Sunday Worship Service
December 3, 2023 – 10:30am
We are RECEIVED as the Beloved of God
The actual worship service begins 15 minutes into the recordings.
WELCOME
Welcome! We are grateful that God has brought us together. If you are a first time visitor, please send Pastor Jinwoo an email at pastor@saint-matthews.org. We would love to stay in contact with you. Thank you.
OPENING SONG
Wexford Carol
Good people all, this Christmastime. Consider well and bear in mind.
What our good God for us has done, in sending his beloved Son.
With Mary holy we should pray to God with love this Christmas Day.
In Bethlehem upon that morn, there was a blessed Messiah born.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Today, we light the Advent candle of hope. In God’s house, we can be joyful.
People: We can be grateful. We can be hopeful.
Leader: In God’s house, we can be weary.
People: We can be anxious. We can be grieving.
Leader: In God’s house, we can be honest –
People: inspired or tired, delighted or doubtful, connected or curious, and everything in between.
Leader: This is God’s house. You are welcome exactly as you are.
All: Let us worship our loving God.
CHILDREN’S TIME WITH A MESSAGE FOR ALL AGES
BLESSING FUEL JARS
OPENING PRAYER
† SONG – Together
In the Bleak Midwinter – UM Hymnal (blue book) # 221
We are TRANSFORMED by the Word of God
SCRIPTURE READING
Psalm 13; Luke 1:26-38
GOOD NEWS
We Acknowledge Our Weariness
† SONG – Together
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (verses 1, 6, & 7) – UM Hymnal (blue book) # 211
THE HOLY COMMUNION
RESPONSE TO GOD’S GRACE (OFFERING)
Pastor: Gracious God, we believe in You who know the shape and form of our weariness.
People: We believe in You who want joy and delight for us, not just survival and existence.
Pastor: We bring our joy and our weariness like two sides of the same coin, and we trust that You are already at work.
People: We believe in You who are not done dreaming for the world, who send hope in the form of people and change, movements and Spirit.
All: So we decide to participate in Your ministry in and through us with our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. Thanks be to God! Amen.
OFFERING (Let us count God’s blessings upon us while listening to the offertory.)
Let All the Earth be Joyful by Orazio Vecci
PRAYING TOGETHER
THE LORD’S PRAYER – UM Hymnal (blue book) # 895
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
We are SENT by the power of God
LIFE OF ST. MATTHEW’S COMMUNITY
† BLESSING AND SENDING
May the grace and peace of Christ be with you, my friends.
Go and share the love of God, love that never ends.
CLOSING SONG
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus – UM Hymnal (blue book) # 196