Christ loved the earth, loved it as a lover Your Word Enable us to be overcomers of fear and temptation

because it is God’s earth: Revealed through a tiny child Enable us to be victors over sin and despair
He loved it because it was created by his Father Your Word Enable us to become that which you would desire
From nothingness to be life’s temple. Alive from the beginning of all things (Silent prayer)
Welsh Poet Donald Evans And to eternity. Your Word. Amen. Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation
Circle us with the light of your presence

-We Gather as God’s People- -We Listen for God’s Word- Circle us, Lord
CAROL Once in Royal David’s City 250 Circle our family within the shelter of your outstretched arms
GOSPEL LESSON John 1 Protect them in each moment of their daily lives
In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. Protect them in the decisions that they face
CALL TO WORSHIP The Word was with God and was truly God.
Let the just rejoice, Protect their homes and relationships
From the very beginning the Word was with God. (Silent prayer)
for their justifier is born. And with this Word, God created all things.
Let the sick and infirm rejoice, Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation
Nothing was made without the Word. Circle our families with the light of your presence
For their Saviour is born. Everything that was created received its life from him,
Let the captives rejoice,   and his life gave light to everyone.
For their Redeemer is born. Circle us, Lord
The light keeps shining in the dark,
Let the enslaved rejoice, Circle this land with love and hope
   and darkness has never put it out.
for their Liberator is born. Create a desire to listen to Bethlehem’s message
The true light that shines on everyone
Let the free rejoice, Create a willingness to understand and respond
   was coming into the world.
For the source of Freedom is born. Create a need to reach out to the Christ Child
The Word was in the world, but no one knew him,
(Silent prayer)
Let All Christians rejoice,    though God had made the world with the Word.
Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation
For Jesus Christ is born. He came into his own world, but the nations
Circle our land with the light of your presence
   did not welcome him.
SPIRITUAL Go Tell It on the Mountain 251 Yet some people accepted him and put their faith in him.
Circle us, Lord
   So he gave them the right to be the children of God.
Circle this world with the joy of your Salvation
PASSING THE PEACE, SHARING OF QUESTIONS They were not God's children by nature
Where there is sickness and disease bring healing
   or because of any human desires.
Where there is hunger and despair bring hope
HYMN O Sing a Song of Bethlehem 179 God own self made them children of God.
Where there is torture and oppression bring release
The Word became a human being
(Silent prayer)
OPENING TO GOD    and lived here with us.
Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation
From the very beginning was We saw his true glory, the glory of the only Son
Circle this world with the light of your presence
Your Word    of the Father.
Which spoke this world into being From him all the kindness and all the truth of God
   have come down to us. THE LORD’S PRAYER
Your Word
Which thunders from the skies OFFERING & DOXOLOGY UMH 94
Your Word
Which flows like mountain streams -We Respond to God’s Word-
Your Word REFLECTION Christmas (and any other) Questions
Which whispers in morning breeze
-We Scatter to ServE-
Your Word ANNOUNCEMENTS
HYMN I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light 206
BENEDICTION
Revealed through poets and prophets
Deep peace of the running wave to you
Your Word PRAYER
Deep peace of the flowing air to you
Revealed through angels’ praise Circle us, Lord
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you
Your Word Circle us with the light of your presence,
Deep peace of the shining stars to you
Revealed in humble service bright within this dark word
Deep peace of the Son of peace to you
 Announcements
We’ll be locking the doors to the fellowship hall when the children go
to Sunday School. Please arrive by 10 am if you need the elevator.
Entry will be via the front doors after that time.
Ushers & Greeters. A Sign-up sheet is going around. Please pick a
week that works for you. If you have never greeted or ushered, now is
the time. It’s very easy, no prior experience required.
Call to Prayer and Self-Denial Lunch at Grace UMC on Monday,
14 Jan. Please call Judy McDonald (879-1555) by 8 Jan if attending.
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Dec 30 - Micah Lemmel-Hay, Paige Johnsen
Jan 1 - Linda Deming Jan 3 - Claire Noble
Jan 4 - Joanne & Sean Hennessey Anniversary
Here are people, places, & concerns folk have recently lifted
up. Please keep them in your prayers at home.
Please call or email the church office to add to the prayer list.

Ongoing Prayers Ongoing Prayers, cont

Arlitha Lenore
Calendar Callie Michael Parker
All Tuesdays: Pastor Is In @ Nest Coffee Shop 10 am - noon Anne Kennison Keenan
Church Office noon- 2 pm Gloria McKeen
Mt Mansfield Bible Study 2 pm Mary Willard Lifted Up Last Sunday
All Thursdays: Church Office 10:00 am- noon Norma Strickland Fred - Molly, lupus issue

z Judy & Diezela Midge - Dawn

Matthew C.
Tue, 1 Jan: Happy New Year! No Nest, office hours, or Jennifer Lehauk
Elissa & Leif
Mansfield Bible Study. Nancy - family of Eileen Fleiter, who
Greg passed away
Mon, 7 Jan: Living the Questions ReBoot in Parlor, 7 pm. Paula DeMichele
Nancy - Nick, diagnosed with liver
Don Strickland cancer
Tue, 8 Jan: Administrative Board, 7 pm Ellie Uckele
Judy - brother, Bob, pneumonia
Cole
Mon, 14 Jan: Monday Companions at Eve’s home, 7 pm. Jody - friend, Peter, health issues
Harley
Barb - sister, struggles after divorce
Tue, 15 Jan: Mt Mansfield- Concert, no Bible Study Gordon Mitchinson
Trustees Meeting, 7 pm. Susan Barb - parents, worries for sister
Tim Craig - Elyse, baby born 12 week early.
Thu, 17 Jan: Food Shelf Set Up, 6:30 pm GSLC

Sat, 19 Jan: Food Shelf Distribution, 9:00 am. January is EUMC’s

month to provide helpers for the food shelf. Good Shepherd Lutheran
Church, rte 15, Jericho. Park across the street at Clark’s Truck Center. Essex Center United Methodist Church
essex_umc@comcast.net tel. 878-8304
Tue, 22 Jan: Pastor-Parish Relations Committee 7:00 pm www.essexumc.com
Ministers: the entire congregation Lay Leader: Joshua Knox
Equipping Pastor: Rev. V. Mitchell Hay
cell tel. 881-3268 (feel free to call) mitchellhay@comcast.net

Essex Eats Out Schedule

Office Manager: Heidi Evans/Elissa Johnsen
Organ: Kathryn Parker Piano: June Packard
Essex Center
Jan 4 - 1st Cong. Jan 11 - Holy Family Song Leader: Dana Thomas Projection: Sam Evans
Greeter - Bob McLane
United Methodist Church
Jan 18 - St James Jan 25 - EUMC Ushers - Craig & Heidi Evans, Judy Wright First Sunday of Christmas
 Celtic Prayer for the Week Celtic Prayer for the Week Celtic Prayer for the Week
In the beginning, Lord In the beginning, Lord In the beginning, Lord
I was alone I was alone I was alone
Like the earth Like the earth Like the earth
before your Spirit moved over the waters. before your Spirit moved over the waters. before your Spirit moved over the waters.
I was formless and empty I was formless and empty I was formless and empty
and darkness filled the depths of my heart. and darkness filled the depths of my heart. and darkness filled the depths of my heart.

Then, it was as if you declared Then, it was as if you declared Then, it was as if you declared
‘Let there be Light’ ‘Let there be Light’ ‘Let there be Light’
and out of the darkness and out of the darkness and out of the darkness
I began to see hope I began to see hope I began to see hope
like a shimmering ray of love like a shimmering ray of love like a shimmering ray of love
breaking through the parting clouds breaking through the parting clouds breaking through the parting clouds
at the conclusion of the night. at the conclusion of the night. at the conclusion of the night.

In the beginning, Lord I was alone In the beginning, Lord I was alone In the beginning, Lord I was alone
but when I saw you in the light I was no longer afraid. but when I saw you in the light I was no longer afraid. but when I saw you in the light I was no longer afraid.
You held out your hand You held out your hand You held out your hand
and though I had a choice and though I had a choice and though I had a choice
I had no choice I had no choice I had no choice
because to refuse because to refuse because to refuse
was to embrace again the darkness. was to embrace again the darkness. was to embrace again the darkness.
In the beginning, Lord I was alone In the beginning, Lord I was alone In the beginning, Lord I was alone
now I am again a part now I am again a part now I am again a part
of your creation of your creation of your creation
loved, wanted, needed, family. loved, wanted, needed, family. loved, wanted, needed, family.

In the light of your presence In the light of your presence In the light of your presence
I hold out my heart that others I hold out my heart that others I hold out my heart that others
might glimpse through it your reflection might glimpse through it your reflection might glimpse through it your reflection
and be drawn from the darkness that I once embraced and be drawn from the darkness that I once embraced and be drawn from the darkness that I once embraced
into the light of your sunrise into the light of your sunrise into the light of your sunrise
the brightness of your face. the brightness of your face. the brightness of your face.

Lord Jesus, Son of God, Savior of the world Lord Jesus, Son of God, Savior of the world Lord Jesus, Son of God, Savior of the world
Be the centre of all that we are, and the life that we lead. Be the centre of all that we are, and the life that we lead. Be the centre of all that we are, and the life that we lead.

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Questions About Christmas (or anything else) Questions About Christmas (or anything else) Questions About Christmas (or anything else)