Sunday Worship Service
December 17, 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
Little Snowflake, Go Tell it on the Mountain
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Today, we light the Advent candles of HOPE, PEACE, and JOY. (Light the candles.) How does a weary world rejoice?
People: We sing songs of hope.
Leader: We sing the stories of the hope God has brought into our lives.
People: We allow hope to change us, to strengthen us. We resist the temptation to give up or give in.
Leader: We hope.
People: Against all odds, we hope.
Leader: This is the day that the Lord is still making.
All: Let us worship our God together. Amen.
OPENING PRAYER
† SONG – Together
There’s a Song in the Air – UM Hymnal (blue book) # 249
CHILDREN’S TIME WITH A MESSAGE FOR ALL AGES
We are TRANSFORMED by the Word of God
SCRIPTURE READING
1 Samuel 2:1-10; Luke 1:46-55
GOOD NEWS
We Sing Stories of Hope
† SONG – Together
O Little Town of Bethlehem – UM Hymnal (blue book) # 230
THE HOLY COMMUNION
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.)
Christmas is Coming by Joel Raney
PRAYING TOGETHER
THE LORD’S PRAYER IN MUSIC Worship & Song (green book) # 3070
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
Wexford Carol arranged by Jason Krug