Sunday Worship Service
December 1, 2024 – 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 email Pastor Jinwoo at pastor@saint-matthews.org. We would love to stay in contact with you. Thank you.
CALL TO GOD’S FORGIVING LOVE
OPENING SONG
Prelude by J.S. Bach
CALL TO WORSHIP (ADVENT WREATH CANDLE LIGHTING)
Leader: In a weary and worn world, how do we begin again? Where do we start?
People: Let us begin with the good news! Let us begin by trusting that we are a blessing, loved by a gracious God. Let us begin with warmth and welcome. Let us begin with hope.
Leader: Yes, let us begin with hope. Today we light the candle of hope to shine a light in a worn and weary world.
People: May this be our foundation. May this be our fresh start. May this be our new beginning.
All: May hope flow forth from here. Amen!
OPENING PRAYER
† SONG – Together
O Little Town of Bethlehem – UM Hymnal (blue book) #230
CHILDREN’S TIME WITH A MESSAGE FOR ALL AGES
We are TRANSFORMED by the Word of God
SCRIPTURE READING
Isaiah 43:1b-7; Luke 1:26-38
GOOD NEWS
You Are a Blessing
† SONG – Together
View the Present through the Promise – Worship & Song (green book) #3048
THE HOLY COMMUNION (The Communion bread is gluten, egg, and dairy free)
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
RESPONSE TO GOD’S GRACE
Pastor: We believe in a blessing God who calls us Beloved.
People: We believe that this blessing showed up in the life of Mary, and was also bestowed upon the hemorrhaging woman, the poor in spirit, the strong and the weak, the abled, the disabled, the faithful and the doubting… all God’s people.
Pastor: So in faith, we trust that God’s blessing, like ripples on the water, forever reaches toward us.
People: And with wild hope, we believe that because of this blessing, we are covered in love.
All: We are more than enough. Thanks be to God! Amen.
OFFERTORY (Come forward to light a candle in honor of the saints you commemorate.)
Savior of the Nations Come arr. Jason Krug
BLESSING FOOD MINISTRY
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
Shalom to You – UM Hymnal (blue book) #666
Shalom to you now, shalom, my friends. May God’s full mercies bless you, my friends.
In all your living and through your loving, Christ be your shalom, Christ be your shalom.
Christ be your shalom, Christ be your shalom.
CLOSING SONG
People Look East arr. Linda Lamb