LIVING and LOVING IN LODI      Sunday, December 20, 2020 

From Pastor Pam:                                        All Roads Lead to Love

When I first visited Lodi, I noticed the big sign that said Love's by the truck stop by I -71. Since I have lived here, many of my daily comings and goings involve driving by that very sign. My mood, my joys, my worries, my plans may be different, but the sign remains the same.  As we enter the last week of Advent, our spiritual focus is on that most precious gift. Scripture reminds us that "God is love and those who abide in love abide in God and God in them."  Often, we speak of our love of God, yet we do not recognize the Christ who comes not in the form of a sweet baby but in the form of the prisoner, the hungry, the homeless. Matthew 25 and 1 John speaks to this reality: " How can we say we love a God we do not see, when we do not love the people we do see?" (1 John 4: 20).  All the pathways of life for a disciple of Jesus, the ultimate sign of God's utmost devotion, lead to love.  Our life's work as disciples of Christ is to witness to that love in the world. To be signs amid the traffic of life that love is our origin, our constant calling, and our true home. I know when I see the sign of Love I know I am on the right path. 

Sometimes the work of love is easy; sometimes the work of love is painful and mysterious: a young virgin giving birth in a cold place away from those who might comfort and guide her in her labor, and a man on a cross, named as a criminal, mocked by the angry mobs, deserted by those he loved and trusted. 

Sometimes we fail to look at signs of Love; we get caught up with our own image in the mirror; our view is obscured by our need to be important, to be right, to be popular, to be in control, to be comfortable. Our Good God knows that our hearts are both broken and beautiful. When we lose sight of Love, his grace opens our eyes and redirects our steps.

Leading the church, St. Paul knew well our need to keep the sign and paths of love ever before us. So as we seek in this holy season to open our hearts more fully to the One who is Love, we may wish to pray over these divinely inspired words that Paul first offered to the church at Corinth:

Love is patient, love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant, or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.  (I Corinthians 13: 1- 8a)

I know that I need to see the sign of Love's to find my way home; I pray that we all may see the sign and be the sign and come to our heart's true home for Christmas.

With Advent and Christmas Love,    Rev. Pam  

 

Scripture:  Luke 1: 26-38

²⁶ In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”^[a] 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰ The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³² He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. ³³ He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” ³⁴ Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”^[b] 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born^[c] will be holy; he will be called Son of God. ³⁶ And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸ Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

 

Hymns  “What Child is This?”  #219       “Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming”  #216   “Away in a Manger”  #217

           

***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.)

We will ALSO have a Christmas Eve service, from our sanctuary, live on Facebook and later in a clickable link. (Dottie will be sending you the link in an e-mail.)  

 

Advent 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.

 

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  

 

You can mail your offerings to:  Lodi UMC, PO Box 3, Lodi, OH  44254 

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 20, 2020 Worship         

           

Prelude                                                                                                                                         Melissa Laughlin

 

Call to Worship                                                                                                                             Cindy Namerow

Cindy:  My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior,

Community: for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the mighty one has done great things for me, and holy is his name. Amen                                                                                                          from the "Magnificat"   Luke 1: 46-49

 

Lighting the Advent Wreath:                               "O Come, O Come Emmanuel"                  Melissa Laughlin  

Cindy:   Today we light the fourth candle of Advent which represents the divine love that can be known in Christ.

Luke 1: 50-53   His mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation.  He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their 

thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich empty away. 

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, The Word of God made flesh, may we more fully live the love that gives our spirits Hope, Peace, and Joy and brings forth the reign of God on earth as it is in heaven.

 

Hymn                                                             “What Child is This?”                                                            #219                                               

1 What Child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?

Chorus: This, this is Christ, the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary!

 

2 Why lies He in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.

Chorus: This, this is Christ, the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary!

 

3 So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh, come, peasant, king to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings; let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Chorus: This, this is Christ, the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary!

 

*Unison Prayer                                                                                                                             Cindy Namerow       

God of all hope, peace, joy and love, 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                                                                                                                           Cindy Namerow        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                                                 “Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming”                                                     #216           

1 Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!

Of Jesse's lineage coming as men of old have sung.
It came, a flower bright, amid the cold of winter when half-gone was the night.

 

2 Isaiah 'twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind:
With Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.
To show God's love aright she bore to men a Savior when half-gone was the night.

             

Offertory                                                                                                                                      Melissa Laughlin

*Doxology                                           “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow”                                   #95

*Prayer of Dedication                                                                                                                    Cindy Namerow

Blessed are you God of all creation, Your nature, Your Purpose and Your power is creative, redeeming and sanctifying love; through your boundless generosity we have these gifts to share. May these gifts be used in love and bring forth new gifts of Hope, Peace, and Joy. Amen

 

Special Music                                                 “Mary, Did You Know?”                                       Cindy Namerow                                                                                                                                                                                  

The Good News of Love:                                      Luke 1: 26-38                                                  Cindy Namerow

                                                                                                                                                            

Message                                                                  A Love Story                                                       Pastor Pamela

 

Hymn                                                               “Away in a Manger”                                                            #217

1 Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay, the little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

 

2 The cattle are lowing; the baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.
I love you, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky and stay by my side until morning is nigh.

 

3 Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask you to stay close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in your tender care, and fit us for heaven, to live with you there.

                                                        
*Benediction

Let us go forth as ambassadors of Christmas love. May we find our lives in Christ who was born into our world, who is to come again in glory, and who sings us a love song, always and everywhere. Amen

 

Postlude                                                                                                                                       Melissa Laughlin