Welcome to our Celebration Service. Thank you for choosing to join us today as we worship together through music, prayer and the study of God’s Word.

Service Notes: Special Music: All Children’s Choirs Lighting of the Advent Wreath by Rod and Molly Foster, Nate and Wilson Scripture: Luke 1:39-55 The Message: Singing Mary’s Song Rev. Charles Cummings After the Children’s Moment, children ages 4 and 5 are invited to meet at the right side door for WOW (Wonder of Worship) in room B-137. 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades are invited to meet at the left side door for WIT (Worship in Training) 123 in room A-208. Please take your child the first time they go to either WOW or WIT123 in order to register them. Copies of our weekly newsletter, The Village Methodist, are available in the Narthex of the Sanctuary and Founders Chapel.

CELEBRATION 9:30AM

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016 4TH SUNDAY IN ADVENT

Weekly Worship Opportunities

Sunday Mornings 8:00 and 11:00 Traditional (Sanctuary)

9:30 Celebration (Sanctuary) 9:30 Traditional (Founder’s Chapel)

11:00 Resonate (Fellowship Hall) 11:00 Korean Methodist Church (Founder’s Chapel)

Weekly Worship Opportunities

IN HIS SERVICE

RECORD OF FAITHFULNESS DECEMBER 11, 2016

Acolytes: 8:00 - Sam Perry, Hope Foster; 9:30 Chapel - Frances Ruth Robinson and Lydia Smalley; 11:00 Sanctuary - Kinsley Hunter, Kaitlyn Stewart Scripture Readers: 8:00 - Cecil Spear; 9:30 Chapel - Crystal Kelley; 11:00 Sanctuary - Brian Thurow

8:00 - Denny Marple, Susan Nunnelly, Jim Carroll, Nancy Barron 9:30 Chapel - Larry & Annette McGhee, Jimmy Sprayberry 9:30 Celebration - Trey Johnston, Michael Jones, Bob Dumas, Terry Windle 11:00 Sanctuary - Lewis Cannon, Ray Harrelson, Chris Beck, Riley Brice, Tom Harper, Tom Meagher, Brad Nolen, Dick Phelan, Tom Vaughan Assimilation Team: 8:00 Nancy Barron; 11:00 Sanctuary - Linda Gillespie; 11:00 Resonate - Sue Ann Fox Flowers in the Sanctuary are given loving memory of Marshall Conner by his family. Additional Flowers in the Sanctuary are given in loving memory of Tracy Wright by her family. Recordings of Services are available at the church office. For DVD or video tapes ($5), call Retha Cole. For CDs ($3), call Cheri Hart. Hearing assistance devices for services in Sanctuary are available from the ushers. Large print hymnals are also available from the ushers. A Nursery is available for children birth to 3 years old during services. WOW (Wonder of Worship) for 4 & 5 year olds is available in Room A-113 after the Children’s Moments during all services. Please take your child the first time they go in order to register for WOW. All chil-dren under 1st grade must have a security nametag. These security stations are located on the nursery hall.

Weekly Worship Attendance 1,618

Sunday School Attendance 701

2016 Operating Budget $ 3,918,676.00

Received 12/11/16 $ 83,071.82

Total Received for 2016 $ 3,634,428.35

Capital (Give Thanks)

Receipts 12/11/16 $ 6,030.00

Total Received for 2016 $ 66,778.57

Loan Balance $ 122,884.98

Radio Broadcast

On WANI 1400 AM & 98.7 FM:

Sundays from 8:00am -12:15pm TV Broadcast on Channel 181

(Charter Only)

Traditional 11:00am Service

Sundays at 2:00pm and 6:00pm,

Tuesdays at 4:00pm

Celebration

Wednesdays at 6:00pm

Online-Live streaming and Archives

www.AUMC.net

PRAYERFUL CONCERNS as of December 15, 2016

In EAMC: Drew Brown; Virginia Edwards; Wayne Mitcham Recently released from the hospital: Jim Burleson; Matt Flurry’s mother Barbara Bailey; Dot Mitcham; Dennis Pinkard; Mary Sinnot; Ellsworth Steele In Fairhope: Jim Holmes’ brother Harold Holmes In Gadsden: Kenneth Copeland’s brother Calvin Copeland AUMC Family Concerns: Phillip Adamson; Talmadge and Mary Balch; Gordon Barksdale; Tom Bingham; Ron Bodeen; Ben Bowden; Jeanne Bradley; Charlotte Brennan; Betty Broach; Jim Chaki; Jean Chapman; Sylba Cleveland; Paul and Dixie Conner; Earl Crutchfield; Bill Curtis; James DeWitt; Jackie Diener; Mike DiOrio; Emma Lou Duffel; John Dunkelberger; Lynn Franklin; Wendy Franklin; Pat Gibson; John Gittings; Diane Gjerstad; Michelle Granberry; Casey Hamilton; Wayne Houston; Agnes Jones; Mary Ellen Klinner; Emily Lacy; Kathryn Lucius; Pam LaMar; Barbara Marsee; Richard Marsee; Donny Marshall; Allen McCord; Sam McCord; Wayne Mitcham; Patrick Morrow; Mo Moseley; Ann Neighbors; Grace Prince; Wilner Richards; Jack Smith; Glenn Thompson; Mark Waldrip; Sandra Watwood; Nell Wetzel; Tom White; Betty Wittel; Alexis Yount. Extended Concerns: Kon Adams; Justin and Brittany Alexander’s daughter (Jordan Claire); Liz Baker’s brother (Coven Shivers); Brooke Ballard’s mother (Debbie Askew); Brenda Bixler’s father (Dave Bixler); Pamela Boyd’s sister-in-law (Betsy Copeland); Pat Brackin’s brother (Gus Lane); Joe Carlton’s father (Howard Carlton); Carolyn Carr’s nephew (Jason Carr); Chester and Edna Carroll’s daughter (Meg Rheubottom); Eloise Carter’s mother-in-law (Frances Brunson) and brother-in-law (Tom Carter); Sonny Carter; Douglas Chamblee; Sherry Clark; Jennifer Cleiland’s father (Clem Matlock); Bobbie Clevenger’s brother (Homer Dillard); Katie Corbitt’s father (Bill Hughes); Thomas Corbitt’s grandfather (Roy Corbitt); Susan Corley; Bill Curtis’ brother (Ken Curtis); John and Sue Ann Fox’s daughter (Kristin Vardaman); Emily Gentry’s grandmother (Cathline Hill); Jack and Jon Gipson’s daughter (Terry Lund); Sally Granberry’s sister (Barbara Glen) and brother (Ed Carson); Pam Haney’s father (Rick Wilt); Julie Hare’s mother (Vicky Robertson); Barbara Harper; Cheri Hart’s nephew (Paul Williams); Jennifer Heath’s mother-in-law (Betty Heath); Carol Ann Holmes; Wayne Houston’s brother (Jerry Houston); Lucile Hoyt’s nephew (Kirk Stephens); Jerry Hughes’ father (Billy Hughes); Traye Hulsey’s father (Donald Hulsey); Edith Jones’ daughter (Susannah Jones Cleveland); Beth Kellum; Amy Kelsey’s mother (Linda Maddox); John Klinner’s mother (Cordelia Klinner); Abby Langham’s mother (Carole Tull); Beth Lawrence’s father (Bill Atkins); Jeff Lawson; Tom Lenyo; Chuck and Annette Ludwig’s daughter (Kristi Ludwig Kline); Julia MacDonald; Sally McDonald’s mother (Sara Kinney); Nancy McGinnis; Dot Mitcham’s brother (Don Lee); Grace Morris’ father (William Byrd); Michelle Morrison’s nephew (Tony Gratys); Laurie Newton’s father (Gene Faison); Julia Norton’s nephew (Will Payne); Gretchen Oliver’s parents; Jill Perry’s mother (Barbara Faherty); Dennis and Jean Ellis Pinkard’s granddaughter (Peyton Drake); Allyson Ponder; Sue and Tom Rankin’s

Sympathy to: Jim Barbaree and family in the death of his sister Sarah Davis; Christy Benitez and family in the death of her grandmother Christine Harshbarger Ike Scott and family in the death of his uncle Robert Mardre; Dru Washburn and family in the death of her grandmother Regina Watson Congratulations to: Jacob and Lauren Ballard on the birth of their son Logan Jacob Ballard

Advent Prayers

Morning Prayer

Creator God, As we start this new

day, help us to consider what sort

of people we ought to be; fashion

us into obedient people. May we

abound in love to all we meet.

Center us on what is just, true,

honest and good and not be

overwhelmed with the endless rush

of this season. We eagerly await

the fullness of Your coming. Amen.

Evening Prayer

As the evening hours bring the stars and the moon, we are

reminded that you are the light in the darkness. Chase away the fear-some shadows of our worries and give us peace this night. May the stillness of the evening bring quiet to our souls. Amen. Auburn United Methodist Church * Congregation, please stand as you are able.

Mary

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus’

brothers and sisters are mentioned.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Mary is

a young mother who is repeatedly

threatened by the social, economic

and political conventions. No matter

how discreet Joseph’s actions would

have been, there would have been

repercussions affecting her

reputation, social status and

well-being. Divine intervention

repeatedly saves Mary and Jesus.

In Luke and Acts, Mary is the single character who witnesses every stage of Jesus’ story: childhood; ministry; death; resurrection and ascension. She continues to be active in the post-resurrection community. In the gospel of John, Mary has a

close relationship with Jesus. She

prompts his first miracle at the

wedding in Cana and is given to the

‘Beloved Disciple’ John for care by

Jesus as he is dying.

Mary is a model of faith and

humility and an example of being a

member of the family of God.

ANTHEM 8:00/9:30 “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”………………………...……arr. Allen

Women’s Ensemble

11:00 “Almost There”…………………………………………………………...…….Keveren Chancel Choir CARING CONCERNS MORNING PRAYER *HYMN # 218 “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”…………………………………………….CAROL CHILDREN’S MOMENTS 8:00/11:00..........................................Michelle Stearns

9:30……....…….………………....…...………..…Sally Granberry (After the Children’s Moment, children ages 4 and 5 are invited to meet at the right side door for

Wonder of Worship (WOW) in room B-137. 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades go to left side door for Worship in Training (WIT123) in room A-208. Please take your child the first time they go to either WOW or WIT123 in order to register them for class.)

OFFERTORY PRAYER

OFFERTORY 8:00/9:30 “Shepherd’s Echo Carol”………………………………….……...Leavitt Women’s Ensemble 11:00 “Mary Did You Know?”…….……………..……………..…......arr. Emerson

Jacquie Cruz, Kevin Duvall, J.T. Edmonson, Chris Kelsey, Gary Klarenbeek *Response #238 “Angels We Have Heard on High” “Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!”

* SCRIPTURE Luke 1:39-55 SERMON Singing Mary’s Song

Dr. Cory Smith 8:00/9:30

Rev. Charles Cummings 11:00

*CLOSING HYMN # 228 “He is Born”………………………………………………...……….IL EST NE *BENEDICTION

BENEDICTION RESPONSE # 224 “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice” vs.2 Good Christian Friends Rejoice with heart and soul and voice; Now Ye Hear of endless bliss: News! News! Jesus Christ was born for this! He hath opened heaven’s door, and ye are blest forever more. Christ was born for this, Christ was born for this! POSTLUDE “Fife and Drum” (based on Patapan)………………………………...John G. Barr

Sandra Watwood, organ

The Visitation

Eduard von Steinle

(1810 – 1886)

Steinle was an historical painter

and member of the Nazarene

movement, a group of early 19th

century German Romantic painters

who aimed to revive honesty and

spirituality in Christian art.

In this painting, the older

Elizabeth receives a visit from her

younger cousin, Mary. Elizabeth is

pregnant with John the Baptist and

Mary with Jesus.

Sunday, December 18, 2016 4th Sunday of Advent

8:00, 9:30, 11:00am

Traditional Services Worship

Celebration of

Carol – Angels from the Realms

James Montgomery was born to

Irish missionary parents who died

when James was only thirteen. As

a young man he was often

unemployed and homeless. He

eventually became a journalist and

was thrown in jail twice for writing

fiery editorials on England’s rule of

Ireland. However, on Christmas Eve

1816, he published a poem which

told the story of angels proclaiming

the birth of a savior for ALL people,

including English and Irish.

Henry Smart, a blind organist,

heard the words twenty years later

and composed the tune.

PRELUDE 8:00 “A Christmas Gigue”…………………………………….…….arr. Atteberry “Do You Hear What I Hear?”…….…………………………..arr. Wagner Genuine Bells 9:30/11:00 “In Dulci Jubilo”……………………………………….….....J.S. Bach Sandra Watwood, organ WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS CHIMING OF THE HOUR CALL TO WORSHIP

Based on Luke 1 “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

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.

His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

According to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and

his descendants forever.”

*PROCESSIONAL HYMN # 220 “Angels from the Realms of Glory” REGENT SQUARE *CONGREGATIONAL GREETING LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH (Candle of ‘Prince of Peace’)

8:00 Thomas & Katie Corbitt, Edward and Emily Kate 9:30 John & Kim Talmage, Robbie, Kyle, Jacob and Ducote

11:00 Karen Hahn, Allyson, Tim, Wynnton and Tammyn Martin Congregational Response # 204 “Emmanuel, Emmanuel” Emmanuel, Emmanuel, his name is called Emmanuel. God with us, revealed in us, his name is called Emmanuel. SACRAMENT OF INFANT BAPTISM 11:00 Aubrey Alice Genetski, daughter of Tommy and Meredith Genetski Congregational Commendation “Aubrey, Aubrey, God Claims You”

The Magnificat

The song is Mary’s response to

Elizabeth’s words. It is often

referred to as ‘The Magnificat’

which is its first word in Latin. The

song emphasizes the effect of the

Lord’s coming on all God’s people

and echoes the promises to Israel

and their fulfillment through the

generations. The dramatic reversal

of the norm is the signature of

God’s mighty acts: the lowly are

exalted, the hungry fed, etc. Tom

Wright says, “It is all about God and

it’s all about revolution. And it’s all

because of Jesus.”

This canticle is frequently sung

or spoken liturgically in Protestant

and Roman Catholic worship

services.