Beautiful Star of Bethlehem

CHRISTMAS CHOIR 2011 Laura Anderson Marybeth Bramlett Dawn Chase Wanda Collins Pam Farrant Jeanne Kessler Nancy Lord Marilyn Overstreet Margaret Payne Kyle Stapel Betty Stiles Lisé White Lonnie White Director: Claudia M. Long

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Offering

*Doxology UMH Pg. 95 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here

below; praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Passing of the Peace (At this time the congregation is welcome to stand and greet each other in

the love of Christ.)

*A Reading from the Gospel of John 1:6-8,19-28

*Gloria Patri UMH Pg. 70 Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in

the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

Christmas Cantata “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem”

*Benediction Dr. Randolph

Meriden United Methodist Church Third Sunday in Advent - Choir Cantata

December 11, 2011

*Indicates those who are able, please stand. Please read aloud the bold face print. If you are a first time guest, we welcome you!

WELCOMING GOD’S PRESENT

Bringing in the Light of Christ - Prelude

*Call to Worship1

L: I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God.

P: For God has clothed me with the garments of salvation, and covered me with the robe of righteousness.

Men: As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, Women: And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. L: For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden

causes what is sown in it to spring up. P: So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to

spring up before all the nations. L: Come, let us worship the God of righteousness and justice. P: Yes!! Let us worship God who is also the God of peace

and mercy.

*Song of Gathering ♫ FWS Pg. 2210 “Joy Comes with the Dawn”

WE LIFT OUR PRAYERS TO GOD

Announcements, Sharing of Joys and Concerns

Morning Prayer (Beginning With a Time of Silence)

Lord’s Prayer (Unison) Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy

kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH

Confession

Communal Prayer ALL: Most merciful God, as we gather to worship this morning, we must confess that our spiritual preparation for Christmas has not always been as serious as it should be. We can be very intense in shopping, wrapping presents, baking, and decorating our homes. Yet, at the same time, we can be lax and half-hearted in our spiritual preparation. Many of us must also confess to persistent and nagging doubts about your very existence and your love for us. Forgive us most merciful God. Strengthen us in our spiritual preparation for Christmas. Grant that this Advent and Christmas season will be a time for spiritual

rejuvenation and renewal, in which we are reassured of your presence and your love for us. This we ask in the name of him whose birth we celebrate on Christmas Day, Amen.

A Time for Silent, Individual Confession

Words of Assurance

L: Hear these words of assurance from the prophet Isaiah:2 “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; God has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor...to comfort all who mourn.” In the name of Jesus, your sins are forgiven.

P: In the name of Jesus, your sins are forgiven.

Lighting the Third Advent Candle3

*Epistle Reading 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Margie Payne

Lighting the Advent Wreath Choir

Advent Hymn (1st Verse Only) UMH Pg. 213 “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates”

WE HEAR AND RESPOND TO THE WORD OF GOD

Children’s Time Dr. Randolph

*Hymn of Reflection UMH Pg. 240 “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

ANNOUNCEMENTS

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT CHURCH THIS WEEK

Sunday, December 11th

Christmas Cantata

9:00am 9:45am

10:00am 11:15am 1:00pm 6:00pm

Sunday School Welcoming time Worship Finance Committee Volleyball Practice Volleyball Practice

Monday, December 12th

6:30pm Cub Scouts

Tuesday, December 13th

9:00am 10:00am 6:30pm

Women’s Exercise Jayhawk Area Agency Boy Scouts

Wednesday, December 14th

God’s Storehouse Distribution

6:00pm 7:00pm

Youth Groups Choir Practice

Thursday, December 15th

God’s Storehouse Distribution

9:00am Women’s Exercise

Friday, December 16th

God’s Storehouse Distribution

8:00am 6:30pm

Count Your Kid In Boy Scouts

Saturday, December 17th

God’s Storehouse Distribution

Sunday, December 18th

Children’s Program / Potluck

9:00am 9:45am

10:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 5:00pm

Sunday School Welcoming time Worship Ad Council Volleyball Practice Christmas Caroling

Five Things We Need to do to Prepare for Christmas 1. Do as much as you can to serve and help others. 2. Set aside a time to pray daily that the Holy Spirit will move within your heart and help you prepare spiritually for Christmas. 3. Confess your sins and make a list of all that you for which to be thankful. 4. Repair a frayed or damaged or destroyed relationship. Ask for forgiveness. Tell your family and friends how much you love them. 5. Give up something for Advent. Special Charge Conference - Rev. Evelyn Fischer, Superintendent of our Topeka District, has authorized a special Charge Conference to be held on Sunday, December 18

th, immediately following the conclusion of our

monthly Administrative Council meeting. The purpose of this special Charge Conference is threefold: 1) To receive the Nominations Report from the Lay Leadership Team and to elect church officers for the coming year. 2) To receive the Annual Reports of two Commissioned Lay Speakers, whose reports were not received at our regular Charge Conference at McLouth UMC on November 6th. 3) To receive an Addendum to the Pastor's Report in which Dr. Randolph will provide a statement "outlining the pastor's program of continuing education and spiritual growth for the past year and plans for the year to come." Rev. Fischer has designated Dr. Randolph to preside over this special Charge Conference in her absence. Christmas Caroling - Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate in the all-church Christmas Caroling extravaganza next Sunday, Dec. 18

th.

We will meet at the church at 5 pm and do some caroling in Meriden and Topeka before concluding in Ozawkie. We have been invited to the home of the Schaeffer’s for light refreshments at the end of the evening. Christmas caroling booklets and recorded music will be provided by Claudia Long. If you have questions, please call either Don and Janice at 785-250-8206 or Richard Randolph at 913-481-6722. Consider Supporting Youthville. - Youthville is a ministry of our Kansas East Annual Conference, which provides counseling and therapy services, foster care, and adoption services for Kansas youth. Unfortunately, this has been a very difficult year for Youthville, due to the severe financial constraints in the Kansas State budget, and they have been forced to consolidate their programs. Given their severe economic hardship during 2011, the Outreach Committee decided to request that a special offering be taken this Advent season to support this vital ministry of our Annual Conference. The bulletin today contains an informational insert and a special offering envelope for this purpose. Please prayerfully consider making a special contribution to this ministry. Thank you.

MERIDEN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FIND US AT: Main at Dawson Streets mumchurch@embarqmail.com P.O. Box 520 www.meridenumc.org Meriden, KS 66512 www.facebook.com (785) 484-2224

TODAY’S SCRIPTURES

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise the words of prophets, 21but test everything; hold fast to what is good; 22abstain from every form of evil. 23May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

John 1:6-8,19-28 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7He

came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 19This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ 20He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, ‘I am not the Messiah.’ 21And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ 22Then they said to him, ‘Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ 23He said, ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord” ’, as the prophet Isaiah said. 24Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25They asked him, ‘Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?’ 26John answered them, ‘I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.’ 28This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

Sunday Morning Classes

Children’s classes: Pre-K – 8th grades meet downstairs in the church. MS and HS meet in the pastor’s office.

Adult classes: “First Place 4 Health” meets in the parsonage. “Growing in Faith” meets in the gym.

Nursery available during worship for ages 0 – 5 years of age.

Pastor ..................................................................... Dr. Richard O. Randolph Lay Leader ................................................................................. John Corum Accompanist ................................................................... Marybeth Bramlett Office Secretary/Volunteer Coordinator ............................ Carrie Bramlett Today’s Liturgist .................................................................... Margie Payne Today’s Greeters & Ushers .................... Elaine Allen and Bonny Freeman

Date Greeters Liturgist

Dec. 18th

Dec. 24th 5:30pm

Dec. 24th 8:00pm

Dec. 25th

If you would like to volunteer on the days that are empty or your name is listed and you cannot be here, please contact Marilyn Overstreet or the office. Thanks so much for volunteering!

GREETERS AND LITURGISTS

LOOK WHO’S CELEBRATING THIS WEEK!

If your birthday or anniversary or someone you know isn’t here, please notify the office so it can be added!

Anniversaries 12/16 Harry & Joye Mullins 12/17 Lloyd & Rose Mary Wickersham

Birthdays 12/11 Mark Ketchem 12/14 Patricia Scott 12/15 Nancy Lord 12/17 Don Myers 12/17 David Sober 12/17 Tanner Clark

POINSETTIAS

In Memory Of Hal Payne by Margie Payne

Danny & Mary Ellen Becker by Lisa Duniven Duke Moore by Jodi Starr

Midge & Clayton Murphy by Marilyn Overstreet Edith, Harold & Sam Overstreet by Bob Overstreet

Alvin & Bill Korber by Lucy Korber Howard & Evelyn Siler and Kenneth Williams by

Clayton & Sharon Williams Verda Green and Margaret Keith by Clayton &

Sharon Williams Arnold Lord by Nancy Lord

Stanley Wellman and Wanda Hook by Sharon

Wellman

Lydia Clark by Brad & Pam Clark

Steven & Perry by Bob & Shirley Ketchem

Rev. Charles Randolph, Greer & Pauline Hoover, Helen Oliphant, & Lucky, the dog by

Richard, LaGreer, Justice & Eden Randolph

Nathan & Christie Bramlett and Robert & Ethel Spare by Norman and Marybeth Bramlett

In Honor Of LaVon Lord by Nancy Lord

MUMC Choir by Claudia Long

Hazel Randolph by Richard,

LaGreer, Justice & Eden Randolph

POINSETTIAS

In Memory Of Hal Payne by Margie Payne

Danny & Mary Ellen Becker by Lisa Duniven Duke Moore by Jodi Starr

Midge & Clayton Murphy by Marilyn Overstreet Edith, Harold & Sam Overstreet by Bob Overstreet

Alvin & Bill Korber by Lucy Korber Howard & Evelyn Siler and Kenneth Williams by

Clayton & Sharon Williams Verda Green and Margaret Keith by Clayton &

Sharon Williams Arnold Lord by Nancy Lord

Stanley Wellman and Wanda Hook by Sharon

Wellman

Lydia Clark by Brad & Pam Clark

Steven & Perry by Bob & Shirley Ketchem

Rev. Charles Randolph, Greer & Pauline Hoover, Helen Oliphant, & Lucky, the dog by

Richard, LaGreer, Justice & Eden Randolph

Nathan & Christie Bramlett and Robert & Ethel Spare by Norman and Marybeth Bramlett

In Honor Of LaVon Lord by Nancy Lord

MUMC Choir by Claudia Long

Hazel Randolph by Richard,

LaGreer, Justice & Eden Randolph