Mill Plain UMC
Sunday December 17, 2023
How the Grinch Found the Christ in Christmas
Scripture
Isaiah 7:10-17
Luke 1: 46-55
Music
Days of Elijah
Everlasting God The Holly and the Ivy
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Give at MillplainUmc.org
Mill Plain UMC
December 17, 2023
10 a.m.
Children’s Program
Praise Song Days Of Elijah
Greeting
Call to Worship
Lighting of Advent Candle
Leader: My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
People: In our lowliness, the joy of the Lord is my strength.
Leader: Surely from now on, all generations shall call me blessed.
People: For the joy of the Lord is my strength.
Leader: Today we light four Advent Candles for God has done great things for us and holy is his name.
People: The joy of the Lord is my strength.
(Four Advent candles are lit as the congregation sings The Joy of the Lord is My Strength.)
Opening Prayer
Mighty One, you have looked upon our lowliness and called us blessed; your mercy has been from generation to generation, from our oldest relatives to the youngest children.
Prepare us this day to receive you again. Use us to fill the hungry with good things and to lift up the lowly. We are your servant, let it be with us according to your word. Amen.
Praise Songs Everlasting God
The Holly and The Ivy
Silent Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
Lord’s Prayer
Offertory
Presentation of Offerings
Solo Mary did you Know? Aislyn Volk
Doxology
Scripture
Isaiah 7:10-17
Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.
The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on your ancestral house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria.”
Luke 1:46-55
And Mary said, “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. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 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. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
Hymn Hark! the Herald Angels Sing #240
Sermon How the Grinch found Christ in Christmas
Prayer
Sometimes, God, our hearts are two sizes too small; we want to have everything for ourselves and resist sharing with others. We doubt your existence and turn away from your love. Thank you for loving us anyway and for opening our eyes to the joy of sharing and the delight of love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Hymn O Little Town of Bethlehem #230
Benediction
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and the shepherds
Have found their way home,
The work of Christmas is begun.
(from a poem by Howard Thurman.)