This is all I have known for certain: that God is love.

Even if I have been mistaken about this or that point,

As we light the third candle, the candle of joy,
let us reflect on our experiences of joy in the world, We Respond to God’s Word
God is nevertheless love. in our friends and family, and in God. REFLECTION Greta, Joan, & Miryam:
God is love - not God was love, nor God will be love, (silence for reflection as two candles are lit) Dangerous Teenage Girls
oh no, even that future is too slow for me - Everlasting God,
God is love. Oh, how wonderful! deepen our faith in your steadfast love that we may live in HYMN My Soul Gives Glory to My God UMH 198
Soren Kierkegaard the joy that your Way instills in us. Make us joyful in our
worship of you in this place and in the worship of our daily PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER
lives. May our joy be infectious and our love complete.
We Gather as God’s People In the name of Christ, who is the foundation of our lives. PRAYER FOR THE WEEK Jan L. Richardson
HYMN O Come, All Ye Faithful 234 vss. 1-3 You hollow us out, God, so that we may carry you,
YOUNG PEOPLE’S MESSAGE and you endlessly fill us only to be emptied again.
CALL TO WORSHIP Make smooth our inward spaces, and sturdy,
HYMN It Came Upon a Midnight Clear UMH 218 v.4 that we may hold you with less resistance
Into our world, as into Mary’s womb,
Come, Lord Jesus. and bear you with deeper grace
NEW MEMBERS Janice Jordan, Peter & Jenna Olson
Into the forgotten places, as into the stable,
Come, Lord Jesus. OFFERTORY & DOXOLOGY
BAPTISM Piper Rose Oslon
Into the lives of the poor . . . . bringing hope;
into the lives of the powerful . . . . bringing caution;
into the lives of the weary . . . . bringing rest; We Are Sent Into God’s World
into the lives of the wise . . . . bringing restlessness; We Listen for God’s Word
and into our lives and longings . . . . Come, Lord Jesus. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This is the good news: Christ is coming, READERS THEATER Luke 1
and blessed are those who wait on the Lord. BENEDICTION
Therefore come quickly, Lord. Amen. RESPONSE Magnificat
Mary said: RESPONSE Until Jesus Comes W&S 3050
HYMN Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus UMH 196 My soul magnifies the Lord,

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and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
PASSING THE PEACE who has looked with favor on me, a lowly servant girl.
From this day all generations will call me blessed.
ADVENT CANDLE 2: JOY The Mighty One has done great things for me:
holy the name of the Lord, Notes, Doodles, Christmas Cookie Recipes, To-Do List:
We wait for the coming of Christ,

whose steadfast love for the world is everlasting. whose mercy is on the God-fearing
Your saving work in our lives is cause for great joy,
 from generation to generation.
bring healing and wholeness into our brokenness. The arm of the Lord is filled with strength,
scattering the proudhearted.
A reading from Romans 15:13: God cast the mighty from their thrones,
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in lifting up the lowly.
believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the God filled the hungry with good things,
Holy Spirit.. sending the rich away empty.
God has come to the help of Israel,
Inspire our worship of You, the Lord's servant, remembering mercy,
that we may shout with joy the mercy promised to our forebears,
for all that you have done for us! to Abraham and his children for ever.
 Below are people, places, & concerns that folk have lifted up.
Office Hours Please keep them in your prayers at home.
Please call or email the church office to add to the prayer list.

Greta
Tuesdays: Pastor Is In @ Nest Coffee Shop 10 am - 11:30 am
Ongoing Prayers Ongoing Prayers, cont.
Thursdays: Church Office 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm Arlitha Joyce Moore
Callie Dorothy & Alex
Anne Kennison Doug
Calendar Mary Willard
Norma Strickland Lifted Up Last Sunday
Tue, 17 Dec: Mt Mansfield Bible Study: Miryam of Magdala Judy & Diezel Kathryn: For doctors and nurses in
2 pm Matthew C. Georgia working on helping her
Elissa & Leif nephew to walk again.
Trustees Meeting, 7:00 pm.
Greg Patty: For Gerda Stegner who fell; for her
Paula DeMichele nephew Eric who continues to fight
Thu, 1 Dec: Thursday Companions, 2 pm in Parlor with his demons
Don Strickland

Advent Taizé Meditation Service 7 pm

Ellie Uckele
Cole
Jody: Peter Munsell and family. Peter
went into the Respite House Joan
Gordon Mitchinson Judy H: Melissa's father-in-law Lester,
Wed, 18 Dec: WOWW Luncheon, 11:30 at the Grand Buffet
(located in the Post Office Square in Essex Jct.) Susan moving from ICU to a regular room
Tim Midge: Nephew Mark now undergoing
Thu, 19 Dec: Advent Taizé Meditation Service 7 pm Don Canady intensive chemotherapy
Harley Ted: Justin, recovering from surgery
Sat, 21 Dec: Food Shelf, 9-12 at Good Shepherd Church Michael Parker

Sun, 22 Dec: Fourth Sunday in Advent

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Miryam:
Tue, 24 Dec: Christmas Eve Family Service: 4:30 pm

Candle Light Service: 8:00 pm

Essex Center United Methodist Church
Thu, 2 Jan: Thursday Companions, 2 pm in Parlor essex_umc@comcast.net tel. 878-8304
www.essexumc.com
Sun, 5 Jan: Epiphany Sunday

Dangerous Teenage Girls

Ministers: the entire congregation Lay Leader: Joshua Knox
Equipping Pastor: Rev. V. Mitchell Hay
Mon, 6 Jan: Monday Companions at Eve’s cell/text: 881-3268 (feel free to call) mitchellhay@comcast.net

Wed 26 Feb: Ash Wednesday; Lent Begins Office Manager: Elissa Johnsen
Sunday School Coordinator: Krista Rochefort

Essex Center
Organ: Kathryn Parker Piano: June Packard

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Song Leader: Dana LaClair Projection: Bob McLane

Nursery Helper Claire N next week: Sally J Un-Tied Methodist Church

Parent Helper: Sara K next week: TBD
Pulpit and Altar Coverings - given in memory of Greeters: Grant & Mitsumi C next week: Liz & David R 15 December 2019 Third Sunday of Advent
Peggy Thompson by Norm Thompson. Ushers: Donna P & Elissa next week: TBD