ADVENT 2023
December 24, 2023 • 10:00 am
God With Us
FIRST TIME HERE We are so glad you are joining us, whether in person or online. Please sign in on the red fellowship pad and pass it down your pew. Our hope is to get to know you better and help you find your place within our community. You can also drop us an email at info@asburyfirst.org. If you’re out there watching, check in through the website to let us know you’re worshiping with us. Take a picture and post it on social media using #asburyfirstathome. ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL Large print bulletins and hymnals are available from the ushers. A hearing loop is available for those who have hearing aids with T switches, and you may also request earphones from the ushers to aid you in hearing the service. The screens located toward the back of the sanctuary now display the service stream to aid in visibility. Please help us welcome differently-abled worshipers and visitors. For example, please respect our visually-impaired members by not interacting with or distracting their working guide dogs. Need prayer? We invite you to share with us how we can be praying for you by emailing prayers@asburyfirst.org or by filling out one of our prayer cards found in the pews. All prayer requests are prayed over by our Ministers and Intercessory Prayer Team. Children We believe children are a sacred gift, and they are welcome in our worship. Children will be invited forward during worship for a Children’s Time. Following this, children age 4 through 5th grade are invited to go with our children’s educators for Sunday School or return to their caretaker for the remainder of the service. RECONCILING STATEMENT We are a reconciling congregation and seek to be a fully inclusive church, believing that all people are God’s children. Our full statement can be read at asburyfirst.org/about-us/#reconciling-statement. GIVE TO ASBURY FIRST Your generous gifts supports our everyday ministries and operations, allowing us to live into our vision to Do More Good. Cash/Check—We welcome you to send a gift of cash/check in the mail or place your gift in the offering plate as it is passed to you. Text to Give—You may give a gift with a debit/credit card by texting the dollar amount to 206-222-1050. Online—Online giving is available on our website at asburyfirst.org/give. Venmo—You may give a gift through Venmo by finding “@givingasburyfirst” or by scanning the QR code to the right. Watch and listen The livestream of the 11 am service can be viewed at asburyfirst.org/live-stream. Listen live on WRFZ 106.3 FM Rochester Free Radio, or call our toll-free number at 833-829-1050. Our video archive of past services is at asburyfirst.org/archive.
Staff Emails are typically first initial then last name @asburyfirst.org. (ex. scady@asbuyrfirst.org) Rev. Stephen Cady, PhD — Senior Minister, x125 Rev. Kathy Thiel — Minister for Congregational Care, x106 Rev. Patrick Dupont — Minister for Outreach, x136 Mike Mullin — Minister for Discipleship and Youth, x105 *Rev. Rachel Dupont — Minister for for Christian Formation and Director of the Discipleship Project, x113 Dr. Carl Johengen — Director of Music Ministry, x134 Duane Prill — Principal Organist, x100 Paula Dugan — Director of Hospitality and Children’s Ministry, x111 Holly Temming — Children's Music & Ministry; Revenue & Payroll Specialist, x114 David Strong — Church Admin.; Assistant Organist, x110 Deb Bullock-Smith — Office and Data Manager, x117 John Ormsbee — Director of Finance, x107 Lori Young — Director of Property Care, x122 Robin Manley, LMSW — Social Worker, x138 David Stith — Director of Communications, x109 *Ly Tran — Communications Assistant, x108 *indicates part-time status
* please stand as you are able
Prelude
Six Variants on “Es ist ein’ Ros’ entsprungen” ("Lo, how a rose e'er blooming") — arr. Gerald Near
Welcome
*Call to Worship
All are invited to read the bold-faced type; the lay reader will read the unbolded type. Behold! God is good, and has set a star in the heavens to guide us to the truth. We follow the star with joy, knowing that God will give us strength to climb the hills, and sight to conquer the darkness. Behold! God is good, and has promised us a Savior to lead us to fullness of life. We await the Savior with gladness and with expectation that in the holy birth our lives will be renewed.
*Carol
#220 "Angels from the Realms of Glory"
10 am • December 24, 2023
The community gathers As the community gathers, may the music of the prelude draw your hearts and minds to God.
{{page}}
Fourth Sunday of Advent Service of Lessons and Carols
Lighting of the Advent Wreath Helen Johnson & Tommy Johnson
"Hope Is Assertive, Peace Is Subversive, Joy Is Provocative, Love Is Transformative" Four candles are lit. God of love, remind us that love is transformative, but it must be shared. We must love one another because you have first loved us. As your love transformed the world long ago, it continues to transform us. Your love makes us into your children. We long for the day when that love will change the world again. Amen.
*Response Hymnal #706, v. 1
Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King; Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King; Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King; Hallelujah! Hallelujah! We’re going to see the King.
First Reading
“For Light" — John O'Donahue
Carol
#216 "Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming", v. 1
Second Reading
“You are Holy" — Lucien Deiss
#216 "Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming", v. 2
Scripture Luke 1:46b-55
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant. Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name; indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. He has come to the aid of his child Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” The Word of God for the People of God. Thanks be to God.
To hear the word
To Renew Commitment
Introduction to Discipleship, Membership, and Commitment
We are delighted you have joined us and ask that you sign and pass the ritual of friendship pad from the center aisle down the pew. We invite you to prayerfully consider making a gift to support the everyday ministries and operations of this church, allowing us to live into our vision to Do More Good. There are multiple ways to make a gift to Asbury First: Cash/Check—We welcome you to send a gift of cash/check in the mail or place it in the offering plate as it is passed to you. Text to Give—You may give a gift with a debit/credit card by texting the dollar amount to 206-222-1050. Online—Online giving is available on our website at asburyfirst.org/give. Venmo—You may give a gift through Venmo by finding “@givingasburyfirst” or by scanning the QR code to the right.
#223 "Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light", v. 1, 3
Third Reading
“Wage Peace" — Judyth Hill
#214 Savior of the Nations, Come
Fourth Reading
“On the Necessity of Snow Angels for the Well-Being of the World" — Grace Butcher
#211 "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel", vv. 1, 2
Fifth Reading
"There Was a Time I Would Reject Those" — Muhyiddin Ibn Al-'Arabi
#211 "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel", vv. 3, 4
Pastoral Prayer
*Closing Carol
#720 “Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying"
Seventh Reading
"People, Look East" — Eleanor Farjeon
#200 "Tell Out, My Soul"
Eighth Reading
“A Blessing of Angels" — John O'Donahue
*Benediction
Postlude
“The First Noel” — arr. Robert J. Hughes
Offertory
“Some Children See Him” — Alfred Burt; words by Wihla Hutson Some children see Him lily white, the baby Jesus born this night. Some children see Him lily white, with tresses soft and fair. Some children see Him bronzed and brown, the Lord of heav'n to earth come down. Some children see Him bronzed and brown, with dark and heavy hair. Some children see Him almond-eyed, this Savior whom we kneel beside. some children see Him almond-eyed, with skin of yellow hue. Some children see Him dark as they, sweet Mary's Son to whom we pray. Some children see him dark as they, and, ah! they love Him, too! The children in each different place will see the baby Jesus' face like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace, and filled with holy light. O lay aside each earthly thing and with thy heart as offering, come worship now the infant King. Tis love that's born tonight!
Sixth Reading
“Love Does That” — Meister Eckhart
#238 "Angels We Have Heard on High", vv. 1, 2
To Disperse in Mission
New Years Eve Drop In Service of Meditation and Communion
Permissions: “Some Children See Him” © 1957 (renewed 1985) Hollis Music, Inc. Hymns © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House; OneLicense.net #A-721053. llustration Credits: David Stith and Ly Tran
Celebrations and concerns
Join us New Year's Eve for a drop-in service of meditation and communion. The sanctuary will be open from 5-6 pm and you are welcome to come for the whole time or part of the time as we look back at this year and look with hope toward next year. This service will include long periods of silence interspersed with reflective music. All are welcome.
Participants In the Service
Liturgists: Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, Rev. Kathy Thiel Organist: Duane Prill Soloist: Dr. Carl Johengen Head Usher: Brian White Production Director: Larry Dugan Audio Operator: Rick Church Video Operator: Jake Schwartz Technology Support Team: Dave Rice, Dave Berg, Kenny Bailey, Larry Dugan, Deb Bullock-Smith Technical Consultant: Justin Ocello
ALTAR FLOWERS The flowers on the altars are given to the glory of God and in gratitude for past and present Church members. If you would like to place flowers on the altar, please contact Jeanne Ristau at 585-223-4356, preferably two weeks ahead of requested date. Prayers and Concerns We offer our prayers and concerns for all those who are ill at home, hospitalized, or in hospice care. We offer our prayers and concerns for Julie Flynn whose mother passed away on November 30. We offer our prayers and concerns for Deanna Varble whose father passed away on December 5. We offer our prayers and concerns for Jon Patterson, father of Susan and Matt Guffy, who is hospitalized at Strong.
Sunday, December 31, 5-6 pm
Beyond Our Campus
Located next door at 1010 East Avenue, the Community Outreach Center opened in early 2023 and through November has provided our neighborhood and city: 6,416 hot meals, 540 showers, 188 loads of laundry, 156 bicycles repaired, 3,846 individuals clothing and/or household goods, 304 health clinic visits, 880 bags of groceries, and numerous referrals for housing, shelter, substance abuse treatment and other services. In addition to this ‘measurable ministry,’ there is also the good work of the Center that is more difficult to quantify: relationships deepened, friendship and support share. As we finish our first full year of operation and begin our second, we have goals for growth. Please help us meet them by making a monetary gift, a donation of supplies, or offering your time and labor.
Give
100% of gifts made in our offering this Christmas Eve will be directed to the outreach ministry of Asbury First United Methodist Church:
In addition to the ministry of the Community Outreach Center we have a number of local and global off-campus outreach ministry efforts that we support as a congregation around education, housing, refugee resettlement, and food and clean water access. We invite you to make a gift to support these ministries as well. For more information about specific programs visit https://asburyfirst.org/local-and-global-outreach/
Volunteer
#220 "Angels From the Realms of Glory"
#216 "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming"
#223 "Break Forth, O Beauteous, Heavenly Light", v. 1, then v. 3
#214 "Savior of the Nations, Come"
#211 "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel", vv. 1, 2, then vv. 3, 4
#238 "Angels We Have Heard on High, vv. 1, 2
Continued on next page
*Carol (Cont'd)
#720 "Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying"
*Closing Carol (Cont'd)