Eighth Lesson Matthew 2:1-11The wise men follow a star to find the child Jesus, the King of the Jews.

Carol # 254 “We Three Kings” (stanzas 1, 2)

Ninth Lesson John 1:1-14John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation.

*Carol # 234 “O Come, All Ye Faithful”

*Collect # 231

*Dismissal with Blessing

*Postlude

W E S C A T T E R T O S E R V E G O D & N E I G H B O R

We welcome you with sincere joy on this first Sunday of the New Year. Let us follow the instructions of the old hymn: "Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord; Abide in him always, and feed on his Word; Make friends of God's children, help those who are weak, Forgetting in nothing his blessing to seek."

Children and Their Safety are Important at Chestnut Hill UMC

We rejoice that as a church we are able to offer carefully planned, age appropriate care and activities for our children and youth.

Today, children ages 4 and above will stay in the sanctuary for worship.Nursery is provided for infants and toddlers. The Nursery is located in Classroom 101

(exit through the right side door at the front of the sanctuary, pass through “the Commons,” go through the double doors to the Education Building and follow the

hallway to the Nursery at the end of the hall on the left).

Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church

Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

You are welcome at Chestnut Hill UMC.

4660 Fort Avenue ~ Lynchburg, Virginia 24502Church: 434-239-8423

Pastor’s Cell: 434-258-2934; Pastor’s Home: 434-319-5646Email Pastor Liz: Pastorliz@aol.com

chestnuthillumc@comcast.net ~ on the web at chestnuthillumc.netFind us on Facebook: Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church

Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church10:30 a.m. ~ January 1, 2017 ~ New Year’s Sunday

A FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLSIn 1880 E. W. Benson, then Anglican Bishop of Truro, England, composed a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, based on ancient sources, for Christmas Eve. In 1918 it was adapted for the chapel of King's College, Cambridge, by its Dean, Eric Milner–White, who also wrote The Bidding Prayer. The Blessing after The Lord's Prayer, added by Milner–White, was first included in its present form in 1930. The Nine Lessons given here have been customarily used in recent years at King's College. The service has been edited for United Methodist congregations.

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GODWelcome and Ministry Announcements

Welcome in the name of Christ our Lord. Please register your attendance, printing your name, address, phone, and email, when the pew pad is passed to you.

Thank you for silencing cell phones as we gather to worship God.

Invocation

Prelude The Acolytes enter with the light of Christ.

*Opening Hymn # 250 “Once in Royal David’s City”

Manger Moment

The Bidding Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer # 895Our 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

The Giving of God’s Tithes and Our GiftsPrayer of Thanksgiving

Offertory

*Doxology # 95 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise him, allCreatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*Carol # 210 “All Earth Is Waiting”

First Lesson Genesis 3:8-15, 17-19God announces in the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve's punishment for their rebellion and that the seed of woman shall bruise the serpent's head.

Carol # 196 “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”

Second Lesson Genesis 22:15-18God promises to Abraham that by his descendants all the nations of the earth shall obtain blessing.

Carol # 211 “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (stanzas 1, 2, 4, 7)

Third Lesson Isaiah 9:2, 6-7The prophet announces the birth of a king to a people in darkness.

Carol # 216 “”Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” (stanzas 1, 2)

Fourth Lesson Micah 5:2-5aThe king is coming and will usher in a reign of justice for the poor and peace for all of God's creation.

Carol # 230 “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

Fifth Lesson Luke 1:26-35, 38The angel Gabriel announces to the virgin Mary that she will give birth to God's promised Son whose kingdom shall never end.

Canticle of Mary # 199

Sixth Lesson Luke 2:1-7Against a backdrop of emperors and taxes, Jesus is born.

Carol # 245 “The First Noel” (stanza 1)

Seventh Lesson Luke 2:8-16The shepherds go to see the Savior of the world, lying in a manger.

Carol # 229 “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly”

DIRECTORY OF CHESTNUT HILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCHSharma Lewis Richmond Area Resident BishopScott Davis Lynchburg District SuperintendentLiz Ecklund MinisterVernie Barrow Minister EmeritusMonica Campbell Administrative AssistantWill Sperrazza Director of Music MinistryJudy Martin BookkeeperElaine Clarke Lay LeaderJody Underwood Lay Children’s Ministry CoordinatorChris Glass Lay Youth Ministry Coordinator

**This Week’s Calendar**Monday, 1/2 New Year’s Holiday ~ Church Office Closed

Tuesday, 1/3 9:00 a.m. Prayer Group7:00 p.m. Girl Scouts

Thursday, 1/5 7:00 p.m. Choir

** Looking Ahead on the Calendar **

A CD of our CHUMC Music Program is AvailableA CD featuring the music program of Chestnut Hill UMC is available as a gift to our visitors in worship. Please exit worship through the front of the sanctuary and The Commons and request your CD from a choir member.

Mitten Tree TrunkDon’t forget we need Mittens. Place them in the trunk that is provided in the Commons. DEADLINE for bringing mittens will be after Christmas.

Friday, 1/6 1:00 p.m. Open House InvitationYou are invited to an open house at the home of Pastor Becky Cloud (6004 Rhonda Road) on Friday, January 6, 2017, from 1:00 - 7:00 p.m. Please share this invitation with members and friends of the Chestnut Hill UMC church family.

Wednesday, 1/11 10:00 a.m. Merry Martha’sWe will at the home of Frances Unruh. Our program will be the UMW Prayer and Self-Denial for missions, and planning for the rest of 2017. Bring gift basket items.

Mission & Ministry Opportunities

In the Grocery Cart This MonthDonations for JANUARY: “Canned vegetables, fruit, and meat.  Diapers sizes 4-5-6, and toilet paper.” This will assist people through Park View Community Mission. Please place donations in the grocery cart, located in the Commons.

Very Special Covenant Service   Coming   January 8th   This service comes to us through John Wesley, the forefather of our theological tradition. For him, what it meant to be a mature disciple of Christ was the joining of believers in a covenant "to serve God with all our heart and with all our soul." He urged his Methodist followers to renew, "at every point, our covenant, that the Lord should be our God." On January 8, we will have a very special service, a Wesleyan Covenant service in which we recognize again, not only our great need of the grace of God, but our need to express our community covenant and our personal covenant – that in 2017, we will love and serve the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. From time to time, all Christians need to make a solemn renewal of the covenant, lest we hold back from God what we once gave to God but over time have hoarded for ourselves.

Sermon Series Starting! As a commitment to follow God this year, starting on January 15, Pastor Liz will be preaching a new and important sermon series, “Learning to Hear God's Voice”. We will cover such topics as: “How to Hear God Speak,” “How God Talks to You,” “How to Recognize God's Voice,” and finally, “Receiving Guidance from God.” We all have questions we want to ask God, and we especially need to hear His word for us. The question is: how do we know it is God, and how can we clear out all the secular noise and hear Him speak directly to us? This series will help you do that. After the Covenant Service on the 8th it may be the most important thing you do to start 2017 off right.

*If you know of changes that need to be made to the prayer concerns, please

contact Monica in the church office.

**In Our Thoughts and Prayers**Home: Lisa Redford, J. Owen Stinnette, Becky Spangler, Joe Wills, Margaret Hicks, Louise Woody, Gene & Connie Harris, Phyllis Caldwell, Cliff & Betty Taylor, Betty Wilkins, Braelyn Underwood, Arthur Snodgrass, Edith Barley, Thelma Hamilton, Beverly Franklin, Heather Stanzini (420 Stafford St., Lynchburg, VA 24501), Greyson Glass, Al & Pat Wood, Bob & Kitty Boswell, Barbara Dunlop, Hylton & Sylvia Glass, Kyle & Jeanette Cyrus, Chris Balderson, Carl Hardwick, Helen Fleck, Shirley Johnson, Ken Wood, Doris Finch, Judy Johns, Victor Barrow, Susan Tedder, Charles Moore, Milton Sowell, Shayh, Alice Lovelace, Edna Wyatt, William Hicks, Vernelle Roupe, Jeanette Almond, Asa Fredell, Violet Ellis, Tucker Cole, Rhonda Wilkerson, Joseph Johnson, Lloyd Smith, Chestnut Hill UMC, Military & Families

The Summit Health & Rehab: John WilliamsLynchburg Health & Rehab: Johnnie KinzerThe Elms of Lynchburg: Frances CallahamRunk & Pratt at Liberty Ridge: Rose MorrisHeritage Green, Daybreak: Delma ScottRunk & Pratt of Forest: Emily Morris, Shirley WoodOakwood Manor (Bedford): Robert Bennett

Please join the clergy of the Lynchburg Downtown Cluster in a covenant to pray for God’s blessing on the mission and ministry of our United Methodist Churches and local mission and ministry endeavors – Peakland, Centenary, Christ Community Fellowship/Fairview, Court Street/Marsh Memorial, Fort Hill, Chestnut Hill, Forest Road, Jackson Street, Heritage, Boonsboro, Mead Memorial, Cove, Park View Community Mission (PVCM), the Society of St. Andrew, the Henry Fork Service Center, and The Garden of Hope (Washington, D.C.)