LIVING and LOVING IN LODI Sunday, December 27, 2020
From Pastor Pam:
Dear Lodi Church Family,
Merry Christmas!! Love and prayers
to each of you and all of you! A few nights ago, we had a wonderful
celebration of the lighted cross and the carillon. They brought so
much joy to my spirit! It was such a blessing to see many of our
church family who were able to be there and to know the rest were with us in
spirit.
I hope all make wise
decisions to be safe this holiday season. So so many have been harmed by this
pandemic; it is our faith in OUR Father and our understanding of the Body
of Christ that remind us we are all connected. Our well-being is connected with
that of all of God's children. One gift of Covid, terrible as it is, is the
reminder of that truth. Each and every day in our words and actions, in
what we do or fail to do, we are sharing either the "virus"
of sin and woundedness or the healing grace of God's love.
We journey to Bethlehem
together; like the shepherds we have heard good news of great joy
from so many "angels" who have come into our lives. Let us listen to
their call. These men were not invited to come to the manger in their Sunday
best, but as they were- with all the dirt and mess of their lives. And like the
shepherds, we are welcomed just as we are to the manger to behold our Savior,
divine yet sharing our humanity in all but sin.
O Come all Ye Faithful! Come
and adore in spirit and in truth Emmanuel- God-with Us! Let us come
as a people -- attentive and obedient to the
Good Shepherd. Let us become shepherds who illumine the world with
the light of God's peace, joy, and love. And like the ragged shepherd of so
long ago, let us be carillons of the Good News to all- even when the
nights are silent and the wind cold.
This Christmas let us praise
Abba, Son, and Spirit with one voice and one heart!
With Christmas Love,
Pastor Pam
Scripture: Luke 2:
22-40
Jesus Is Presented in the Temple 22 When
the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they
brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as
it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated
as holy to the Lord”), 24 and they offered a
sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of
turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25 Now
there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon;[a] this
man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and
the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been
revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had
seen the Lord’s Messiah.[b] 27 Guided
by the Spirit, Simeon[c] came
into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him
what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon[d] took
him in his arms and praised God, saying, 29 “Master, now
you are dismissing your servant[e] in
peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have
seen your salvation,31 which you have prepared in
the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation
to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” 33 And
the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about
him. 34 Then Simeon[f] blessed
them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the
rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35 so
that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your
own soul too.” 36 There was also a prophet, Anna[g] the
daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having
lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 then
as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped
there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At
that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child[h] to
all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth 39 When
they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to
Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The
child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon
him.
Hymns #218 “It Came Upon the
Midnight Clear” verses 1,3,4
#236 “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks” verses
1,3,4,6
#251 “Go Tell lt on the Mountain” verses1,2,3
***Christmas Eve in Lodi Village Square Park – another “Come as
You Are in Your Car!!!” ***
5:30pm December 24, Christmas Eve in the park! Lodi
Village Council has approved the service – in the park, mask and social
distancing or stay in your car. It will be a simple service – Pastor Pam
will speak and share the Christmas Story, a few simple Christmas carols,
closing with candlelight “Silent Night” (just as we do in our church on
Christmas Eve.) Bring bells to ring at 6:00 to help spread Christmas cheer!
(And to power Santa’s sleigh.)
We will ALSO have a Christmas Eve service, from our sanctuary,
live on Facebook and in a clickable link about 6:30 this evening. (Dottie
will be sending you the link in an e-mail.)
Spiritual Support:
Pastor Pam is available for a porch visits, to bring Holy
Communion for you to partake in your home, to listen, to pray with you.
Please call or text: 216 704 0307 or e-mail pamelab23@hotmail.com.
Even though our building is closed, until the governor says we can
reopen, we are live on Facebook at 10:00am Sunday mornings AND once the
service has been uploaded, it will be on our private YouTube channel!!!!
An e-mail will include the link.
You can mail your offerings to: Lodi UMC, PO Box 3, Lodi, OH 44254
2021 Offering envelopes are available inside the
single door at the church. Call Dottie for a code 330-887-1471
Great job, you good and faithful servants!!!! $5 Challenge
(I am sure there will be more in the mail.)
Utilities and grocery gift cards $815
Lodi UMC Budget $105
Feed Medina County $1000
Other contributions: Contessa’s on the Lake (free meals)
Given directly to several families in need $400
We paid utilities for four different families and gave grocery
gift cards to six families. (Within the Cloverleaf School District.)
Noteworthy News and Needs: Do you have News or Needs or Prayer Concerns? Please share them with Dottie (lodiumcsec.dottie@gmail.com , 330-887-1471) or Pastor Pam Buzalka (216)704-0307 pamelab23@hotmail.com
Lodi United Methodist Church Bulletin, Sunday,
December 27, 2020 Worship
Prelude
Missy
Call to Worship
Jeff Van Loon
Jeff: As we are glad creator God, when the dawn reveals
the world to us, innocent and fresh.
Community: So may we discover the infant in the manger, and in
delight be ready to start anew. Amen
from A New Zealand Prayer Book, 1989
Hymn
“It
Came Upon a Midnight Clear”
#218
1 It came upon the
midnight clear, that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heaven's all-gracious
King."
The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing.
3 And ye, beneath life's crushing
load, whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow,
look now! for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing!
4 For lo! the days are hastening
on, by prophet seen of old,
when with the ever-circling
years shall come the time foretold
when peace shall over all the
earth its ancient splendors fling,
and the whole world send back the
song which now the angels sing.
*Unison Prayer
Jeff Van Loon
God of compassion, on this day your Holy Spirit revealed the
salvation you had prepared for all peoples to the devout Simeon and Anna, who
had waited until late in life. Grant that we, too, may adore your child
Jesus Christ, a light to the gentiles and the glory of Israel, so we may
proclaim him to all your world. Amen
adapted
from UMC Book of Worship, p.316
Church
in Action
Jeff
Van Loon
Joys
and Concerns
Pastor Pam
Prayer
Song
“Open Our Eyes”
TFWS #2086
Open our eyes, Lord, we want
to see Jesus, to reach out and touch him, and say that we love him.
Open our ears, Lord, and help
us to listen. Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus.
Silent Prayer and 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 thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory
forever.” Amen
Hymn
“While
Shepherds Watched Their Flocks”
#236
1 While shepherds watched their
flocks by night, all seated on the ground,
an angel of the Lord came down, and glory shone around.
3 "To you, in David's town,
this day is born of David's line
a Savior, who is Christ the Lord; and this shall be the sign:
4 "The heavenly babe you there
shall find to human view displayed,
all simply wrapped in swaddling clothes and in a manger laid."
6 "All glory be to God on
high, and to the earth be peace;
to those on whom his favor rests goodwill shall never cease."
Offertory
Missy
Jeff:
We pray that we may offer our gifts to God in prophetic and faithful
ways. Take a moment to thank God for the gifts and graces of the week.
Moment
of Silent Prayer
Jeff:
Let us with one heart and one voice praise the Holy One.
*Doxology
“Praise God From Whom All Blessings
Flow”
#95
*Prayer
of
Dedication
Jeff Van Loon
Holy and gracious God, in the gift of your very self to the world
you have shown us the way of giving and the path of selfless love.
Strengthen us that we may be faithful and prophetic like your
servants Simeon and Anna as we share the gifts you have given us with all
people in your name. Amen
Special
Music
A Medley of Bells
Missy
The Good News of Love:
Luke 2: 22-40
Jeff Van Loon
Message
A New Year's Resolution -- Be a Prophet!
Pastor
Pam
Hymn
“Go
Tell lt on the Mountain”
#251
Go tell it on the mountain, over
the hills and everywhere; go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!
1 While shepherds kept their
watching o’er silent flocks by night,
behold throughout the heavens there
shone a holy light.
Go tell it on the mountain, over
the hills and everywhere; go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!
2 The shepherds feared and trembled
when lo!
above the earth rang out the angel
chorus that hailed our Savior’s birth.
Go tell it on the mountain, over
the hills and everywhere; go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!
3 Down in a lowly manger the humble
Christ was born,
and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.
Go tell it on the mountain, over
the hills and everywhere; go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!
*Benediction
Words of Blessing from the
Song of Simeon
Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to
your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the
presence of all peoples. Amen.
