Macedon Center United Methodist Church
December 13, 2020

Prelude “Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming”

Welcome

*Call to Worship
Leader: Welcome this time to worship.
People: The radiance of this season has beckoned us forward.
Leader: Come and rejoice, for God’s delight is coming to us.
People: Praise be to God who pours joy into our lives.
Leader: Open your hearts and spirits and receive the blessings of God.
People: May we always be ready to respond in joyful ways to God’s love.

*Hymn “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice” # 224

1 Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice;
give ye heed to what we say: News, news! Jesus Christ is born today!
Ox and ass before him bow, and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today, Christ is born today!

2 Good Christian friends, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice;
now ye hear of endless bliss: News, news! Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath opened the heaven’s door, and ye are blest forevermore.
Christ was born for this, Christ was born for this!

3 Good Christian friends, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice;
now ye need not fear the grave: News, news! Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all to gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save, Christ was born to save!

Advent Candle Lighting

People (sung): Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel

Children’s Sermon

Scripture: Isaiah 57: 14-19; Luke 1: 1-4; 26-56

Sermon “The Joy of the Lord”

Special Music

Pastoral Prayer & The Lord’s Prayer

Hymn “Joy to the World” v 1-2, 4 # 246

1. Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

2. Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let all their songs employ;
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

4. He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, and wonders of his love.

Blessing

Congregational Blessing,
The Lord bless and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine on you and be gracious,
gracious. Shalom, shalom.