Fourth Sunday of Advent & Christmas Music Sunday

All are Welcome

Fourth Sunday of Advent & Christmas Music Sunday
December 22, 2024, 10:00am
Hybrid Worship
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Order of Worship

Prelude
Carol of the Epiphany
(Music by John Bell)
Kathy Onishi

Words of Grace and Greeting
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Call to Worship
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Opening Prayer
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Congregational Hymn
Angels We Have Heard on High
(UMH #238)
Eugene & Kathy Onishi

Lighting the Advent Candle
George, Wendy, Jamie, and Lily Yates

Prayers of the People
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Introduction to Christmas Music Sunday
Eugene Onishi

Contemporary Music
Joy to the World
(Unspeakable Joy)
(By Isaac Watts, George Frederic Handel, Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, Matt Gilder)
Blaine Praise Band

Special Music
Baloo Lammy
16th Century Scottish Christmas Carol
Leann Onishi

Anthem
Glory to God in the Highest
(Words and Music by Jay Althouse)
Blaine Memorial Choir

Congregational Hymn
The First Noel
(UMH #245)
Eugene & Kathy Onishi

Special Music
O Sanctissima
Italian Carol arr. Linda Lowe Thompson
Leann Onishi

Anthem
How Far is the Star
By Bradley Ellingboe
Blaine Memorial Choir

Introduction to the Offering
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Doxology
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
UMH #94
Kathy Onishi

Prayer of Dedication
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Special Ukulele Music
What Child is This?
Mary Did You Know?
Mele Kalikimaka
Blaine Ukulele Group of Seattle

Announcements
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Closing Music
Sing We the Song of Emmanuel
(By Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, Stuart Townend, Keith Getty)
Blaine Praise Band

Benediction
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Postlude
In Silence We Wait
Music by Lloyd Larson
Kathy Onishi

Passing of the Peace
Rev. Karen Yokota Love

Zoom Breakout Room
Rev. Jeney Park-Hearn

Today’s Flowers
Miriam Tong

Sermon Questions

What do you “hear” as you sing or listen to the songs of Christmas?
How do these carols contribute to your celebration of Christ’s birth?

Daily Lectionary Readings

Sunday, December 22, 2024: Fourth Sunday of Advent
Micah 5:2-5a • Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80:1-7 • Hebrews 10:5-10 • Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)

Monday, December 23, 2024:
Psalm 113; Genesis 25:19-28; Colossians 1:15-20

Tuesday, December 24, 2024: Nativity of the Lord – Proper I
Isaiah 9:2-7 • Psalm 96 • Titus 2:11-14 • Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)

Wednesday, December 25, 2024: Nativity of the Lord – Proper II
Isaiah 62:6-12 • Psalm 97 • Titus 3:4-7 • Luke 2:(1-7), 8-20

Wednesday, December 25, 2024: Nativity of the Lord – Proper III
Isaiah 52:7-10 • Psalm 98 • Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12) • John 1:1-14

Thursday, December 26, 2024:
Psalm 148 • 2 Chronicles 24:17-24 • Acts 6:1-7; 7:51-60

Friday, December 27, 2024:
Psalm 148 • Proverbs 8:32-36 • John 21:19b-24

Saturday, December 28, 2024:
Psalm 148 • Isaiah 54:1-13 • Revelation 21:1-7

Announcements

Thank you! 2024 Congregation Photograph by Kai Yamamoto

Thank you, Kai Yamamoto with Aiden Lew for our wonderful Church-wide group photo! Last week, we gathered in the Lee Activity Center to represent our Church family. Thank you Kai, Aiden, and to others who helped make this happen!

Christmas Eve Traditional Candlelight Lessons & Carols Service • Tuesday, December 24 at 4pm

On Tuesday (12/24), we’ll celebrate the birth of Christ through the Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols. The Lessons & Carols tells the story of Christmas through a series of readings from the Bible. As the name of the service implies, every reading is followed by a response in the form of a carol or hymn. We’ll end by lighting candles in the darkness and remember the birth of Christ who brings light and life. We will end the service by singing Silent Night, Holy Night and share the light of Christ. This year, there will be one Christmas Eve service.

Request for Homemade Cookies for Christmas Eve

Calling all cookie makers and bakers for Christmas Eve (12/24) 4:00PM service! This year, we are inviting all cookie makers and bakers to bring homemade cookies for Fellowship Time after our worship service. Please list your ingredients and please no nuts (no peanuts and tree nuts). Please drop off your baked cookies to the Social Hall before the Christmas Eve service at 4:00PM.

Prayers and Coffee on Zoom Postponed; Will Return in 2 weeks!

Our prayers and community time over coffee on Zoom will be on hiatus for two weeks as we celebrate the holidays. Please enjoy this brief break with your loved ones as we celebrate the ending of 2024!

Contact Rev. Karen if you have any questions.

***Come join us for our Mochi Taste-Testing event! Mark your calendar: Saturday, January 4, 2025 at 9:30am.***

Mochi Taste-Testing! • Saturday, January 4, 2025

In the Japanese tradition to celebrate the start of the new year, we will have a mochi testing event! Mark your calendar: Saturday, January 4, 2025 at 9:30am in the Social Hall. Come and taste freshly made mochi with kinako, shoyu, and other delicious flavors. Experience the best mochi in the Northwest!

120th Anniversary Sunday Service and Potluck • January 26, 2025

On January 26, 2025, Blaine Memorial UMC will have a 120th Anniversary Sunday service with special guests to celebrate and reflect on its 120-year history and look forward to its further growth and development into the next 120 years of service in love.

We’ll honor our church members and friends who have or will have reached by the end of January, the glorious age of 88 and older by reading their names aloud during worship. In addition, we will remember our saints who have passed away in the last year who were 88 and older by the reading of their names.

There will be a potluck gathering and program following the service. There will also be ministry table exhibits of past and present ministries of the church such as music ministry, Sunday School ministry, Youth ministry, mission ministry, sports ministry, etc.

Please join us for the culminating celebration of our 120th anniversary and start of our 121st year! We look forward to celebrating with all our members new and old and our many community friends. All are welcome. We will also have a lunch celebration honoring our 88+ and our 120 years! Stay tuned for more information to come.