falling in love in a quite absolute, final way.

GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 1:18-25

Quote for Reflection: What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, Here is how the birth of Yeshua the Messiah took place:
the things in my life
 will affect everything. When his mother Miryam was engaged to Yosef, before they
to which i have said no over and over It will decide were married, she was found to be pregnant from the Ruach
before relinquishing to a faint, reluctantly inevitable ‘yes’
 what will get you out of bed in the morning, HaKodesh (Holy Spirit). Her husband-to-be, Yosef, was a man
have been the best (by far)
 what you will do with your evenings, who did what was right; so he made plans to break the
things i’ve done. engagement quietly, rather than put her to public shame. But
Cheryl Laurie how you will spend your weekends,
while he was thinking about this, an angel of Adonai (the
what you read, who you know,
Lord) appeared to him in a dream and said, “Yosef, son of
what breaks your heart, David, do not be afraid to take Miryam home with you as
We Gather as God’s People and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.

Fall in love,
your wife; for what has been conceived in her is from the
Ruach HaKodesh. She will give birth to a son, and you are to
CAROL O Come, O Come, Emmanuel UMH 211, v.3-4 stay in love, name him Yeshua, [which means ‘Yahweh saves,’] because he
and it will decide everything. will save his people from their sins.”
CALL TO WORSHIP All this happened in order to fulfill what Adonai had said
It is Advent;
we listen for God’s voice.
We Listen for God’s Word through the prophet,
The virgin will conceive and bear a son,
Like the soft whisper of a little child HEBREW SCRIPTURE Isaiah 42:1-9 and they will call him ‘Immanu El.’
singing to herself before anyone else in the house is awake, Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
 (The name means, “God is with us.”)
ever so gently, God's voice cradles us my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
 When Yosef awoke he did what the angel of Adonai had told
with songs of wonder and awe. I have put my spirit upon him; him to do — he took Miryam home to be his wife, but he did
With the persistence of teenagers and young adults, he will bring forth justice to the nations. not have sexual relations with her until she had given birth to
heady with the newfound freedom of questioning everything, He will not cry or lift up his voice,
 a son, and he named him Yeshua.
God's voice rumbles like a river through our lives, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break,

sweeping away all the boundaries between us. and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;

he will faithfully bring forth justice. We Respond to God’s Word
Like the grandpa who passes on the secret to his bread,
like the nana who teaches her grandkids how to drive, He will not grow faint or be crushed
 REFLECTION Nightmares to Dreams
until he has established justice in the earth;

God's voice is always reminding us
and the coastlands wait for his teaching. HYMN Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming UMH 216
that even in our waiting
we are known, precious, beloved. Thus says God, the Lord,

who created the heavens and stretched them out,
 PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER
Let us worship God!
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

who gives breath to the people upon it
 OFFERING AND DOXOLOGY
CAROL God Almighty, We Are Waiting W&S 3047
and spirit to those who walk in it:
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PASSING THE PEACE I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,

God of All, may all that we offer of ourselves and possessions
I have taken you by the hand and kept you;

I have given you as a covenant to the people,
 allow your church to bring light to darkness,
YOUNG PEOPLE’S MESSAGE
a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind,
 comfort to pain, and hope to despair.
LIGHTING THE THIRD ADVENT CANDLE to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
 God of all, use these and use us this day and always. Amen.
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS
Thatsney & Brodie Mitchinson
I am the Lord, that is my name;

my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols.
We Are Sent Into God’s World
See, the former things have come to pass,
 ANNOUNCEMENTS
TAIZÉ Wait for the Lord W&S 3049 and new things I now declare;

before they spring forth, I tell you of them. BENEDICTION
OPENING TO GOD Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J. RESPONSE Rejoice! Rejoice! UMH 211
Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, CAROL Toda la Tierra UMH 210 Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
 Announcements Essex Eats Out Schedule

We’ll be locking the doors to the fellowship hall when the children go Dec 21 - St James Dec 28 - EUMC Jan 4 - 1st Cong.
Jan 11 - Holy Family Jan 18 - St James Jan 25 - EUMC

Nightmares
to Sunday School. Please arrive by 10 am if you need the elevator.
Entry will be via the front doors after that time.
Ushers & Greeters. We are going to try something new. Instead of Here are people, places, & concerns folk have recently lifted

to Dreams
the office manager assigning weeks for this, we are going to have a up. Please keep them in your prayers at home.
sign-up sheet. Please pick a week that works for you. If you have Please call or email the church office to add to the prayer list.
never greeted or ushered, now is the time. It’s very easy, no prior
experience required. Ongoing Prayers Ongoing Prayers, cont
Snow Shoveling. Please sign up to keep our steps clear of snow. Arlitha Lenore
Food Shelf. January is EUMC month to provide helpers for the food Callie Michael Parker
shelf. Please mark the date, January 19. There are lots of different jobs Grace Naylor Keenan
assisting the clients as they choose their groceries, move around the Anne Kennison
tables & carry things out to their vehicles. Good Shepherd Lutheran Gloria McKeen Lifted Up Last Sunday
Church, rte 15, Jericho. Park across the street at Clark’s Truck Center. Mary Willard Morse family, hoping for good news
Norma Strickland Community & friends as they mourn
Calendar Judy & Diezela passing of Andrew Black
Matthew C. Ken S - difficult week, struggles of
Mon, 17 Dec: No Living the Questions class. Will Resume Jan 7.
Elissa & Leif single parent of young children
Tue, 18 Dec: Mitch must be at a NEAC BOOM meeting in Boston. Greg Family of MMU student who passed
Regretfully, there will be no Nest, office hours, or Paula DeMichele away
Mansfield Bible Study. Don Strickland Jody - students taking exams
Ellie Uckele
Wed, 19 Dec: Advent Meditation Service 7 pm June - family of Grace Naylor who
Cole passed away, thankful for her life &
Sun, 23 Dec: Children’s Christmas Pageant, 10 am Harley that she is at peace
Gordon Mitchinson Dawn, in hospital with blood clots
Mon, 24 Dec: Family Christmas Eve Service, 4:30 pm Susan Sears family on passing of Rev. Sears,
Traditional Lesson & Carols, 8:00 pm Tim former pastor at Grace UMC

Tue, 25 Dec: Merry Christmas! No Nest, office hours, or

Mansfield Bible Study.
z
Thu, 27 Dec: Office Hours 9:00 a.m.

Fri, 28 Dec: Essex Eats Out at EUMC, 5:30 pm Essex Center United Methodist Church Joseph by Sandra Bierman
essex_umc@comcast.net tel. 878-8304
Sun, 30 Dec: Celtic Prayer Service, 10 am www.essexumc.com
Ministers: the entire congregation Lay Leader: Joshua Knox

Essex Center
Equipping Pastor: Rev. V. Mitchell Hay
Mon, 7 Jan: Living the Questions ReBoot in Parlor, 7 pm. cell tel. 881-3268 (feel free to call) mitchellhay@comcast.net
Tue, 9 Jan: Administrative Board, 7 pm Office Manager: Heidi Evans
Mon, 14 Jan:
Tue, 15 Jan:
Monday Companions at Eve’s home, 7 pm.
Trustees Meeting, 7 pm.
Organ: Kathryn Parker
Song Leader: Dana Thomas
Piano: June Packard
Projection: Sam Evans
United Methodist Church
Thu, 17 Jan: Food Shelf Set Up, 6:30 pm GSLC Greeter - Gil & Barb Myers
Ushers - Art & Susan Bristol, Wes Bristol 16 December 2018 Third Sunday of Advent
Sat, 19 Jan: Food Shelf Distribution, 9:00 am GSLC
 Christmas Poinsettias
In Honor of:
Greg & Jessie Churchill
Emily & Nathan McDonald
Our Aunt, Dorothy Muser
Parents
Our Church Family
Our Children & Grandchildren
in memory of:
Fred & Eleanor Guile
Loved Ones
Marjorie Young
Stanley St John
Parents
Evelyn Honywill
Edward Duff III
Wilma S. Patton, James Patton
Gary Patton, Hector Boutin
Bill & Dora Godfrey
Margaret Thompson
Edith & Edwin Parsonage
Maureen Evans, Lindsey Evans
Bud & Ruth Roberts
and Charlotte Brown
Our Loved Ones
Parents & Grandparents
Our Parents
Ruth McKearin
Christmas Poinsettias
Given by: In Honor of:
Judy McDonald Greg & Jessie Churchill
Judy McDonald Emily & Nathan McDonald
Ron & Linda Deming Our Aunt, Dorothy Muser
David & Tracy Jones Parents
Roger & Kathy Dodge Our Church Family
Wesley & Ruth Bristol Our Children & Grandchildren
Given by: in memory of:
Alison Guile Fred & Eleanor Guile
Kristine Ericksen Loved Ones
Judy McDonald Marjorie Young
Marjorie St John Stanley St John
David & Tracy Jones Parents
Eve Thorsen Evelyn Honywill
Eve Thorsen Edward Duff III
Gail Godfrey Wilma S. Patton, James Patton
Gail Godfrey Gary Patton, Hector Boutin
Gail Godfrey Bill & Dora Godfrey
Norm Thompson Margaret Thompson
The Evans Family Edith & Edwin Parsonage
The Evans Family Maureen Evans, Lindsey Evans
The Casazza Family Bud & Ruth Roberts
and Charlotte Brown
Patty & John Mitchell Our Loved Ones
Gil & Barb Myers Parents & Grandparents
Wesley & Ruth Bristol Our Parents
Midge & Ken Yates Ruth McKearin
Christmas Poinsettias
Given by: In Honor of:
Judy McDonald Greg & Jessie Churchill
Judy McDonald Emily & Nathan McDonald
Ron & Linda Deming Our Aunt, Dorothy Muser
David & Tracy Jones Parents
Roger & Kathy Dodge Our Church Family
Wesley & Ruth Bristol Our Children & Grandchildren
Given by: in memory of:
Alison Guile Fred & Eleanor Guile
Kristine Ericksen Loved Ones
Judy McDonald Marjorie Young
Marjorie St John Stanley St John
David & Tracy Jones Parents
Eve Thorsen Evelyn Honywill
Eve Thorsen Edward Duff III
Gail Godfrey Wilma S. Patton, James Patton
Gail Godfrey Gary Patton, Hector Boutin
Gail Godfrey Bill & Dora Godfrey
Norm Thompson Margaret Thompson
The Evans Family Edith & Edwin Parsonage
The Evans Family Maureen Evans, Lindsey Evans
The Casazza Family Bud & Ruth Roberts
and Charlotte Brown
Patty & John Mitchell Our Loved Ones
Gil & Barb Myers Parents & Grandparents
Wesley & Ruth Bristol Our Parents
Midge & Ken Yates Ruth McKearin
Given by:
Judy McDonald
Judy McDonald
Ron & Linda Deming
David & Tracy Jones
Roger & Kathy Dodge
Wesley & Ruth Bristol
Given by:
Alison Guile
Kristine Ericksen
Judy McDonald
Marjorie St John
David & Tracy Jones
Eve Thorsen
Eve Thorsen
Gail Godfrey
Gail Godfrey
Gail Godfrey
Norm Thompson
The Evans Family
The Evans Family
The Casazza Family
Patty & John Mitchell
Gil & Barb Myers
Wesley & Ruth Bristol
Midge & Ken Yates