Advent 2, December 5, 8&10AM. Worship Online/In-Person

There is one life-changing promise we celebrate every Christmas: God’s promise of a Savior.
Join us this Christmas season. We look at four of the first people to see this incredible promise fulfilled.

Come and worship – online or in-person.
Let’s discover a God who keeps His promises. The promises gives us hope, peace, joy, and love.

Both of our 8&10AM services continue to be livestreamed https://www.facebook.com/LodiUMC

Order of Worship
December 5, 2021

PRELUDE

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING   Ron, Margo & Alyssa Webster (8AM), Kyle, Kathryn & Bekytt Kraft (10AM)

OPENING PRAYER
(8AM) Blessed is the Lord, and blessed are God’s people
to whom God sends a savior, the Messiah, who is Christ the Lord.
Blessed is our God, and blessed are God’s gifts,
that grace us with the wholeness of life and every good gift.
Lord, you have come to dwell within us. Build your temple within our hearts. Amen.

(10AM) We have prepared our homes, and our gifts, Lord,
but we need help in preparing our spirits to receive your message of peace.
Free us from the stresses and strains of this time,
and place your peace which passes all our understanding in our hearts.
For we ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

* HYMN OF ADVENT    Angels From the Realms of Glory (United Methodist Hymn #220)
1 Angels from the realms of glory, wing your flight o’er all the earth;
ye who sang creation’s story now proclaim Messiah’s birth:

Refrain Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn king.

2 Shepherds, in the field abiding, watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing; yonder shines the infant light: Refrain

3 Sages, leave your contemplations, brighter visions beam afar;
seek the great Desire of nations; ye have seen his natal star: Refrain

4 Saints, before the altar bending, watching long in hope and fear;
suddenly the Lord, descending, in his temple shall appear: Refrain

PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
Anticipating the blessings of the One who is coming, let us offer one another signs of Christ’s peace:
The peace of Christ be with you, always. And also with you.

SHARING JOYS AND CONCERNS Please share your prayer requests and joys. Type them in the comment section.

PASTORAL PRAYER

* TIME OF DEDICATION   Thank you for living your faith by sharing your gifts with God’s world through your church. Online Giving: www.LodiUMC.org/Give

* PRAYER FOR OUR OFFERINGS
Thanks be to you, O God, maker of heaven and earth –
giver of justice, lover of righteousness, hope of the afflicted, and friend of the poor.
Your faithfulness never fails. Bless and use these gifts we offer to further your purpose in the world
and to fulfill the promise of the world to come; through Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.

SPECIAL MUSIC    Christmas Hallelujah     Beanie Ludlum, solo

SCRIPTURE READING   Luke 2:8-15    Jody Thistle (8AM), Mike Beilke (10AM)

MESSAGE The Promise 2 – Shepherd, Peace Be With You.

SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION (8AM) (on a separate sheet)

PRESENTATION OF DOLLY’S FUND GRANTS/SCHOLARSHIP (10AM)
City of Lodi Police Department (for squad car defibrillators), Wayne Smith, Chief of Police
Lift Lodi (annual day of service), Sarah Keyeski, Director
Reach Out Lodi (auxiliary programs), Mary Wilkes, Managing Director
River Haven Homeless Shelter (operating expenses), Amy Luebke, Executive Director
Sauk Prairie Area Literacy Center (adult literacy resources), Laurie Pffifner, a Board member
School District of Lodi (new marquee sign), Terry Haag, a Board member
Lodi PTO (toward K-2 rock climbing wall installation), Melissa Walsh, Teacher
Lodi Public Library (toward early literacy book purchase), Alex LeClair, Director
Scholarship: Brandon Grover, Hunter Newton, Emily Oetzman(not present), Melanie Weitzel(not present).

SONG OF FAITH Joy to the World / Our God Saves
Joy to the world the Lord is come. Let earth receive her King. Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room.
Let heaven and nature sing, Let heaven and nature sing, Let heaven and heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the world the Savior reigns. Let men their songs employ, While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy. Repeat the sounding joy. Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

(Chorus) Hear the joyful sound of our offering, as Your saints bow down, as Your people sing
We will rise with You lifted on Your wings, And the world will see that
Our God saves, Our God saves, There is hope in Your name.

You rule the world with truth and grace, And make the nations prove, The glories of Your righteousness
The wonders of Your love, The wonders of Your love, The wonders, wonders of Your love. Repeat Chorus

Mourning turns to songs of praise. Our God saves, Our God saves.
Joy to the world the Lord is come. Joy to the world the Lord is come.
You rule the world with truth and grace. You rule the world with truth and grace.

DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING

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