ASHLAND UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

A STEPHEN MINISTRY CONGREGATION Joining Together on a Christian Journey of Love and Service

December 9, 2018

2600 Ashland Rd The Reverend Tresco E. Shannon, Pastor Office Hours: M-Thurs.: 8 am-3:30 pm Columbia, SC 29210 pastor@ashlandumc.org Telephone: 798-5350; Fax 798-6057 Phone Ext. 15

www.ashlandumc.org Worship services: The Path: 8:45AM Traditional: 11:00AM Sunday School: 9:45AM

Suzy Broadus Ryan Keith Karen Zobel Maria Anderson education@ashlandumc.org youth@ashlandumc.org finance@ashlandumc.org office@ashlandumc.org Phone Ext: 14 Phone Ext: 12 Phone Ext. 13 Phone Ext. 10

Jack Holladay Robert Neese pathmusic@ashlandumc.org music@ashlandumc.org Laura Siddons The Path, Ashland Youth Choir Traditional Worship Choir, Organist Pianist

Sunday, December 9th @ 8:45 am AND 11 am during worship No Practice Nativity, in the Sanctuary

Sunday, December 9th, 6:00 pm

Children’s Play, “A Family Christmas Sing-a-Long” Ashland Hall

Sunday, December 16th

One Service at 11 am Choir Cantata, “Appalachian Winter” by Joseph M. Martin

Sunday, December 23rd, 8:45 am

The Path Christmas Music Special

Monday, December 24th, 5:30 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

followed by a Fellowship Drop-in in Ashland Hall

Ashland United Methodist Church An Order for the Worship of God

Second Sunday in Advent December 9, 2018 11:00 A.M. The Chiming of the Hour

The chiming of the hour is a call for us to shift from conversation to silence, as we prepare our hearts and minds to worship God.

Prelude “In the Bleak Midwinter” arr. Carol Tornquist Laura Siddons, Piano

The Lighting of Altar Candles Choral Call to Worship “Comfort Ye My People” G. F. Handel

Ed Spratt, Tenor

The Presentation of the Nativity Chad Raynor, Narrator *The Hymn of Praise “People, Look East” UMH p. 202 *Invocation The Collect for Advent and The Lord’s Prayer

Eternal God, in your providence you made all ages a preparation for the kingdom of your Son. Make ready our hearts for the brightness of your blessing in Jesus Christ our Lord. In the name of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, “Our Father…”

The Lighting of the Advent Wreath Ryan, Andra and Thomas Keith

The second candle is the Bethlehem Candle, a symbol of the preparations being made to receive and cradle the Christ Child.

The Anthem “Hope and Expectation” Joseph Martin Minister: O Lord, open thou our lips. People: And our mouths shall show forth thy praise. Minister: Praise ye the Lord. People: The Lord’s name be praised. *The Act of Praise “Canticle of Zechariah” UMH p. 208 (Join in singing the Response)

*Affirmation of Faith “The Apostles’ Creed” UMH p. 881 *The Gloria Patri UMH p. 71 *The Gospel Lesson Luke 3: 1-6

Welcome!

Please sign the friendship pad when it is passed to you and pass it to your neighbor.

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.

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 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.

Doxology Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen

Remember in Prayer

Lynne Mahaffey; Mylla Markland; Bill Turner; Claire Dickerson, granddaughter of Linda Dickerson

The Call to Prayer Leader: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Leader: Let us pray. The Pastoral Prayer The Announcements The Offertory “Wonder and Worship” James Southbridge *Doxology “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” UMH p. 95 *The Hymn of Preparation “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light” UMH p. 206

Sermon “Out of the Wilderness” Rev. Tresco E. Shannon The Prayer of Christian Discipleship *The Hymn of Response “Blessed Be the God of Israel” UMH p. 209

(sung to the tune AURELIA) *The Extinguishing of the Altar Candles *The Benediction *Benediction Response “Wild and Lone the Prophet’s Voice” David White

*Postlude “Fugue in g minor” Johann Krieger

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*All who are able, please stand. Please put your cell phones on vibrate when the service begins. Hearing devices are available from the sound technician.

A nursery is provided in the education wing for infants through 3 years old.

In Memoriam Alice Ferguson Brown, mother of Richard Brown, died November 29, 2018.

Today’s Scripture

Luke 3: 1-6 NT p. 60

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

Enhancing Worship Today The narthex table for December is prepared in memory of Cliff Vaughn by Harriett Ward. Crucifer: Grant Gibson Acolytes: Caden Leysath, Jalin Gibson Altar Steward: Ginny Womack Welcome Center Advocates: Frank & Harriett Ward Greeters: Gerald & Pearl White Valet Parker: Tom Wilkinson Ushers: Sally Lowery, David Abernathy, Red Bonneau, Beth Westbury, Jimmy Smith

Gifts of Remembrances Barbara Wiedemann by Jeff & Valerie Barham, Peggy Smith Cliff Vaughn by Coyet and Sally Lowery, Jimmy & Margaret Smith Alice Brown, mother of Richard Brown, by Joye Rush, Coyet & Sally Lowery, Cornerstone SS Class, Jimmy & Margaret Smith, Bob & Mylla Markland Mother of Mike McClay by Cornerstone SS Class

Opportunities to Serve & Learn

Wednesday Suppers will Resume January 9 @ 6 p.m.

By Our Presence – 12/02/2018 The Path: 81 Traditional: 121 Total Worship: 202

SS: N/A

We will resume Wednesday suppers on January 9th

There are open dates and would love to have you and or your group help set up, cook, or clean up.

Open dates are: Feb 20, Mar 6 & 20 and Apr 3

Contact Suzy to help.

education@ashlandumc.org or 798-5350 x 14

December 9 – Youth Choir @ 4:30; MYF @ 5:30 December 16 – MYF Christmas Party @ the Harrelson House, 5:30-7:45 December 23 – Christmas Caroling, meet at Ashland @ 3:00 December 30 – No MYF January 6 – Spring Kickoff for MYF families @ 5:30

Senior High Bible Study meets Wednesdays @ 6:30 pm. Remember to bring your bibles.

All 6th - 12th graders welcome! Thoughts? Questions? Ideas?

Want to join our email list? 803.798.5350 x 12

youth@ashlandumc.org

Epworth / Family Promise GIVING TREE

Bible Studies Pastor Shannon’s bible study on the book of Acts

resumes on Wednesday, January 9th at 6:45 pm.

Starting Sunday, January 13th - Bible Study! “Are you Smarter than our Fifth Graders?”

Facilitators: Jean and Jim Smith in Room 115 from 5-6pm Be sure to bring your Bible!

Let Suzy know you are coming so we can plan seating needs.

Deadline for gifts is today Sunday,

December 9th. Monetary gifts should be

handed to the person at the tree on

Sunday morning or turned in to the

church office.

Federal tax laws require contributions

must be received or postmarked

no later than December 31, 2018 to be credited to your account in 2018.

Pledge cards may be mailed to the church office

to the attention of Karen Zobel.

Safe Sanctuary Training

Our policy has been reviewed and updated, which

means it’s time for all volunteers with children and youth (current AND new) to be trained and

background checks completed.

Training will be offered on Dec 16th at 9:45am in Ashland Hall. More training times will be offered in

the New Year as well.

We are trying to split the costs over this year’s

budget and next year’s budget and encourage you to

do the training on one of the dates in December.

New this year is that we are asking All ushers and

greeters to join us for training sessions as well.

Calling all children, youth and those who love acting.

December 9th during each worship service we will offer

our annual No Practice Nativity presentation. Meet us that morning before worship in the narthex for a

costume and directions. No practice needed!

*Items for the January newsletter are due by noon on Monday, December 17th.

Next AUMMen meeting will be January 7th at 6:30 pm,

Zorba’s Restaurant at Seven Oaks Shopping Center.