PRELUDE—In the Bleak Midwinter

INVOCATION—Poem, In the Bleak Midwinter

HYMN—In the Bleak Midwinter 

UMH 221 (v. 1, 2, & 5)                

WELCOME AND OPENING PRAYER

WREATH OF LIGHT

HYMN, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

UMH 211 (Adapted words on the screens)

SCRIPTURE (Words on the screens)

    Psalm 77: 1-5 (CEB)

    Psalm 34: 18 (CEB)

    John 1:1-5 (CEB)

HYMN, Want To Walk as a Child of the Light

UMH 206 (v. 1)

VOICES      

Our readers this evening are not necessarily reading stories that reflect their own experiences.

SILENCE 

LIGHTS OF HOPE, Canticle of Light and Dark   

UMH 205 (Response 2)   

SILENCE

CLOSING PRAYER AND BLESSING

SPECIAL MUSIC —Rescue

POSTLUDE

Luke 2:8-15 (CEB)

Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified.

The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.”

When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.”

Luke 1:39-55 (CEB)

Mary got up and hurried to a city in the Judean highlands. She entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. With a loud voice she blurted out, “God has blessed you above all women, and he has blessed the child you carry. Why do I have this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. Happy is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill the promises he made to her.”

Mary praises God

Mary said,

“With all my heart I glorify the Lord!
    In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior.
He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant.
    Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored
        because the mighty one has done great things for me.
Holy is his name.
    He shows mercy to everyone,
        from one generation to the next,
        who honors him as God.
He has shown strength with his arm.
    He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations.
    He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones
        and lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things
    and sent the rich away empty-handed.
He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,
        remembering his mercy,
    just as he promised to our ancestors,
        to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.”

Matthew 1:18-25 (CEB)

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. When Mary his mother was engaged to Joseph, before they were married, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband was a righteous man. Because he didn’t want to humiliate her, he decided to call off their engagement quietly. As he was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child she carries was conceived by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 

Now all of this took place so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled:

Look! A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son,

And they will call him, Emmanuel.

(Emmanuel means “God with us.”)

When Joseph woke up, he did just as an angel from God commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he didn’t have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. Joseph called him Jesus.

Brass, Christmas Carols

*Hymn Angels We Have Heard on High 

Welcome

Morning Sounds w/ M.A. Bellingham and Sara Boom on Bells O Day of Peace 

Brass Christmas Cortege 

Children’s Choir Christmas Bells Are Ringing

*Hymn Sing We Now of Christmas

Celebration There Was the Word

*Hymn The First Noel

Men’s Group God Rest You Merry, Gentleman

*Hymn Good Christian Friends, Rejoice

Gospel Train A Gospel Song of Peace

*Hymn Infant Lowly, Infant Holy

Duet on Strings Oh, Come Little Children with Caden Jimmerson & Carter Lukes

*Hymn O Little Town of Bethlehem

Puppet Show, Marvin Lansverk, Kath Crumrine, Eric Strader

*Hymn What Child is This? 

Morning Sounds Christmas Joy         Solo: Frank Johnson

Offering 100% of what you give tonight supports HRDC’s warming shelter, a place of refuge from the cold, alongside the Fork & Spoon Cafe, an eatery for all.

Elevate & Friends on Elementary School Instruments All I Want for Christmas Is You

Story Llamas at Christmas

*Hymn Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/King of Heaven

Women’s Trio A La Nanita Nana

Presentation of the Pudding       Audrey McLain, Senior

*Hymn We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Isaiah 11:1-10

A shoot will grow up from the stump of Jesse;

 a branch will sprout from his roots.

The Lord’s spirit will rest upon him,

    a spirit of wisdom and understanding,

    a spirit of planning and strength,

    a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.

He will delight in fearing the Lord.

He won’t judge by appearances,

    nor decide by hearsay.

He will judge the needy with righteousness,

    and decide with equity for those who suffer in the land.

He will strike the violent with the rod of his mouth;

    by the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked.

Righteousness will be the belt around his hips,

    and faithfulness the belt around his waist.

The wolf will live with the lamb,

    and the leopard will lie down with the young goat;

    the calf and the young lion will feed together,

    and a little child will lead them.

The cow and the bear will graze.

    Their young will lie down together,

    and a lion will eat straw like an ox.

A nursing child will play over the snake’s hole;

    toddlers will reach right over the serpent’s den.

They won’t harm or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain.

    The earth will surely be filled with the knowledge of the Lord,

    just as the water covers the sea.

Message sent via email:

 

Dear sisters and brothers of Bozeman United Methodist Church,

Grace and peace to you all as we begin the season of Advent.

 

It is my pleasure to share with you that, in response to the request of your Staff Parish Relations Committee,  Bishop Karen Oliveto has chosen to appoint the Rev. Amy Strader as full time pastor of Bozeman UMC as of January 1, 2020. Rev. Eric Strader will continue as part time pastor at Bozeman UMC and part time as Congregational Resource Minister for the Montana West District.  I am grateful for the gifts and graces that Rev. Amy brings to your congregation, and for the gifts and graces that Rev. Eric brings to your congregation and to the District CRM position.  I am excited about the possibilities for your ministry together, and trust that this will reflect good stewardship of financial resources and of gifts and skills.

 

Also, a Church Conference will be held, according to the Discipline, on Sunday, December 15, at 11:45 a.m. to approve the pastoral compensation for 2020.

May the Holy Spirit guide your ministry to the people of your community.

 

Blessings,

Jan Witman

District Superintendent, Montana West

 

—————-

 

To that, the BUMC Personnel Team would add:

 

A reminder that when Rev. Amy and Rev. Eric were appointed 18 months ago to BUMC it was less than full time.   This shift allows for more clergy presence in the church to focus on the pastoral care of the community. In order to continue to be fiscally responsible, we will not be rehiring the Nurture Care position, held by Kim Broden, but instead dividing responsibilities between Rev. Amy and our new Office Coordinator, Allie Zanieri-Hale. Allie will coordinate office needs, alongside supporting database management, and recruiting volunteers - YOU - for ministry needs and opportunities.

 

Rev. Amy will continue to oversee discipleship ministries including; campus, youth, children, and mission, as well as retaining her role on the Board of Bozeman Health System and community needs. In addition, Rev. Amy will be taking over responsibilities of pastoral care and head up the Stephen Ministry Leadership team.

 

Rev. Eric will continue to oversee administration and worship while supporting the district in church vitality and clergy coaching as the Congregational Resource Minister.

 

Please join us to celebrate Kim’s ministry on Dec. 8th in between worship services!