- Links in the "We Worship" section of this email take you further down the body of the email. (We do not always provide lyrics for all hymns due to time constraints and copyright issues, but will include them whenever possible.)
- Links in other sections lead to pages on our website or other sites such as our page on Facebook, our video collection on Vimeo, or Tithely (the service we use to allow allow any and all worshippers to make an offering online).
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We Worship
We Gather
CALL TO WORSHIP & ADVENT READING
PRAISE HYMN: Pianist's Choice
OPENING PRAYER (In Unison)
Let us worship the God who gathers us! Let us pray in his name together:
L: We praise you, O God, for being not only the God of history but the God of our story. You have gathered us here today to remind us that although you are the one to whom all power belongs, yet you care for the weak and powerless. You care for us. We praise you for joining your story to ours in such a special way through Jesus, our Lord. He proved his great love for you and for each person in the way he lived—releasing what was captive, lifting up the burdened, empowering the powerless.
P: God, source of lovingkindness and strength, we worship you.
Jesus, foundation of our faith, we worship you. Holy Spirit, ground of our very being, we worship you.
Amen
We Proclaim
GLORIA PATRI
PSALTER: Psalm 146:1-10
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my Soul!
I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have being.
Put not your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help.
Their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish.
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD their God,
who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free;
the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD watches over the sojourners;
and upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, from generation to generation.
Praise the LORD!
PEACE PRAYER
PEACE HYMN: Pianist's Choice
Rev. Val will read the scriptures, followed by the congregational response:
L: The scriptures of God for the people of God.
A: Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE: Mary's Song
We Respond
HYMN: The Canticle of the Turning
PASTORAL PRAYER (Joys & Concerns)
(Rev. Val will pray first, then all will pray the Lord's prayer.)
Lord’s Prayer (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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.
Amen.
HYMN: Pianist's Choice
We Go Forth
BENEDICTION
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HYMNS
GLORIA PATRI
(United Methodist Hymnal #70)
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning,
It is now and ever shall be.
World without end,
Amen. Amen.
DOXOLOGY
(United Methodist Hymnal #95)
V1: 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!
V2: Praise life that makes us change and grow
Praise love that makes compassion flow
Praise peace that ends all strife and fear
Praise hands that work for justice here
V3: Praise ears that hear the children’s cries
Praise truth that counters cruel lies
Praise hearts that value human worth
Praise lives that build a better earth
V4: Praise eyes that see all human need
Praise minds that cast out selfish greed
Praise lips that challenge those in power
Praise those who struggle every hour
V5: Praise faith that keeps us ever strong
Praise hope that triumphs over wrong
Praise dreams that make our spirits rise
Praise voices raised in joyful cries
Amen.
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SCRIPTURE READING(S)
Isaiah 35:1-10 - The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.
Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you."
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God's people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Luke 1:46b-55 - "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. 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. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
James 5:7-10 - Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
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SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
Rev. Pat Whittemore, Tennessee/Holston/Memphis Course of Study Instructor
Instructions for those worshipping with us online: Have bread and juice or an appropriate beverage ready. As we go through the service, one person in your family or gathering should emulate the actions of breaking the bread and lifting the "cup" when Rev. Val does so. While we provide individually prepared portions of the elements for in-person worshippers as a COVID safety protocol, if you are with people in your household, you can use the intinction method (tear off and had each person a bite-sized portion of the bread which they can then dip into one communal cup). As you offer them the bread, say "This is Christ's body broken for you." As you offer them the cup, say "This is Christ's blood poured out for you."
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
L: Lift up your hearts!
P: We lift them to the Lord!
L: Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth, you made us in your image, to love and be loved. When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast. By the suffering, death, and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ you delivered us from slavery to sin and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.
On the night in which Jesus gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.
P: By your Spirit, God, make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet. Through your Son Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and forever.
Amen.
L: The Lord’s table is ready. For those worshipping here in person, please remain seated and I will bring the elements to you. For those worshipping online, you may now share the elements with one another.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
To access the video of today's service:
Save the Date!
(all times given are in Eastern Time)
- Dec. 18 - Love Sunday
- Dec. 21 - Online broadcast of Longest Night Service
- Dec. 24 - Online broadcast of Christmas Eve Service
- Dec. 25 - In-person and live online at 10:00 am
- Dec. 31 - Online broadcast of Watchnight Service
- Jan. 1 - Regular Worship (in-person and live on Facebook)
- Jan. 8 - Regular Worship at 11, new monthly in-person worship at Southland Books & Café in Maryville at 3 p.m. and take place the second Sunday of every month thereafter. Worship music provided by Jeff Barbra & Sarah Pirkle.
- Feb. 21 - Shrove Tuesday - TBA
- Feb. 22 - Ash Wednesday, Lent begins.
Our small groups currently meet via Zoom. You don't have to be a member of Union Grove to participate in these groups. They are open to everyone.
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For our virtual worshippers: If you are able, please consider making an offering or paying your tithes through our online service at Tithe.ly. It’s safe, it’s free, and your offerings will help us continue ministry at Union Grove and provide resources for mission work in our community. Just visit https://tithe.ly/give?c=4118449, and follow the instruction for making your offering. You may be prompted to create an account with them. There is no fee for the account or for making your offering through Tithe.ly.
If you are not comfortable using a debit or credit card online, you can mail your offerings/tithes to:
Union Grove UMC
1151 Lane Drive
Friendsville, TN 37737
Please be sure to make your checks payable to Union Grove UMC!
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Pastor: Rev. Val Ohle - 865-924-8339, revsheseesfar@comcast.net
Admin Council Chair: Michael Stinnett
Admin. Council Treasurer: Sue Schmadebeck
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