Since Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year, we are celebrating with a family-friendly service that includes a “Blessing of the Toys” for the children. Pastor Linda invites us to consider the joys of receiving an unexpected gift – such as the birth of the baby who is the Messiah.
Our services are being held with in-person attendance at 10 a.m. Sunday morning. Today’s service is provided below in its entirety in video format. Note that closed captioning is available when “CC” appears in white at the bottom of the video panel. Click the CC to see the text; as it is done with an automated service, there may be errors in transcription.
Our Scripture Reading is Luke 2:1-14 NRSV. The gospel of Luke includes the familiar Christmas story we read last evening in our Christmas Eve service. The tradition is that the author, Luke, was a Gentile physician, who focused on God’s interaction with ordinary people. This story has the familiar characters – Caesar Augustus, Joseph and Mary, the town of Bethlehem, shepherds, angels, and of course Jesus. We’ve spent the four weeks of Advent learning about several of these characters. As we read it one more time, see if you can find something new in the story.
The message today from Rev. Dr. Linda Holbrook is “The Unexpected Gift.” |
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is the one true Church whose faith we support with our prayers, our presence, our giving, our witness and our service.
Our offering is given to the mission and ministry of MHUMC. Remember our gifts come from us, as the people of God, for the work of God, to the Glory of God in the world.
I invite you to give generously, as we worship God through sharing our gifts, tithes, and offerings.
Weekly Announcements:
See this week’s announcements and bulletin notes here.
Credits and copyrights
- “Love Has Come” words by Ken Bible, music traditional French tune. © 1996, 1997 LNWhymns.com (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.). CCLI song #2060820, CCLI License #2718708.
- “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” words by Charles Wesley, music by Felix Mendelssohn, arr. by William H. Cummings. Public domain. CCLI song #27738, CCLI License #2718708.
- “The King of Glory Comes” words by Rev. Willard F. Jabusch, music trad. Israeli folk song. ©1966, 1982 Jabusch, Willard F. (Admin. by The Society for the Propagation of the Faith). CCLI song #2699129, CCLI License #2718708.
- “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly” Polish carol, translated and arranged by Edith M. G. Reed. Public domain. CCLI song #162538, CCLI License #2718708.
- “What Child Is This” words by William C. Dix, music 16th cent. English melody. Public domain. CCLI song #30983, CCLI License #2718708.
- “Go, Tell It On the Mountain” Afro-American spiritual, words adapt. by John W. Work, Jr, music arr. by William Farley Smith. Public domain. CCLI song #29080, CCLI License #2718708.
- All other text on this page © The United Methodist Church of Morgan Hill.