OPENING TO GOD Sr.

Doris Klein From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch
Quote for Reflection: We all carry a cave, a hidden place within us, becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that
My Lord! What a morning! My Lord! What a morning! into which God longs to be born. summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking
Advent is a season to enter that place, place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell
My Lord! What a morning, when the stars begin to fall!
to turn inward and encounter the God you, this generation will not pass away until all these things
Afro-American spiritual
who seeks to emerge through us. have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my
words will not pass away.
In the cave of our hearts . . . (breathe in the silence)
-We Gather as Gods People- in the fabric of our lives . . . (be aware of being embodied)
in the soul of our earth . . . (feel the ground beneath your feet)
But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels
in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert;
GATHERING People, Look East UMH 202 you continue, O God, to be born! for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man
going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants
in charge, each with their work, and commands the doorkeeper
CALL TO WORSHIP
We are waiting
Rachel Hackenberg
-We Listen for Gods Word- to be on the watch.
for Love without end HEBREW SCRIPTURE Isaiah 64 selections Therefore, keep awakefor you do not know when the
without conditions, without violence,without fear Oh, that you would burst from the heavens and come down! master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight,
How the mountains would quake in your presence! or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep
We are waiting
As fire causes wood to burn when he comes suddenly.
for Justice without end
and water to boil, And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.
without vengeance, without hatred, without lies
your coming would make the world tremble.
We are waiting
For since the world began,
for Peace without end no ear has heard -We Respond to Gods Word-
without displacement, without borders, without war and no eye has seen a God like you,
who works for those who wait for him! REFLECTION Awake and Waiting
We are waiting
for Joy without end You welcome those who gladly do mercy and justice,
who follow your ways. HYMN Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus UMH 196
without reservation, without rebuke, without want
Holy Love, Divine Justice, Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall,
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORDS PRAYER
God of Peace, Restoration & Joy: we are waiting for you. and our sins sweep us away like the wind.
Break into our world. We need you. And yet, O Lord, you are our Father.
OFFERING OF GIFTS & DOXOLOGY
We are the clay, and you are the potter.
We all are formed by your hand.
HYMN I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light UMH 206 COMMUNION
Dont be so angry with us, Lord.
Please dont remember our sins forever.
PASSING THE PEACE Look at us, we pray,
and see that we are all your people.
-We Are Sent Into Gods World-
YOUNG PEOPLES MESSAGE ANNOUNCEMENTS
GOSPEL Mark 13:24-37
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE But in those days, after that suffering,
BENEDICTION
The evening of the year is upon us. the sun will be darkened,
We enter the darkness and wait for lights return. and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from the sky, RESPONSE Until Jesus Comes W&S 3050
We light one candle to remind us of Gods light
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
which has come to us all in Christ.

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We open our hearts to that light, Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with
and ask for help to shine with the brilliance of love. great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and
gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth
TAIZ Wait for the Lord W&S 3049 to the ends of the sky.
 Awake &
Waiting
Essex Eats Out Schedule Here are people, places, & concerns folk have recently lifted up.
Dec 8 - Holy Family Dec 15 - St James Please keep them in your prayers at home.
Please call or email the church office to add to the prayer list.
Dec 22 - ECUMC Dec 29 - St. Pius X
Ongoing Prayers Lifted Up Last Sunday
Birthdays & Anniversaries Tim Family of Gordon Reinhardt who passed
December 9 - Godfrey Anniversary Lenore away on Thanksgiving
Michael Parker Dawn - Marlene, back pain
Announcements Keenan Dawn - travelling mercies for those
Food Shelf Needs: Spaghetti Sauce, Peanut Butter, Mac & Arlitha returning from thanksgiving
Cheese, Canned Fruit Callie Dawn sister, julie, surgery
Grace Naylor Janet - travelling mercies as return to
Prayer Cards are available on the narthex table-if you know Anne Kennison Schenectady & new job
someone who you think would like to know we are thinking and
Gloria McKeen Judy M - Joyce & family
praying for them.
Mary Willard Judy H - Don
Cards & Calls: The following church members, who can no Norma Strickland David - Marge & daughter Hannah
longer get out, would appreciate a card or a call - Grace Naylor, Judy & Diezela
Kathryn - family as anniversary of
Anne Kennison (new address: sticky labels with her new address Matthew C. brother death approaches
available on Heidis desk), Gloria McKeen, Mary Willard,
Elissa & Leif Kathryn - Jane, in a dark place
Norma Strickland, Nancy Bartlett.
Greg Bob Purvee - lost son to suicide
Calendar Paula DeMichele
Sun, 3 Dec: Baby Shower for Johnsen Family

Mon, 4 Dec: Monday Companions: Read Intro and Ch 7-8 of

The Year of Small Things at Eves home, 7:00 pm.

Tue, 5 Dec: Tuesday Office Hours:

Nest Coffee, Five Corners, 10am - noon
Church Office noon-2:00pm

Mansfield Place Bible Study 2:00pm

Wed, 6 Dec: Green Mountain Nursing Home Service, 2:30 pm

Tues, 12 Dec: Trustees, fellowship hall 7:00 pm

Thus, 14 Dec: Food Shelf Set-up, 6:30 pm

Essex Center United Methodist Church Carol Aust
Sat, 16 Dec: Food Shelf Distribution, 9:00 am essex_umc@comcast.net tel. 878-8304
www.essexumc.com
Christmas Baskets Assembly, 10 am. Sign-up Ministers: the entire congregation Lay Leader: Joshua Knox
sheets posted on bulletin board in Fellowship Equipping Pastor: Rev. V. Mitchell Hay
Hall. Questions, please call Vickie/879-7515. cell tel. 881-3268 (feel free to call) mitchellhay@comcast.net
Office Manager: Heidi Evans
Fri, 22 Dec: WoWW Widows Group at Codys 11:30 am Organ: Kathryn Parker Piano: June Packard
Essex Eats Out at Essex UMC, 5:30 pm Guitar: Richard Randazzo Song Leader: Dana LaClair
Projection: Sam Evans, Bob McLane
Sun, 24 Dec: Christmas Eve Services Greeters - Eve Thorsen & Janet Beddard Essex Center United Methodist Church
Advent 4 Worship 10:00 am Ushers - Heidi & Craig Evans, Dawn Hill-Fleury
Candle Light Family Service 6:00 pm 3 December 2017 First Sunday of Advent