Christmas FOMO [Worship]

This Week’s Service:
Sunday, December 19, 2021
Fourth Sunday of Advent

The Chiming of the Hour
The Cross and Flame Come to the Altar
The Prelude: “Angels We Have Heard on High” by Dale Wood
The Opening Hymn: “Angels from the Realms of Glory”
The Affirmation of Faith: “The Apostles’ Creed”
The Gloria Patri
The Lighting of the Advent Wreath by Bobby & Amanda Baker Family
The Pastoral Prayer with The Lord’s Prayer by Rev. Dr. Buddy Cooper, Jr.
The Hymn of Preparation: “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly”
The Offertory Prayer
The Offertory: “Variations of Sussex Carol” by Raymond Haan
The Doxology
The Scripture Lesson: Luke 2:8-21
The Children’s Moment
The Anthem: “Gesu Bambino” arr. P.Yon
The Sermon: “Christmas FOMO”
Hymn of Consecration: “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”
The Flame Goes Before Us into the World
The Benediction
The Postlude: “Angels from the Realms of Glory” by Janet Linker

First Steps – December 20, 2021

The other day while walking past one of our Christmas trees, I looked down and realized that it needed more water. The tree-stand was almost empty. Naturally, I filled the stand full of water for the fourth time in a week. While pouring the water, I immediately said to myself, “Well here is a modern-day parable.”

Let me elaborate:
There once was a man who bought a Christmas tree for decoration. He came home, put the tree in the stand, and his family decorated it with beautiful ornaments and lights. Knowing that the tree was cut from its roots, the man knew that the tree would need water to keep it alive as long as possible, at least through the month of December. He knew that the tree needed the water and the moment the stand was empty the tree would die immediately. So, every time the man walked by the tree, he made sure it had plenty of water, thus keeping it alive as long as possible.

Like any parable, there might need to be an explanation:
We are like the tree, we need water to live, we have to monitor the water intake continually filling, or we will be like a dying tree where leaves fall off and we lose our beauty.

Spiritually speaking, we need the life-giving water that comes from God’s Spirit. Failure to continually fill our insides will only produce decay.
 


This Week’s Readings:
* Monday – Rev. 1 | Rev. 2 | Rev. 3 | Rev. 4
* Tuesday – Rev. 5 | Rev. 6 | Rev. 7 | Rev. 8 | Rev. 9
* Wednesday- Rev. 10 | Rev. 11 | Rev. 12 | Rev. 13 | Rev. 14
* Thursday – Rev. 15 | Rev. 16 | Rev. 17 | Rev. 18
* Friday- Rev. 19 | Rev. 20 | Rev. 21 | Rev. 22

Please Pray for:
• An end to the Covid Crisis.
• Our children as they cope with world issues.
• All ministry events inside and outside the walls of St. Paul.
• Families in crisis.
• Loved ones battling illness.
• Those seeking to find their way.
• The St. Paul Church family.
• The United Methodist Church family.
• Our leaders, our country, and our world.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6


Announcements with Laura!

Announcements with Laura!

This week, Laura gives us details about these three upcoming events:
1. SPY Christmas Party This Sunday night)
2. Christmas Eve Services times and locations: (12pm in the Illges Chapel, 4pm and 6pm in the Sanctuary.)
3. December 26th (with Biscuits and Fellowship)

We hold a current license from
Church Streaming and Podcast License
License Number: CSPL055770
http://streaming.ccli.com/

Additional License from One License #A-714141 and CCLI #2035791

Here’s How to Help with Disaster Relief

All of us have seen the devastation and horrible loss in the news.

The South Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church is immediately responding to the weekend tornado outbreak that left a deadly trail in six Midwest states. There are multiple ways you can help.

1. You can give online to the South Georgia UMC Conference. 100% of the donations will be sent to the Tennessee-Kentucky Conference. Click here to give online.

2. You can also give through a donation to St. Paul UMC, earmarked “Tornado relief”. St. Paul will  then send the money to the Administrative Services Office.

3.  Or you can mail money directly earmarked for Conference Advance Special #6798 to Administrative Services, PO Box 7227, Macon, GA 31209.

4. You may also give to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) through this link (US Disaster Response and Recovery #901670). UMCOR will be on the ground and will be assisting devastated areas.  

Finally, please keep those who experienced loss or trauma from the storms in your prayers. Suffering after a storm is unimaginable, especially during Advent and Christmas.