Silent Meditation for We Do Not Have a High Priest Who Is Unable to Sympathize with Our Weaknesses

We invite you to join us online (www.westmarketchurch.org) or by radio (WPET 950 am) to participate in worship this Sunday. Below you will find the bulletin for the 11:00 am service for December 13, 2020. Now, more than ever, we are called to reach out in care and concern for our families, neighbors, and fellow church members. God is with us! Thanks be to God! ~Pastor Jill

December 13, 2020 Third Sunday of Advent 11:00 am

Silent Meditation For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,

but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16

GATHERING

GATHERING HYMN: No. 216 “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” ES IST EIN ROS

1. Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung! Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as those of old have sung. It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter, when half spent was the night. 2. Isaiah ‘twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind; with Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind. To show God’s love aright, she bore to us a Savior, when half spent was the night. 3. O Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air, dispel in glorious splendor the darkness everywhere. True man yet very God, from sin and death now save us, and share our every load. Text: Stanzas 1-2, 15th century; st. 3 from The Hymnal , 1940 © 1971 The Church Pension Fund. All rights reserved. Reprinted under ONE LICENSE #A-730713

WELCOME

PRELUDE: “Huron Carol” arr. Catherine McMichael MarketBell Ringers

ENTRANCE

LIGHTING OF THE THIRD ADVENT CANDLE: Love

Robert and Beth Dunbar

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

We have learned to love from being loved by God. Today, we light the third Advent candle as we are reminded of God’s love for us through His Son, Jesus Christ. What the world needs now, more than ever, is more love. God with us, Emmanuel.

CONGREGATIONAL CHORAL RESPONSE:

No. 242 “Love Came Down at Christmas” GARTAN

1. Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine; Love was born at Christmas; star and angels gave the sign. 2. Worship we the Godhead, Love incarnate, Love divine; worship we our Jesus, but wherewith for sacred sign? 3. Love shall be our token; love be yours and love be mine; love to God and neighbor, love for plea and gift and sign. Text: Christina G. Rossetti, 1885

HYMN OF PRAISE: No. 211 “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” VENI EMMANUEL

1. O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. 2. O come, thou Wisdom from on high, and order all things far and nigh; to us the path of knowledge show and cause us in her ways to go. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. 3. O come, O come, great Lord of might, who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height in ancient times once gave the law in cloud and majesty and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. 4. O come, thou Root of Jesse’s tree, an ensign of thy people be; before thee rulers silent fall; all peoples on thy mercy call. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Text: Sts. 1, 3 9th century Latin; © 1940 The Church Pension Fund. All rights reserved. Reprinted under ONE LICENSE #A-730713; st. 4 Laurence Hall Stookey, 1986 © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House. All rights reserved. Reprinted under ONE LICENSE #A-730713

COLLECT: God Most High, there is none like you, drawing near to those who are low and in need of being raised up. We thank you that you have not left us alone, but that in your Son Jesus you came to be with us, as one of us. May we sense you near us even now, through your Spirit. May we take heart in our darkest and most fearful times, trusting that you abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel. And by your grace, may others know through our acts of mercy and love that God is with them. Amen. adapted from the Incarnation: Leader Guide, by Mike Poteet

GLORIA PATRI: No. 70 MEINEKE Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. Text: Lesser Doxology, 3rd-4th century

PROCLAMATION

MESSAGE FOR CHILDREN:

Before the Children’s Message, please join us in singing “Star Child” STAR CHILD

Star-Child, earth-Child, go-between of God, love Child, Christ Child, heaven’s lightning rod. This year, this year, let the day arrive when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive! Spared child, spoiled child, having, wanting more, wise child, faith child, knowing joy in store. This year, this year, let the day arrive when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive! Hope-for-peace Child, God’s stupendous sign, down-to-earth Child, Star of stars that shine. This year, this year, let the day arrive when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive!

LESSON FROM THE HOLY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 1:18-25 (NRSV)

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel.”

The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

SERMON: “Love with Skin On” The Reverend Beth Crissman

RESPONSE

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And 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, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. 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. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

THE LORD’S PRAYER:

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

THANKSGIVING TO GOD THROUGH OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS

For your convenience, you can give to West Market Church by text message. Text WMC to 73256. Follow prompts to complete your giving. You may also give by clicking on the "Give Here" button at the bottom of this email.

OFFERTORY ANTHEM: “Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine” Trad. German carol

Joseph dearest, Joseph mine, help me cradle the child divine; God reward thee and all that’s thine in paradise, so prays the mother Mary. He came among us at Christmastime, at Christmastime, in Bethlehem; let us bring him from far and wide Love’s diadem: Jesus, Jesus, lo, he comes, and loves, and saves, and frees us! Gladly, dear one, lady mine, help I cradle this child of thine; God’s own light on us both shall shine in paradise, as prays the mother Mary. He came among us at Christmastime… All shall come and bow the knee; wise and happy their souls shall be, loving such a divinity, as all may see in Jesus, Son of Mary. He came among us at Christmastime, at Christmastime, in Bethlehem; let us bring him from far and wide Love’s diadem: Jesus, Jesus, lo, he comes, and loves, and saves, and frees us!

Text: Traditional German carol

ADVENT DOXOLOGY: VENI EMMANUEL

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

Text and tune adapted by Dean McIntyre, The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship, PO Box 340003, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Telephone 615-340-7073. Website http://www.umcworship.org. Email address: [email protected]. Text and tune are public domain.

SENDING FORTH

HYMN OF DEDICATION: No. 250 “Once in Royal David’s City” IRBY

1. Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed, where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed; Mary, loving mother mild, Jesus Christ, her little child. 2. He came down to earth from heaven who is God and Lord of all, and his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall. With the poor, the scorned, the lowly lived on earth our Savior holy. 3. Jesus is our childhood’s pattern, day by day, like us he grew; he was little, weak, and helpless, tears and smiles like us he knew; and he feeleth for our sadness, and he shareth in our gladness. 4. And our eyes at last shall see him, through his own redeeming love; for that child so dear and gentle is our Lord in heaven above; and he leads his children on to the place where he is gone.

Text: Cecil Frances Alexander, 1848

BENEDICTION

CHORAL BENEDICTION: “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly” Trad. Polish carol

Infant holy, infant lowly, for his bed a cattle stall; oxen lowing, little knowing, Christ the babe is Lord of all. Swift are winging angels singing, noels ringing, tidings bringing; Christ the babe is Lord of all.

Text: Trad. Polish carol

POSTLUDE: “Toccata on ‘Veni Emmanuel’ ” Andrew Carter

Music presented via live-stream and broadcast is covered under ONE LICENSE #A-730713, under CCLI License #1874916, or is used with the composer’s permission.

Our Service of Worship is ended. Let our worship through service begin.

We give our thanks for those helping live-stream and broadcast our services: Carol Key, Rick Hollowell, and our anonymous volunteer who updated the internet in the Sanctuary.

Chancel Choir Section Leaders: Christina Hairston, Catherine Lupien, Wilson Mericle, and D’André Wright MarketBell Ringers: Catherine Crowder, Gene Jones, Dreama Lovitt, Ann McSwain, and Patricia Troxler

The poinsettia on the altar was given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Mary Lyon Herbert by William, Jeannie, Charlie, Lyon, Kendra, and Wyatt Herbert.

A Musical Note: The MarketBell Ringers’ prelude this morning is a setting of the Huron Carol “ ’Twas in the Moon of Wintertime,” found in our hymnal as number 244. It has a haunting text and tune, with influences of the French Jesuit missionaries (Jean de Brebeuf wrote the words around 1643) and the Huron people. The words paint the nativity scene in terms that the Huron people would understand. So, rather than in a barn, Jesus is born in “a lodge of broken bark” and rather than wrapped in swaddling clothes, he is put in “a ragged robe of rabbit skin.” Braves and chiefs come to visit, rather than shepherds and Wise Men, and they bring gifts of fox and beaver pelts. It is a wonderful carol!