Bless Our Children On Their Journeys

Greater Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church 140 Rose Street Athens, Georgia 30606 The Reverend Marben Bland, Pastor

JOY!

A

CHRISTMAS Blessing For Our Children’s Journey Luke: 2:17

Joy! The 3rd Sunday Of Advent 11:00 AM DECEMBER 17, 2022 www.GBAAthens.org

Order Of Worship December 17, 2023 Joy! The Third Sunday Of Advent Congregational Singing

Doxology A Call To Worship Opening Hymn #120 Joy To The World The Lord Has Come The Invocation The Invocation Response #120 Joy To The World The Lord Has Come

Lighting Of The Joy Candle Song Of Praise Nathalie Allen And DaMoney Jones Announcements – Pastor’s Aid Ministry Worship In Giving Worship In Prayer The Lord’s Prayer The Apostles’ Creed Song Of Praise #115 Hark The Herald Angels Sing A Christmas Reading Amelia Rosemond Song Of Praise #116 Silent Night Holy Night

1

Order Of Worship December 17, 2023 Joy! The Third Sunday Of Advent

Skit: The Christmas Visit Song Of Praise #113 A Way In A Manager Scripture – Luke: 2:1-7 Kerien Green Song Of Preparation Children, Go Where I send Thee (Recorded) Message Joy! A Christmas Blessing For Our Children’s Journey

Invitation To Discipleship #120 Joy To The World The Lord Has Come Benediction & Grace Christmas Repass

2

God Offers Us His Joy Reverend Marben Bland

Leader: In the midst of cold days and long nights.

People: God offers us his joy.

Leader: As we miss loved ones who graced our holiday traditions.

People: God offers us his joy.

Leader: Though we wonder and perhaps worry what the future holds for our children.

People: God offers us his joy.

Leader: God offers us his joy that came to us in a journey of love, in a star of light, in a savor born in a manager.

People: Today, we marvel at the journey, we bask in the light, and we worship the savior brought to the world because God offers us his joy.

3

#120 Joy To The World Isaac Watts/Lowell Mason Arranged By George Frederick Handel

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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. Amen.

4

Joy: The Third Sunday Of Advent Reverend Dr. Adunnola Waterman French

Leader: As we journey in Advent, we are reminded of the joy that awaits us. We pray that as we reflect on the good news— the Savior’s birth— we may be filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory. The King is coming, and we rejoice.

People: Lord, let your joy fill our hearts as we lift our hearts in praise.

Leader: We rejoice knowing that there is the fullness of joy in the presence of God. Fill us with joy that cannot be contained but shared with others. Let us be messengers of peace, joyfully spreading your love wherever we go.

People: Lord, let your joy fill our hearts as we lift our hearts in praise.

Leader: The joy we experience is not influenced by what is happening around us because joy comes from knowing Jesus.

This joy that we have is the gift of God; the world did not give it, and the world cannot take it away. “In your presence, O God, is joy and contentment. Show me the path that leads to life.” [Psalm 16:11] Light two purple candles and the pink candle.

All: We light a candle of joy today, declaring that the joy of the Lord is our strength. We praise and thank for the hope that Christ gives us, the peace that Christ brings us, and the joy that Christ pours into our hearts. Hear our prayers, and fill our hearts with your love, now and always, Amen.

5

A Meditation On Tithing And Giving Reverend Nathaniel Veal

Leader: Please stand as you are able and raise your seed to the Lord and repeat these lines after me— Lord, I thank you for what you have given to me.

Now God, I am giving back to you a tithe, a tenth, or a portion of what you have given to me.

God, I am planting my seed into fertile ground.

I cannot expect a harvest, if I do not plant any seeds.

God, I am expecting my seeds to produce a harvest that is pressed down, shaken together and running over.

Leader: Now, whatever you want God to do for you in your life, cross it over your chest and claim it. And Now Thank God For It! And let us all say….

Amen!

Leader: Now, let us give our offering to the Lord Following the offering the congregation will rise at the direction of the Pastor and sing:

#588 All Things Come Of Thee All Things Come of thee, O Lord; and of thine own 6 have we given thee – Amen

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 yours 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 arose 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 Church Universal, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life 7 everlasting. Amen.

#115 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing Charles Wesley/George Whitefield/Felix Mendelssohn/ William H. Cummings

1. Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th’angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Refrain Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

2. Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of the virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail th’incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Refrain Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

3. Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings, Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Amen.

Refrain Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

8

#116 Silent Night, Holy Night Joseph Mohr/trans. by John F. Young/Franz Gruber

1. Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin mother and Child, Holy Infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.

2. Silent night, holy night, Shepherds quake at the sight, Glories stream from heaven a far, Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia; Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.

3. Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, 4. Silent night, holy night, All is dark save the light Yonder, where they sweet vigils keep O’er the Babe who in silent sleep Rests in heavenly peace, Rests in heavenly peace.

9

#113 Away in a Manger Lyrics Written Anonymously

1. Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

2. The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes. But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes. I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky, And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

3. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever, and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.

Amen.

10

Luke 2:1-7 Contemporary English Version The Birth of Jesus

1 About that time Emperor Augustus gave orders for the names of all the people to be listed in record books.

2 These first records were made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

3 Everyone had to go to their own hometown to be listed.

4 So Joseph had to leave Nazareth in Galilee and go to Bethlehem in Judea. Long ago Bethlehem had been King David's hometown, and Joseph went there because he was from David's family.

5 Mary was engaged to Joseph and traveled with him to Bethlehem. She was soon going to have a baby, 6 and while they were there, 7 she gave birth to her first-born son. She dressed him in baby clothes and laid him on a bed of hay, because there was no room for them in the inn.

11

Your Notes

Scan The QR Code To Watch The Sermon

12

&

TISSUES

13

The Athens Cluster Of AME Churches

NEW YEAR’S EVE

WORSHIP CELEBRATION 2:00 PM Sunday, December 31st Greater Bethel AME Church 140 Rose Street Athens, Georgia 30606

The Reverend Syreeta Holman Will Deliver The Message

14

BETHEL

Events

GREATER “Mary Had A Baby” Advent Bible Study Thursday, December 21st, 2023 7:00 PM On Zoom

Christmas Message Monday, December 25th, 2023, 10:00 AM Facebook, YouTube, www.gbaathens.org

New Year’s Eve Worship Celebration Sponsored by the Athens Cluster Of AME Churches Sunday, December 31th, 2023, 2:00 PM @Greater Bethel (Greater Bethel will not have an 11:00 AM Service on 12/31)

Stewards Meeting

Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024, 2:00 PM On Zoom

Trustees Meeting

Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024, 7:00 PM On Zoom

Church Conference

Tuesday, January 9th, 2024, 7:00 PM In Person

The Cross And The Lynching Tree Bible Study - Thursday, January 11th, 2024 7:00 PM On Zoom

www.zoom.us Meeting ID: 903 988 1805 Passcode: 982846 Call 301 715 8592 ID :903 988 1805 Passcode: 982846