Worship – United Methodist Church of Holyoke, South Hadley, and Granby

Sunday Service 12-4-22

Zoom information for Sunday Worship Service

NOTE: You will be muted upon entry to the service. You can un-mute yourself if you’d like to speak, such as during Joys and Concerns or other appropriate times. Be sure to mute yourself after speaking.

Topic: Sunday Worship Service
Time: December 4th, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

We are simulcasting on Zoom and YouTube. If one link doesn’t work for you, try the other link.

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Link for Worship Service on YouTube

There will be a link under the “Uploads” section. You may text your comments in the service and someone will respond.

Link for Zoom December 4th

https://zoom.us/j/92836606113?pwd=QjI3cThVNkRuczgwMmtCTDJ3ajQ1Zz09

Please remain muted during the service except for Joys and Concerns and other appropriate times..

Please note the church has a new email: office@UMCSouthHadley.org
and web site: UMCSouthHadley.org

December 4, 2022
Second Sunday of Advent – Preparation of Peace

CELEBRATE DIVERSITY – All are welcome – loved for who
you are, exactly as you are. If this is your first visit, please stay
after worship so we can meet and say hello.
If you are able, please stand at the places marked with an
asterisk (*). For all other portions of the service,
you may remain seated.

✝ ✝ ✝ ✝ ✝ ✝ ✝ ✝ ✝

Morning Meditation: Each human being goes through a
door to the kingdom of God. This door is exactly as high as
you are when you walk on your knees. (Andrew Harvey)

To Practice This Thought: Find a way to signify your
humility.

Prelude: Reverie by Claude Debussy
Welcome: This Is the Day
*Hymn # 216: Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
Call To Worship
One: Come, let us be about our preparations for a new advent
of love among us.
All: The wastelands of life around us cannot shut out
the promise of life-giving water.
One: Hatred and warfare, injustice and suffering, are not the
last word, for they are not of God.
All: We hear again the promise of peace, coming in
the one who lived Shalom among all people.
One: We see again the light God promises in the midst of our
darkness.
All: We are feeling again the joy that comes through
partnership in the gospel.
One: May our worship recall us to what is centered in life; to
the One who gives us breath and purpose in life.
All: We come to embrace the new advent, to be
renewed in faith, hope, and love.
Announcements
Lighting the Advent Candle
Scripture: Isaiah 40:3-5 “In the wilderness prepare the way for
the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our
GOD. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill
made low, the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places
a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all the
people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
*Hymn #2090: Light the Advent Candle verse 2
As we light the first Advent candle of Hope and expectation. Let this candle remind us of the great hope we have in
Christ the Messiah and in God’s promises. As we light the candle
of preparation and peace let it remind us to prepare our hearts
for the coming of Christ.
Prayer: Father, guide us in confession of our sins. We know
that in the greatness of your love, you have promised to forgive
us. Cleanse us as we prepare our lives for the coming of Jesus
again. This we ask in His name, Amen.
Passing the Peace
Ministry in Music:
Joys & Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
Gloria Patri No. 71
Scriptures: Romans 15:4-13 page 163 N .T.
Ministry in Music:
Gospel Reading: Matthew 3:1-12 page 2 N.T.
Sermon
*Hymn # 2089: Wild and Lone the Prophet’s Voice
Invitation to the Lord’s Supper
All are welcome, regardless of age or
church membership
Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
…………
And so, with your people on earth
and all the company of heaven
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
(sung) Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and
might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who
comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.
…………
And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in
Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering
for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come
again.
Receiving the Bread and the Cup
*Hymn #2089: Wild and Lone the Prophet’s Voice
*Hymn #94: Doxology
Benediction
Closing Song #211: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel verse 7
Please remain seated during the Postlude
Postlude: Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning

Welcome
to our church
United Methodist Church
Of
Holyoke, South Hadley & Granby
Pastor Joe DeGrande
Liturgist: Ira Cameron
Dr. Heather Reichgott, Minister of Music

-Prayer List: Carol Brunelle, Beth Dietz, Marion Winters,
Samantha Snopek, Adele Reynolds, Jessica Guarnera, Dave
Fanaras, Doug & Dee Brooksbank, Tim O’Donnell, Kathy
Washburn, Darlene Dout, Heidi Barta, Renata Cournoyer,
Lucy Huegli, Bill Guarnera, Andrea Schlachter, Kelly &
Steve Camp, Family of Pauline Kiakis, Family of Sheri &
Mark Felsentreger, Family of Martha Kellett, Lily Marion
On December 8 Adele Reynolds will be 100 years old.
Her family is asking everyone to send her a birthday card.
They are trying to have her receive 100 cards. Her address is:
Adele Reynolds
25 Brittany Rd.
So. Hadley MA 01075

December Calendar
Today: 11:15 a.m. Choir rehearsal
Monday: 6:30 p.m. Church Council & Trustee on Zoom
Thursday: 7:15 Choir rehearsal
Saturday: 12;30 p.m. Christmas Caroling at Pine Grove
in So Hadley. Meet at 80 Pine Grove Dr. SH.
Questions: call Kathy Washburn at 413-537-0119.
December 11: 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Before & after worship:
All are invited to gather to make a candy sleigh, cards,
wrap Secret Santa gifts, and put together White
Christmas bags for our ‘friends at home’ and maybe
make some cookies.
December 13: 6:30 p.m. Education meeting on zoom
December 14: 10:00 a.m. United Women in Faith on zoom
December 18: 10:00 a.m. Christmas Music service
December 24: 7:00 p.m. Christmas Candlelight service
December 25: 10:00 a.m. Christmas service
Casseroles for Kate’s Kitchen are due

Hymns & Scriptures for December 4, 2022

SCRIPTURAL READING: Romans 15:4-13
For whatever was written in former days was written for our
instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement
of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of
steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony
with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that
together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed
you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a
servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order
that he might confirm the promises given to the ancestors and
that the gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.
As it is written, “Therefore I will confess you among the gentiles
and sing praises to your name”; and again he says, “Rejoice, O
gentiles, with his people”; and again, “Praise the Lord, all you
gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him”; and again Isaiah
says, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the
gentiles; in him the gentiles shall hope.” May the God of hope
fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may
abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
GOSPEL READING: Matthew 3:1-12
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of
Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is
near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the
Lord, make straight paths for him.’ “
John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather
belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild
honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea
and the whole region of the Jordan. 6Confessing their sins, they
were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming
to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of
vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming
wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not
think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our
father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up
children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees,
and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down
and thrown into the fire.
“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come
one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to
carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His
winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing
floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff
with unquenchable fire.”
Light the Advent Candle v. 2
Light the Advent candle, two: Think of humble shepherds, who
filled with wonder at the sight of the child of Christmas night.
Candle, candle, burning bright, shining in the cold winter night;
Candle, candle, burning bright, fill our hearts with Christmas
light.
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming

Lo, how a rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as those of old hath sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
when half spent was the night.
Isaiah ’twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
with Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind.
To show God’s love aright, she bore to us a Savior,
when half spent was the night.
O Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
dispel in glorious splendor the darkness everywhere.
True man yet very God, from sin and death now save us,
and share our every load.
Wild and Lone the Prophet’s Voice
Wild and lone the prophet’s voice echoes through the desert
still,
calling us to make a choice, bidding us to do God’s will:
“Turn from sin and be baptized; cleanse your heart and mind
and soul.
Quitting all the sin you prized, yield your life to God’s control.
“Bear the fruit repentance sows: lives of justice, truth and
love.
Trust no other claim than those; set your heart on things above.
Soon the Lord will come in power, burning clean the threshing
floor:
then will flames the chaff devour; wheat alone shall fill God’s
store.”
With such preaching stark and bold John proclaimed
salvation near,
and his timeless warnings hold words of hope to all who hear.
So we dare to journey on, led by faith through ways untrod,
till we come at last like John– to behold the Lamb of God.
Heralds of Christ
Heralds of Christ, who bear the King’s commands,
immortal tidings in your mortal hands,
pass on and carry swift the news you bring;
make straight, make straight the highway of the King.
Through desert ways, dark fen, and deep morass,
through jungles, sluggish seas, and mountain pass,
build now the road, and falter not, nor stay;
prepare across the earth the King’s highway.
Lord, give us faith and strength the road to build,
to see the promise of the day fulfilled,
when war shall be no more, and strife shall cease
upon the highway of the Prince of Peace.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
O come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and
mind.
From dust thou brought us forth to life; deliver us from earthly
strife.
Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel will come to thee,
O Israel

The following is a list of links to prior Sunday services on You Tube….