December 3, 2022

Dear Beloved St. Paul’s UMC and Wesley Foundation Family,

Grace and peace to you, dear friends! As the calendar turns the page to December, we in the church are moving into the second week of Advent, and of our Advent journey, “The Geography of Advent.” Last week we began with the mountain, looking at the hope that it represents, and this week we will turn to the stump of Isaiah 11. Stumps may be signs of death, or signals of hope, depending on how you are looking at it. We will be looking at the stump and the shoot that springs from it, and asking what it is that we are longing for. We will remember together that our deepest longings are for justice, for peace, and for things to be set to rights. We will also be celebrating the sacrament of communion at both services, so if you are joining us online, please have communion elements ready.

Here is our schedule for tomorrow, December 4th:

9:00 AM

In-person Service of Word and Table in the sanctuary

9:00 AM

In-person Sunday School for children, youth, and adults

Our children will be beginning Advent Stations, so all children should go

to the 3rd floor of the Ed Center for Sunday School.



10:30 AM

Hybrid worship service with holy communion, in-person and livestreamed here.

*Please remember that since this service is filmed and live-streamed,

you or your family members may be on our worship recording,

which is streamed and archived on our YouTube channel.

11:30 AM

Discussion Group in-person and on Zoom

(Join by clicking here, or use Meeting ID- 859 0584 5591 and Passcode- stpauls)

Please also remember that if you have not yet submitted your pledge for 2023, we would appreciate you getting that to us as soon as possible, so we can make an appropriate plan for next year. You can make your pledge by submitting your pledge card to the church office, or by completing it electronically here.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please remember that masks are optional, and if you are feeling uncomfortable, or are experiencing any symptoms, you can worship with us via our livestream at 10:30 (see link above).

Grace | Peace,

Pastor Greg

Prelude: “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” (Arr. Ludwig Lendl)

Ryan Ditmer

Greeting

Pastor Greg Milinovich

Call to Worship –

One: Let us look to the mountain, to the hope of Advent to see that love is on the way.

All: Let us look at the world around us, and trust, even in the brokenness, that love is on the way.

One: Let us look deeply, at what is and what will be, and see that love is on the way!

All: Let us look east, to the coming light, and see that love is on the way! 

Opening Hymn: “People Look East” (UMH 202)

Lighting of the Advent Wreath

Caitlin McAlister and Dottie Sandusky

Sung Response: “Toda La Tierra (All Earth is Waiting),” verse 2 (UMH 210)

Passing the Peace

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10 (NRSV)

Virginia Loewen

Message: “The Stump”

Pastor Greg Milinovich

Communion Hymn: “For the Bread Which You Have Broken” (UMH 614)

Invitation to the Sacrament

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. 

One: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

All: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. 

Glory to God. Amen. 

Offering

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.

We give thanks and praise to you …

…. 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.

In the fulness of time …

… as we proclaim the mystery of faith:

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

God of grace and glory …

… in Christ’s name we pray: 

Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Sharing of the Bread and Cup

Prayer after Communion

Closing Hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” vs. 1,2,4, and 6 (UMH 211)

Announcements

Mission Moment: Alternative Christmas

Benediction

Postlude: “Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light” (Arr. Roger Wilson)

Ryan Ditmer

Discussion Questions

• Dr. Kate Bowler, author and professor at Duke University, says that “longing is the feeling of Advent.” How does this ring true for you or not?

• Today’s passage from Isaiah (11:1-10) talked about hope that is rising from the brokenness like a tender shoot. Then it described that hope as a hope for peace and for right relationships. How do you notice a deep longing in your own self -– or in us together -– for peace, justice, and rightness (righteousness) like Isaiah describes it?

• The last two weeks have pointed to the truth that Advent has an already/not yet sense to it. How do you experience this tension in Advent or at other times? Did you feel it in the communion liturgy or the hymns today?