Contemporary Service - 8:45am in Craven Hall

Chinese Service - 10:30am in the Cokesbury Room

Traditional Service - 11:00am in the Sanctuary

December 11, 2016

Third Sunday of Advent

Anna Sparks ~ 2nd Grade

The Church at Worship December 11, 2016 11:00 am

Chiming of the Trinity

Prelude Go, Tell It on the Mountain

Silent Night Peyton Putnam, oboe

Katie Smith, flute Youth Bells

The prelude signifies the beginning of worship.

You are invited to be in a spirit of prayer and meditation. Please silence all mobile communication devices.

*Call to Worship ~ posted on the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website. Leader: O God, When the world grows dark and the advance of evil appears unstoppable, may we never lose our vision of Emmanuel's light. People: When society seems uncaring and indifference predominates, may we never forget the warmth of Emmanuel's love. Leader: When people cry out for justice but self-interest prevails, may we never lose the fire of Emmanuel's anger. People: When we know we must speak out but our tongue seems to shrivel, may we draw boldness from the truth of Emmanuel's proclamations. Leader: When those we must confront are powerful and our hearts grow fearful, may we take strength from the courage of Emmanuel's actions. People: O God, When the moment comes and we must make our stand may it always be at Emmanuel's side. Lighting of the Candles Choral Introit Lighting the Advent Candle s The Mikkola Family Isaiah 35:10 O Come, O Come Emmanuel (verse three) Hymnal 211 Words of Welcome and Announcements *Hymn of Praise Blest be the God of Israel Hymnal 209 *Affirmation of Faith Hymnal 881

*Gloria Patri Hymnal 70 *Sharing the Peace of Christ Anthem Let Every Heart Prepare a Throne Mark Patterson

Joyful Noise Choir

Children’s Moment Reading Isaiah 9:1-7 NRSV OT Page 600 Sermon “All I Want for Christmas...” Rev. Jeff Coppley

Offertory The People That Walked in Darkness Handel Patrick Scully, bass

*Doxology Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow Hymnal 94 Prayer of Confession Hymnal 890 Pastoral and Lord’s Prayer *Hymn of Dedication People, Look East Hymnal 202 *Dismissal With Blessing *Taking the Light Into the World *Choral Response *Chiming of the Trinity *Postlude Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus James Pethel

*Please stand as you are able.

Welcome to Maple Springs United Methodist Church. It is a joy to have you in worship today!

First-Time Guests: Please complete the Attendance Card inside your bulletin and share it via the of-fering plate. You are also invited to visit the Welcome Desk after the service to receive a gift as a token of love from our church. It is a pleasure to welcome you here. Please come each Sunday and make Ma-ple Springs your church home! Hearing Devices are available for use in the Sanctuary. If you need one, please speak to an usher. Seat Cushions are located at the front (near the pulpit) and in the narthex for your comfort.

Sunday School: Come for Sunday School 9:55am - 10:45am. We offer dozens of classes spanning a varie-ty of topics, interests, and age groups. Visit the welcome table for more info! Contact Info Update: Has your contact information changed? Help us keep our records up-to-date! Please note any changes on the Attendance Card tear-out (mark as NEW), or contact Betsy Bechtel at

(336)-722-7563x402, or betsy@maplesprings.org. Online Giving: Offerings can be made securely online by scanning this QR code or by visiting maplesprings.org/give. One-time and recurring donations can be accepted. Maple Springs Strives to Be a Safe Sanctuary. Children in 5th grade and younger should be with an adult at all times. Do not let children leave Sunday School or the worship service unac-

companied or any reason.

Ministry Updates

Ongoing & Holiday Ministry Collections: All items may be placed in the donation drop off areas in the Craven Hall Lobby and Sanctuary Narthex. Food Pantry Gift Cards (Nov 1 - Dec 24): Food Pantry Gift Cards are now on sale for $1 each. Give the gift that gives back this Christmas season. Your purchase of one card will buy 5 pounds of food for a family in need! To order, contact Allison Kelly (allison@maplesprings.org or (336) 407-3684).

UMW Nut Sale Benefitting Local Missions and Food Pantry (Nov 15 - Dec 20): Purchase in Craven Lob-

Preacher Rev. Jeff Coppley Liturgist Rev. Gary Mahathey Director of Traditional Music Jayson Snipes Organist Dennis Raley Acolytes Noah Quarless Sawyer Easter Crucifer Meggie Putnam

Participating in Worship Today

by, with Circle Leaders or via email (ncmm_3417@windstream.net). Prison Ministry (Ongoing): Lotion. For more information, contact Peter Venable (oelkers9@msn.com). Mothers of Preschoolers Diaper Drive (Oct 1 - Dec 31): Diapers, wipes, and formula. For more information, contact Heather Head (headh@hotmail.com).

Old Town School winter coat drive, Now—December 18th: Our winter 2016 mission commitment to Old Town School is to provide winter coats to all students whose parents are unable to do so. The greatest need is seen in grades 2,3 and 4. Sizes 8, 10 and 12 are most often needed. Please prayerfully consider contributing to this cause so that our little friends at Old Town School will be warm while waiting for their school bus and playing on the playground. Please place new coats in the collection boxes at the entrance to Craven Hall or in the side entrance to the Sanctuary. The deadline is Sunday, December 18th. Thank you in advance for your willingness to help Ma-ple Springs UMC with our mission to help those less fortunate. Kay Tuttle OTS Missions Coordinator (336) 945-4277.

News and Upcoming Events

Christmas Caroling, TODAY, 5:00pm - 7:00pm (Craven Fellowship Hall): The entire Maple Springs commu-nity is invited to come join us for our annual Christmas Caroling! We will meet for a pizza dinner. Following the meal, we will split into groups to spread some holiday cheer through caroling. Donations will be accepted for the pizza meal. Blue Christmas Service, Wednesday, December 14, 6:30pm - 7:30pm (Sanctuary): Join us for a special holi-day service designed for those for whom the holidays might be difficult. Let healing words and beautiful mu-sic lift your spirits and warm your heart. Free refreshments and childcare will be provided. Mothers of Preschoolers, Thursday, December 15, 9:30am - 11:30am (C23, Liquid Classroom): Come find community with other moms, fellowship over food and arts and crafts, benefit from the stories of other moms, and nurture your own heart through a devotional time. There is a one time fee of $25; scholarships available upon request. For more information, contact Heather Head (headh@hotmail.com). Maple Springers Monthly Luncheon, Thursday, December 15, 11:45am - 1:00pm (Craven Fellowship Hall): Come join us for our monthly senior adult luncheon as we celebrate the Christmas season! Enjoy a sit-down lunch and program by Ardmore Baptist Senior Choir. The cost is $4 for the meal and program. To RSVP, please contact the church office at 336-722-7563. If you have any questions, please contact Erin Moses (erin@maplesprings.org, 336-722-7563 ext. 408). Lessons & Carols, Sunday, December 18, 3:00pm, (Sanctuary): The Christmas season is one of the most spe-cial times of the year for the church and in the lives of families all around the world. For one season of the year, people feel the joy of giving—to one another, to community, and to God. This year at Maple Springs, we will present a Nine Lessons and Carols service that will envelop all of these aspects of giving into one service of worship. Through the reading of scripture, the joyful and reflective singing of carols, and the time in prayer together, we give back to God. The creator of the Lessons and Carols concept, Eric Milner-White, believed that the pattern and strength of the service was derived from the main theme, the development of the loving pur-poses of God. As we worship and sing together, and hear the music of the organ, choir, and orchestra, we praise God.

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Join us as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior

Christmas Eve 5:00pm in Craven Hall

8:00pm in our Sanctuary and

Christmas morning at 11:00am in our Sanctuary

Our New Year’s Day service will be held at 11:00am in our Sanctuary

Welcome!

Please complete, tear off, and place in the

offering plate or drop at the Welcome Desk

after the service. All information is confidential

and will remain at the church.

11:00am Worship Service

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want to know more about Jesus

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Stephen Minister

Prayer Ministry at Maple Springs

Pray without ceasing 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Maple Springs will publish names of persons seeking prayer so that the entire congregation may pray for those in need. Contact Betsy Bechtel in the church office betsy@maplesprings.org or (336)-722-7563. The names will remain for two weeks unless notified other-wise. The church also has a confidential intercessory prayer ministry. Confidential requests for the pastors or the prayer group may also be submitted through the bulletin tear-out. Those names will not appear in the church bulletin, but those persons and situations will receive prayer. Pray for church leaders worldwide: Pastors, program staff, preschool teachers, Sunday School teachers, local church officers, committees, ministry volunteers,. Pray for those who are in rehabilitation: Shut-Ins, all those in assisted living facilities Pray for our nation and those in authority: President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, all members of Congress, Supreme Court justices, all state legislators, local officials. law enforcement officers and out newly elected officials. Pray for those with cares and concerns: Ongoing Concerns: George Aldhizer, Rev. Jonathan and Alisa Brake, Ann Butner, Everette Butner, Kim Crouch, Davis, Tom Dunlap (Son-in-law of the Bradfords), Sharon Gibson, Jim Jackson (Will Jackson’s Dad),, Peter King, Nancy Keen, MaryJo Lee, Doris Martin, Jack Perry, Mark Schmal, Audrey & Oley Smith, Jenny Trivette, Clyde Young (Michael Young’s Dad), CPO Tim Wooten. Our Christian Sympathy to: The family of Tom Day, who passed away on November 23. Pray for missions in which Maple Springs is engaged: Food Pantry, Old Town Elementary , Forsyth Jail & Prison Ministries, Home Repair, Red Bird Mission (Eastern Kentucky), Project HOPE, WFBMC Burn Unit.

Stephen Ministry: Do you sometimes find yourself going through a tough time - emotionally or spiritually? Maybe it's a life crisis, maybe it's feeling down, maybe it's simply a feeling of being overwhelmed. Consider letting a Stephen Minister help. We have trained Stephen Ministers in our

congregation who listen, care, encourage, pray, and walk alongside you during difficult times. Please contact one of the pastors to be put in touch with a Stephen Minister. Our Stephen Ministers are there to care! "Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6: 2

Worship Team & Ministry Coordinators

Rev. Jeff Coppley Senior Pastor Rev. Gary Mahathey Associate Pastor Rev. Vicky Deng Chinese Congregation Mary Taylor Setliff Children & Family Ministries Joe Hout Youth & Next Generation Ministries Erin Moses Connecting Ministries Jayson Snipes Traditional Music Dennis Raley Organist & Cont. Program Director Jerry Chapman Contemporary Music Beth Juran Children’s Music Betsy Bechtel Office Manager A.Q. Cook & Lisa Aldhizer Finance Allison Kelly Food Pantry Jennifer Kiger Chapman Communications

Life Journal Reading Plan Dec. 11 Philem. Heb. 1-4 Dec. 12 Heb. 5-8 Dec. 13 Heb. 9-11 Dec. 14 Jude Heb. 12,13 Dec. 15 Jas. 1-5 Dec. 16 1Pet. 1-5 Dec. 17 2 Pet. 1-3 Jn.1

Lectionary Texts Next Week:

Isaiah 7:10-16 Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-25

This Week: Isaiah 35:1-10 Luke 1:47-55 James 5:7-10

Matthew 11:2-11

This Week’s Calendar Sunday, December 11 8:45am Contemporary Worship 9:55am Sunday School 10:30am Chinese Worship 11:00am Traditional Worship 4:00pm Caroling 5:00pm 2nd Sunday Youth 8:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous 8:00pm Al-Anon Family Group Monday, December 12 6:00pm Psalm Supper 7:30pm Line Dancing Tuesday, December 13

7:00am Men’s Breakfast 9:00am Food Pantry 9:30am Women in the Word 10:00am Evelyn Strader Circle 10:00am Faith Journey 10:00am Chinese Bible Study 1:00pm Food Pantry 7:00pm Boy Scouts

Wednesday, December 14 9:00am Food Pantry 10:45am Kinderrmusic 12:00pm Career Support Network 1:00pm Food Pantry 4:30pm Adult Bible Study 6:30pm Blue Christmas 6:30pm Wednesday Night Prayer 6:45pm Adult Bible Study 7:30pm Chancel Choir Thursday, December 15 9:30am MOPS 8:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous 8:00pm Al-Anon Family Group Friday, December 16 9:00am Open Studio 1:30pm Crafts 7:00pm Fellowship Game Night 7:30pm Chinese Bible Study Saturday, December 17 5:00pm Chinese Bible Study

Prayer Request

for pastors only

for intercessory prayer group Please pray for: ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

Feel free to speak with one of the pastors after the worship service or contact the

church at 336-722-7563 or in-fo@maplesprings.org.

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RSVPs & Volunteer Sign Ups I want to volunteer for: Welcome Ministry Food Pantry

Children’s Ministry Prison Ministry Communion Ministry Youth Ministry

Name: _____________________________ Phone/Email: _______________________