South Roanoke United Methodist Church

THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT                                                                                     DECEMBER 12, 2004 

Advent is a season of four weeks including four Sundays. Advent (from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming”) proclaims the comings of Christ, whose birth we prepare to celebrate once again, who comes continually in Word and Spirit, and whose return in final victory we anticipate. The entire church building is decorated for Advent in preparation for the Christmas celebration. 

As Christ cares, we care… we care about all people.
We care about worship… We care about learning.
We care about service… We care about You.
We are a community of Faith growing in God’s Grace. 

ORDER OF SERVICE - 11:00 A.M.
A Service of Lessons and Carols 

+Indicates the people standing 

                                                                                   ENTRANCE
Words of Welcome, Registration of Attendance and Announcements                                                      Bill Davidson
     (We encourage all of our worshipers to please sign the registration pad as it is passed along the pew; visitors
     are also requested to list their address. After it has been passed, please return it to the center aisle. If you
     wish to join this church by letter of transfer or profession of faith, please check “wish to join” on the
     registration pad.)
Gathering Music                                                          In Dulci Jubilo                                                         Drischner
                            During the prelude, please use this time for quiet reflection in preparation for worship.  
Call to Worship                                                Come, Good Christians All                                           French Noel
+Advent Prayer  201
+Processional Hymn  196                           Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus                                           Hyfrydol
+Lighting of the Third Advent Candle                                                                                                       Liz Waldron
     Reading of Isaiah 35:10
     Leader:   I light this candle as a symbol of Christ our Joy.
                    May the joyful promise of your presence, O God, make us rejoice
                    in our hope of salvation.
     All: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.  

                                                     PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE
Children’s Time
                                             (Children leave for Children’s Church. See * Below)
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
          -Byron Ragland          -Ross Lemon           -Erin D’Alessandro
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer                                                                                                                           Hymnal, No. 895
     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. 

First Lesson                                                                                                                                        Genesis 3:8-15
Carol  62                                           All Creatures of Our God and King                                   Lasst Uns Erfreuen
                                                                          (verses 1,2,7)
Second Lesson                                                                                                                                      Isaiah 9:2,6,7
Carol  203                                               Hail to the Lord’s Anointed                                                      Ellacombe
                                                                             (verses 1,4)
 Third Lesson                                                                                                                          Isaiah 11:1-3a, 4a, 6-9
Carol  224                                               Good Christian Friends, Rejoice                                        In Dulci Jubilo 

Offering of Tithes and Gifts to God’s Work
     Offertory Prayer
     Offertory                             
+Doxology                                                                                                                                       Hymnal, No. 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.

Fourth Lesson                                                                                                                                      Luke 1: 26-38
Carol  219                                                          What Child Is This                                                     Greensleeves
                                                                                 (verses 1,3)
Fifth Lesson                                                                                                                                          Luke 2:1, 3-7
Carol  240                                                Hark! The Herald Angels Sing                                             Mendelssohn
                                                                            (verses 1,3)
Sixth Lesson                                                                                                                                          Luke 2: 8-16
Carol  229                                                  Infant Holy, Infant Lowly                                                W Zlobie Lezy

 Seventh Lesson                                                                                                                               Matthew 2: 1-11
Carol  245                                                          The First Noel                                                          The First Noel
                                                                            (verses 1,2,5)
Eighth Lesson                                                                                                                           John 1: 1-5,10-12, 14
+Carol  234                                                     O Come, All Ye Faithful                                             Adeste Fideles
                                                                                (verses 1-3)
+Benediction
+Postlude

+Indicates the people standing 

THOSE SERVING TODAY:
  December Altar Guild Chairs:  Natalie Rude and Tallulah Gregory
  Greeters: Bill and Ellie Clark
  Cross Bearer:  Spencer Borthen
  Acolytes:  Robert Bear and Kyle Glover
  Ushers:   Captain-William P. Wallace, Jr., William Brenton, Jr., Prentice E. Moran,
                 Joseph L. Austin, William Richardson, Jay Williams, Ross Jeffries 

*CHILDREN (ages 3 through 1st grade), may meet the acolyte to recess to Children’s Church. Please ask your child to line up behind the acolyte who will lead all children out together. After the worship service,
parents must pick up their child in the Children’s Department; children will not be allowed to leave the room until their parents arrive. 

WELCOME! We're glad to have all who have joined us for this time of worship. Especially to our guests and visitors, we welcome you to South Roanoke and to our fellowship. We invite those who have no church home to make South Roanoke your church and add your witness to ours. 

NEXT WEEK’S sermon, Emmanuel: God is With Us!, will be based on Isaiah 7:10-16 and Matthew 1:18-25. Please read and study these texts this week. 

THE NEW FLOWER CALENDAR for 2005 is on the bulletin board by the church parlor. If you would like to remember or honor someone on a special day, please sign up on the calendar, or call the church office
344-4437 to reserve a Sunday.

WE THANK OUR MINISTER OF MUSIC, Joe Kennedy,  for planning and preparing this Service of Lessons and Carols. 

COME TO THE ADVENT ANGEL CELEBRATION TONIGHT! We will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the
Fellowship Hall with a pot-luck dinner, followed by a musical presented by our children. At the conclusion of the musical we will gather in the sanctuary to present our gifts at the altar to be blessed. Come one, come all! 

PAUL COKER-JONES is on vacation. She will be back in the office on Tuesday, December 14th. 

THE WIMMER CLASS CHRISTMAS PARTY will be held at Brandon Oaks on Friday, December 17 at 6:00 p.m. Cost of dinner is $14.00 per person. To make a reservation please call Anne Danahy, 776-2116. All checks should be made payable to Natalie Carter. Deadline for reservations is December 13. Everyone is welcome. 

DECEMBER IS THE TIME when we receive an offering for the United Methodist Family Services. Your gift will do wonders for a child who has grown up in an abusive environment, and it gives hope to a young teenager who can be placed in a loving foster care home instead of a mental institution or a juvenile
correctional facility. Won’t you open your hearts and give generously to this very worthwhile organization. Make your checks payable to SRUMC, earmark them “Family Services”, and place them in the offering plate. 

“WE CARE” PROGRAM NEEDS VOLUNTEERS! If you would like to be a volunteer who visits folks who have visited SRUMC for the first time, please give Brett Marston a call, 989-0623. 

THE FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE WILL MEET at the Roanoke Country Club at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday,
December 14 for their “Ladies’ Christmas Luncheon”. 

THE AFTERCARE SOCIAL CLUB will meet in the Fellowship Hall on Tuesday, December 14 at 6:00 p.m. for a Christmas dinner and crafts. 

THE ADULT FELLOWSHIP GROUP will meet in the Fellowship Hall on Thursday, December 16 at 12:00 p.m. for lunch and a program by Jan Lynch from Roanoke College. Her topic will be The Psychology of Humor.  If you would like to attend please sign up on the Adult Fellowship Board by the church office. 

THE WEEKDAY PRESCHOOL will present their annual Christmas program on Friday, December 17 at 9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Everyone is invited. 

NEXT SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19 at the Sunday morning worship service we will continue to celebrate the Christmas season with a Festive Advent Worship accompanied by the Roanoke Chamber Brass, Chancel Choir and Organ.