The Great Thanksgiving
he left the glory of heaven,
People of Advent, the Lord be with you!
And also with you!
People of Christmas, lift up your hearts.
We lift our hearts overwhelmed with
grace to the One who was born for us.
People of the Star, offer your songs of joy and
thanksgiving to God.
We will sing our praises to the One
who has revealed glory and hope in
the Babe of Bethlehem.
In that first moment, you spoke,
Radiant God,
and the light of creation
dispelled the thick darkness of chaos.
You whispered,
and your glory filled the skies.
You sang,
and the dust of the earth
was shaped into your image,
as you breathed life into us.
We could have lived
in grace and peace with you
for as long as the sun endures,
for as long as the moon hangs in the night sky.
But we were tempted
by the sweet taste of sin,
and overwhelmed with temptation's
wealth of cheap gifts and thrills.
The prophets were sent
to tell of your gifts
of joy and peace,
but we listened to the world's news
of success, power, achievement.
Finally, in that dark time of despair,
you sent Jesus,
your servant of salvation.
Therefore, we will join our voices
with the wise ones, as well as the foolish,
of every time and place
who forever sing of your grace:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed in the one who comes in the
name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Holy are you, God of redemption,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Overwhelmed with compassion,
to become a prisoner of sin,
so we could be set free.
Overwhelmed with hope,
he entered death's house,
to break its dark power forever.
Overwhelmed with love,
he travelled another road,
walking to Calvary,
so we might run with joy
into your waiting arms.
So, as we remember his birth,
as we prepare to journey with him this year,
we speak of that mystery called faith,
which is revealed to us through Christ:
Christ has died; Christ is risen;
Christ will come again.
Holy One of stars and sinners,
send down your Spirit of hope
upon those gathered around this Table,
and on the gifts of the bread and the cup,
that they might make us
your faithful and loving children.
Feed us with the bread of hope,
that when we leave,
we will travel another road,
to defend the weak,
to speak for the voiceless,
to assist those cast aside.
Refresh us with the sweet nectar of grace,
so we, overwhelmed with joy,
would go forth
to enter the houses
of the strangers in our midst;
to enter the despair
of the lonely and forgotten;
to enter the hearts
of everyone we meet.
And when eternity's time begins
and we are gathered around your Table,
with friends and family we loved,
with those we ignored and mistreated,
with all our sisters and brothers of grace,
we will lift our songs of glad joy to you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) 2008 Thom M. Shuman

Isaiah 9:2-6
2 The people who walked in darkness have
seen a great light; those who lived in a land
of deep darkness-- on them light has shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation, you have
increased its joy; they rejoice before you as
with joy at the harvest, as people exult when
dividing plunder. 4 For the yoke of their
burden, and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as
on the day of Midian. 5 For all the boots of
the tramping warriors and all the garments
rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the
fire.
6 For a child has been born for us, a son given
to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and
he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty
God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
John 1:1-15
In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God. All3
things came into being through him, and
without him not one thing came into being.
What has come into being 4 in him was life,
and the life was the light of all people.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the
darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a
man sent from God, whose name was John. 7
He came as a witness to testify to the light, so
that all might believe through him. 8 He
himself was not the light, but he came to
testify to the light.
9 The true light, which enlightens everyone,
was coming into the world. 10 He was in the
world, and the world came into being
through him; yet the world did not know him.
11 He came to what was his own, and his own
people did not accept him. 12 But to all who
received him, who believed in his name, he
gave power to become children of God, 13
who were born, not of blood or of the will of
the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
14And the Word became flesh and lived
among us, and we have seen his glory, the
glory as of a father's only son, full of grace
and truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried
out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who
comes after me ranks ahead of me because
he was before me.'")
John 8:12
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am
the light of the world. Whoever follows me will
never walk in darkness but will have the light
of life."
1 Peter 2:9-10
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people,
in order that you may proclaim the mighty
acts of him who called you out of darkness
into his marvelous light.
10Once you were not a people, but now you
are God's people; once you had not
received mercy, but now you have received
mercy.
Our Presence Last Week
Heights Happenings
Combined Worship (11:00) ................................................. 79
Opportunities for Fellowship, Worship, and Service
Sunday School ..................................................................... 34
Sunday, January 4
Our Stewardship Last Week 9:30a Casual Worship
9:30a Sunday School
General Fund Pledged .............................................$4,996.62
10:30a Coffee Fellowship in Allen Hall
General Fund Unpledged ....................................... $3,030.00
11:00a Traditional Worship
Loose Plate .................................................................... $24.25
7:00p NA meeting
Sunday School ............................................................. $24.00
Monday, January 5
Building & Imp / Renovation ..................................... $20.00
9:00a Prayer group
Christmas Offering (all gifts) ................................. $7,689.06
6:30p Trustees meeting (Possibilities House)
Tuesday, January 6 Epiphany of the Lord
7:30p NA meeting in the chapel
Our Stewardship YTD
2008 Budget ........................................................ $317,675.06 Wednesday, January 7
Projected YTD...................................................... $317,675.06 3:00p Youth room opens
Received YTD (thru 12/31/2008) ..................... $289,280.68 6:00p Family life dinner*
Spent YTD .............................................................$284,477.11 6:45p Youth program
6:45p Pioneer Club
Excess (Deficit) ........................................................$4,803.57
[note: there are still some 2008 expenditures to be made]
Thursday, January 8
7:30p Chancel Choir rehearsal
Apportionment Mission Giving Friday, January 9
Annual Goal .................................................. $31,077.00 5:30p Praise team set up & rehearsal
Given YTD ...................................................... $4,603.00 8:15p NA meeting
Sunday, January 11
9:30a Casual worship
Seminole Heights UMC Staff
9:30a Sunday school
Rev. T. Glenn Bosley-Mitchell ...................................... Pastor
Judy Colvin ...................................................... Music Director
10:30a Coffee fellowship
11:00a Traditional worship
Tana Bierce ............................................... Children’s Director
7:00p NA meeting
Matthew Heitz ................................................. Youth Director
Betty Jones ............................................ Office Administrator *Our Wednesday Night Supper will be “Pot Luck.” Bring
Christine Messer.......................................Financial Secretary
Lynne Bobbitt ........................................... Nursery Attendant
enough for your family and some extra to share.
Lamar Camp ............. Sunday Office & Building Coordinator
Christine Messer....................................... Preschool Director Upcoming Special Events
Jason Steere .................................................... Hymn Organist
We will have a special music program on Wednesday,
January 21 at 7:00 pm. We will be hosting screenwriter and
Telephone Extensions/Email Addresses
humorist, Jonathan Richard Cring and musician and
Church 813-236-5931 ♦ Fax 813-236-5932 conductor Janet Clazzy for an evening of music and
SeminoleHeightsUMC@hotmail.com monologue, including readings from Mr. Cring’s book,
Website: www.seminoleheightsumc.org Living a Legendary Life with original tunes performed by
Pastor’s Blog: www.shumc.org Ms Crazzy on the oboe and WX-5 Wind Machine, and
insights on the growing market for movies and art with
purpose and spirit. A free-will offering will be taken up after
Pastor—x224 ...................................... RevTGBM@gmail.com the program and copies of books, CDs, and DVDs of the
Office—x221 .................... ElizabethCarrJones@hotmail.com movies will be available for purchase.
Finance—x223 ..........................................................................
This will be an exciting evening and a great chance to invite
Music .........................................................................................
your family, neighbors, and friends to experience the
Children—x225 ................................ TGBierce@hotmail.com
Youth—x225 ................................. matts_zoo77@yahoo.com ministry and hospitality of SHUMC!
Worship info—x300 ♦♦♦♦
An intensive Small Group program will be our focus
Book Study on The Shack during Lent this year using Max Lucado’s book, 3:16 The
Numbers of Hope. We will need small group leaders,
Beginning on Tuesday, January 20th, Rev. Gaye Bosley-
persons to host, teams to help promote and organize all of
Mitchell (Gaye is Pastor Glenn’s wife) will be sharing a
our efforts in developing this ministry for our own folks and
discussion group on one of the best-selling books around,
potential new guests to our sphere of influence. An initial
The Shack written by William P. Young. The first night’s
discussion will be on Tuesday and subsequent
planning session will be held on Sunday, January 11—
right after the 11:00 worship or on Monday January 12 at
discussions on Wednesday nights from 6:45 – 8:15
7:00 pm (pick one to attend). If you want to know more,
pm. You will want to have read this book before the study
visit the website: http://maxlucado.com/316/.
begins and can read more about The Shack in Pastor Glenn’s
blog at www.shumc.org (look in the August 2008 archive).
 Our Traditional Service of Worship Our Casual Worship Sermon Notes
Epiphany Sunday 9:30 am January 4, 2009
____________________________
11:00 am January 4, 2009
*We invite those who are able, to stand during these acts of worship
Gathering Music
Singing our Call to Worship Starburst
ENTRANCE
We enter into the presence of God as we come together in the name
Opening Prayer ____________________________ An Epiphany Celebration
Children’s Time
of Christ with music and song, greetings, prayer, and praise.
Songs of Praise
Singing our Welcome
Come, Christians Join to Sing [first verse] #158
Prayer Sharing ____________________________
Morning Prayer
Prelude
Offering
Lighting of the Altar Candles
Songs of Preparation ____________________________
*Call to Worship Aaron Cole, Liturgist
Bible Readings
*Opening Prayer # 255 Isaiah 9:2-6; John 1:1-15; John 8:12; 1 Peter 2:9-10
Epiphany Artistic Message ____________________________
*Hymn of Praise #254 Starburst: A Cosmic Christmas Story
We Three Kings from Wellspring.com

PREPARATION
Message
Our Own Starburst
Dr. T. Glenn Bosley-Mitchell
____________________________
We lift our hearts and minds to God as we hear God’s Word
and we share our joys, concerns, prayers, and gifts.
____________________________
The Lord’s Supper
Old Testament Reading Songs of Dedication
Isaiah 9:2-6 Blessing
Prayer Sharing
Call to Prayer Worship Matters ____________________________
El Shaddai #123
January Ushers: Lorrie Cole, Jacob Cole, Mary Ann
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer #895
Shirbach, Jim Shirbach
A nursery for children is available on this floor—speak to
____________________________
Special Music one of our ushers. Following our 9:30 worship or our
I Wanna Hear the Angels Sing ARR. HAMBY

____________________________
Sunday School classes, all are invited downstairs to Allen
The Offering Hall for a time of coffee and fellowship.
*Doxology OLD 100TH
Our Praise Team—Matthew Heitz (leader), Jayne Braddy,
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow #95
____________________________
Amanda Brown, Judy Colvin, Nick Colvin, Bill Duvall, Larry
*Prayer of Dedication Liturgist Messer, Amanda Thurman
PROCLAMATION Family News
____________________________
The scriptures are opened to us through music and proclamation.

*Hymn of Illumination #249 Please Keep in Your Prayers…

There’s a Song in the Air Our Known Military: Scott Aiken, Tim Bonner, James
New Testament Readings
John 1:1-15; John 8:12; 1 Peter 2:9-10
Brumley, Ashlee Colvin, Tracey Edwards, Patrick
Freshwater, Daniel Goode, Shawn Bonner Grabulis, Eric
____________________________
Artistic Message Harvester, Jr., Ken Herbert, Brian McClanahan, Trevor

____________________________
Starburst: A Cosmic Christmas Story* Mott-Smith, Misty Newell, Michael Penn, John Vondruska,
*from Wellspring.com Kristen Vondruska, James Weeks
Sermon Dr. T. Glenn Bosley-Mitchell
Those shut-ins living at home or in care facilities
Our Own Starburst

THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION

____________________________
The actions of Jesus in the Upper Room are reenacted as we share Missions Message
together the Bread and the Cup
The Great Thanksgiving Insert On Wednesday, January 14th at 7:00 pm, Pastor Pedro ____________________________
Sharing of the Bread and Cup Castillo from Methodist church in Santiago de Cuba will
share with our congregation, following our Wednesday
RESPONSE
We prepare to serve in the world as we sing and receive the benediction.
Night Supper. This is a re-scheduling of the November event
after the difficulty of Pastor Castillo receiving a travel visa to
____________________________
We go into ministry with the Lord’s blessing.
come to the United States Seminole Heights United Methodist Church
____________________________
*Hymn of Sending Forth #712 Corner of Hanna and Central
The First Noel [verses 3, 4 & 5] #245 6111 North Central Avenue ♦ Tampa, FL 33604
*Benediction 813-236-5931

____________________________
*Sending Forth Congregation Rev. Dr. T. Glenn Bosley-Mitchell, Pastor
I Come with Joy [verse 5] #617
*Postlude
The Great Thanksgiving
People of Advent, the Lord be with you!
And also with you!
People of Christmas, lift up your hearts.
We lift our hearts overwhelmed with
grace to the One who was born for us.
People of the Star, offer your songs of joy and
thanksgiving to God.
We will sing our praises to the One
who has revealed glory and hope in
the Babe of Bethlehem.
In that first moment, you spoke,
Radiant God,
and the light of creation
dispelled the thick darkness of chaos.
You whispered,
and your glory filled the skies.
You sang,
and the dust of the earth
was shaped into your image,
as you breathed life into us.
We could have lived
in grace and peace with you
for as long as the sun endures,
for as long as the moon hangs in the night sky.
But we were tempted
by the sweet taste of sin,
and overwhelmed with temptation's
wealth of cheap gifts and thrills.
The prophets were sent
to tell of your gifts
of joy and peace,
but we listened to the world's news
of success, power, achievement.
Finally, in that dark time of despair,
you sent Jesus,
your servant of salvation.
Therefore, we will join our voices
with the wise ones, as well as the foolish,
of every time and place
who forever sing of your grace:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed in the one who comes in the
name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Holy are you, God of redemption,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Overwhelmed with compassion,
he left the glory of heaven,
to become a prisoner of sin,
so we could be set free.
Overwhelmed with hope,
he entered death's house,
to break its dark power forever.
Overwhelmed with love,
he travelled another road,
walking to Calvary,
so we might run with joy
into your waiting arms.
So, as we remember his birth,
as we prepare to journey with him this year,
we speak of that mystery called faith,
which is revealed to us through Christ:
Christ has died; Christ is risen;
Christ will come again.
Holy One of stars and sinners,
send down your Spirit of hope
upon those gathered around this Table,
and on the gifts of the bread and the cup,
that they might make us
your faithful and loving children.
Feed us with the bread of hope,
that when we leave,
we will travel another road,
to defend the weak,
to speak for the voiceless,
to assist those cast aside.
Refresh us with the sweet nectar of grace,
so we, overwhelmed with joy,
would go forth
to enter the houses
of the strangers in our midst;
to enter the despair
of the lonely and forgotten;
to enter the hearts
of everyone we meet.
And when eternity's time begins
and we are gathered around your Table,
with friends and family we loved,
with those we ignored and mistreated,
with all our sisters and brothers of grace,
we will lift our songs of glad joy to you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) 2008 Thom M. Shuman