"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Ephesians 2:10

December 20, 2020

FAIRMOUNT AVENUE UMCONLINE WORSHIP

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Fairmount Avenue

United Methodist

Church

A welcoming, joyful community,

igniting hearts and minds for

God’s work.

Gathering Music “For Unto Us a Child Is Born” (Messiah) G. F. Handel

Like many of his colleagues, Handel was not above plagiarizing from himself. (Bach also frequently recycled secular music for sacred purposes.) Handel saw no good reason to let a fine tune languish in old garb when it could be gussied up in new apparel. In the case of Messiah, Handel drew upon some of his early Italian cantatas to provide the main thematic outline of “For Unto Us,” but he substantially reworked and expanded it for use in his most famous oratorio..

A Joyful ,Welcoming Community…. #Stronger in community.

• Christmas Eve Worship

• Sanctuary Decorations

Worship with us online!December 24

4:30 pm

10:30 pm

On Facebook and YouTube

Tune in for seasonal organ

music at 4:00 and 10:00

The decorations adorning our sanctuary this Advent and Christmas season were given lovingly by:

Naren Bauer in memory of Don Bauer

Bonnie Beverly and Craig Dawson in honor of their parents

The Boucher family in memory of Darold Boucher, Rob’s father

The Koontz family in honor of the Fairmount Avenue UMC Family

Elaine Lee in memory of Phil Lee

The decorations adorning our sanctuary this Advent and Christmas season were given lovingly by:

Carol McCarty in memory of her parents, Don and Charlotte Melbye

Linda Sootsman in memory of Herb and Helen Sootsman, Jr. and Fred Culp

Dan and Judy Thielen in memory of their parents and granddaughter

The Weber family in memory of Wayne and Audrey Hurmence and Chuck Weber

A Joyful ,Welcoming Community…. #Stronger in faith.

• Small Groups

• Advent for Children

• Children’s Sermon

Small Group OpportunitiesThat we might faithfully participate by our prayers, presence, gifts, and service.

Covenant Discipleship Groups

Small groups, focused on accountability and

connection in acts of compassion, acts of justice, acts

of devotion, and acts of worship. Meeting through

May, with weekly, bi-monthly, and monthly options.

Wednesday Bible Study

Meeting every Wednesday at

noon. This small group simply

invites you to show up when

you can.

Register for a small group online at www.faumc.net

Other small group opportunities are available seasonally.

PEACEDecember 20, 2020

“He brought this Good

News of peace to you

Gentiles who were far

away from him, and

peace to the Jews who

were near.”

Ephesians 2:17

This week I will learn and live in

peace:

Ask a friend or a family member

about THEIR Christmas traditions

or their holiday celebrations.

Learn what you share in common

and what differences you enjoy.

Jesus lived for a world where we

celebrate our differences and all

live in peace.

Children’s Ministries Explore Advent

CHILDREN’S TIME

Check out Fairmount Avenue UMC on YouTube

for today’s Children’s Sermon.

A Joyful ,Welcoming Community…. #Stronger in service.

• Pledges

• Supporting the Church

• End of Year Giving

We are stronger together.

More info on www.faumc.net or contact the church office.

Pledges are easy to submitBy email: admin@faumc.netOn the website: www.faumc.netBy mail: 1523 Fairmount Avenue,

St. Paul, MN 55105 Or drop them off today with your First Fruits donations.

End of Year GivingAll contributions for 2020 need to

be dated on or before December 31, 2020 and received

in the church office by January 4, 2021.

Contact the church office, admin@faumc.net, with any questions.

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Ephesians 2:10

December 20, 2020

FAIRMOUNT AVENUE UMCONLINE WORSHIP

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Prelude

“Good Christian Friends, Rejoice” arr. Wilbur Held

(“In Dulci Jubilo”)

The late American organist and teacher Wilbur Held published many fine arrangements of carols. His setting of the old German/Latin carol “In Dulci Jubilo” (“Good Christian Friends, Rejoice”) is a straight forward and exuberant presentation of the melody. The tune is announced with a chiming motif and accompanied by scale figures.

“Carol of the Bells”

Peter Leontovich

(Adult Choir)

words and arr. by P. J. Wilhousky

Anthem

December 22, 2013

The famous “Carol of the Bells” is from a Ukrainian New Year’s carol which attracted the attention of the great American choral conductor Peter J. Willhousky (of “Battle Hymn of the Republic” fame) who conceived the English text heard today. The composer, Mykola Leontovich, received wide attention when a Ukrainian chorus toured the US with this carol in its repertoire. First published in 1936, the octavo took the country by storm and is still inescapable in department store renditions. The soprano ostinato [repeating motif] is accompanied by bell effects in the alto, tenor, and bass parts.

Anthem “Carol of the Bells”

Hark! How the bells, sweet silver bells, All seem to say, “Throw cares away.”Christmas is here bringing good cheer, To young and old, meek and the bold.Ding, dong, ding, dong, that is their song, With joyful ring, all caroling. One seems to hear words of good cheerFrom everywhere, filling the air.

Anthem “Carol of the Bells”

Oh, how they pound, raising the sound,O’er hill and dale, telling their taleGaily they ring, while people sing,Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here!Merry, Christmas! Merry, Christmas!On, on they send, on without end, Their joyful tone to every home.(final time:) Ding, dong, ding, dong.

Anthem “Carol of the Bells”

Lighting the Advent Candle

Peace

“Do You Hear What I Hear?”

N. Regney & G. Shayne

Adult Choir, and flutists with percussionists Mark Miller and Mindy Way Johnson

December 22, 2019

Anthem

Do You Hear What I Hear?” is one of the most popular Christmas songs of the 20th

century. This choral setting by Harry Simeone has attained classic status in the US. The percussion instruments add a delightful sparkle to an unforgettable tune.

Anthem

“Do You Hear What I Hear?”

Said the night wind to the little lamb, “Do you see what I see?’Way up in the sky, little lamb, Do you see what I see?A star dancing in the night, with a tail as big as a kite.”

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy, “Do you hear what I hear?Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy, Do you hear what I hear?A song high above the tree, with a voice as big as the sea.”

Anthem

“Do You Hear What I Hear?”

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king, “Do you know what I know? In your palace warm mighty king, Do you know what I know?A Child shivers in the cold; let us bring him silver and gold.

Said the king to the people everywhere, “Listen to what I say!Pray for peace, people everywhere, Listen to what I say!The Child sleeping in the night; he will bring us goodness and light.”

Anthem

“Do You Hear What I Hear?”

Heritage Ringers

“Christmas Collage”arr. Valerie Stephenson

December 22, 2019

PRAYER OF INVITATION

Our lives are cluttered,

Lord Jesus, by too many

things and too much to

do. We are driven by

the need to succeed

and distracted by our

service.

We have often lost

our way. Forgive us.

Let us, like Mary, find

the one thing that is

needed and sit at

your feet. Amen.

Marlene Kropf, 1992. UM Worship and Songs

#96

“PEOPLE LOOK EAST”Hymn No. 202

“PEOPLE LOOK EAST”

Hymn No. 202

“Ding-Dong Merrily on High”

arr. C. Wood & D. Willcocks

Adult Choir and Flutists

Anthem

December 9, 2018

David Willcocks, the long-time music director at King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, England, published the instrumental accompaniment of “Ding-Dong Merrily” in the 1960’s, but the choral harmonization is the work of another Englishman, Charles Wood.

Anthem

“Ding-Dong Merrily on High”

Ding-dong! merrily on high in heav’n the bells are ringing:Ding-dong! verily the sky is riv’n with angel singing.Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! [Glory to God in the highest]E’en so here below, below, let steeple bells be swungen, And io, io, io, by priest and people sungenGloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

Anthem

“Ding-Dong Merrily on High”

“IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER”

Hymn No. 221

Offering

Your Giving MattersShare your Christmas offering by

mail or through the church website.

Thank you!

Heritage Ringers

“A Christmas Carillon”Margaret Tucker

December 22, 2019

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

WE ARE A PEOPLE OF PRAYER.

GO ONLINE TO SEND IN YOUR PRAYER

REQUESTS AT WWW.FAUMC.NET OR

SEND THEM TO PRAYERCHAIN@FAUMC.NET

Lord’s Prayer

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.

“I Am So Glad Each Christmas Eve”

Norwegian Carolsetting by Robert Hobby

(words by Marie Wexelsen; trans. P. Sveeggen)

(Adult Choir, Eileen Clift and Milinda Nitti, flutists;

Laura Mazhari, glockenspiel)

Anthem

December 22, 2013

I am so glad on Christmas Eve! His praises then I sing; He opens then for every child The palace of the King.And so I love each Christmas Eve, and I love Jesus too;And that he loves me ev’ry day I know so well is true. "

Anthem

“I Am So Glad Each Christmas Eve”

“I am so glad each Christmas Eve,The night of Jesus’ birth!Then like the sun the Star shone forth,And angels sang on earth.The little Child in Bethlehem,he was a King indeed!For he came down from Heaven aboveTo help a world in need.He dwells again in heaven’s realm,The Son of God today;And still he loves His little onesAnd hears them when they pray.

Anthem

“I Am So Glad Each Christmas Eve”

The childlike simplicity of the Norwegian carol “I Am so Glad” is charmingly evoked in this delightful setting by American arranger Robert Hobby. The translation was made by the long-time chairman of Augsburg College’s English department. The glockenspiel adds a festive touch to the setting.

Anthem“I Am So Glad Each

Christmas Eve”

SCRIPTURE - LUKE 1:26-38 (NRSV)

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a

town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man

whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name

was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored

one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his

words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have

found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your

womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will

be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the

Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor

David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of

his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel,

“How can this be, since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,

and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore

the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of

God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also

conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was

said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with

God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let

it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed

from her.

AdventSermon Series

A Season of Hope

“O HOLY NIGHT”

The Young BandLed by Pastor Jin Hur

“ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH”

Hymn No. 238

“ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH””

Hymn No. 238

BENEDICTION

GO IN PEACE. HAVE A BLESSED WEEK.

STAY SAFE. STAY HOME.BE WELL.

CCLI CHURCH COPYRIGHT LICENSE 11391596 DMCCLI STREAM LICENSE CSPL136559 DMONE LICENSE A-717634

Music Director and Organist - Steve RosenbergHeritage Ringers Director – Mindy Way-Johnson“People Look East,” “In the Bleak Midwinter,” and “Angels We Have Heard On High” Hymn Vocal Leader: Pastor Jin Hur“O Holy Night” The Young Band, led by Pastor JinLiturgist: Rob KelleyAdvent Candle Lighters: The Hur family

www.faumc.net

THANK YOU FOR LEADING WORSHIP:

POSTLUDE“Tell Out My Soul” arr. Paul Manz

The postlude is a setting by Paul Manz of the Magnificat, using the tune No. 200 in The Hymnal. The Magnificat, Mary’s hymn of praise, is one of the traditional Advent readings. An original motif featuring sequences based on the opening line of the hymn tune frames a straightforward statement of the tune.