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.

 

Postlude