LIVING
and LOVING IN LODI Sunday, December 13, 2020
From Pastor Pam:
"I Have Told You These Things that My Joy May Be in You
and that Your Joy May Be Complete" John 15:11
Although this Christmas
season is like no other, we can find the amazing grace of joy in every day. Joy
is a gift of the Spirit that comes when our hearts are open to receive the love
God so wants to give us and our lives show forth the love he wants us to offer
all people. Many may recall the teaching Joy: J for Jesus for in our lives; O
for loving and serving others as Jesus did, and Y: for yourself-- while coming
in third in this version Y yourself: caring for ourselves: mind,
body, relationships, and spirit is an important part of joy.
It may also be a worthy
spiritual exercise to try this in reverse Y-Yourself: Like Mary, know the
Christ within you. Connect with that holy presence! O: Others When we
name and nurture the grace within, we are given the vision and wisdom to serve
others as Christ (Matthew 25) I am sure that Joseph honored the God who
speaks within us. How could a person believe the message that came to him in a
dream about Mary's pregnancy without a deep, lived sense of the divine
connection between his spirit and that of the living God? We return to
Jesus who became incarnate and fulfills these words from Psalm 16:"You
show me the path of life; in your presence is the fullness of Joy."
Even with the suffering
brought about by Covid, God invites us to live with joy flowing from the
outside in and the inside out but always coming from the heart of God!
Weekly Scripture: Isaiah 61: 1-4, 8-11
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the
captives, and release to the prisoners;
2 to proclaim the year of
the Lord’s
favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;
3 to provide for those who mourn
in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of
praise instead of a faint spirit. They will
be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. 4 They
shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations
8 For I the Lord love justice, I
hate robbery and wrongdoing;[a] I will
faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting
covenant with them. 9 Their descendants shall be known
among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them
shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has
blessed. 10 I will greatly rejoice in
the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with
the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of
righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a
bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the
earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it
to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and
praise to spring up before all the nations.
Hymns: #245 “The First Noel” (verses 1,2,3)
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman"
#238 “Angels We Have Heard On High” (verses 1,2,3)
Advent Spiritual Support:
In addition to our regular Sunday on-line worship, we will be
offering a Blue Christmas service on-line. Blue Christmas
worship brings into a circle of love and prayer those places in our
hearts where all is not " merry and bright" We may miss persons
we love; we may have places of brokenness; we may grieve the sorrows of
the world; we may be anxious about what is to come... wherever we are in
our spiritual journey this Advent the Lord waits for us-- even
as we await his coming! The service will be available on December 10th.
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.
The Celebrate
“100” group is laying the groundwork to celebrate our church building
turning 100 next year. If you have anything you would like to contribute
contact Larry 330-887-5224 scottlandyard@neo.rr.com
~Our building is closed, until the governor says we can
reopen. Your safety is very important to us! We are doing the best we can
to keep people connected and worshiping! We are still live on Facebook at
10:00am AND once the service has been uploaded, our private YouTube
channel!!!! An e-mail will include the link.
Advent Opportunities:
Giving: Can we triple the five dollars we were given? Let's find
fun, creative, and faith -filled ways to show God's love this Christmas season.
Reminder:
The Finance Committee recently
met to adopt the 2021 operational budget. As a result of the review, it
was noted we could be short $4,605 in Fund 1 of apportionment category of
benevolence for the end of the year 2020. (100% of Funds 2-7 and District
apportionments have been paid) So, the committee is asking the
congregation to help us reach that amount by the end of the year in a special
giving way.
If everyone can add a little bit, then we can achieve that need in
December. Please remember, we want our church to stay strong and be here
on the other side of this pandemic. We can sustain that with our weekly
tithes and offerings. Thank you for your consideration, Jeff
Van Loon, Chairman Finance Committee
Grieving: On December 10th we have the
opportunity to worship together on-line through a Blue Christmas
service. Join Larry Scott, Colette and Missy Laughlin, and Rev. Pam at 7
PM. Perhaps it is the pandemic; perhaps it is health concerns or
financial woes; perhaps it is a deep longing with those with whom we
rejoiced in Christmases gone by. Life sorrows can be more deeply
felt during this season when we often feel obligated to be happy. But The
Way of Jesus honors the tears and the laughter of life. Together in faith
we can name the pain and live in the Light!
Gathering: Come as You are in Your Car with Blankets Advent
style! Wednesday December 16:
We will gather in the parking lot at around 5:50. The
renovated carillon will sound at 6:00 to begin our time
of prayer and song. Pastor Pam will offer words of
appreciation and blessing for the Cross of Light and the carillon, Elva Dunham
and Larry Scott will have a few words to share about this Beacon of Hope, and
we will sing a few carols! (We will remain, safe, in our
cars.) (Thank you, again, to Donny and his son Alan for all the hard
work!)
Glowing: On Christmas Eve, the candles will be glowing in our
sanctuary and shining into our homes and hearts! We will have a service
of Lessons and Carols in which we hear the words of scripture and the music
that so lifts our spirits on this Holy Night. This service will be available
on Facebook and YouTube (Dottie will send the link).
**Be sure to pick up your Lodi UMC Advent devotional available
at the church. Contact Dottie – if you do not have a code.
330-887-1471 lodiumcsec.dottie@gmail.com**
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. We want to stay connected!
Rev. Pamela Buzalka
(216)-704-0307 pamelab23@hotmail.com
********
Pastor Pam's Christmas present********
If
you would like to donate to Pastor Pam's Christmas present, please send your
donation to Lodi UMC, PO Box 3, Lodi, OH 44254Gift cards to local restaurants
(for carry out), gift shops and grocery stores will be in a basket, with some
other goodies from local businesses for her. She is still learning all
about our little community, and it's quite the challenge with the world in such
turmoil. This will be a nice treat basket!
Lodi United Methodist Church Bulletin, Sunday,
December 13, 2020 Worship
Prelude
Melissa Laughlin
Call to Worship
Jane Corbus
Jane: This holy season, may our spirits be open to the grace
of joy.
Community: Jesus tells his disciples: I have come that my
joy may be in you and that joy may be complete. Every day angels come to
us telling us not to fear but instead to rejoice in the good tidings of great
joy that echo through the ages from Bethlehem to Ohio. O Come, O Come,`-
Emmanuel that your joy may be our joy complete in Love.
Lighting the Advent Wreath:
"O Come, O Come Emmanuel"
Melissa Laughlin
Jane: Isaiah 35:10 ...and those the Lord has
rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will
crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and
sighing will flee away.
We light this pink candle as a symbol of Christ our joy; it has
been called the shepherd candle of joy. Let us join the joy-filled shepherds as
they discover the Christ- child and go forth to share the Good News.
Hymn
“The First Noel”
#245
1. The first Noel
the angel did say, was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold winter's night that was
so deep.
Refrain: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel.
2. They looked up and saw a star shining in the east, beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued both day and night.
Refrain: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel.
*Unison Prayer
Jane Corbus
God of all hope, peace, and joy, open our hearts in welcome, that
your child Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a dwelling prepared
for himself, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now
and forever. Amen
Church
in Action
Jane
Corbus 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
“God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman”
1 God rest you
merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay, remember Christ our Savior was born
on Christmas day,
to save us all from Satan's pow'r when we were gone astray;
Refrain: O
tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.
2 From God our
heav’nly Father, a blessed angel came; and unto certain shepherds brought
tidings of the same:
How that in
Bethlehem was born the son of God by name,
Refrain: O tidings
of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.
Offertory
Melissa Laughlin
*Doxology
“Praise God From Whom All Blessings
Flow”
#95
*Prayer
of
Dedication
Jane Corbus
Blessed are you God of all creation, wellspring of
joy; through your goodness we have these gifts to share. Accept and use
these gifts that your joy will be known by all people through the
love we give in your name to your glory. Amen
Special
Music
piano and flute duet
Collette and Missy
The
Word of Joy:
Isaiah 61: 1-4, 8-11
Jane Corbus
Message
The Grace of
Joy
Pastor Pamela
Hymn
“Angels We Have Heard On High”
(verses 1,2,3)
#238
1 Angels we have heard on high sweetly
singing o’er the plains,
and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain: Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria,
in excelsis Deo!
2 Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your
joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heavenly song?
Refrain: Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria,
in excelsis Deo!
*Benediction
Let us go forth as a people of joy, at one with the Spirit. May we
find our lives in Christ who was born in the world, who is to come again in
glory, and whose joy may be our own, to hold and to share, always and
everywhere. Amen
Postlude
Melissa Laughlin
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