We light a second candle to remind us
Quote for Reflection:
the things in my life
to which i have said no over and over
before relinquishing to a faint, reluctantly inevitable yes
have been the best (by far)
things ive done.
Cheryl Laurie
-We Gather as Gods People-
CAROL O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
CELTIC CALL TO WORSHIP
We gather; We, your people, gather,
for it is time to prepare:
angels are about to burst forth into song,
singing of the peace and hope we need.
We gather; We, your people, gather,
with expectation our guest:
for joy is inviting us to join in the dance
of the shepherds around the night fire.
We gather; We, your people, gather,
eager to begin the celebration:
people; longing to reach Bethlehem;
people; eager to kneel at the manger;
people; ready to cradle the Babe;
people; hoping to be made whole.
We gather; We, your people, gather.
CAROL God Almighty, We Are Waiting
PASSING THE PEACE
CAROL Like a Child
YOUNG PEOPLES MESSAGE
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE
The evening of the year is upon us.
We enter the darkness and wait for lights return.
We light one candle to remind us of Gods light
which has come to us all in Christ.
We open our hearts to that light,
and ask for help to shine with the brilliance of love.
not fear to receive your wife Mary; for what has been
of the light of justice in the words of the prophets begotten within her is from a Spirit, the Holy One. And she
We open our hearts to the light of justice, will bear a son, and you shall declare his name to be Jesus, for
and ask for help in making a just world. he will save his people from their sins. All this has occurred
in order that there might be fulfilled what the Lord spoke
We light a third candle to remind us of the magi,
through the prophet, saying, See:
who call us to travel beyond our comfort to find the Christ
The virgin shall conceive in her womb and shall bear a son,
We open our hearts to your light,
and they declare his name to be Emmanuel
and ask for help to carry that light into a dark world.
which, being interpreted, means, God with us. And Joseph,
three candles are lit
having risen from sleep, did as the Lords angel had bidden
All our waiting is a waiting for God. him, and received his wife. But he had no intimacy with her
UMH 211
God of our hearts, we wait for you alone. until she bore a son. And he declared his name to be Jesus.
vss. 1,2,6,7
OPENING TO GOD SGH
God of the small, the subtle, the unimportant, -We Respond to Gods Word-
God of the vague, the dark, the ambiguous, REFLECTION Dad Jokes
open my heart to your coming.
Open my eyes to the little signs, CAROL A Star Shone Bright W&S 3051
my ears to the soft murmurs.
Slow me down to listen and hear. PRAYER FOR THE WEEK Ann Weems
Keep me low to look and see. When the Holy child is born into our hearts
There is a rain of stars
Awaken me to the losses that are blessings,
the wounds that are openings, A rushing of angels
A blaze of candles
the weaknesses that are empty mangers.
You, God, burst into our lives.
Wake me from the stupor of busyness, Love is running through the streets.
the daze of desire,
to witness your drawing near, PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORDS PRAYER
to behold your presence,
OFFERING OF GIFTS & DOXOLOGY
even in this ordinary moment,
W&S 3047 this feeble prayer,
this beating heart. -We Are Sent Into Gods World-
ANNOUNCEMENTS
FWS 2092
-We Listen for Gods Word-
BENEDICTION
GOSPEL Matthew 1:18-25
Now the manner of the birth of Jesus the Anointed was this:
RESPONSE Until Jesus Comes W&S 3050
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph but, before
they had been joined, she was discovered to be pregnant from
a Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being an upright man
j
and not wishing to make a spectacle of her, resolved to
divorce her in private.
But look: As he was pondering these matters the Lords angel
appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do
 Essex Eats Out Schedule Here are people, places, & concerns folk have recently lifted up.
Dec 22 - ECUMC Dec 29 - St. Pius X Please keep them in your prayers at home.
Please call or email the church office to add to the prayer list.
Ongoing Prayers Lifted Up Last Sunday
Tim Nancy - father -in-law, Randell
Birthdays & Anniversaries
December 20 - Jan Randazzo Lenore
Michael Parker
Keenan
Judy M - Joanne & Bud
Jen - John, cancer diagnosis
Claire - Ben Broos family
Josephs dream
Announcements Arlitha Dana - moms surgery
Callie Roger - joy of Hanukkah
Heifer Project Banks are due back by Dec 31. Grace Naylor Donna, sinus infection
Anne Kennison
Directories for 2018 are available in the narthex. Girija - surgery
Gloria McKeen
Sara - mom, support growing
Mary Willard
Food Shelf Needs: Spaghetti Sauce, Peanut Butter, Mac & Sara - sister
Cheese, Canned Fruit Norma Strickland
Judy & Diezela
Prayer Cards are available on the narthex table-if you know Matthew C.
someone who you think would like to know we are thinking and Elissa & Leif
praying for them.
Greg
Cards & Calls: The following church members, who can no Paula DeMichele
longer get out, would appreciate a card or a call - Grace Naylor, Don Strickland
Anne Kennison, Gloria McKeen, Mary Willard, Norma
Strickland, Nancy Bartlett.

Calendar
Mon, 18 Dec: Monday Companions: Read to the end of The
Year of Small Things; at Eves home, 7:00 pm

Tue, 19 Dec: Pastor is In- The Nest Coffee Shop 10am - noon

Church Office noon-2:00pm

Mansfield Place Bible Study 2:00pm

Fri, 22 Dec: WoWW Widows Group at Codys 11:30 am
Essex Center United Methodist Church
essex_umc@comcast.net tel. 878-8304
Essex Eats Out at Essex UMC, 5:30 pm www.essexumc.com
Ministers: the entire congregation Lay Leader: Joshua Knox
Sun, 24 Dec: Christmas Eve Services Equipping Pastor: Rev. V. Mitchell Hay
Advent 4 Worship & Pageant 10:00 am cell tel. 881-3268 (feel free to call) mitchellhay@comcast.net
Candle Light Service 6:00 pm Office Manager: Heidi Evans
Organ: Kathryn Parker Piano: June Packard
Tue, 26 Dec: Pastor is In- The Nest Coffee Shop 10am - noon Guitar: Richard Randazzo Song Leader: Dana LaClair
Projection: Sam Evans, Bob McLane
Sun 31 Dec: Heifer Bank Collection Greeters - Norm Thompson Essex Center United Methodist Church
Ushers - Art & Susan Bristol, Wes Bristol 17December 2017 Third Sunday of Advent
Wed, 3 Jan: No Green Mountain Nursing Home Service
 Christmas Poinsettias Christmas Poinsettias Christmas Poinsettias
Given by: in honor of: Given by: in honor of: Given by: in honor of:
Roger & Kathy Dodge Mark, Deborah & Evelyn Dodge Roger & Kathy Dodge Mark, Deborah & Evelyn Dodge Roger & Kathy Dodge Mark, Deborah & Evelyn Dodge
Sarah Kepchar Janet Sarah Kepchar Janet Sarah Kepchar Janet
Wes & Ruth Bristol Our Children & Grandchildren Wes & Ruth Bristol Our Children & Grandchildren Wes & Ruth Bristol Our Children & Grandchildren
Chuck LaClair Jeremy & Dana LaClair Chuck LaClair Jeremy & Dana LaClair Chuck LaClair Jeremy & Dana LaClair
Judy McDonald Greg & Jesse Churchill Judy McDonald Greg & Jesse Churchill Judy McDonald Greg & Jesse Churchill
Judy McDonald Emily & Nathan McDonald Judy McDonald Emily & Nathan McDonald Judy McDonald Emily & Nathan McDonald
Pat & John Mitchell Our Family Pat & John Mitchell Our Family Pat & John Mitchell Our Family

in memory of: in memory of: in memory of:

Peggy White Jack White Peggy White Jack White Peggy White Jack White
Ron & Linda Deming Judy Deming Ron & Linda Deming Judy Deming Ron & Linda Deming Judy Deming
Marjorie St John Stanley St John Marjorie St John Stanley St John Marjorie St John Stanley St John
Heffernan Family Jane Elwood Heffernan Family Jane Elwood Heffernan Family Jane Elwood
Heffernan Family Kevin & Greta Heffernan Heffernan Family Kevin & Greta Heffernan Heffernan Family Kevin & Greta Heffernan
Wendy Wright Mary Moore Wendy Wright Mary Moore Wendy Wright Mary Moore
Evans Family Edith & Edwin Parsonage Evans Family Edith & Edwin Parsonage Evans Family Edith & Edwin Parsonage
Evans Family Maureen & Lindsey Evans Evans Family Maureen & Lindsey Evans Evans Family Maureen & Lindsey Evans
Mary Willard George C. and George M. Mary Willard George C. and George M. Mary Willard George C. and George M.
Willard & loved ones Willard & loved ones Willard & loved ones
Norm Thompson Peggy Thompson Norm Thompson Peggy Thompson Norm Thompson Peggy Thompson
Sally Jablonski Glen & Gene Sally Jablonski Glen & Gene Sally Jablonski Glen & Gene
Sarah Kephar Janet Sarah Kephar Janet Sarah Kephar Janet
Wes & Ruth Bristol Our Parents Wes & Ruth Bristol Our Parents Wes & Ruth Bristol Our Parents
Bill & Maureen Wiegner Loved Ones Bill & Maureen Wiegner Loved Ones Bill & Maureen Wiegner Loved Ones
Chuck LaClair Larry LaClair Chuck LaClair Larry LaClair Chuck LaClair Larry LaClair
Vickie Casazza Joe Casazza, Bud & Ruth Roberts, Vickie Casazza Joe Casazza, Bud & Ruth Roberts, Vickie Casazza Joe Casazza, Bud & Ruth Roberts,
Charlotte Brown Charlotte Brown Charlotte Brown
Judy McDonald Dick McDonald, Marjorie Young Judy McDonald Dick McDonald, Marjorie Young Judy McDonald Dick McDonald, Marjorie Young
Gail Godfrey Wilma Patton, Gary & Jim Patton Gail Godfrey Wilma Patton, Gary & Jim Patton Gail Godfrey Wilma Patton, Gary & Jim Patton
Gail Godfrey Hector Boutin, Bill Godfrey Gail Godfrey Hector Boutin, Bill Godfrey Gail Godfrey Hector Boutin, Bill Godfrey
Claire Noble Douglas & Grace Jewett Claire Noble Douglas & Grace Jewett Claire Noble Douglas & Grace Jewett
Joe & Sherry Marcoux The Marcoux family & Joe & Sherry Marcoux The Marcoux family & Joe & Sherry Marcoux The Marcoux family &
The Sheltra family The Sheltra family The Sheltra family
Nancy Nye & Barbara Hartshorn Richard & Irene Wood Nancy Nye & Barbara Hartshorn Richard & Irene Wood Nancy Nye & Barbara Hartshorn Richard & Irene Wood