Encountering the Messiah - “A Voice in the Wilderness”
*Please stand in body or in spirit. Congregational responses are in bold and preceded by "All"
GATHERING
Welcome and Announcements
Invitation and Sharing of Peace
Peace be with you. And also with you.
Prelude
Lighting of the Altar Candles
Call to Worship (Clergy Stuff)
LEADER: God forgives us all our wrongdoing.
ALL: We come into God’s presence with joy.
LEADER: God forgives us our injustice and dishonesty.
ALL: We come into God’s presence with joy.
Opening Prayer (Clergy Stuff)
All: God of justice, In the wilderness of our modern time, where so much is chaotic and confusing, open our ears to the voice crying out “prepare the way!” that we might always turn our hearts away from the clamors of the world and once again center our lives on Jesus, our source and redeemer. In his holy name we pray. Amen.
*Opening Song See Amid the Winter's Snow
See amid the winter’s snow
Born for us n earth below
See the Lamb of God appears
Promised from eternal years
Chorus
Hail thou ever blessed morn
Hail redemption’s happy dawn
Sing through all Jerusalem
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Lo within a manger lies
He who built the starry skies
He who throned in height sublime
Sits amid the cherubim
Chorus
Hail thou ever blessed morn
Hail redemption’s happy dawn
Sing through all Jerusalem
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Say ye holy shepherds say
What your joyful news today
Wherefore have ye left your sheep
On the lonely mountain steep
Chorus
Hail thou ever blessed morn
Hail redemption’s happy dawn
Sing through all Jerusalem
Christ is born in Bethlehem
As we watched at dead of night
Lo we saw a wondrous light
Angels singing peace on earth
Told us of the Saviour’s birth
Chorus
Hail thou ever blessed morn
Hail redemption’s happy dawn
Sing through all Jerusalem
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Sacred infant all divine
What a tender love was Thine
Thus to come from highest bliss
Down to such a world as this
Chorus
Hail thou ever blessed morn
Hail redemption’s happy dawn
Sing through all Jerusalem
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Teach O teach us holy Child
By Thy face so meek and mild
Teach us to resemble Thee
In Thy sweet humility
Chorus
Hail thou ever blessed morn
Hail redemption’s happy dawn
Sing through all Jerusalem
Christ is born in Bethlehem
LISTENING
Scripture Reading John 1:19-34
This is the Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.
Carol: Click here for options and lyrics
Message for All Ages
Carol: Click here for options and lyrics
Sermon “A Voice in the Wilderness” Rev. DV Yost
Discussion Questions:
- Who was God to you when you were a Child?
- What holiday on the church calendar is your favorite & why? (advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday, Pentecost, All Saints Sunday, Christ the King Sunday, etc)
- Is there a particular time in your past that you noticed God at work in your life?
RESPONDING
*Sermon Song Love Came Down at Christmas (UMH 242)
1. Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas;
star and angels gave the sign.
2. Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, Love divine;
worship we our Jesus,
but wherewith for sacred sign?
3. Love shall be our token;
love be yours and love be mine;
love to God and all men,
love for plea and gift and sign.
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Prayers of the People |
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God who was, and is, and is to come, we lift our prayers to you.
*The Lord’s Prayer (Spoken)
All: 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
Offertory Craig Nickerson, Organist
*Offering Response Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow (UMH 94)
Prayer of Dedication (Clergy Stuff)
All: Merciful God, in a reflection of your generosity to us, we offer here these gifts of ourselves, our abilities, and our financial resources. Bless them that they might be a testimony to the transforming love of Jesus Christ in a deeply hurting world. Amen
SENDING
*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.
1. While shepherds kept their watching
o’er silent flocks by night,
behold throughout the heavens
there shown a holy light.
Refrain
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere;
go, tell it on the mountain,
that Jesus Christ is born.
2. The shepherds feared and trembled,
when lo! above the earth,
rang out the angel chorus
that hailed the Savior’s birth.
Refrain
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere;
go, tell it on the mountain,
that Jesus Christ is born.
3. Down in a lowly manger
the humble Christ was born,
and God sent us salvation
that blessed Christmas morn.
Refrain
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere;
go, tell it on the mountain,
that Jesus Christ is born.
*Benediction
Benediction Response
Postlude Tad Wolfe, Solo
Next Week
Encountering the Messiah - "Jesus Says Come and See"
January 4, 2026, John 1:35-51
- THRIFT STORE HOLIDAY SCHEDULE:
We will be closed through January 10, 2026. The store will reopen for donations on Tuesday, January 13, and for shopping on Thursday, January 15, 2026. - BACKPACK BUDDIES:
December’s food items are Individual Servings of Instant Oatmeal, and dry cereal or any item listed on the shopping list. If you find it difficult to shop, you may send a monetary donation to the church or place your donation in the offering plate on any Sunday. Please mark your gift, “Backpack Buddies”.
- This Week at Arnolia
- Thursday, January 1, 2026 HAPPY NEW YEAR!
- Sunday, January 4, 2026: 10 AM Wesleyan Covenant and Epiphany Worship Service
While our staff enjoys some time with their family,
the church office will close through January 4.
Voicemail will be checked daily.
Copyrights
See Amid the Winter's Snow - separate sheet music - Public Domain
Love Came Down at Christmas - UMH 242 - Public Domain
Go, Tell It on the Mountain, Words by John W. Work, Jr, Music adapted by William Farley Smith and © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House, UMH 251, CCLI #3063235
Used by Permission. CCLI Church Copyright License Number: 1684333 and Streaming License Number: 20155039.
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