. And so, in remembrance of your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES we offer ourselves as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith: FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SLUMC! [spoken] If you are looking for a church home, we hope you’ll come back and experience all Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. that SLUMC has to offer! With many different ways for people to get involved, grow in faith and serve the world – we know there is a place for you here. To learn more . Make them be for us your love and light so that our hearts may be broken about our church, how to get involved and how to become a member, contact open for the world and our lives poured out in service. Kimberly Reeves, [email protected]. [sung] Worship Opportunities – There will be two worship opportunities on Christmas No one is saved till all are healed, as Jesus on the Mount revealed Eve, December 24th. Our family service will be at 5:00 p.m. with the Christmas your life and mine forever sealed just like the lilies of the field. story presented by some of our youth students. Our traditional service will be at 6:30 p.m. with the story being told through scripture and song. Both services will be Through your son Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, outdoors on the Kansas St. lawn, the sacrament of Holy Communion will be all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen. celebrated, and we will raise glow sticks or our cell phone flashlights during the singing of “Silent Night.” Sharing the Bread and Cup Sunday, December 27th there will be a single worship service at 10:50 a.m. and no The United Methodist table is open to all who seek to experience God’s Sunday School. grace. It is Christ who invites us. Please come to the communion rail by the center aisle, kneel or stand to receive the elements. You will be given Thursday, December 31st is our Watch Night service at 5:00 p.m. in the Thompson a small piece of bread to eat, then you will be offered a small cup of juice Annex backyard. Join us for this short service as we worship and pray for the new Christmas Eve December 23, 2020 to drink. You may remain at the communion rail for personal prayer or year. return to your seat by the side aisle. A gluten-free option for Communion Thank you for joining St. Luke’s United Methodist Church for worship today. is available. Please let the pastor know if you would prefer this option The church office will be CLOSED on December 24 & 25 and again on January We are glad you are here! At St. Luke’s, we are committed when you reach the front to receive. to helping people be deeply devoted followers of Jesus Christ. 1, 2021 Together we strive to make a difference in our community and around the world. Music during Communion provided by Gregg Bailey, piano * Indicates you are invited to stand. GUESTS Prayer after Communion “O Holy Night” Adolphe Adam Mia Long, soprano We are glad you came to celebrate with us today and invite you to return next GATHERING week. On Sundays, we come to church to draw closer to God and leave with a *Sharing the Light “Silent Night” STILLE NACHT renewed commitment to follow Christ every day of the week. To find out more Prelude “O Come, All Ye Faithful” arr. Mark Hayes please join in singing “Silent Night” as the light is passed from candle to candle about who we are follow us on Facebook or go to www.StLukesUMCMidland.org. Silent night, holy night, all is calm, Pastors are available after the service and during the week for more in-depth *Call to Worship Blake Durham all is bright round yon virgin mother and child. conversations. Shout for joy! The Savior is here. Holy infant, so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace. Sing with gladness! Our darkness is turned into light. Please Note Let every heart prepare a space. Silent night, holy night, shepherds quake at the sight; • Children’s worship activity sheets are located in the office foyer. Let every home make ready. glories stream from heaven afar, heav’nly hosts sing Alleluia! • Childcare is available for children under age 5 in rooms 302, 304 and 305. For a new day has dawned. The world has been made new. Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born! • Hearing devices are located at the welcome desk. The Savior has been born. Sing with joy! Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light; *Hymn “O Come, All Ye Faithful” ADESTE FIDELES radiant beams from thy holy face with the dawn of redeeming grace, Participants in Worship Today: Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth. O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, Ministers: All Members and Participants O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem. Lead Pastor: Tom Long Come and behold him, born the King of angels; Silent night, holy night, wondrous star, lend thy light; Associate Pastor: Blake Durham with the angels let us sing, Alleluia to our King; Pastor of Care Ministries: Jan Reed O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born! Director of Music Ministries: Chris Vaught O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord. Organist: Gregg Bailey *Dismissal with Blessing Tom Long True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal, lo, he shuns not the Virgin’s womb; *Postlude “Joy to the World” arr. Gilbert Martin Growing in Christ … Making a Difference Son of the Father, begotten, not created; 3011 W. Kansas, Midland Texas; 432- 694-2571 O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, www.StLukesUMCMidland.org O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation; Old Testament Reading Isaiah 9:2-7 Robin Hall *Sharing Our Gifts SUSSEX CAROL O sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above! The Word of the Lord. Please stand as the pastor comes to the center to receive the offering Glory to God, all glory in the highest; Thanks be to God. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Praise God, all creatures here below. O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord. *Hymn “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” ES IST EIN ROS Praise God above, ye heav’nly host. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung! Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to all. Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger, Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as those of hold have sung. we would embrace thee with love and awe. It came, a flow’ret bright, amid the cold of winter, Prayer of Confession/Words of Assurance All Who would not love thee, loving us so dearly? when half spent was the night. Merciful God, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, we confess that often we find darkness more comfortable than light. O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord. Isaiah ‘twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind; We confess that we find your good news frightening and unsettling, with Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind. especially when we consider its demands as well as its promises. Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning, To show God’s love aright, she bore to us a Savior, We confess that Christmas has become more to us Jesus, to thee be all glory giv’n. when half spent was the night. than the birthday of the Christ, partly because we do not want a Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing. Christ-Child in our lives or in our world. O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O Flow’r, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air, Forgive us, break us, bend us, remake us. O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord. dispel in glorious splendor the darkness everywhere. Give us the courage to lay ourselves open to the wonder True man yet very God, from sin and death now save us, and healing of your coming. Lighting the Christ Candle Chris Vaught and share our every load. Be born again into our world, be born again into our hearts and lives. As we find ourselves wrapped in the season of wonder and light, Hear now our silent and personal confessions as we prepare ourselves the astonishment that is life ignites our spirits, and we feel, Epistle Reading Titus 2:11-14 Robin Hall for your nativity. if merely for a moment, that we are as we were meant to be. The Word of the Lord. The true light that enlightens all has come into the world. May we hold fast to this sliver of mystery, Thanks be to God. That light shines on in the darkness, this truth upon which we set the whole of who we are. and the darkness has never been able to put it out. May we call ourselves back to it time and again, *Gospel Luke 2:1-20 Jan Reed This is the good news: until we are filled with the wonder that is our life – This is the Gospel of Christ our Lord.