  Soon and Very Soon

Young Disciples

Opening Prayer

As the days grow shorter, we long more intently for your light, O God.

As the nights get colder, we long for your warmth, O God.

As our world fills with division and strife and our homes with squabbles and tension, we long for your peace, O God.  Show us the way to you, God of Hope, that we may see your light, know your warmth, and find your peace. Amen.

Silent prayer

Pastoral Prayer

Lord’s Prayer

Presentation of Our Offerings

Doxology

Old Testament

Micah 5:1-5

Now you are walled around with a wall; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the ruler of Israel upon the cheek. 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. 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. 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; and he shall be the one of peace. If the Assyrians come into our land and tread upon our soil, we will raise against them seven shepherds and eight installed as rulers.

New Testament

Luke 1:39-45

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

 Song   Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming

The Message           Gritty Hope

 Congregational Response

With God’s help we will proclaim the good news and live according to the example of Christ.

We will surround these persons with a community of love and forgiveness,

that they may be grow in their trust of God, and be found faithful in their service to others.

We will pray for them, that they may be true disciples who walk in the way that leads to life.

Pastor:  Do you believe in God the Father?

Congregation: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Pastor:  Do you believe in Jesus Christ?

Congregation: I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again; 

he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Pastor:  Do you believe in the Holy Spirit:

Congregation:  I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy, catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.

Congregation  Through baptism you are incorporated by the Holy Spirit into God’s new creation. and made to share in Christ’s royal priesthood. We are all one in Christ Jesus.

With joy and thanksgiving we welcome you as members of the family of Christ.

Congregation We give thanks for all that God has already given you and we welcome you in Christian love. As members together with you in the body of Christ and in this congregation of The United Methodist Church, we renew our covenant faithfully to participate in the ministries of the church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, and our service, that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

SONG            Oh Little Town of Bethlehem #230

Benediction

Blessed are those who believe that there will be fulfillment of what has been spoken by our God.

And the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, 

and the presence of the Holy Spirit be with you all.