1st Sunday in Advent

Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas

November 28, 2021 / 11:00 a.m.
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CHIMING OF THE HOUR

WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS Dr. Steve Pulliam

OPENING VOLUNTARY Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus Linda McKechnie

(with J.S. Bach’s Two Part Invention #8)
Frode Gundersen, piano & Scott Montgomery, organ

* CALL TO WORSHIP Rev. Greg Gibson

Pastor: We light the first candle of the Advent wreath
as a symbol of Christ our Hope.
People: May the light sent from God shine in the darkness,
to show us the way of salvation!
All: O come, O come, Emmanuel!

* OPENING HYMN 211 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel VENI EMMANUEL

1. O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
2. O come, thou Wisdom from on high, and order all things far and nigh;
to us the path of knowledge show and cause us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
3. O come, thou Root of Jesse’s tree, an ensign of thy people be;
before thee rulers silent fall; all peoples on thy mercy call.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
4. O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thy justice here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (The Apostles’ Creed)

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

* GLORIA PATRI 70 MEINEKE

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

SOLO Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming arr. David Maddux

Missy Kincaid, soprano
 CALL TO PRAYER Rev. Greg Gibson
As we prepare ourselves during this time of Advent, let us go to God in prayer.

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Lord Christ,
while we confess our willingness to be loved, but our reluctance to love.
We confess our readiness to accept your forgiving love, but our refusal to forgive.
We confess our eagerness to grasp your offer of redeeming love,
but also our resistance to follow you without question.
In this Advent time, forgive us our failure to respond as we should.
Come to us anew, and by your grace, assist us to receive you with joy and with love,
just as you have loved us. Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

PASTORAL PRAYER

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT Local Mission Partners

GIVING OF OUR TITHES & OFFERING

OFFERTORY Savior of the Nations, Come arr. J.S. Bach

Scott Montgomery, organ

* DOXOLOGY 95 OLD 100th

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. Praise him, all creatures here below.
Praise him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

* SCRIPTURE LESSON Luke 1:5-25

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah;
his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the
Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they
were both very old. Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen
by lot,according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time
for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him,
he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been
heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many
will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented
drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the
Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their
children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you
this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe
my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering
why he stayed so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in
the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. When his time of service was completed, he
returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. “The Lord has
done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

This is the Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.
 SERMON Characters of Christmas: Dr. Steve Pulliam
GABRIEL

* CLOSING HYMN 213 Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates TRURO

1. Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates;
behold, the King of glory waits;
the King of kings is drawing near;
the Saviour of the world is here!
2. Fling wide the portals of your heart;
make it a temple, set apart
from earthly use for heaven's employ,
adorned with prayer and love and joy.
3. Redeemer, come, with us abide;
our hearts to thee we open wide;
let us thy inner presence feel;
thy grace and love in us reveal.
4. Thy Holy Spirit lead us on
until our glorious goal is won;
eternal praise, eternal fame
be offered, Savior, to thy name!

BENEDICTION

CLOSING VOLUNTARY People Look East arr. Kristina Langlois

Scott Montgomery, organ

(*) The asterisk indicates to please stand, as you are able.

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USHERS & ACOLYTES

Ron Childers; Blake Childers; Barbara Prichard; Charles Duell; Robert Bacon; Tammy Cable; Jim Kane; Tom Williams
Confirmation Ushers: Marly Wright & Hayden Stewart; Acolytes: Giuliana Sikes & Sophia Anne Sikes

GUEST REGISTRATION
We welcome our many guests and church members to today’s worship service!
If you would like to connect to any of our numerous small groups and activites offered here at Central,
please scan the QR code and sign-up for additional information and our weekly Newsletter.

CENTRAL CHRISTMAS CARDS

On Sale Today in the CAC ($20 Packs of 10)
Give your Christmas greeting card a personal touch this year. Inspired by Christmas Eve candlelight services,
artist Nancy Scott captures Central's Sanctuary in all of its Christmas Eve glory. By sharing the beauty of Central with
friends and family, you will also be lifting up a local ministry. All proceeds will go to Good S.A.M. Christmas Families.
Limited quantities are available. Purchases can be made in person in the CAC south foyer on Sunday morning Nov 21 & 28,
or purchases can be made online. All online orders need to be picked up in the church office.

A FESTIVAL OF LESSONS & CAROLS

featuring Central’s Chancel Choir & Instrumentalists
Sunday, December 12, 2021
9:15 & 11:00 a.m