“. . . to do all the good we can”

LABYRINTHMeditation after Postlude

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Our Mission is grow passionate disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of our world


 *Timeless:" " Connection with Ancient-Modern expression of worship *Traditional:" Traditions of Trinity and Methodist Heritage " " " *Transforming:" Spiritual Education and Spiritual Formation

“To Do All The Good We Can.”

WELCOME TO TRINITYWE ARE GLAD YOU ARE HERE! " " " " " " " " Joshua Claybourn"" " " " " " " " " " " Trinity United Methodist is distinctively Christian, yet we believe God is larger than our theology and tradition. Our aim is to grow passionate disciples of Jesus for the transformation of our world.

Whatever your thoughts on church, whatever your beliefs on God,
" you are welcome at Trinity

SPECIAL RECOGNITION PERSON— Today we give thanks for, and welcome Vincennes University Adult Education to Trinity. They will be occupying a few rooms on the second floor of our education wing.

“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

" " " " " " " " " " Romans 15:7 

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PRELUDE

He Is Born

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CALL TO WORSHIP Kaitlin’ Katy” Moore

God’s Spirit has led us here. ! And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is PEACE.God’s Spirit has led us here. ! And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is HOPE.God’s Spirit has led us here. ! And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is JOY.God’s Spirit has led us here. ! And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is LOVE.There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in the place, ! And we know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord

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OPENING HYMN # 211 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (vs 1, 2 & 5)

1. O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

2. O come, thou Wisdom from on high, and order all things far and nigh; to us the path of knowledge show and cause us in her ways to go. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

5. O come, thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home. The captives from their prison free, and conquer death’s deep misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

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OPENING The Lord be with you,! and also with youLet us pray:

Amen As the days darken and the winter winds blow, come to us, Promised One, In our time of waiting. Keep the vision of your salvation before our eyes, where the blind receive their sight, the lame are made to walk, and the lowly are lifted up. Shine the light of your healing love into the darkness of our land, that all may see your glory and know that salvation is at hand. Live in and through us during this Advent season, that we might be messengers of your grace and instruments of your peace. Amen.

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ADVENT CANDLE "Advent Liturgy. Stephanie and Darrin Buchanan, Finn and Fisher

Reader One: Sometimes on our journey, our feet get heavy, our shoulders feel bur-dened, and our hearts seem slow. Sometimes in the preparation, the busyness over-whelms us, and we get lost in the doing and the planning and the running. And what we lose is a sense of why. Why do we do all of this? Why is this journey necessary? And the answer is simple: for the joy of it. We forget the joy when we get caught up in the to-do lists. We forget the joy when we worry more about how things look than con-necting with others.

Reader Two: Matthew tells us that when John asked if Jesus was the one to come, Je-sus responded by saying look around you. Our call in this Advent journey is to look around us to see the one who comes already at work among us and to celebrate that presence with joy.

Reader One: We light the candles of peace and hope and joy to light our way as we journey.

(Light three candles on the wreath.)

Reader Two: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, that God may teach us the ways of peace and hope and joy.

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PRAISE RESPONSE

#204" " " " " " Emmanuel

Emmanuel, Emmanuel, his name is called Emmanuel. God with us, revealed in us, his name is called Emmanuel.

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INTRODUCTION

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FIRST LESSON " " " " " " " Isaiah 35:1-10" " " " " " " Cindy GrabillThe wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,   the desert shall rejoice and blossom;like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly,   and rejoice with joy and singing.The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,   the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.They shall see the glory of the Lord,   the majesty of our God.

Strengthen the weak hands,   and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart,   ‘Be strong, do not fear!Here is your God.   He will come with vengeance,with terrible recompense.   He will come and save you.’

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,   and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer,

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   and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,   and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool,   and the thirsty ground springs of water;the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,   the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

A highway shall be there,   and it shall be called the Holy Way;the unclean shall not travel on it,   but it shall be for God’s people;   no traveller, not even fools, shall go astray. No lion shall be there,   nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;they shall not be found there,   but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,   and come to Zion with singing;everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;   they shall obtain joy and gladness,   and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

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HYMN #238" " " Angels We Have Heard on High

1. "Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing o’er the plains, and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains. 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? Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

3. "Come to Bethlehem and see Christ whose birth the angels sing; come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

4. "See him in a manger laid, whom the choirs of angels praise; Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, while our hearts in love we raise. Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

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SECOND LESSON " " " " " " " " " James 5:7-10" " " " " " " " " Cindy Grabill

Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the pre-cious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, be-loved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

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HYMN # 230 O Little Town of Bethlehem

1. O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie; above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

2. For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above, while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love. O morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth, and praises sing to God the King, and peace to all on earth!

3. How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given; so God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.

4. O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!

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* THE GOSPEL Matthew 11:2-11

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.’As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written,

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,   who will prepare your way before you.”

Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

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Musical Offering

Pretty Little Babyarr. Rollo Dilworth

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* MESSAGE

See the Glory of the LORD Rev. Dr. Todd A. Gile

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Pastoral Prayer

" The Lord’s Prayer—#895" 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, the power and the glory for ever. Amen


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Offering "

!" "Offertory!! ! ! ! ! Response to the Message" !Doxology—Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; ! ! ! praise Him, all creatures here below; ! ! ! praise Him above, ye heavenly host; ! ! ! praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

" "Offertory Prayer! !

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CLOSING HYMN#251" " " " Go Tell It On the Mountain

1. "Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born. While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night, behold throughout the heavens there shown a holy light.

2. "Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born. The shepherds feared and trembled, when lo! above the earth, rang out the angel chorus that hailed the Savior’s birth.

3. "Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born. 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.

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BENEDICTION The Lord bless you and keep you,The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you,The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon youand give you his peace. Amen

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POSTLUDE

Joy to the World

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LABYRINTH Some of you may have been to a church or a retreat center that had a labyrinth on the grounds. Walking the labyrinth is a way of praying with the body that invites the divine presence into an active conversation with the heart and soul. The labyrinth is a sacred pattern that leads you on a prescribed path to its center and back out again. As we walk along, we are invited to take note of our journey, the twists and turns, as they mirror our personal spiritual walks. We invite you to embark upon this journey of prayerful wandering, but you certainly don’t have to wait until your are standing at the opening of an actual life-sized labyrinth. Follow these steps and trace the labyrinth with your finger in order to focus your thoughts and open yourself up to the presence of God.

First Movement: Releasing (Confession)

Place your finger at the opening of the labyrinth. Pray silently prayer of confession. When finished, slowly move your finger forward along the labyrinth. Move at your own pace toward the center. Let the words of the prayer stay with you. Quiet your mind as you move through the labyrinth. Make room for emotions and stirrings that arise. What needs to be changed, forgiven, cleared, confronted, or healed in your life? Offer these situations to God as you move forward.

Second Movement: Receiving (Centering)

When you reach the center, rest your finger there for a moment before you read a scripture reading for the day. When you are ready, read the passage slowly, as if you have never read it before. Center on Gods Word and be open to what God reveals to you through the reading. Return you finger to the center of the labyrinth and reflect on the passage and what it holds for you.

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Third Movement: Returning (Intercession)

As you prepare to leave the labyrinth, place your finger at the same opening in the center where you entered. Now lift up your intercessory prayers for the day and when finished, begin to move your finger back along the same path on which you entered. Let the intercessory prayers stay with you, and add to them as you make the turns and move along the pattern back out of the labyrinth. Be mindful of people and circumstances in the world that are in need of your prayers. Hold each one in your heart for a part of the journey outward.

When you have finished…

As you lift your finger from the labyrinths end, offer thanks to God.

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Lead Pastor Rev. Dr. Todd A. GileCommunity Development Pastor Rev. Kaitlin Moore MorleyOffice Administrator Jean MasonFinancial Secretary Kelly WallsMusic Director Tom DruryChoir Director Andrea DruryHospitality Sharon NorvellPart time Maintenance Debbie Kemp & David Bell

Office Hours: M-F 7:30 am to 3:30 pmPhone: 812-423-4495

Website—www.EVVTrinityUMC.org

http://www.EVVTrinityUMC.orghttp://www.EVVTrinityUMC.org