When the Holy child is born into our hearts Jesus, God who is with us now (light the

h us now (light the fifth central candle),
There is a rain of stars
A rushing of angels
A blaze of candles
This God burst into our lives.
Love is running through the streets.
We Gather as God’s People
CAROL O Come, All Ye Faithful
CALL TO WORSHIP
You, whose cupped hand contains the sea,
are born in a cave.
Your glory fills the heavens
and the manger is filled with your splendor.
Great is the amazement of this earth of ours,
that the Lord of all has come down to it,
has become a human being.
The Ancient has become a child.
The Master has become like his servants.
The King’s Son as someone despised.
Glory to God who has come to live among us.
CAROL Sing We Now of Christmas
Christ, born of the loveliest Mary,
you are with us at this time of joy.
The eternal Son of God is with us evermore.
CAROL FAVORITES first and last verse
PASSING THE PEACE
CHRIST CANDLE LIGHTING
Jesus, born of Mary (light first candle),
light up our darkness.
Jesus, proclaimed by angels (light second candle),
light up our darkness.
Jesus, worshipped by shepherds (light third candle),
light up our darkness.
Jesus, adored by wise people (light fourth candle),
light up our darkness.
Now Yosef also went up from the Galil, from the city of
light up our darkness. Natzaret, to Yehuda, to the city of David, which is called Bet
Now is born Christ the King of greatness: Lehem, because he was of the house and family of David. He
now is the time of the great Nativity. went to be enrolled with Miryam, who was engaged to him
Glow to him wood and tree; glow to him mount and sea; and who was pregnant.
glow to him land and plain;
And it happened that while they were there, the days were
Ann Weems come to him, people, and let him reign.
completed for her to give birth, and she bore a son, her
firstborn, and she wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid
YOUNG PEOPLE’S MESSAGE
him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them
in the inn.
UMH 234 CAROL Il Est Né UMH 228
CAROL Once in Royal David’s City UMH 250
St. Ephrem PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Jesus, God’s Gift of Love,
forgive the hurts I have caused.
We Respond to God’s Word
Jesus, God’s goodness,
forgive me for filling my life with things
that have no lasting good. REFLECTION Back to Business s Usual?
Jesus, truly God, truly human,
forgive me for not being my true self. CAROL In the Bleak Midwinter UMH 221
CAROL FAVORITES first and last verse
We Listen for God’s Word PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER
PALTER Psalm 96 UMH 815
OFFERTORY & DOXOLOGY
UMH 237
OPENING TO GOD
Jesus, you are the Holy Babe, the Shepherd of your flock,
the Healing Person, Pattern of goodness, We Are Sent Into God’s World
Brother of the poor, Champion of justice,
Emmanuel, God-with-us. ANNOUNCEMENTS
silence
Jesus, you are: BENEDICTION
the Glory of eternity shining now among us, The earth gave you a cave,
Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counsellor, the skies gave you a star,
Joy of angels, Friend of all. the angels gave you a song.
At this feast we will give you our love.
CAROL Angels We Have Heard on High UMH 238 The love that Mary gave her Son,
may we give to the world.
GOSPEL LESSON Luke 2 The love that you give us through your Son,
It happened in those days that a decree was sent out from may we give back to you. Amen!
Caesar Augustus to enroll the whole world. This was the first
census, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went RESPONSE What Child Is This UMH 219 vs. 1
to their own cities to be registered.
 Birthdays
Dec 30: Paige Johnsen, Jed Billado, Micah Lemmel-Hay
Jan 4: Sean & Joanne Hennessey Anniversary
Below are people, places, & concerns that folk have lifted up.
Please keep them in your prayers at home.
Please call or email the church office to add to the prayer list.
Ongoing Prayers Ongoing Prayers, cont.

Office Hours
Arlitha
Callie
Anne Kennison
Dorothy & Alex
Doug
Carolyn V, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Madeline
Celtic Christmas
Mary Willard
Tuesdays: Pastor Is In @ Nest Coffee Shop 10 am - 11:30 am Norma Strickland
Thursdays: Church Office 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm Judy & Diezel Lifted Up Last Sunday
Matthew C. Art B. - Prayers for Susan Bristol who
Elissa & Leif found out 2 of her brothers passed away
Calendar Greg this year
Paula DeMichele Bill W. - Prayers for a neighbor whose
Tue, 31 Dec: Nest, 10 am
Don Strickland son passed away after a tragic fall.
No Mansfield Bible Study
Ellie Uckele Roger - Happy Hanukkah to our Jewish
Cole friends
Thu, 2 Jan: Thursday Companions, 2 pm in Parlor
Gordon Mitchinson Claire - Jack whose mother Theresa went
Fri, 3 Jan: Office Hours 10 am Susan into Hospice. She is 90 years old
Tim Mary - Thankful Mom is here for
Sun, 5 Jan: Epiphany Sunday Don Canady Christmas
Harley Barb - For friend Kathy whose husband
Mon, 6 Jan: Monday Companions at Eve’s, 7:00 pm Michael Parker passed away 3 weeks ago.
Joyce Moore
Tue, 7 Jan: Mansfield Bible Study Resumes, 2:00 pm.

Wed, 8 Jan: The Bible Project (Animated Bible Study)

resumes. Luke-Acts. 7:00 pm.
Essex Center Un-Tied Methodist Church
Sat, 11 Jan: Lay Speakers Meeting A Reconciling Congregation
essex_umc@comcast.net tel. 878-8304
www.essexumc.com
Tue, 14 Jan: Mt. Mansfield Bible Study, 2 pm
Admin Board 7 pm Co-Lay Leaders: Joshua Knox & Donna Paffrath
Ministers: entire congregation Equipping Pastor: Mitchell Hay
cell/text: 881-3268 (feel free to call) mitchellhay@comcast.net
Sat, 18 Jan: Food Shelf. Essex UMC in charge!
Office Manager: Elissa Johnsen
Tue, 21 Jan: Trustees Mtg, 7 pm. Sunday School Coordinator: Krista Rochefort
Organ: Kathryn Parker Piano: June Packard
Tue, 28 Jan: No Nest; Clergy Cluster Mtg, St. Albans 9 am Song Leader: Dana LaClair Projection: Bob McLane

Nursery Helper Paula P next week: Jody H Essex Center

Wed 26 Feb: Ash Wednesday; Lent Begins Parent Helper: Elissa J next week: Dorothy B
Greeters: Sherry M next week: Dorothy B Un-Tied Methodist Church
Pulpit and Altar Coverings - given in memory of Ushers: Fred H & Vickie C next week: Dawn HF, Liz & David R
Peggy Thompson by Norm Thompson. 29 December 2019 First Sunday of Christmas
 Christmas Poinsettias
In Honor of:
Our Children & Grandchildren
Our Children
Rev. Robert & Carolyn Deming
Christmas Poinsettias
Given by: In Honor of:
Pat & John Mitchell Our Children & Grandchildren
Wesley & Ruth Bristol Our Children
Ron & Linda Deming Rev. Robert & Carolyn Deming
Christmas Poinsettias
Given by: In Honor of:
Pat & John Mitchell Our Children & Grandchildren
Wesley & Ruth Bristol Our Children
Ron & Linda Deming Rev. Robert & Carolyn Deming
Given by:
Pat & John Mitchell
Wesley & Ruth Bristol
Ron & Linda Deming

in memory of: Given by: in memory of: Given by: in memory of: Given by:
Stanley St John Marjorie St John Stanley St John Marjorie St John Stanley St John Marjorie St John
Parents David & Tracy Jones Parents David & Tracy Jones Parents David & Tracy Jones
Wilma Patton, James Patton Gail Godfrey Wilma Patton, James Patton Gail Godfrey Wilma Patton, James Patton Gail Godfrey
Gary Patton, Hector Boutin Gary Patton, Hector Boutin Gary Patton, Hector Boutin
Bill & Dora Godfrey Bill & Dora Godfrey Bill & Dora Godfrey
Peggy Thompson Norm Thompson Peggy Thompson Norm Thompson Peggy Thompson Norm Thompson
Edith & Edwin Parsonage The Evans Family Edith & Edwin Parsonage The Evans Family Edith & Edwin Parsonage The Evans Family
Maureen & Lindsey Evans Maureen & Lindsey Evans Maureen & Lindsey Evans
Bud & Ruth Roberts, Vickie Casazza Bud & Ruth Roberts, Vickie Casazza Bud & Ruth Roberts, Vickie Casazza
Joe Casazza, Charlotte Brown Joe Casazza, Charlotte Brown Joe Casazza, Charlotte Brown
Loved Ones Bill & Maureen Wiegner Loved Ones Bill & Maureen Wiegner Loved Ones Bill & Maureen Wiegner
Alice Crane Sally Jablonski Alice Crane Sally Jablonski Alice Crane Sally Jablonski
Sharyn Brown, Auntie Charlotte Jenna Olson Sharyn Brown, Auntie Charlotte Jenna Olson Sharyn Brown, Auntie Charlotte Jenna Olson
Margaret Bailey Gil & Barb Myers Margaret Bailey Gil & Barb Myers Margaret Bailey Gil & Barb Myers
Our Parents Wesley & Ruth Bristol Our Parents Wesley & Ruth Bristol Our Parents Wesley & Ruth Bristol
Ken Yates Midge Yates Ken Yates Midge Yates Ken Yates Midge Yates
Benjamin & Gloria McKeen Narda Carlson Benjamin & Gloria McKeen Narda Carlson Benjamin & Gloria McKeen Narda Carlson
Scott Carlson, Judy McDonald Scott Carlson, Judy McDonald Scott Carlson, Judy McDonald
Rev. Rod Entrekin The Klinedinst family Rev. Rod Entrekin The Klinedinst family Rev. Rod Entrekin The Klinedinst family
Our Parents Our Parents Our Parents