Hanging of the Greens

Welcome to Lithia Springs Methodist Church

A printable PDF version of this bulletin can be downloaded here.

Wi-Fi is available for our guests.

The flowers in the chancel area are given to the glory of God.

*Please stand as you are comfortable.

Chiming of the Hour
John Gentry

Welcome and Announcements
Rev. Thomas Long

Call to Celebration

Leader:
The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all!

People:
And also with you!

Leader:
Christ has come! Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!

People:
This is the faith of Jesus Christ!

Leader:
When we look at the world around us, we see the darkness of war, captivity, greed and broken relationships.

People:
We long for Christ to come again and bring light to the world.

Leader:
The Word of the Gospel is that Jesus Christ lives among us, bringing truth and light as a present reality.

All:
We worship as those who have a glimpse of that reality, and we long for its fullness. We are those who labor to make Christ’s light more visible on earth. Let us praise God, that the light of Christ shines on in the darkness, which has never overcome it. To God be the glory in Jesus Christ and in the church forever and ever. Amen.

Opening Prayer
Rev. Thomas Long

Prelude
“Savior of the Nations, Come”
John Gentry
Arr. Dietrich Buxtehude

The Meaning of the Service
Paul Wilkerson

*Carol
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
Words by Charles Wesley
Music by Rowland Prichard
Public Domain
CCLI License № 1152573

Come, Thou long expected Jesus,
born to set Thy people free,
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth Thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to Thy glorious throne.

The Sanctuary Evergreens
Georgia Deakin

The Christ of the Cross
Scott Bragg

Carol
Go, Tell It on the Mountain
Words by John W. Work, Jr.
Music by William Farley Smith
© 1989, Administered by CCLI
CCLI License #1152573

CHORUS
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere;
go, tell it on the mountain,
that Jesus Christ is born.

While shepherds kept their watching
o’er silent flocks by night,
behold throughout the heavens
there shown a holy light.

CHORUS

The shepherds feared and trembled,
when lo! Above the earth,
rang out the angel chorus
that hailed our Savior’s birth.

CHORUS

Down in a lowly manger
the humble Christ was born,
and God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn.

CHORUS

The Christmas Poinsettia
Susan Savage

Anthem
“Beautiful Star of Bethlehem”
Arr. Adger M. Pace & R. Fischer Boyce
Chancel Choir

Old Testament Reading
Isaiah 2: 1 – 5
Lucretia Dallas

1 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

2 In the last days
the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be
established
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.

3 Many peoples will come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.
5 Come, descendants of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Epistle Reading
Romans 13:11 – 14
Bonnie Standridge

11 Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; 12 the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; 13 let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

*Carol
Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates
Words by Georg Weissel; Catherine Winkworth
Music by Thomas Williams
Public Domain
CCLI License № 1152573

Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates;
behold, the King of glory waits,
the King of kings is drawing near,
the Savior of the world is here!

Fling wide the portals of your heart;
make it a temple, set apart
from earthly use for heaven’s employ,
adorned with prayer and love and joy.

Redeemer, come, with us abide;
our hearts to Thee we open wide;
let us Thy inner presence feel;
Thy grace and love in us reveal.
Thy Holy Spirit lead us on
until our glorious goal is won;
eternal praise, eternal fame
Be offered, Savior, to Thy name!

*Gospel Reading
Matthew 3:1-12 (NRSV)
Barbara Skinner

1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’”

4 Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Reader: This is the Word of God, for the people of God

All: Thanks be to God.

The Paraments and The Advent Colors
Pat Smith

Carol
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Words by John Mason Neale
Music by Thomas Helmore
Public Domain
CCLI License № 1152573

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

CHORUS
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
and order all things far and nigh;
to us the path of knowledge show
and cause us in her ways to go.

CHORUS

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
and death’s dark shadows put to flight.

CHORUS

The Advent Candles
Bart and Sam Arther

The Nativity
Bart and Sam Arther

Carol
Away in a Manger
Words by Anonymous; John Thomas McFarland
Music by James R. Murray
Public Domain
CCLI License № 1152573

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 in the hay.

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.

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.

The Gifts of Christmas
Margaret Arnold

The Offertory Prayer
Rev. Thomas Long

For online giving visit: https://613e4b45.churchtrac.com/give

The Offertory
“Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming”
Glenn McElroy and John Gentry
Arr. L. Shackley

*The Doxology
Words: Thomas Ken
Music: Louis Bourgeois
Public Domain
CCLI License № 1152573

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.
Amen.

The Christmas Tree
Debra Livingston

Carol Medley
Angels, From the Realms of Glory
Words by James Montgomery
Music by Henry T. Smart
Public Domain
CCLI License № 1152573

Angels, from the realms of glory,
wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story,
now proclaim Messiah’s birth;
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ the newborn King.

Shepherds, in the fields abiding,
watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant Light:
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ the newborn King.

Angels We Have Heard on High
Words by James Chadwick
Music by Edward Shippen Barnes
Public Domain
CCLI License № 1152573

Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
and the mountains in reply
Echo back their joyous strains.

Gloria in excelsis Deo,
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord the newborn King.

Gloria in excelsis Deo,
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Hark, the Herald Angels Sing
Words by Charles Wesley
Music by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Public Domain
CCLI License № 1152573

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!
Hark! The herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King!

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 the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King!

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.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King!

The Lighting of the Christmas Tree
Debra Livingston

The lights on our tree shine as a symbol of the true Light so we may reflect that light to a darkened world.

Special Music
O Holy Night
Vickie Brubaker
Words by Placide Cappeau; John Sullivan Dwight
Music by Adolphe Charles Adam
Public Domain

The Christ of Christmas
Rev. Thomas Long

The greatest gift of Christmas is the gift of God in Christ Jesus. All that we do at this Holy Season points to that expression of Holy Love. Christ came as a babe in Bethlehem, God’s gift at Christmas. In that gift is life, hope and a future, reconciliation between God and all of us too often wayward human beings.

Leader: The day of the Lord is coming soon. The signs have been fulfilled.

All: But who can abide the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

Leader: Lest that day surprise us unawares, let us confess our sins to God our Father, imploring his forgiveness for the sake of Jesus Christ, who will soon come as Judge and King, most merciful God.

All: We long for your coming, O God. But we are often unprepared for you to come, because we have not always lived as your people. Many times in our lives, we have disobeyed your will. We have not always done what we should have done. Sometimes, we failed and sinned. We implore your forgiveness for the sake of Jesus Christ, and seek the power of your Holy Spirit to restore our faith.

Leader: He who is coming has come, born among us to live our life and die our death, and guarantee our resurrection. For his sake I proclaim to you forgiveness of sin and transformation through Jesus Christ. The gifts of the Lord are yours in great abundance.

All: Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Amen.

Benediction
Rev. Thomas Long

Postlude
Toccata on “Veni Emmanuel”
John Gentry
Arr. Austin Lovelace

If you have been visiting with us, we would love to be able to connect with you! Please take a Visitor’s Card from the pew, complete it, and place it in the offering plate.

Thank you for worshiping with us!

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Today, November 30:
9:45 a.m. Adult Sunday School
9:45 a.m. Children’s Sunday School
11:00 a.m. Hanging of the Greens

Monday, December 1:
7:00 p.m. Scouts Troop 62
5:00 p.m. CE Mitchell Tutoring
6:00 p.m. HFTB Planning Meeting

Tuesday, December 2:
11:00 a.m. OCC DC Toy Pickup
5:00 p.m. CE Mitchell Tutoring
6:00 p.m. HVAC Meeting

Wednesday, December 3:
4:00 p.m. Prayer Group
6:00 p.m. Cub Scout Pack 62
6:45 p.m. Handbell Choir
7:15 p.m. Chancel Choir

Thursday, December 4:
10:30 a.m. OCC DC Toy Selection FH
5:00 p.m. CE Mitchell Tutoring

Friday, December 5:
3:00 p.m. HFTB scenes pulled from shed

Saturday, December 6:
8:00 a.m. HFTB Setup
8:00 a.m. OCC DC Toy Distribution

Sunday, December 7:
9:45 a.m. Adult Sunday School
9:45 a.m. Children’s Sunday School
11:00 a.m. Christmas Cantata
2:00 p.m. Movie Matinee

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Operation Christmas Child
Douglas County Toy Distribution
LSMC is honored to host the OCC DC Toy Distribution on Saturday, December 6, from 8:30 to 11:00 AM. On that day, we need volunteers to help hand out toys that have already been selected and labeled for each family. We also need a team of volunteers to pick up the toys from the OCC warehouse on Tuesday, December 2^nd at 11a.m. and then help separate and label toys by age and family on Thursday, December 4^th at 10:30 a.m.. If you are available to help with any or all of this Christmas ministry, please contact the church office.

After-School Tutoring at LSMC
We are excited to share that Lithia Springs Methodist Church has partnered with the C.E. Mitchell Services Foundation to provide after-school tutoring right here in our Children’s Building! Tutoring is available on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 5:00–8:00 PM, offering students extra support in Math and Language Arts. We are grateful for this new opportunity to serve families in our community and help students reach their full potential! Please call the church office for more information.

Save the Date! Christmas Cantata 
Sunday, December 7th, at 11am

Save the Date! Movie Matinee
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Sunday, December 7th, at 2pm, Fellowship Hall

Save the Date! How Far to Bethlehem
Experience the wonder of Christmas at LSMC’s live drive-thru nativity, How Far to Bethlehem, on December 12, 13, and 14 from 7:00–9:00 PM. Journey through the story of Christ’s birth from the comfort of your car as living scenes bring the miracle of that holy night to life. This special ministry is free and open to all. We also invite you to be part of the story! Volunteers are needed to serve as actors, greeters, traffic guides, and dressing assistants. Help is also needed for scene setup and breakdown. If you’d like to participate in this meaningful outreach, please call or email the church office. Come celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with us—there’s a place for everyone in Bethlehem!

Save the Date! Christmas Party
Sunday, December 21st, at 12:00pm

FREE – Church Pews Available
Two wooden pews from the children’s wing are available for free to anyone who wants them. These are heavy! You’ll need help moving them. Contact the church office if interested. First come, first served!

Prayer Requests
Please remember to lift up our brothers and sisters in Christ in your prayers throughout the week:
Betty Andrews • Mae Ora O’Shields • Rosamary & Danny Johnson • Kenneth Bowden • Mike & Pam Arther • Sherry & George Walker • Joetta Hayes Bill Camp • Michael Offei • Diane Dempsey • Calvin Hembree • Sybil Clower • Karen Forehand • Family of Kathy Macias • Family of Scott Rainwater • Family of Troyce Hendricks 

To contact the church office,
please send correspondence to
office@lithiaspringsmethodist.org
Or call 770.948.5429