Sunday Worship Service
December 10, 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
Let All Mortal Flesh Be Silent
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Today, we light the Advent candles of HOPE and PEACE. (Light the candles)
Family of faith, one of the greatest joys of worship is that it is not a solo act. We gather together. We find joy, and God, in the act of connection. So as we begin our worship, I invite you to turn and face someone you are close to so that you can see one another. Now repeat these phrases after me:
Welcome to worship.
People: Welcome to worship.
Leader: I am glad you’re here.
People: I am glad you’re here.
Leader: Surely God is in this space.
People: Surely God is in this space.
Leader: I see God in your face.
People: I see God in your face.
Leader: Let us worship together.
People: Let us worship together. Amen.
CHILDREN’S TIME WITH A MESSAGE FOR ALL AGES
OPENING PRAYER
† SONG – Together
Star-Child – Faith We Sing (black book) # 2095
We are TRANSFORMED by the Word of God
SCRIPTURE READING
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Luke 1:39-45
GOOD NEWS
We Find Joy in Connection
† SONG – Together
Love Has Come – Worship & Song (green book) # 3059
HOLY COMMUNION
The Great Thanksgiving in Music – UM Hymnal (blue book) # 17-18
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
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.)
Noel Intrada by Robert Sterling,
PRAYING TOGETHER
THE LORD’S PRAYER UM Hymnal (blue book) # 895
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
Advent Celebration by Mark Patterson