Sunday Church Service Bulletin

Bellport United Methodist Church

185 South Country Road, Bellport, NY 11713 ~ 631-286-0525

Reverend Matthew Querns 845-208-1405

Welcome!

The Bellport UMC family welcomes visitors from all backgrounds. You

are invited to join us for our fellowship hour following the service. For

childcare, large print hymnals, or directions to our accessible access

(elevator), please see any of our ushers. Our current newsletter and

church brochure with upcoming events are available in the Welcoming

Area and Gathering Room entrance to the Sanctuary. We hope you will

feel God’s presence with us, and we invite you to join us again. We invite

members and guests to sign in at the Entrance Area. Thank you!

Welcome visitors. Please sign our Guest Book!

(All are invited to stand if comfortable doing so, where the * appears)

GATHERING THOUGHTS

“Joy is prayer – Joy is strength – Joy is love –
Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.” – Mother Teresa

ENTERING INTO THE PRESENCE PRELUDE & QUIET MEDITATION

WELCOME (page 1) & ANNOUNCEMENTS (page 2)

MEDITATING ON THE LIGHT OF CHRIST

INTROIT

*LIGHTING OF THE CANDLE OF LOVE Joan Prybyzerski Leader: We light this candle as a symbol of God’s Joy that is contagious

People: Joy is like a candle, shining in a dark place.

Leader: As we look at the light of this candle,

we celebrate the Joy that we find in Jesus.

(Light 2 purple candles and the pink candle.)

People: O come, O come, Emmanuel!

Advent Choral Response: (TFWS) #2095

(verse 3) Star-Child, Grown child, old child, memory full of years, sad child, lost child, story told in tears. This year, this year, let the day arrive when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive!

Gathering Hymn: (UMH) #224 Good Christian Friends Rejoice

*PASSING THE PEACE- (UMH) #431 Let There Be Peace on Earth”
“Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me; let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. With God our creator, children all are we. Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony. Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now. With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow: To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally. Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”

OPENING TO THE PRESENCE

Gathering Prayer

Joyful God, as we inch closer to Christmas Eve, our joy grows. We joyfully thank You, O God, for sending the Messiah, so we would live. Advent’s joy inspires us to know You as a God of love, so let joy reign in our hearts and let us give this gift to the world, this year. Let this gift lift us when we are down, and we pray, O God, it will restore those in the world who have given up.

MOMENT FOR SILENT PRAYER WORDS OF GRACE

Ministry of Music A Tiny Child Will Come by Don Besig

RECOGNITION OF NEW MEMBERS

(This year, we are honored to welcome 9 new members into full membership in the UMC: Tony Vargas*, Caryn Ann and Anthony DeMaio, Lori Ann Labalsamo, Alie Moya and Jose Riviera, Carl Hedin, Charles and Marie Coda.)

Moments for Children

The Lord’s Prayer

*Our Father, who art in Heaven hallowed be Your 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. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen

CALL TO PRAYER (TFWS) #2215 “Cares Chorus”

“I cast all my cares upon you,

I lay all of my burdens down at your feet,

And anytime, I don’t know what to do,

I will cast all my cares upon you.”

GOD SIGHTINGS, JOYS & CONCERNS (pages 7 & 8) PASTORAL PRAYER

*SONG OF LOVE: (W&S) #3052 (See insert) God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

HEARING THE WORD

FIRST READING: Isaiah 35:1-10 (NRSV) The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus 2 it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. 3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.’ 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; 7 the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. 8 A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. 9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. 10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

SECOND READING: Luke 1:46-55 (NRSV) And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.’

For the Word of God in scripture,

For the Word of God among us,

For the Word of God within us,

Thanks be to God.

SERMON: “Contagious Joy” Reverend Matthew Querns

SERMON CHALLENGE: This week let’s remember grumpiness and negativityspreads, but even more, God’s joy is contagious. Let us learn joy in all times.

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

WORSHIPPING WITH OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS

*DOXOLOGY (UMH) #221 (Verse 3) In the Bleak Midwinter

“Angels and archangels may have gathered there,

Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;

But his mother only, in her maiden bliss,

Worshiped the beloved with a kiss.”

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND DEDICATION

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Pierce Valentia Riviera

*SENDING SONG: The Canticle of the Turning (See insert)

*BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE

December 21st ’s Sermon: “Make Peace, Not War” –

Romans 15:4-13, Matthew 1:18-25