Fruitland United Methodist Church
December 26, 2021 – 9:00 A.M.

Prelude

Welcome
Lighting of the Candles and inviting the neighborhood to worship.

Interlude

*Call to Worship
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Calling Song “Joy to The World” UMH #246
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let all their songs employ;
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground;
he comes to make his blessings flow
far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.

Responsive Reading from Psalm 148 (The Message)
Leader: Hallelujah! Praise God from heaven, praise him from the
 mountain tops;
People: Praise him, all you his angels, praise him, all you his warriors.
Leader: Praise him sun and moon, praise him you morning stars.
People: Praise him, high heaven, praise him heavenly rain clouds;
Leader: Praise, oh let them praise the name of God!
People: He spoke the word, and there they were!
All: Hallelujah!

Invocation

Carols
 “Angels We Have Heard on High” UMH #238
Angels we have heard on high
sweetly singing o’er the plains,
and the mountains in reply
echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
which inspire your heavenly song?
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

See him in a manger laid,
whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
while our hearts in love we raise. 
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
​
 “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice” UMH #224
Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
give ye heed to what we say:
Jesus Christ was born today.
Ox and ass before him bow,
and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today!

Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
now ye hear of endless bliss:
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He has opened heaven's door,
and we are blest forevermore.
Christ was born for this!
Christ was born for this!

Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
now ye need not fear the grave:
Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all
to gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save!
Christ was born to save!

Reading The Little Match Girl
Written by Hans Christian Anderson – read by Holly Hutchinson

Old Testament Reading - Isaiah 9:2 and 6-7
New Testament Reading - Colossians 3:12-17
God’s Word for God’s People. Thanks be to God!

Stewardship Thought, Prayer

Carol “It Came upon the Midnight Clear” UMH #218
It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, good will to men,
from heaven's all-gracious King."
The world in solemn stillness lay,
to hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come
with peaceful wings unfurled,
and still their heavenly music floats
o'er all the weary world;
above its sad and lowly plains,
they bend on hovering wing,
and ever o'er its Babel sounds
the blessed angels sing.

And ye, beneath life's crushing load,
whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow,
look now! for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
and hear the angels sing!

For lo! the days are hastening on,
by prophet seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years
shall come the time foretold
when peace shall over all the earth
its ancient splendors fling,
and the whole world send back the song
which now the angels sing.
​
Church Choir
“The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy”
“Like a Child”
“O Holy Night”

Meditation, Luke 2:20

Closing Song “Go Tell It on the Mountain” UMH #251
Refrain:
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere;
go, tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born.

While shepherds kept their watching
o'er silent flocks by night,
behold, throughout the heavens
there shone a holy light. [Refrain]

The shepherds feared and trembled
when, lo! above the earth
rang out the angel chorus
that hailed our Savior's birth. [Refrain]

Down in a lowly manger
the humble Christ was born,
and God sent us salvation
that blessed Christmas morn. [Refrain]

Postlude
Thank you for Worshiping with us today!

(CCLI License #1552544)​ ​

Fruitland United Methodist Church
December 19, 2021 – 9:00 A.M.
4th Sunday of Advent

Prelude “Pat-a-Pan” by Bernard de la Monnoye

Welcome

Lighting Advent Candle and inviting the neighborhood to worship.

Interlude In the Bleak Midwinter” by Christina Rossetti and Gustav Holst, Iran Trenkel and Jim Schmid

*Call to Worship
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Calling Song “While We Are Waiting, Come”
While we are waiting, come
While we are waiting, come
Jesus our Lord, Emmanuel,
While we are waiting, come

With pow'r and glory, come
With pow'r and glory, come
Jesus our Lord, Emmanuel
With pow'r and glory, come

Come, Savior, quickly come
Come, Savior, quickly come
Jesus our Lord, Emmanuel
Come, Savior, quickly come

Responsive Reading Mary’s Song – Luke 1:46-55
Leader: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,  for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
People: Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed: for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name!
Leader: His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
People: He has shown great strength; he has scattered the proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly. 
Leader: He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.
All: He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised. 

Unison Invocation
O God of Elizabeth and Mary, you visited your servants with news of the world’s redemption in the coming of the Savior. Make our hearts leap with joy, and fill our mouths with songs of praise, that we may announce glad tidings of peace, and welcome the Christ in our midst. Amen.

Carol “Angels, from the Realms of Glory” UMH #220
Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation's story
Now proclaim Messiah's birth

Shepherds, in the field abiding,
Watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing;
Yonder shines the infant light

Come and worship, come and worship,
Come and worship, Christ the newborn king.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Come and worship, Christ the newborn king.

Choir “Children, Go Where I Send Thee”

New Testament Reading - Hebrews 10:5-10
Gospel Reading - Luke 1:39-45
God’s Word for God’s People. Thanks be to God!

Special Music “I Wonder as I Wander” by Aubrey Assad,  Jim Schmid and Iran Trenkel

Stewardship Thought, Prayer “ Joy To The World” UMH #246
Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing

Joy to the world! The Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy

Message  "O Bethlehem"   Micah 5:2-5

Commitment Carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem” UMH #230
O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by;
yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting light.
The hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary,
and, gathered all above
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King
and peace to all the earth.

How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still
the dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray,
cast out our sin and enter in,
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Immanuel!

Unison Benediction
May our Lord lead us now out of the familiar settings of doubt and fear, beyond our pride and
need to be secure, into a strange and graceful ease with this life, this time, these opportunities;
that in boundless silence we may grow strong enough to endure and flexible enough to share
the grace of God that is manifest in Jesus through whom we live and pray.

Postlude “Still, Still, Still” (a German lullaby arranged by Philip Keveren)
Thank you for Worshiping with us today!

(CCLI License #1552544)​ 

Fruitland United Methodist Church
December 12, 2021 – 9:00 A.M.
3rd Sunday of Advent

Prelude “Sheep May Safely Graze” by Johann Sebastian Bach

Welcome

Lighting the Advent Wreath & Inviting the neighborhood to worship.

Interlude “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” by Greg Sewell

*Call to Worship
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Calling Song “While We Are Waiting, Come”
While we are waiting, come
While we are waiting, come
Jesus our Lord, Emmanuel,
While we are waiting, come

With pow'r and glory, come
With pow'r and glory, come
Jesus our Lord, Emmanuel
With pow'r and glory, come

Come, Savior, quickly come
Come, Savior, quickly come
Jesus our Lord, Emmanuel
 Come, Savior, quickly come

Responsive Reading Isaiah 12:2-6
Leader: Surely God is my salvation;
People: I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord is my strength and my defense, he has become my salvation.
Leader: With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say:
People: “Give praise to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.”
Leader: Sing to the Lord for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.
All: Shout aloud and sing for joy for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.

Unison Invocation
Heavenly Father, we come as we are –
Troubled and weary, grateful and grumpy, nervy and scared, partially whole but still broken, kind of closed but wishing to be more open. Please mute whatever distractions we may have brought with us or found after we arrived. Here we are ready to encounter Jesus in whose name we pray. Amen.

Carol “O Come, All Ye Faithful” UMH #234
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold him, born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

Church Choir “The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy”

Old Testament Reading - Zephaniah 3: 14-20
New Testament Reading - Philippians 4: 4-7
God’s Word for God’s People. Thanks be to God!

Stewardship Thought, Prayer and Doxology “Joy to the World” UMH #246
​Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing

Carol “He Is Born“ UMH #228
Refrain:
He is born, the holy Child,
play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
He is born, the holy Child,
sing we all of the Savior mild.

Thru long ages of the past,
prophets have foretold his coming;
thru long ages of the past,
now the time has come at last! (Refrain)

O how lovely, O how pure
is this perfect child of heaven;
O how lovely, O how pure
gracious gift to humankind! (Refrain)
​
Jesus, Lord of all the world,
coming as a child among us,
Jesus, Lord of all the world,
grant to us thy heavenly peace. (Refrain)

Message “What Should We Do?” Luke 3: 7-18

Commitment Carol “What Child Is This?” UMH #219
What child is this who lay to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping

Refrain:
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him laud
The Babe, the Son of Mary

So bring him incense, gold and myrrh
Come peasant king to own him
The King of Kings salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone him (Refrain)

O raise, raise a song on high
His mother sings a lullaby
Joy, oh joy for Christ is born
The Babe, the son of Mary (Refrain)

​Unison Benediction from Philippians 4
(The Kingdom New Testament Translation)
Celebrate joyfully in the Lord, at all times. I’ll say it again: celebrate!
Let everybody see how gentle and gracious you are. The Lord is near.
May the grace of God, which is greater than we can ever understand,
keep guard over your hearts and minds in King Jesus.
Amen.

Postlude “O Little Town of Bethlehem” by L. H. Rende
Thank you for Worshiping with us today!

(CCLI License #1552544)​ 

Fruitland United Methodist Church
Communion Sunday and Advent #2
December 5, 2021 – 9:00 A.M.

Prelude “Gesu Bambino” Pietro Yon

Welcome

Lighting the Advent Candle & Inviting the neighborhood to worship.

Interlude
“ Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella and Still, Still, Still, weil’s Kindlein Schlafen will”

*Call to Worship
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Calling Song “While We Are Waiting”
While we are waiting, come
While we are waiting, come
Jesus our Lord, Emmanuel,
While we are waiting, come

With pow'r and glory, come
With pow'r and glory, come
Jesus our Lord Emmanuel
With pow'r and glory, come
​
Come, Savior, quickly come
Come, Savior, quickly come
Jesus our Lord Emmanuel
Come, Savior, quickly come

Responsive Reading Zechariah’s Song Luke 1: 68-75
Leader: Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He set the power of salvation for us in the house of his servant David just as he promised through the preaching of his holy prophets long ago. 
People: Deliverance from our enemies and all who hate us, showing  mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy agreement to Abraham.
Leader: That agreement to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
All: So that we might be able to serve him without fear in holiness  and righteousness before him all our days. 

Unison Invocation
Holy God, While we are waiting come…
Come and lace our songs, our shopping, our silence, and celebrations with your mystery and magnificence. Help us sense all this in the small stirrings in our hearts and in the life around us.
Help us welcome the coming Jesus in whose name we pray. Amen. 

Advent Song “He Came Down” TFWS #2085
He came down that we may have love;
He came down that we may have love;
He came down that we may have love,
Hallelujah forevermore.

He came down that we may have peace;
He came down that we may have peace;
He came down that we may have peace,
Hallelujah forevermore.

He came down that we may have joy;
He came down that we may have joy;
He came down that we may have joy,
Hallelujah forevermore.

He came down that we may have hope;
He came down that we may have hope;
He came down that we may have hope,
Hallelujah forevermore.

He came down that we may have life;
He came down that we may have life;
He came down that we may have life,
Hallelujah forevermore.

Old Testament Reading - Malachi 3: 1-4
New Testament Reading - Philippians 1 :3-6 and 9-11
God’s Word for God’s People. Thanks be to God!

Church Choir “Like A Child” Daniel Charles Damon

Message “You Call This Peace?” Luke 3: 1-6

The Communion Service
Communion Hymn “In the Bleak Midwinter” UMH #221
In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan
Earth stood hard as iron
Water like a stone
Snow had fallen
Snow on snow on snow

In the bleak midwinter
Long, long ago
Angels and Arc Angels
May have traveled there
Cherubim and Seraphim
Thronged the air

But only his Mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshiped the beloved
With a kiss
What can I give him?
Poor as I am

If I were a shepherd
I would give a lamb
If I were a wise man
I would do my part
But what I can I give him
Give him my heart

Invitation
Our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another. Let us confess our sin before God and one another.

Prayer of Confession and Pardon
Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart.
Our faith has been tested and we have stumbled.
Forgive us, we pray.
Our feet have strayed from the path of Christ and we have wandered from you.
Forgive us, we pray.
We have put our faith in the loud voices of this world, ignoring your whispers.
Forgive us, we pray.
We do want to follow Jesus, the Christ, in whose name we pray.
Amen.

Hear the good news;
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. That proves God’s love for us.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
​In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
Thanks be to God!

Bread and Cup
Guidance for the Communion Service will be provided.
After we have received the bread and the cup, please join the congregation as we pray:
Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery
in which “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
Strengthen us in mind, body and soul for the days ahead.
May your Spirit fill us as we live and pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

Unison Benediction
Be people of peace.
Let peace live in your heart and share the peace of Christ with all you meet.
Share peace by acting out of compassion and not fear.
Share peace by listening to all sides of the story.
Share peace by praying for our world.
In this Advent season, we need to see, feel, and share peace.
As you go out into the wonder of God’s creations, share peace and hope with those you
meet. Amen.

Postlude Gesu Bambino Pietro Yon
Thank you for Worshiping with us today!

(CCLI License #1552544)​