First Sunday of Advent
December 3, 2023
| Pastor: Ralph Wrightstone | Bulletin Insert Photos | Music Director: Travis Oaks |
This First Sunday of Advent begins a New Year on the Christian calendar.
The Season of Advent serves to guide us from the frantic demands of an old year to
the hopeful Promise brought with the birth of a baby on Christmas day.
Today is also the first Sunday of December so Communion will have a part of both Bethel's church service and this online service. This time of gathering at Christ's table draws us together in common union with Christ in what is becoming an increasingly fragmented world.
Click on the "Bethel United Methodist Church" script above
for links to some Resource materials for today's service.
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Clicking on any of the pictures at the top of this page will also provide you with information about this Season of Advent
Thank you for coming. Our prayer will be that we will soon all gather again for worship in
Bethel's Sanctuary, but until then we'll be here for you on Sunday morning.
Today is also the first Sunday of December so Communion will have a part of both Bethel's church service and this online service. This time of gathering at Christ's table draws us together in common union with Christ in what is becoming an increasingly fragmented world.
for links to some Resource materials for today's service.
--------------
Clicking on any of the pictures at the top of this page will also provide you with information about this Season of Advent
We are also having a service at 11:00 this morning in Bethel's sanctuary.
For those unable to attend the services at the church, a new service will be available here online
before 10:00 am each Sunday morning, using the same format as the on-site service. So you may
"gather" here for an "Early Service" at 10:00 or the traditional service at 11:00...actually it
will be available here at any time all week. We hope that you will find it a refreshing place to
come into God's house.
NOTE: Each part of this online service consists of an audio file and, for most, a
Link to a pdf file of "projection slides". Click on the 
symbol to play the audio file under a separate browser tab or in a new window. Then select the
"Bethel 12/03/23 Service" browser tab or return to this window to open the Link to
the "slides". It is best to stop the playing of one Audio segment and close its tab or window
before starting another.
We hope that you will fully participate in the service provided here, taking the time to raise
your voice or read along with the hymns and responses, and listening to the recorded messages and
songs that have been prepared for you. Realize that, though not meeting face-to-face, you are
virtually gathering with many others for this time of worship, celebration and spiritual
refreshment.
symbol to play the audio file under a separate browser tab or in a new window. Then select the
"Bethel 12/03/23 Service" browser tab or return to this window to open the Link to
the "slides". It is best to stop the playing of one Audio segment and close its tab or window
before starting another.
We hope that you will fully participate in the service provided here, taking the time to raise
your voice or read along with the hymns and responses, and listening to the recorded messages and
songs that have been prepared for you. Realize that, though not meeting face-to-face, you are
virtually gathering with many others for this time of worship, celebration and spiritual
refreshment.
- .
Verse - Prelude/Processional - "Sing Alleluia to the Lord"
In a return to Pre-Covid practice, acolytes are bringing light to the candles on the altar to open this time of Worship. - . Slides -
Welcome and Announcements . (02:55)
- Opening Hymn
.
Verses .
"It is Well with My Soul" . (UMH 377)
:
(Let us know if you have a favorite hymn that you would like to have included in an online service.) -
.
Slides - Lighting of First Advent Candle .
(01:22)
-
.
Slides - Call to Worship, Affirmation of Faith and Gloria Patria .
(02:49)
We hope that you will participate privately or communally in this responsive reading as part of your worship service. - . Old Testament Reading:
Isaiah 64:1-9 .
(01:57)
......consider following along with a favored translation of your own. -
.
Slides - Pastor's Thoughts, Prayers and Lord's Prayer .
(12:44)
The slides here include a list of those for whom prayers have been requested. - The Message
. Scripture:
Mark 13:21-37 .
(02:59)
You may wish to follow the reading of the scripture in your own Bible.
:
.
Message: "Are You Ready?" . (11:26)
(The "Church" message on this day, with the same topic, will be on the "Sermons" page of Bethel's web site later this week.) -
. About
- Holy Communion
It has been customary to use consecrated crackers and grape juice during the service but you may use other elements for the acts of remembrance as you participate. During the time of "social distancing", the church service has used individual packets for communion taken in the pews. The service is now using more traditional bread and juice for communion taken at the altar but also offers the communion packets and provides for communion to be taken in the pew. - Closing Hymn
.
Verses .
"Joy to the World" . (UMH 246 vs 1,4)
- Benediction and Closing Chorus:
. Verse - "Bind
Us Together"
Please let us know of any problems you have with or suggestions about this site by
sending an email to "bumctlh@gmail.com". If you have any announcements or prayer concerns you
would like included next week you may contact Pastor Ralph Wrightstone directly at: 850-591-
9785