McKinley Presbyterian Church 10:30am December 23, 2018

The 4th Sunday in Advent

McKinley Presbyterian Church is a community of faith

Offering genuine welcome,

Working for reconciliation, and

Daring to speak words of help to a world in pain.

McKinley Presbyterian Church 10:30am December 23, 2018

The 4th Sunday in Advent

Welcome to all who are worshiping with us this morning—we are glad you are here!

Worship Helps: You are invited to recite the portions of the bulletin in bold type.

Please rise in spirit and/or body, for the portions of worship marked with an asterisk (*).

Individual assistive listening devices and are available in the back.

Nursery care is offered weekly for children, infant through kindergarten in age. During worship, we offer age appropriate church school activities for preschool in the nursery downstairs. Elementary aged children are most often in the Foundation Building CE rooms. We invite children to attend these educational activities. However, children are always welcome to remain in worship with their parents.

McKinley worship typically lasts 75 minutes. Feel free to come and go as you need!

McKinley strives to welcome people anywhere on the spectrum of life’s variety. This includes those who live with disabilities. One such person, our Associate Pastor, Rev. Keith Harris, is a survivor of laryngeal cancer. As he raises his voice in praise, may all our voices join in!

GATHERING TONES

WELCOME A warm welcome is extended to all, especially those who are worshipping at McKinley for the first time or who have returned after an absence. Your presence enriches both us and this time of celebration together.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CALL TO WORSHIP

God is telling a story in our lives. It’s quite a story- full of the promises God makes and our struggles to trust; full of mystery and angels with surprising news; full of hard endings and unexpected new beginnings.

Come, hear the story pay attention to the angels’ message

in your heart in this place and time.

Then let us join all creation in worshipping the God who tells it full of grace and truth; who comes in Jesus, the Word made flesh, and makes our story holy.

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING LITURGY Week Four, Love

Scripture Isaiah 9:6-7

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and God’s Reign. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness. from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (The first, second, and third candles are lit)

Words of Love Kathy Hawker

love in a young girl's song; fearful, determined, hopeful, bursting. love in a mother's song; tender, embracing, challenging, stern. love is god's song; curious yet timid, playful and wondering, coming among us again. This is why we light a candle for love.

(The fourth candle is lit.)

*CAROL He Came Down Cameroon melody, arr. J Bell

He came down that we may have peace…. (3x) Hallelujah, forevermore. He came down that we may have hope….(3x) Hallelujah, forevermore. He came down that we may have joy…. He came down that we may have love….

LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE

I invite you to join me in lighting candles of love for the world.

May our prayers for peace shine through our lives and into the world.

You are invited to come forward and light candles representing your prayers for peace and justice.

PRAYERS FOR PEACE All are invited to come forward and light candles representing

prayers for peace.

ORGAN VOLUNTARY Savior of the Nations, Come Dietrich Buxtehude

PRAYER OF THE DAY adapted from Rev. Eliza Buchakjian-Tweedy

We have waited for a long time for your hope, your joy, your love to shine in the darkness of this world, Almighty God. Even now, in our gathering here, we await you. In our hearts, we still hope that your light will blaze forth, banishing the shadows of this world and guiding all the people back to you.

Yet you did not come into this world in a show of power and glory. You did not shine forth for all of creation to behold. A tiny spark – a newborn baby, visible to parents and curious animals. A host of angels – away from the populated areas, singing to migrant workers. A sparkling star – guiding foreigners to see what neighbors could not.

Forgive us and open our hearts, merciful God, to the sparks of your presence still in this world.

Forgive us and open our eyes, that we might behold your presence in the least likely of places, and among the least likely of people.

God with us, kindle your spark within us, that together we may shine forth your light, we might banish the shadows of this world, we might be the continuation of the Christmas miracle: Emmanuel is in this world, God is with us, now and evermore. Amen.

SILENT PRAYER

ASSURANCE OF PARDON Hear the good news of Christmas. Today God reveals to us the wonders of divine love.

For unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given.

His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting

Father, the Prince of Peace. Amen.

CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE #129 (vv. 1&2) Good Christian Friends, Rejoice

PASSING OF THE PEACE

May the peace of God be with you. And also with you. Please take a moment to greet one another with the sign of God’s peace.

ANTHEM No Wind at the Window Irish melody, arr. John Bell

No wind at the window, no knock on the door No light from the lamp stand, no foot on the floor No dream born of tiredness, no ghost raised by fear Just an angel and a woman and a voice in her ear

Oh, Mary, Oh, Mary don't hide from my face Be glad that you're favored and filled with God's grace The time for redeeming the world has begun And you are requested to mother God's son

This child must be born that the Kingdom might come Salvation for many, destruction for some Both end and beginning, both message and sign Both victor and victim, both yours and divine

No payment was promised, no promises made No wedding was dated, no blue print displayed Yet Mary, consenting to what none could guess Replied with conviction, "tell God I say yes."

A READING FROM SCRIPTURE Luke 2:1-20 (NRSV)

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be

registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of

Syria.

All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of

Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was

descended from the house and family of David.

He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a

child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth

to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because

there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their

flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the

Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not

be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is

born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign

for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising

God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace among those whom God favors!”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,

“Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord

has made known to us.”

So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the

manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this

child; all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured

all these words and pondered them in her heart.

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

HYMN #122 (v. 1) Come, O Long Expected Jesus

SERMON Miracle in the Mess Rev. Keith C. Harris

*HYMN #133 O Little Town of Bethlehem

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Creator 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 sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

MOMENT OF THANSGIVING

OFFERING OUR GIFTS AND OUR LIVES

Collection of Pledges and Tithes Please pass the offering plate down the pew. When it gets to the end, please turn around and give it to the

person immediately behind you. Thank you.

Offertory Go Tell It on the Mountain Paul Manz

Doxology Gloria In Excelsis Deo (Glory to God in the Highest) from Angels We Have Heard on High

Glo---ria! In Excelsis Deo! Glo---ria! In Excelsis Deo!

*BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE Noël Suisse Louis-Claude Daquin During the postlude, some worshippers say to listen to the prayer of music. Others choose to leave so they

may speak quietly with the pastors and church members or tend to their children. Whatever your preference,

we are grateful for your participation in worship today and your continued consideration of others.

Assisting in Today’s Service

Liturgist………………….…… Kathie Spegal, Lynn Sprout

Pastor ................................................ Rev. Heidi Weatherford

Associate Pastor…………..……….……… Rev. Keith Harris

Director of Christian Education……………..….Julia Abel

Music Director/Organist ................ …………….Yohei Endo How To Contact The Church Staff All church staff can be contacted through the McKinley Website: www.mckinley-church.org. Reverend Heidi Weatherford can also be contacted via phone and text at 217-766-1900. Reverend Keith Harris can also be contacted via phone and text at 217-418-3305. Please be certain to leave your name with your message!

Christmastide Worship

Monday, Dec. 24, 7 p.m. — Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols and Candlelight

Sunday, Dec. 30, 10:30 a.m. — 1st Sunday in Christmas, guest preacher Barbara England

Sunday, Jan. 6, 10:30 a.m. — Epiphany Sunday, Celebrating the arrival of the Magi

Please RSVP: Christmas Eve Open House

Sara and Kenton McHenry invite anyone who plans to attend McKinley’s Christmas Eve worship to stop by their home beforehand (3:30 to 6 p.m.) for soup, appetizers, beverages, and some holiday cheer. If you'd like to come, RSVP by Sunday the 23rd to Sara (217-621-7208 or scain711@yahoo.com), and, if you are able, bring an appetizer on Monday to share. The McHenry’s live at 2809 E. Clarion Road, Urbana, in the Beringer Commons subdivision; they look forward to sharing their home as we prepare to celebrate the holiday.

Very Generous Advent Giving Tree

Thanks to everyone who made a donation to our Advent Giving Tree. We delivered 181 items — socks, mittens and gloves, underwear and deodorant, and many warm hats — to Courage Connection, the emergency men's shelter, and the Canteen Run. Special kudos to Barb Weider for her 24 homemade hats of all sizes.

All of the gift requests from families at Garden Hills Elementary were also met. Our youth group wrapped these gifts, which, along with a plate of holiday goodies, will make the season brighter for many people.

Many of the suggestions for Giving a Gift of a Kind Deed were also taken from the tree — a reminder that the best gifts often are those that cost nothing and come from the heart.

The generosity of folks at McKinley continues to be amazing!

Thank you to the following people, who purchased

Poinsettias to decorate our sanctuary for the

Christmas Season:

Name

Dedication/Remembrance Mike & Jane Cain Paul & Florence Cain, John & Dorothy Gilchrist

Tom Seals & Ruth Wene Our parents Don & Gladys Wene, Tom & Becky Seals

Andrea Miller & Elain Mitchell Elaine’s Mother & Father Rose Walker & Vincent

Mitchell

Weider Family Remembrance of family no longer with us.

Linda McGowan Richard McGowan

Barbara Curtis Mary & Jack Curtis

Nancy Stagg In memory of Rina Ullman

Trudy Diepholz & Sandy Klitzing In memory of Victor Diepholz. & Edgar Wolf

Molly Bentsen In honor of loving parents and all who play that role.

DiAnne & Terry Hatch Our Parents

Paul and Jennifer Hixson Luke Miller

Eric and Naomi Jakobsson Richard & Carlatta Dick, Edith & Ejler Jakobsson &

Garret Jakobsson

Carol Livingstone & Dan Grayson Richard & June Grayson, Jane & Ed Livingstone

Kathie Spegal & Lynn Sprout Margie, Jackie & Bill

Heidi Weatherford & Mari McKeeth In memory of our parents George & Mary Weatherford

& Dan McKeeth. In honor of our mother Marilyn

McKeeth

Assata, Coltrane, & Irie James Franklin, Sr. beloved late father & grandfather &

David Young

Paula Hancock William and Trutha Hancock, Leonard and Thelma Tay

Carol Kubitz In loving remembrance of William Kubitz

Viktoria E Franken To my family in Germany and my Grandma Agnes.

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