Welcome to

POLK CITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

“Reaching Out, Growing and Serving in Christ”

Church  984-6274

Mark Haverland, Pastor  964-4000

Becky Beck, RN Parish Nurse  685-3195

Web Page:    http://www.gbgm-umc.org/polkcityumc

We extend a special welcome to all visitors, who are requested not to put money in the collection plate.  Those who attend this church regularly have committed their time and resources so that you can be our guests.  Immediately following the service, everyone is invited to share in fellowship and refreshments.  A nursery is available during worship for very young children.

Sunday, December 15, 2002

Third Sunday in Advent

Invitation to Prepare — Church Bell

Welcome and Announcements— (Please sign the attendance pads)

Advent Wreath

Opening Song   Christmas Medley

Call to Worship:

L:  "Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice!

C:  "Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!" (Ps 130:1-2).

L:         "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in God's word I hope;

C:  "my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning.

L:  "O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem" (Ps 130:5-7).

 

 

*Opening Song #250 Once in Royal David’s City

 

*Invocation:

   Merciful God, while we are entreating you to hear our prayer, there is a voice crying out to us in the darkness, the voice of John the Baptist testifying to the light to come. We are those called to watch and wait for the dawning, to believe for what will yet be. Some of us may wait in the darkness of broken dreams, of a fearful medical diagnosis, of deep pain emotionally or physically. And all of us wait in the darkness of societal ills, of hunger and homelessness, abuse in families and war between nations. As we worship this day, enable us to hear the voice of hope, and trust the voice of promise spoken to us in our time.

*The 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 for ever.  Amen

*Assurance of Pardon:

   God's voice speaks to us in our present darkness and the nighttime of our fear, promising to make all things new. Jesus the Christ, the light and the Savior of the world will come to rescue us! In Christ, the light of God's forgiveness ever shines upon us to set us free from bondage to sin, and the light of God's love from bondage to fear.  Praise be to God.

*Act of Praise  #2077 You Alone Are Holy

 

Children’s Story

Reception of New Members

   We give thanks for all that God has already given you and we welcome you in Christian love.  As members together with you in the body of Christ and in this congregation of the United Methodist Church, we renew our covenant faithfully to participate in the ministries of the church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, and our service, that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

 

Celebration and Concerns

#2086  Open Our Eyes

Call to Prayer:

        Leader:  The Lord be with you.

        People:   And also with you.

Leader:   Let us pray.

Personal Prayers in Silence

Pastoral Prayer

        Loving God, we thank for you for the coming of your son into the darkness of our world.  Help us know that we are not the light which illumines our lives.  Help us not block the light which shines on our lives.  Help us point toward that light which alone of all lights can brighten our world and show us the way.  Amen.P

 

Responsive Reading — Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion — to give them a garland instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

           

*Hymn #249  There’s a Song in the Air

Scripture Reading:  John 1:6-8, 19-28

Sermon:  What Are You Waiting For?

Mark Haverland

Offering 

*The Offertory (to #566— Blest Be the Dear Uniting Love”)

        Use us as channels for you, Lord,

        Use this our offering

        To serve your people in the world,

        New life and hope to bring.

 

Prayer of Dedication

Offertory Prayer

Visioning God, we bring to you an offering of faith that waits with hope and anticipation for the dawning of Christ's light in the darkness, energizing the church in mission. We make an offering of our material resources for Christ's purposes. Bless our gifts in Jesus' name, we pray.  AMen

 

#Hymn #244 The First Noel

 

*Commissioning:

     Let us go into our daily life both longing and looking, yearning and believing for the dawning of the light of Christ in the darkness. Therefore let us go with a firm hope in our hearts and an "alleluia" upon our lips.

 

*Benediction:  The blessing of the God of our salvation is upon us.

Amen.

 

*Postlude……………………………….*Indicates congregation stands

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Junior High Youth Group meets Wednesdays at the church from 7:00-8:00 p.m. Contact Mary Jones at 999-2678.

Church Directories – The latest church directories are available on the table by the door to the sanctuary.  Let Joan Hart know of any corrections.

United Methodist Women -- Contact Linda Pennington or Mary Jones with any questions.

Sunday School—Bill Blakely will teach a 5,6,7 grade class.  Families will students in those grades should talk with Bill.

Confirmation Class — No class this week so all the youth can participate in the Youth Group party at Mary Jones’ on Wednesday.  The next class will be on January 8.

Charge Conference — David Stout, our District Superintendent, has given us permission to hold our own Charge Conference this year and for me to chair it.  At this point, we are planning a church meeting day on January 12 at 4:00 pm. For the Finance Committee and Pastor Parish Committee, followed by the all church conference.

New Members — We will receive new members today: Don & Tess Young.

Land Purchase — We closed on the lots next door this past week. 

College Scholarships — Ask Mark for information about scholarships available through the Iowa United Methodist Foundation.

Christmas Program — This year, we will have our annual Christmas dinner and program on December 15, 5:00 pm.  We’ll make it a pot luck this year and have some special singing and a program.  Details will follow.

Christmas Tree — The Christmas tree in the narthex awaits mittens and hats.These will be given to our elementary schools for those children who come to school without them.Also, if you would like to bring socks and children's underwear, these will be given to Bidwell Riverside.May you be blessed in your giving.

Thanks — Many thanks to those that helped decorate the church for the Christmas season, also to Lois Burt for a tree and garland, Ginger Larsen for lights, the Golbuffs for flowers and the UMW for wreaths, garlands, bows and flowers.

Health and Wellness Ministries: Contact Becky Beck, RN, parish nurse 685-3195

Counseling:  Contact Pastor Haverland at 984-6274 for counseling or referrals to various counseling services and support groups.

Food Pantry:  Donations welcome any Sunday.  Food is distributed at eight sites in the metro-area to those in need.  Contact Linda Pennington at 984-6693.

Family Fund: All quarters in the collection plate go for financial and pastoral assistance for families and travelers in need in our community.

Luke’s Clinic:  Physicals, vaccines, flu shots, and other medical care. Open Wednesdays from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. 

Alcoholics Anonymous:  Meets every Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

CHRISTIAN GROWTH AND FELLOWSHIP

Senior High Youth Group:  Contact Linda Erickson  984-6138

Junior High Youth Group:  Contact Mary Jones at 999-2678.

Food Pantry Drivers

(Fill in blanks and place in offering or contact Linda Pennington 984-6693)

December—Teresa and Matt Miller

The food pantry Warehouse is located at 3816 36th St, Des Moines.  See Linda Pennington for instructions.  We have contributed $2,244.89 to the Food Pantry this year.  Keep up the good work.

Reception Hosts

(Fill in blanks and place in offering)

December 15 — Greg, Mary, Kathryn Lamka

December 22 — Blakely’s

December 29 — Bring leftover Christmas goodies

 

Ushers

(Fill in blanks and place in offering)

December — Tim, Olga, Christopher Kline

Worship Leaders

(Fill in the blanks and place in offering)

December — Deanna Deason

Meal Site

(Fill out and place in offering)

Four people are needed to serve the meal prepared by others for Our Community Kitchen from 5:30 –7:00 pm on the second Wednesday of each month.  Sign up and place this form in the offering. Call Shari Miller for more information (984-6517).

January 8 —

 

John 1:6-8, 19-28 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.  John 1:19-28  This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said. "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord.'" as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

Prayers for the Week

Nursery  (during worship

December 15 —  Chris Russell

December 22 — Mai Golbuff

December 29 —  Kristin and Katie

Word Search Puzzle

 

 W I T H E M Y O U R S E L F O R E

M W H O M T E S T I M O N Y S Z W

T O O K P R O P H E T N G T I H F

W O R T H Y W H E R E N R T E E G

C O N F E S S E D I I A P N V N A

T I E R A P Y B T M I A A A O W N

H S K S I H T H O G B D H M I S S

E A A F W A E C H W R T A L C D W

N I M H E R C T W O J N D T E N E

D A L A L I R A J N E E B H U A R

G H O I I S Y C O K R S W O N T E

N J R S J E I R E N U V A S T S D

O O D S A E N O E C S T S E I R P

H H I E H S G S T R A W A T E R G

T N D M N A S S N H L L U I W E I

A B O U T Y N A H T E B P V H T V

L A D N A S K E D T M Y M E A F E

H I M G N I Z I T P A B K L T A N

 

 Word List: WILDERNESS TESTIMONY PHARISEES JERUSALEM CONFESSED BAPTIZING YOURSELF STRAIGHT ANSWERED PROPHET PRIESTS NEITHER MESSIAH LEVITES BETHANY BAPTIZE WORTHY STANDS SANDAL JORDAN ISAIAH ELIJAH CRYING COMING ACROSS WHERE WATER VOICE UNTIE THOSE THONG PLACE GIVEN ASKED AMONG AFTER ABOUT WITH WHOM WHEN WHAT TOOK THIS THEY THEN THEM SENT SAID NRSV MAKE LORD KNOW JOHN JEWS HAVE FROM DENY BEEN WHY WAY WAS SAY ONE NOT NOR LET HIM HAD FOR DID BUT ARE IF DO BY