Rochester United Methodist Church

Rochester United Methodist Church 555 South Walnut Street Rochester, IL 62563 P:217-498-7179

www.Facebook.com/RochesterUnitedMethodistChurch

December 19, 2021 – Fourth Sunday of Advent Love

Gathering and Greeting God, I pray for all who are lonely in this season, or exhausted, or grieving. Give them the courage of Mary as you fill them with the Holy Spirit.

Announcements

Focus Scripture Luke 1:46-49 (CEB) Mary said, “With all my heart I glorify the Lord! In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior. He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant. Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored because the mighty one has done great things for me. Holy is his name.

Prelude Cathy Parker

Advent Wreath Lighting The Graff Family

*Hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel #211 (vss. 1-2, 6) O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. 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. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer Our spirits by thy justice here; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Prayer for Illumination O Mighty One, who scatters the proud and fills the hungry, by your Holy Spirit let your word leap in us and bring to our yearning

the joy that comes with new beginnings and renewed lives. Amen.

Scripture Micah 5:2-5 (CEB) As for you, Bethlehem of Ephrathah, though you are the least significant of Judah’s forces, one who is to be a ruler in Israel on my behalf will come out from you. His origin is from remote times, from ancient days. Therefore, he will give them up until the time when she who is in labor gives birth. The rest of his kin will return to the people of Israel. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. They will dwell secure, because he will surely become great throughout the earth; he will become one of peace.

Small Talk

Choir Program Selections from Sing Christmas by Joel Ramey and Mary McDonald Tell Out, My Soul Dee Hoover, Roger Fairchild, Soloists Sing Emmanuel, Christ is Born Glory to the Newborn King

Pastoral Prayer

★ Prayer Focus: Families suffering great loss of life and property from natural disaster.

Invitation to the Offering God does not desire us to bring burnt offerings and sin offerings, but instead asks that we do God’s will. So we bring to God now the offerings of our lives and our labors, with the prayer that God’s will may be done through them.

Giving Your Tithes and Offerings

Offertory

*Doxology #95 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prayer of Dedication You deliver us, O God, from exile, separation, and despair into communion with each other, with you, and with your good news. We thank you for all that draws us close together. Accept our gifts as signs of our gratitude for what you give us every day and as honor to your presence in our world; for the sake of those who stand in need and Jesus Christ, who saves us. Amen.

Holy Communion

INVITATION Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another. Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.

CONFESSION AND PARDON

Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

All pray in silence.

Hear the good news: Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; that proves God's love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! Glory to God. Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth. From the humblest of beginnings you brought forth the great Shepherd of your people. He shows forth your strength and your love, and brings peace to the world. And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Holy are you, and blessed is your son Jesus Christ. Born of the Blessed Virgin Mary, he scatters the proud; he brings down the mighty from their thrones; he lifts up the lowly and fills the hungry with good things. Your Spirit anointed him to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to announce that the time had come when you would save your people. He healed the sick and broken, fed the hungry, and ate with sinners. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

On the night in which he 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 thanks-giving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, 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, That all might know your redeeming love.

By your Spirit 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 ban-quet.

Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen.

And now with the confidence of children of God, we are bold to Pray: The Lord’s Prayer

Breaking the Bread/Lifting the Cup The body of Christ, given for you. Amen. The blood of Christ, given for you. Amen.

All are welcome to come to the altar for prayer at this time

Prayer of Thanksgiving Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Make us to be the presence of Jesus in our world today. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*Hymn: O Come, All Ye Faithful #234 (vss 1-3) O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem. Come and behold him, born the King of angels;

O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal, lo, he shuns not the Virgin's womb; Son of the Father, begotten, not created;

O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation; O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest;

O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

Benediction

Go forth and bear Christ’s hope to the world. We will carry Christ’s hope everywhere we go. Go forth and bear the mystery of God before others. We will shine God’s light each and every day. Go forth and bless the world. We will share the Spirit in all that we say and in all that we do.

Postlude

“Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus.” —Neal A. Maxwell

Reach, Unite, Minister for Christ—with Christ being the center of all we do! The ministers of the church are the people!

Those who serve you as staff are: Pastor: Brian Caughlan [email protected] Office Manager: Chelsea Gerberding [email protected] Certified Lay Minister: Stephen Wilson [email protected] Choir Director: Linda Fairchild Director of Contemporary Music: David McCafferty Nursery Coordinator: Rebecca Durrani Accompanist: Cathy Parker Liturgist: Christina Lauwerens Song Leaders: David and Tish McCafferty Tech Team: Miles Tepatti; Chelsea Gerberding

Remember in Your Prayers: Bishop Frank Beard and Cabinet; Children; Those who struggle with alcohol and addictions and their families; Scott Mailess; Abi; Connie Vaughn; Sue and Isaac; Rev. Frank Watson; Taylor; Terry; Pat Borop; Jerry Mitchell; Ruth Hicks’ sister Mary; Jordan Martin; Jeremy and David Mad-dox; Valeda England; Stan Tanaka; Mark Dieckman; Mark Miller; Rick Thompson; Rod Reynolds; Leon-ard Glakowski; Stephanie Speller; Carole Griffin; Bill Privia; Andrea Rathbone;“Heidi” – friend of Elliot Hicks receiving a pacemaker; Jo Ann Beard and Joe Carie; Shirley Sutton; Mark Heaton; Kenny Shew-maker; Cindy McDowd; Jillian Curl; Joe Cramer; Bobbi L; Mark Wilcoxon; Dr. Barry Miller; Diana; Paul Benson; Kingston Molt; Sandra Davis; Nathan and Ali Hodson; Madelyn Jeffers; Tonya Claxon; Betty Jean, Reba’s best friend with Alzheimer's; Bob Coe; Prayers for Ellie, 4 yr. old daughter of Lorna Shu-man’s cousin Lacy; Tianne Roy’s sister, Tammy Koons; Steve Lewis as he continues to tend to patients daily - prayers for safety and ability to continue to treat those who need treatment; Stacia Gordon; Bill Voisin; Frank Lanham; Scott “Whitey” White; Bev Drillinger’s brother-in-law following a motorcycle ac-cident; Chaddock family; Russell Stare; Burns Lewis- medical treatments; Anita Blake; Deena & Darron Dailey; Lynn Cleverdon; Ryan Keith; Brody Hamilton; Terri Cortelyou’s daughter Cassie; Kristen Mitch-ell; Lorna Shuman’s Dad, Steve — cancer came back and it metastasized; Deanna Tatum, pb and Fran-cie’s niece; Kim and Phil Clemens’ daughter, Jessica; Linda Smith and her family. She has been placed in hospice; Kathy McCafferty’s friend, Bobbi L; Steve Holmes, son-in-law of Reba and Jerry Robertson; RUMC Technology; Shawn Gordy; Friend of Lydia Hicks who is battling cancer- surgery was a success but now facing chemo and radiation- prayers for healing, her treatment team, and her family; Contin-ued prayers for Katie & Amayah Turasky; Loree Riggs as he awaits radiation for lung cancer and Carolyn as she brings care; Suzanne Andres’ daughter Lauren's father in law, Leonard Hubbard; Prayers for kids who continue to struggle with mental health as school resumes; Teresa Burch; Jane Fairchild’s brother John Brubaker — lung cancer diagnosis; Jeff Benson — health issues; Larry Watkins recovering from eye surgery; Several young adults who are making some life-changing decisions; Dottie Anderson; Frank Lanham's granddaughter Kristi; Dan Mansmith; Don Chance; Ken Roy; Jennifer Holmes; Jerry and

Reba Robertson; Cari Carlson; Kathy McCafferty; Bob Burke; Cindy McDavid; Stephen Wilson’s friend Bob in Indianapolis; traveling mercies; Carolyn Lanham; JoAnn Wilson; Judy Johnson; Ty DuRocher;

Mary Wheeler; Jerry Robertson; Steve Leach; Carolyn Riggs ’brother who has been diagnosed with mul-tiple myeloma; Tish McCafferty’s Mom; Alice Bartlett; Dave Miller recovering from Shingles; Bishop Frank and Melissa Beard as he recovers from eye surgery and prepares for further treatments; Contin-ued prayers for Angie Hamilton; victims of suicide and their families. Covid-19 — healing and many more vaccinated; families separated by the pandemic; those in pain and those who struggle with de-pression; peace within families in these days of division; Prayers for the nation.

Joys: RHS Madrigals and program; Amayah Turasky is headed home!!!

Those with chronic or continued illnesses: Greg White; Cindy McDavid; Kim Clemens; Lance Charlson; Sue Endsley; Barbara Pickford; Angie Hamilton; Kathy McCafferty; P.Q. Clark; Nancy Leach, Laurie Farmer;

Lynn Leach; Sonja Freeman; Susan Park; Byron Myers; Sarah Potempa; Jeannie Cotton; Ronda Estell; Don Repp; Catherine Colter; Steve Chard, Ann Rowley’s SIL Brian.

Our military men and women and their families: Amanda Baylor; Joe Hicks; Jonathan Adams; Jimmy Hefley; Sydney Pappas; Tyler Smith; Michael Rybak; Tom Gerberding; Kenneth Morton; Tony Calcara; Jordan Elliott; Dillon Whetstone; Lucas Brown; Deanna Tatum; Alana Beckman.

Our Homebound, Nursing Home and Assisted Living Residents: Carol Wilcoxon; Mary Hintzman; Bob Dawe; Joyce Cole; Dorothy Ross

Email prayer requests or updates to [email protected]

Giving

-Visit www.rochestermethodist.org and click on “Donate Now” OR -you can set up an automatic bill pay from your bank OR -You can mail it to us at PO Box 467, Rochester, IL 62563

COVID-19 Update: The pandemic is still ongoing and ever-changing. Sadly, the number of infections and hospitalizations contin-ues to rise at an alarming rate. With the Delta variant’s spread, Sangamon County’s level of Community Transmission is now HIGH, and the CDC and IDPH are now requiring masks in indoor spaces. We are sad to say that until further notice this means there will not be a coffee Fellowship Hour. Knowing this, PLEASE, if at all possible for you, get the shot! It has been proven to be safe and effective. Please expect our guidelines to change as the CDC, IDPH, and IGRC Conference guidelines change. We will do our best to keep you informed of these changes. Remember that following the guidelines should be considered an act of love as loving our neighbors includes protecting them from illness. The face covering is most of all worn to protect others if one is carrying the virus, and the virus can be transmitted by those who are vaccinated. Remember that the best way to avoid the spread of any illness is to get the shot, wear a mask, wash your hands, and maintain a physical distance of three to six feet or more. God Bless and Thank you for your cooperation!

Worship Please join us for worship either in person or online at 9am Sunday Morning! As stated above we will follow the CDC, IDPH, and IGRC Conference guidelines We will continue doing a live broadcast of worship 9am on Sunday mornings at www.facebook.com/RochesterUnitedMethodistChurch or you can watch a recording of the service any time on the church website: www.rochestermethodist.org. The sermon is also available to listen to by calling (217) 203-0452. If you know of anyone who cannot connect digitally, please share this number with them.

Happening this week at RUMC Sunday December 19 – Fourth Sunday of Advent Worship featuring the RUMC Choir & Children’s Church - 9am Adult Sunday School following worship Christmas Caroling 5-7pm Monday December 20 Office Hours 8:30am-12pm & 1-4:30 pm Senior Exercise — 9:00 am Open Fellowship – 1pm Tuesday December 21

Office Hours 8:30am-12pm & 1-4:30 pm Ladies Bible Study — 9am

Wednesday December 22 Senior Exercise — 9:00 am Office Hours 8:30am-12pm & 1-4:30 pm Choir —6:30 pm

Thursday December 23 Office Hours 8:30am-12pm & 1-4:30 pm

Friday December 24 – Christmas Eve Senior Exercise — 9:00 am Christmas Eve Service – 7pm

Saturday November 25 – Merry Christmas!

Sunday December 26 Worship and Children’s Church - 9am Adult Sunday School following worship News & Announcements:

UMW Selling Watkins Products Holiday baking time is here, and The United Methodist Women have a fresh supply of Watkins vanilla (regular and clear), cinnamon, and pepper for sale. Please see Gloria Utsinger if you would like to make a purchase. Proceeds go to various missions.

Christmas Caroling Invitation The RUMC Youth are sponsoring an intergenerational Christmas Caroling night on December 19 at 5pm. All ages are welcome. We will walk to the Cherry Lane neighborhood and carol, then return to the church to watch a Christmas movie. Come and join the fun!

Kids ROC!

Our after school program for kids in grades K-6 happens on Wednesdays when school is in session, from 3:30-5:00pm (note ending time change.) KIDS ROC (Relying On Christ) will have a snack, free play, games, activities as well as delving into some fun Bible stories and the fruits of the spirit! We are add-ing some fun praise choruses with Pastor Brian playing his guitar. So come join us each Wednesday. Kids ROC will resume January 5, 2022. Registration is online at www.rochestermethodist.org or see Sue Endsley for more information.

Open Fellowship Have a project that needs a bit more space? Want to get together with others who are working crea-tively? The gym will be open for Fellowship on December 20 starting at 1pm. All are welcome.

Love Offering

We are going to take up a love offering for Katie Turasky to help her out with expenses so she can spend time with her little Amayah! Katie has done so much to help out with the children of our church. She was a staff person for KIDS ROC, volunteer at VBS and Sunday School and has helped out whenever she was asked. Let's shower her with our love and our gifts and show her how much we love her during a tough time! You are such a generous, caring church so please be generous! Checks can be made out to RUMC with “Katie & Amayah” in the memo line.

Service Helpers Wanted Now is the time to volunteer! The signup for Greeters, Ushers, Acolytes, and Communion Servers is on the bulletin board outside the office, and the signup for Coffee Hour Hosts is outside of the kitchen.

HELP!!! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The Congregational Care Ministry visits and sends greeting cards to our friends and members who are homebound or in nursing homes. We have heard from these friends and their families how much they look forward to and appreciate being remembered by their church family. Please help us keep this ministry of God’s love a continuing part of our Christian witness. We are in need of additional coordinators and volunteers to aid in this outreach. Do you have a few minutes each month to help keep in touch with our friends and members who cannot otherwise participate in the life of our church? If so, please call the church office at (217) 498-7179 or send an email to CLM Stephen Wilson at [email protected].

Tuesday Morning Bible Study The ladies of the Tuesday morning Bible study are happy to say they are meeting again! They meet in the gym on Tuesday mornings at 9am. The group is currently studying Living in Jesus from the Women of Faith series. Please contact Sue Endsley for more information.

Christmas Eve Worship Join us either in person or online for worship at 7pm on December 24 for our Christmas Eve Worship service.

Missions

• December Alms will go to Cunningham Children’s Home

• UNICEF is asking for help providing COVID-19 vaccinations worldwide. To help please visit www.unicefusa.org/missions/covid-19

• Noisy Offering continues to support UMC Missionary Helen Roberts-Evans and her work in Libe-ria. If you wish to give, you can either bring your change to the church on the fourth Sunday for the kids to collect or you can send a check with "Noisy Offering" written on the memo line.

• Remember always to Reach, Unite, and Minister for Christ!

Christmas Poinsettias are shared by:

Tom, Stacia, & Logan Munroe in memory of Anne Munroe and Gary Hamilton

Fred & Carol Knoblock in honor of our grandchildren: Hannah, Mila, Peyton, Caden and Carson

Steve & Nancy Leach in memory of Ralph & Mae Leach, Scott Leach, and Howard & Helen Bischoff

Terri Cortelyou in memory of mom

Mike & Shari Cortelyou in memory of our parents

Marvin & Gloria Utsinger in memory of Gloria’s sister, Patricia Benton

Tris & Debbie Schnepper in memory of Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Clark and Mr. & Mrs. Carl Schnepper and in honor of our 9 grandchildren

The Gerberding Family in memory of Dean & Audrey Edwards

Puzzles for the young (at heart!):