Sunday, December 13
Third Sunday of Advent

GREETING, WELCOME, AND PEACE
Rev. Danny

Hymn of Worship and Joy! 246 vs. 1 & 2 - Joy to the World
Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing, 
And heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

He rules the world the savior reigns! Let all their songs employ; 
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains  
Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, 
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

LIGHTING OF THE THIRD CANDLE OF ADVENT
The McGee Family

Congregational Response - O Come, Emmanuel
O come, o come, Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel
Who mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel is come to thee, O Israel

Hymn 217- Away in a Manger
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay; The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

CHILDREN’S MOMENT
Tiffany Stout

VIRTUAL GIVING OPTIONS
1. Give online through the “Give” tab on this website
2. Download the free GivePlus app on your phone and donate to St. John United Methodist Church using the directory
3. Give via text. For example, to donate $100, text:
STJOHN $100 to 73256 to give to the General Fund
4. You may send your check to: St. John UMC, 550 Mt. Paran Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30327

Offertory - Huron Carol
Julie Koenig, harp; Rebecca Testerman, oboe; Candace Keach, flute; Kirsten Barringer and Alexandria Stephenson, vocalists
(the text is from 1643; a reflection of how the First Nations Peoples interpreted the story of the Nativity)

'Twas in the moon of winter-time When all the birds had fled,
That mighty Gitchi Manitou sent angel choirs instead;
Before their light the stars grew dim, And wandering hunters heard the hymn:
"Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In excelsis gloria."

Within a lodge of broken bark The tender Babe was found,
A ragged robe of rabbit skin Enwrapp'd His beauty round;
But as the hunter braves drew nigh, The angel song rang loud and high...
"Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In excelsis gloria."

The earliest moon of wintertime Is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory On the helpless infant there.
The chiefs from far before him knelt With gifts of fox and beaver pelt.
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In excelsis gloria.

O children of the forest free, O sons of Manitou,
The Holy Child of earth and heaven Is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant Boy Who brings you beauty, peace and joy.
"Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In excelsis gloria."

SCRIPTURE READING
John 1:6-8, 19-28

Pastor: The Word of God for the people of God.
Congregation: Thanks be to God.

SERMON
"Not Judge or Jury but Witness"
Rev. Dr. Danny R. Barton

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 forever. Amen.

Hymn of Response - Gentle Mary Laid Her Child

Gentle Mary laid her Child, Lowly in a manger;
There He lay, the undefiled, To the world a stranger:
Such a Babe in such a place, Can He be the Savior?
Ask the saved of all the race Who have found His favor.

Angels sang about His birth; Wise men sought and found Him;
Heaven's star shone brightly forth, Glory all around Him:
Shepherds saw the wondrous sight, Heard the angels singing;
All the plains were lit that night, All the hills were ringing.

Gentle Mary laid her Child Lowly in a manger;
He is still the undefiled, But no more a stranger:
Son of God, of humble birth, Beautiful the story;
Praise His name in all the earth, Hail the King of glory!

BENEDICTION