advent and christmas sermon series: the promised coming of
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This Week At Milwood United Methodist Church
Monday 12/10
9:00am 9:00am 6:15pm 6:45pm
Tai Chi Class AGO Meeting (Upper Gathering Area Conference)
Milwood Men’s Meeting Boy Scouts (Fellowship Hall)
Tuesday 12/11
5:00pm Kalamazoo Children’s Chorus (KCC)
Wednesday 12/12
11am-1pm 5:30pm 7:15pm
Open Sanctuary for Prayer JuBELLation Rehearsal Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Thursday 12/13
10:00am Cover to Cover Bible Study
Friday 12/14
7:00pm Cloverleaf Square Dance Club
Saturday 12/15
10:00am 5:00pm 7:00pm
KCC Rehearsals Jan/Feb NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
Jeff Mitchell Recitals (Sanctuary/Gathering Area)
Sunday 12/16
10:00am Worship: Children’s Christmas Program
The New Testament in 50 Days .
Small Groups will begin meeting in January. Please contact Sue Commissaris or the office for more information.
[email protected] or [email protected]
Your 2013 Contribution Envelopes can be
picked up today in the gathering area.
Be sure to join us in Fellowship Hall right after worship today for a special FABB Luncheon
with the KCC Bel Canto Choir and Family Guests!
Announcing Acts 29 Youth Group
and a Youth Bowling and Pizza Party! We are planning a kick-off pizza and
bowling party for the youth group and
want to invite others to come. If you know someone
Middle to High school age, let us know so we can invite
them! Contact Joe Fahey ([email protected]) or leave
your info at the church office.
Welcome Kalamazoo Children’s Chorus
Bel Canto Choir & Families
Children’s Sabbath Sunday
A Service of Celebration and Prayer
December 9, 2012 • 10:00am
Milwood United Methodist Church 3919 Portage Street ● Kalamazoo, MI 49001 ● 269-381-6720
www.milwoodumc.com
www.facebook.com/MilwoodUMC
Reverend Kennetha Bigham-Tsai
Advent and Christmas Sermon Series:
The Promised Coming of Christ
“The Promise of a Child”
Our Vision: “To be a growing church committed to bringing people to a personal relationship with
Jesus Christ and a deeper connection with one another
through focused, relevant ministries.”
Our Mission: “To answer the call of God to promote spiritual growth and provide nurturing care to
our members and community through ministries of
worship, education, and outreach.”
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To Our Guests Today… Welcome!
Welcome to Milwood United Methodist Church! We would like you to be comfortable in your time with us. Our ushers and greeters (wearing large name tags) are here to help you with any needs you might have. Several items are available to make our time together more pleasant. We have large print bulletins, hearing devices that allow you to sit anywhere, and back pillows. The ushers will gladly assist you in getting any of these. Nursery, restrooms, and our lounge are located just beyond the double doors near the stairway. We are completely barrier free. A nursery, staffed by capable adults, is available during our worship time.
We use two song books in our worship: the United Methodist Hymnal, with a red cover and identified in our bulletin with the letters UMH—and a second song book called The Faith We Sing—having a black soft cover and identified with FWS. When Holy Communion is served, all are welcome to the table. We have several people who have a difficult time standing, and if you also have a hard time, you are welcome to remain seated.
We receive two offerings this morning. One is to maintain our general budget supporting the mission and ministry of our church. The second, a bread pan, is a very special offering for the hungry and others in need. Every penny is used to care for people both in our community and around the world.
Today’s Breadpan collection benefits the Heifer Project
We have been serving the Milwood community and doing ministry for over 100 years. We believe that the Church is and will continue to be a positive influence in the world. Our United Methodist heritage encourages inclusiveness, hospitality, and an open communion available to all people.
A Gift for the Giver In December, we will focus on the worship of this God for
whom we are thankful. This month, we invite you to consider
giving a gift to the God who is gift-giver. We have done
Gift for the Giver in years past and given just a portion (10%) of
what we would spend on Christmas presents as an extra gift to
the church, beyond our normal offering and tithe. These gifts will go to help
all of our ministries that reach out to bring the gift of Jesus Christ to others.
Especially in this season of Advent and Christmas, let us remember with
gratitude in our hearts the God who is a gift in our lives.
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Monday Night Book Study The book selection is “Beginner’s Grace” by Kate Braestrup.
($12.00). Please join us in reading and discussing this humorously written book focusing on prayer. It’s not too late!
Join us at 5:00pm, tomorrow.
Reaching Out to Youth through LOGOS Ministry:
Let’s Explore! On January 13, retired pastors Leila & Bob Dailey will come to Milwood to talk
about LOGOS Ministry, an intergenerational ministry for children and youth in
our community. The Dailey’s will lead us in an Exploring LOGOS session,
where we will consider what the ministry might mean for our church.
Plan to attend on January 13th! All are welcome.
An Advent and Christmas Series:
THE PROMISED COMING OF CHRIST
What did it mean that Christ came into the world and what does it means for Christians to affirm that Christ continually comes into the world through us? It means the promise of justice and joy, the promise of light in the midst of darkness, and the
promise offered in the Christ child and in all children. Come to worship for our Advent and Christmas sermon series.
December 16, 2012: Children’s Christmas Program
. December 23, 2012: Blessings in the Promise
Harp Prelude Recital at 9:50a.m. .
December 24, 2012: The Promised Light, 6 p.m. (Candlelight Service with Communion)
WISDOM FOR LIFE
FROM THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
Invite a friend to church for our series beginning January 6 on Jesus’ most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount.
This sermon, recorded in the Book of Matthew, is a treasure trove of wisdom about how to live life. During the series we will address
topics like judgment, honesty, integrity, forgiveness and love. We will seek, in Scripture, ways to live in harmony
with God and with each other.
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Ministry Opportunity: Care cards are available at both Sanctuary doors. This week, we ask you to write just a brief note of love and care to Joan Hough. You need not know her to write a note of encouragement. Drop your note in the offering plate or put it in the basket in the Gathering Area.
Today’s flowers are given by Bob & Pam Scott in honor of their grandchildren.
For the past 31 years KCC has made Christmastime warmer with the voices of children.
This year is no exception. The Kalamazoo Children’s Chorus presents
“ Holiday Delights” on Sunday, December 16th at Chenery Auditorium
Five choirs will sing music of the season with over 180 children performing.
Our own Keeton Bigham-Tsai will be singing in the Bel Canto Choir! We hope you can join us for this wonderful event.
The doors open at 2:30 PM and the concert begins at 3:00 PM. To find out more, visit the KCC website at:
kalamazoochildrenschorus.org or call 269-574-7183. Merry Christmas from The Kalamazoo Children’s Chorus!
Chancel Choir Anthem Text Behold, your salvation comes, The author of peace and goodwill, In a poor Bethlehem stable on a night starry and still. Behold, your salvation is sleeping in a rude manger of straw, As a bed hardly in keeping with a King who fills wise men with awe. Behold, your salvation comes, So that new life can begin. Wonderful counselor, mighty God, with no room in the inn. Behold, your salvation is dreaming; What is He dreaming of? Can a babe dream of redeeming worlds of sinners in need of His love? Behold, your salvation appears, As promised to us through the years. He isn’t arriving with trumpets, or with drums, But as a helpless child, your salvation comes. He comes.
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Worship Leadership
Pastor Kennetha Bigham-Tsai
Liturgists Laura Tribby & Shelby Bishop (KCC alumnus),
Keeton Bigham-Tsai, Donna Willoughby
Organist Carl Doubleday
Crucifer Timothy Cole
Chancel Choir Director Fred Sang
KCC Director Fred Sang
Greeters Jan Langerveld & Carol Slaughter
Ushers Laurie Dahlman & Carol Morris-Mier
Technology and Sound Gordy Brodhagen, Joe Fahey
Prayer Time
If you would like to add someone to the prayer list, please contact the church office at (269) 381-6720 or [email protected]. Keep this page and pray for these people throughout the week. Those in boldface type are new
to the list this week:
Heather Perkins—Timothy—Dale Honer—The Cain Family Sally Tripp—Linda Marklin—Becky Wiessner—Marlene L.
Carole—Patricia Murley—Don & Ada Rose Sly—Neil J. Norcross Participants in the Vital Church Initiative—Cec Bullen Theresa Hollowell—Ginny Borgman—The Kays Family
Deanna Wesseling—Dale H.—Brian Benthin—Trudy Bushouse Unit deployed under Chris Morgan—Larry Garman
The prayer list is included on the website, which is password protected so only people who know the password are able to view. We invite you to go to the website address www.milwoodumc.com The password for the prayer page is praytogether.
Prayer Time will list names for up to four Sundays. If at the end of that time the need still exists, please call the church office and have them listed again.
Long-term prayer requests will only be included in the Messenger. Please use Communication Cards provided in this bulletin and remember to:
1. Include your name as the contact person.
2. Check the applicable box so the request is handled as you intended.
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Come to worship — Come to praise — Come to rejoice
Come to hear a Word from God
* Please stand as you are able
Celebrating our Children—Greatest Love of All
Trinity Chimes In this moment of silence, let us prepare our hearts for worship.
Procession Intonation on Fred B. Binkes “Children of the Heavenly Father”
*Hymn Children of the Heavenly Father UMH 141 please stand when directed by Mr. Sang
*Welcome and Introduction to A Children’s Sabbath Celebration
*A Litany of Affirmation and Call to Worship Leader: We believe in our children.
People: We believe in their dreams. Leader: We believe in their promise and all that God has called them to be.
People: We will work for justice for all of God’s children
all around the world. Leader: Because we believe in their promise.
People: We believe in their dreams. Leader: We believe in all that God has called them to be. All: Let us worship God and celebrate our children
this Children’s Sabbath. Amen.
*Lighting the Advent Candle in Honor of Children of the World All: We light these candles as a symbol of the coming of the Christ
child and in celebration of all of God’s children around the world.
*Gospel Reading Mark 10: 13-16 NT 46 This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Anthem Behold, Your Salvation Comes Hank Beebe Chancel Choir (see anthem text page 6)
A Poem in Celebration of Our Children Donna Willoughby “Children of Eden” by Naomi Long Madgett
Anthem Believe A. Silvestri & G. Ballard Kalamazoo Children’s Chorus, Bel Canto Choir
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*Greeting Each Other in Christian Love Take a moment to greet each other, sharing the joy of Christ’s love.
Children’s Time
Introduction of New Ministry . *Gospel Reading Luke 1: 59-80 NT 57
*Response Child of Blessing, Child of Promise UMH 611 (verse 1)
Sermon “The Promise of a Child” Reverend Kennetha Bigham-Tsai, Pastor
Offering Our Tithes and Gifts
Offertory Winter Changes David Brunner text by Emily Claire Forsythe (10 years old) Bel Canto Choir
*Doxology Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow UMH 95
*Offertory Prayer
Remembrance of Baptism and a Prayer for Children In the Protestant Church the sacrament of baptism is the sacrament by which we enter the
church and become part of the family of Christ. The water, as a symbol, has meaning as
that which cleanses us from sin and brings forth a new spiritual birth. If you are not of the
Christian faith or have not been baptized, you are still invited to join us in this time of
remembrance and prayer. May you find in these words an affirmation of your own
promises to children. After the liturgy, the water will be moved to the back of the
sanctuary. We invite everyone to dip your hands in the water and touch your forehead
(make the sign of the cross if you wish) and remember your baptism and be thankful.
Anthem Peace Carol Bob Beers Bel Canto and Chancel Choir arr. Greg Gilpin
*Dismissal with Blessing
*Response Peace Carol (last chorus) .
*Recessional Savior of the Nations, Come J.S. Bach (congregation please wait for the choirs to recess)
A special “thank you” to Joe Fahey for preparing the opening power point presentation.