Order of Worship for Sunday, December 1st 2024

Prelude

Welcome

Call to Worship

Leader: Come, all who need help!
People: Our help comes from God, the One who made heaven and earth.

Leader: When life feels overwhelming, and we’re not sure where to turn, we ask: Where does our hope come from?
People: Our hope comes from God.

Leader: When stress and despair weigh us down, we know we’re not alone. God is with us, guiding us through every challenge.
People: God watches over us now and always, in our struggles and our joys.

Leader: Come, let us worship the Lord, the source of our hope.
People: We lift our eyes and hearts to You, O God, our ever present help and hope. We come to worship you with joyful hope. Amen.

Opening Hymn

Come thou long expected Jesus UMH 196

Prayer of Confession

Holy God, we confess that we are busy with many preparations. We are busy with parties, with feasts, with giving. We are busy cleaning house and wrapping presents. We are busy with the stuff of the holiday. And we confess that our busyness may be misplaced, that we spend more time preparing for things than preparing for You. Draw us back to the center, which is You. Remind us that our hearts and souls have work to do, too. Enable us to let go of that which does not matter, and to see what does matter. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Leader: In a world filled with darkness, in the light of the candle of Hope, remember that Christ is our eternal light.
People: Christ is our Hope. In Him, we find forgiveness, restoration, and the promise of new life. Thanks be to God!

Passing of the Peace

First Reading:

Psalm 121: 1-8

Second Reading:

Daniel 6:6-27

Sermon:

Despair for Hope by Pastor Kevin Rutledge

Hymn of Response

Refiners Fire

Tithes and Offerings

Offertory Response

Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow UMH 95

Offertory Prayer

God of generosity, our strength and hope come from you. As we offer our gifts, may we present our discouragement and despair, hoping for care and protection. May these offerings be used to build hope in our communities where despair previously resided. Amen.

Pastoral Prayer and Lord's Prayer

The Great Thanksgiving

Communion

Announcements

Closing Hymn

Trading My Sorrows

Benediction

Said Each Week as A Communal Prayer:
Send to us all the people who feel unwanted and unloved in other places, and if they can't come to us, send us to them.

Postlude


Special Insert

Advent Wreath Lighting Reading:

At times it seems like despair is all around us – and sometimes within us. Advent is a season that acknowledges that the world is not as God intends. And yet, God is doing a new thing. God asks us to hope, because we are never alone. God is with us. God gives us to one another.

Light the hope candle.

Hear these words of hope from Psalm 121:

I lift up my eyes to the hills — from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Let’s lift our eyes in hope, because God is our help and salvation.

ALL: Together, we wait. Together, we hope. Thanks be to God!


This Week's Reading Plan

Day: Reading:
Monday Daniel’s Visions of Judgment: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
Tuesday Daniel's Prayer for the People: Daniel 9:1-6
Wednesday God Protects Paul: 2 Timothy 4:16-18
Thursday Protection from Enemies: Psalm 7:1-5
Friday Joel's Lament: Joel 1:1-12
Saturday A Call to Repentance and Prayer: Joel 1:13-14; 2:1-2, 15-16
Sunday Joel’s Prophecy of Hope: Joel 2:12-13, 28-29

Featured Upcoming Events:

Easter at Berwyn

Berwyn United Methodist Church is hosting a variety of Easter events for all ages, including Easter Egg Hunts for kids and middle/high school youth, as well as worship opportunities. Check out the list of events by clicking on the link below!

Learn More

Good Friday Service Tenebrae Service

on 4/18/2025 from 3:00 PM to 3:45 PM

Join us for a solemn and reflective Good Friday Tenebrae service, pre-recorded and made available online for you to participate in from the quiet of your home. This service invites us into the final hours of Jesus’ earthly life, guiding us through the shadows of betrayal, denial, suffering, and death. Through Scripture readings, prayer, and the gradual extinguishing of light, the Tenebrae service (Latin for "darkness" or "shadows") helps us enter the deep sorrow of the crucifixion while holding space for reverence and silence. Whether you participate alone or with loved ones, this at-home format allows you to create a sacred space wherever you are—perhaps by dimming the lights, lighting candles, and preparing your heart for the journey to the cross.

Learn More

Good Friday Service Tenebrae Service

on 4/18/2025 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Join us for a solemn and reflective Good Friday Tenebrae service, pre-recorded and made available online for you to participate in from the quiet of your home. This service invites us into the final hours of Jesus’ earthly life, guiding us through the shadows of betrayal, denial, suffering, and death. Through Scripture readings, prayer, and the gradual extinguishing of light, the Tenebrae service (Latin for "darkness" or "shadows") helps us enter the deep sorrow of the crucifixion while holding space for reverence and silence. Whether you participate alone or with loved ones, this at-home format allows you to create a sacred space wherever you are—perhaps by dimming the lights, lighting candles, and preparing your heart for the journey to the cross.

Learn More

Easter Sunrise Service

on 4/20/2025 from 6:10 AM to 6:55 AM

Easter Sunrise service at Valley Forge Park is an annual join venture cohosted by local United Methodist Churches.

Learn More

Easter Service

on 4/20/2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM

Come and join us in celebrating the triumph over death and sin through Jesus' resurrection, and the new life and hope it brings.

Learn More

Lunch and Learn with Pastor Kevin

on 4/23/2025 from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM

Join us for a weekly Bible study and lunch with Pastor Kevin on Wednesdays at 12:30pm. Bring your lunch and come ready to dive deeper into the Sunday morning scripture. This is a great opportunity to discuss and learn more about the word of God in a small group setting with the guidance of our pastor. See you there!

Learn More

The Next Two Weeks at Berwyn UMC:

Date: Time: Summary
Apr 17 12:01 AM - 12:00 AM Easter at Berwyn Learn More
Apr 18 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM Good Friday Service Tenebrae Service Learn More
Apr 18 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Good Friday Service Tenebrae Service Learn More
Apr 20 6:10 AM - 6:55 AM Easter Sunrise Service Learn More
Apr 20 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM Every Topic Considered Small Group Learn More
Apr 20 10:00 AM - 11:15 AM Easter Service Learn More
Apr 20 10:00 AM - 11:20 AM Weekly Worship Learn More
Apr 22 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Food Pantry Distribution Hours: Learn More
Apr 22 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Troop 181 Meeting Learn More
Apr 23 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM Lunch and Learn with Pastor Kevin Learn More
Apr 23 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM Steps to Freedom - Women's AA Meeting Learn More
Apr 27 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM Every Topic Considered Small Group Learn More
Apr 27 10:00 AM - 11:20 AM Weekly Worship Learn More
Apr 28 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Monthly Food Distribution at Trinity House Learn More
Apr 29 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Food Pantry Distribution Hours: Learn More
Apr 29 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Troop 181 Meeting Learn More
Apr 30 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM Steps to Freedom - Women's AA Meeting Learn More
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