-We Gather as God’s People- TAIZE Wait for the Lord

Wait for the Lord, whose day is near.

W&S 3049 it's now out in the open for everyone to see: 

A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations, 

Wait for the Lord: keep watch, take heart and of glory for your people Israel.
CAROL What Child Is This UMH 219 Jesus' father and mother were speechless with surprise at
OPENING TO GOD Celtic Circling Prayer these words. Simeon went on to bless them, and said to Mary
CALL TO WORSHIP North Circle us, Lord; Lord, circle us! his mother,
Gift-giving God, Keep protection near, And danger afar.
East Circle us, Lord; Lord, circle us! This child marks both the failure and
of angels and stars, magi and shepherds, the recovery of many in Israel, 

promise and hope, journeys and longing; Keep protection near, And danger afar.
A figure misunderstood and contradicted— 

God who calls and sends, South Circle us, Lord; Lord, circle us! the pain of a sword-thrust through you— 

blesses and guards, hides and reveals, asks and waits, Keep protection near, And danger afar. But the rejection will force honesty, 

ancient love that is always new; West Circle us, Lord; Lord, circle us! as God reveals who they really are.
God of Christmas, God of our hearts; Keep protection near, And danger afar.
Anna the prophetess was also there, a daughter of Phanuel
may we bear the Christ to all who need him, from the tribe of Asher. She was by now a very old woman.
and allow his birth in us again. CAROL Once in Royal David’s City UMH 250 She had been married seven years and a widow for eighty-
four. She never left the Temple area, worshiping night and day
CAROL In the Bleak Midwinter UMH 221 with her fasting and prayers. At the very time Simeon was

INVOCATION (in unison)

-We Listen for God’s Word- praying, she showed up, broke into an anthem of praise to
God, and talked about the child to all who were waiting
expectantly for the freeing of Jerusalem.
Oidhche sin a dhealraich That night the star shone FIRST LESSON Galatians 4:4-7
an reult When they finished everything required by God in the Law,
Rugadh Buachaille nan Was born the Shepherd of the Flock, But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son,
born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those they returned to Galilee and their own town, Nazareth. There
treud, Of the Virgin of the hundred charms,
Le Oigh nan ceudaibh who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as the child grew strong in body and wise in spirit. And the grace
The Mother Mary.
beus, children. And because you are children, God has sent the of God was on him.
Moire Mhathar. Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So
The Trinity eternal by her side,
An Trianaid shiorruidh r'a In the manger cold and lowly. you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also CAROL My Master, See, the Time Has Come UMH 226
taobh, Come & give tithes of thy means an heir, through God.
Ann am frasach fuar, To the Healing One.
faoin.
Thig's thoir deachamh de
d' mhaoin, Ye three angels of power,
SECOND LESSON Luke 2:22-40
Then when the days stipulated by Moses for purification were -We Respond to God’s Word-
Dh' an t-Slan-Fhear. Come ye, come ye down; complete, they took him up to Jerusalem to offer him to God
To the Christ of the people as commanded in God's Law: "Every male who opens the REFLECTION Anna & Simeon
A thri ainglibh nam buadh,
Thigibh, thigibh a nuas; Give ye salutation. womb shall be a holy offering to God," and also to sacrifice
the "pair of doves or two young pigeons" prescribed in God's CAROL Love Has Come W&S 3059
Do Chriosd an t-sluaigh
Thugaibh failte. Kiss ye His hands, Law.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER
Dry ye His feet In Jerusalem at the time, there was a man, Simeon by name, a
Pogaibh a bhasa,
Tioramaichibh a chasa With the hair of your heads; good man, a man who lived in the prayerful expectancy of OFFERING & DOXOLOGY
Le falt bhur cinn; And O! Thou world-pervading God, help for Israel. And the Holy Spirit was on him. The Holy
'S O! Thi na cruinne, And Ye, Jesu, Michael, Mary, Spirit had shown him that he would see the Messiah of God
'S Iosa, Mhicheil, Mhuire, Do not Ye forsake us. before he died. Led by the Spirit, he entered the Temple. As
Na fagaibh sinn.
the parents of the child Jesus brought him in to carry out the -We Go Into God’s World-
rituals of the Law, Simeon took him into his arms and blessed
CAROL Il Est Né UMH 228 God: ANNOUNCEMENTS
God, you can now release your servant; 

YOUNG PEOPLE’S MESSAGE Heifer Project Banks release me in peace as you promised. 
 BENEDICTION
With my own eyes I've seen your salvation; 

 Essex Eats Out Schedule Here are people, places, & concerns folk have recently lifted up.
Jan 5 - 1st Congregational Jan 12 - Holy Family Please keep them in your prayers at home.
Jan 19 - St. James Jan 26 - EUMC Please call or email the church office to add to the prayer list.
Ongoing Prayers Lifted Up Last Sunday
Birthdays & Anniversaries Tim Jody- family of Marie Claire Pluckett
Jan 1 - Linda Deming Jan 3 - Claire Noble who died of cancer
Jan 4 - Richard Randazzo Lenore
January 4 - Joanne & Sean Hennessey Anniversary Michael Parker Gil- family of Donald
Keenan Nancy- father-in-law with pneumonia
Announcements Arlitha Donna- Nancy B grieving
Directories for 2018 are available in the narthex.
Callie Kathy- for the cold, homeless, and
Food Shelf Needs: Spaghetti Sauce, Peanut Butter, Mac & Grace Naylor hungry on these dark, cold days
Cheese, Canned Fruit

Prayer Cards on the narthex table; let someone know we are

Anne Kennison
Gloria McKeen
Elissa- Doug Andersen & young children
A Celtic
thinking and praying for them. Mary Willard

Cards & Calls: The following church members, who can no

longer get out, would appreciate a card or a call - Grace Naylor,
Norma Strickland
Judy & Diezela Christmas
Worship
Anne Kennison, Gloria McKeen, Mary Willard, Norma Matthew C.
Strickland, Nancy Bartlett. Elissa & Leif
Greg

Service
Calendar Paula DeMichele
Tue, 2 Jan: Pastor is In- The Nest Coffee Shop 10am - noon Don Strickland
Church Office noon-2:00pm
Mansfield Place Bible Study 2:00pm

Wed, 3 Jan: No Green Mountain Nursing Home Service

Mon, 8 Jan: Monday Companions: Read to the end of The

Year of Small Things; at Eve’s home, 7:00 pm Essex Center
Tue, 9 Jan: Admin. Board, 7:00 pm
United Methodist
Sun, 14 Jan: Sunday School: Making Sense of the Bible, 9 am
Church
Tue, 16 Jan: Trustees, 7:00 pm 31 December
Thu, 18 Jan: Food Shelf Set Up, GSLC, 6:30 pm Essex Center United Methodist Church 2017
Fri, 19 Jan: WoWW Widows’ Luncheon, the Grand Buffet, [email protected] tel. 878-8304
Post Office Square Shopping Center, 11:30 am. www.essexumc.com
Any questions, call Vickie (879-7515) Ministers: the entire congregation Lay Leader: Joshua Knox
Equipping Pastor: Rev. V. Mitchell Hay
Sat, 20 Jan: Food Shelf Distribution, GSLC, 9 am cell tel. 881-3268 (feel free to call) [email protected]
Office Manager: Heidi Evans
Mon, 22 Jan: Monday Companions: Begin The Book of Joy Organ: Kathryn Parker Piano: June Packard
at Eve’s home, 7:00 pm Guitar: Richard Randazzo Song Leader: Dana LaClair
Projection: Sam Evans, Bob McLane
Tue, 23 Jan: Pastor-Parish Relations, 7:00 pm Greeter - Sherry Marcoux
Ushers - Maureen & Bill Wiegner, Judy Hatin
Fri, 26 Jan: Essex Eats Out at EUMC 5:30 pm