Weekly Bulletin
ST. PAUL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
101 South Perry Street
Wapakoneta, Ohio 45895
Click Here for the On-Line Attendance
Liturgy for Sunday, December 5, 2021
2nd Sunday of Advent
GATHERING MUSIC Karen Joseph
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PASSING THE PEACE
LIGHTING THE ALTAR CANDLES
PRELUDE All Earth Is Hopeful Setting, Lynette Maynard
Karen Joseph & Martha Hefner
*CALL TO WORSHIP: Anthony Brookhart, Liturgist
One: Let us hear the revelation of God’s promise,
All: For Advent is a time of expecting new light to shine.
One: Let us receive light from the prophets,
All: For light penetrates darkness and prepares the way of the Lord.
One: Let us see God’s glory shine forth,
All: For we long to be transformed by the light of God’s holiness.
*HYMN #189 “Angels, from the Realms of Glory”
♪Angels, from the realms of glory, wing your flight o’er all the earth;
you who sang creation’s story, now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the new-born King. ♫
♪Shepherds, in the fields a biding, watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing, yonder shines the infant light:
Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the new-born King. ♫
♪Sages, leave your contemplations, brighter visions beam afar;
seek the great Desire of nations, you have seen the natal star:
Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the new-born King. ♫
♪Saints before the altar bending, watching long in hope and fear,
suddenly the Lord descending, in his temple shall appear:
Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the new-born King. ♫
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE: “Peace” The Loy Family
Ryan, Krystal, Madison, & Noah
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE: “Emmanuel, Emmanuel” #178
♪Emmanuel, Emmanuel, his name is called Emmanuel.
God with us, revealed in us, his name is called Emmanuel. ♫
*OPENING PRAYER:
Prepare your way within us, O God, as the new year of life in your church unfolds. Make of us a people ready to receive you, to learn from you, to receive your gifts, and to live out your calling in mission. Prepare your way within us and fill us with your peace. We pray in the name of the One who is coming into the world, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
*GLORIA PATRI
GREETINGS FROM NORTHWEST OHIO ASSOCIATION Rev. Dan Busch, NWOA Minister
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
*DOXOLOGY (#34)
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Almighty God, you know our thoughts before they are spoken. You refine our hearts so they conform to your will. May what we say reflect your purpose for creation, and what we do be consistent with your intent. Shape what we give you to suit your pleasure, and fashion us to fit your design. Amen.
FIRST SCRIPTURE READINGS: Maiachi 3:1-4
See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; 3he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. 4Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 3:1-6
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
SERMON “Prepare the Way!” Rev. Becky Sunday
SOLO “My Tribute” Rev. Becky Sunday
PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
SERVICE OF RECOGNITION (See accompanying page)
*HYMN 153 “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”
♪Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;
dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart. ♫
♪Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit raise us to thy glorious throne. ♫
*OUR COMMON CALLING
*BENEDICTION
*BENEDICTION RESPONSE: “Jesus, Name Above All Names” #177
♪ Jesus, name above all names, beautiful Savior, glorious Lord,
Emmanuel, God is with us, blessed Redeemer, Living Word. ♫
POSTLUDE Awake, Awake, and Greet the New Morn Setting, Mark Sedio
THIS WEEK AT ST. PAUL CHURCH
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2021 – Anthony’s Recognition Service
10:15AM Worship Service
MONDAY, Dec. 6th
6:30PM Faith Formation Meeting
TUESDAY, Dec 7th
5:00-6:00PM Take Out Tuesday Meals
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 8th
6:30PM Bell Choir Practice
THURSDAY, Dec. 9th
7:00PM Advent Prayer Service Zoom
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2021
10:15AM Worship Service
CHURCH NEWS – DECEMBER 5, 2021
ALTAR FLOWERS – The altar flowers this week are in loving memory of Helen Schramm, with a heartfelt reminder to: “Put a smile on your face, and a song in your heart.” Love, Her Boys
CONGRATULATIONS – Congratulations to Anthony Brookhart as he begins his discernment internship here at St. Paul UCC! In celebration of this special occasion, you all are invited to greet Anthony at the rear of the sanctuary and to take a cookie with you as you leave today. Thank you for joining us today!
A SPECIAL WELCOME – Welcome to Northwest Ohio Association Minister, Rev. Dan Busch. We are grateful that Rev. Busch is able to join us on this special occasion, and we offer our gratitude for all that he and Northwest Ohio Association do to support pastors and churchs throughout the association.
ADVENT PRAYER SERVICE – You are invited to attend Thursday evening prayer services at 7:00PM/via Zoom throughout the Advent season. If you would like to receive the Zoom link, please contact Pastor Becky, or the church office. All are welcome!
CALENDARS & CHRISTIAN NOTEPADS – The God’s Creation calendars for 2021 are all gone but notepads are still available. We have 9 notepads left to sell. These will be available in the back of the sanctuary each Sunday after church or in the church office during the week. Reminder: The notepads are $2.00 each.
CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP SERVICE – St. Paul UCC will be having one Christmas Eve service, in-person and online, on Friday, December 24 at 8:00PM, with prelude music beginning at 7:30PM. We hope you will consider joining us as we welcome the Christ-Child.
We Support Our Church By Our Prayers
Dan Arnold
Tim & Katie Bensman
& Family
Betty Brookhart
Joshua Copeland
Alicia Cummins
Marsha Elliott
Teagan Elliott
Emil George
Pam Halfhill
Jim Hearn Jr
Martha Hefner
Troy King
Tim Kinstle
Kenda Kohler
Ron Kohler
Rex & Brenda Lippincott
Lauren Makuh
Gayle Marshall
Jade Miller
Nellie Montgomery
Reyes Nevarez
Carol Presar
Katelyn Rose
Karen Ruck
Judy Sergent
Adrian & Becky Sunday
Doris Sunderland
Ezra Wellington
Janet Winkler
Chris Wright
Members and friends serving in the U.S. military
Alex Bowersock
Matthew Cox
Brady Erb
Aaron Micah Hibner
Amanda Preston Johnston
Jordon Jurosic
Haley Jean Kill
Valerie Orellana
Scott Presar
Nathan Quellhorst
Johnathon Schlosser
Morgen Sindelar
Dave Sodders
Douglas Sodders
Alexis Stiles
Jeff Sunday
Daniel Turnbow
Jian Feng Zhao
