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African Methodist Episcopal Church<br />
HISTORIC ST. PAUL - COLUMBUS OHIO<br />
“For A Time, Such As This”<br />
Esther 4:14<br />
December <strong>25</strong>, 2022 – 10:00 AM<br />
Hybrid Worship Experience<br />
Bishop Errenous Earl McCloud, Jr., Presiding Prelate 3rd Episcopal District<br />
Ms. Patricia Russell-McCloud, Esq., Episcopal Supervisor 3rd Episcopal District<br />
Rev. Betty W Holley, PhD, Presiding Elder<br />
Columbus/Springfield/Xenia District<br />
Rev. Reyna Mangrum Hughes, Associate Minister<br />
Rev. Elsie Curl, Associate Minister
THE DOXOLOGY<br />
Praise God from whom all blessing flow; Praise Him, all creatures here<br />
below; Praise Him above ye heavenly host,<br />
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.<br />
CHRISTMAS LITANY<br />
Leader: Christmas, a day of celebration … a day of remembrance. God the Son<br />
became flesh and came to dwell among humans.<br />
People: Help me, Lord, to remember him this coming Christmas Day. Amidst<br />
the presents and people, let me see Him.<br />
Leader: His coming was prophesied in the Old Testament. For centuries<br />
humankind had been eagerly awaiting the Messiah’s arrival. They prayed for it<br />
and talked about it endlessly. They anticipated this glorious day as the beginning<br />
of their deliverance.<br />
People: Keep us from being disillusioned this Christmas. We sing carols,<br />
decorate trees, shop for gifts, and eagerly await for the day to arrive. It finally<br />
comes, only to be over too soon. Open our eyes, Lord, to a deeper understanding<br />
of the Advent. May we remember that the coming of the Christ child was not the<br />
end but the beginning.<br />
Leader: His birth took place in a stable, yet he was born a King. He was<br />
wrapped in common cloth, yet acclaimed as one uncommonly born. He was<br />
fragile, weak, a typically dependent baby; yet he was the Son of God.<br />
People: Jesus is the Christ of Christmas and the cross. His greatest gift was his<br />
own life, which he willingly laid down on the cross. With each bow and box,<br />
ribbon and wrapping, may we think of this greatest gift and be thankful. His<br />
common birth is a sign of our common heritage in him. For there is no one too<br />
great or too lowly that they cannot be touched by the love of God found in him.<br />
Leader: Let us make a place for him this Christmas. He is not to be a casual<br />
observer of the festivities. He is the guest of honor! Let us give him the highest<br />
place! Let us ascribe all glory due his name!<br />
ALL: For He, who was born of a virgin, is truly God the Son. He became fully<br />
human that his death might fully pay for sin. He rose from the dead and today<br />
we declare that the Christ of Christmas ascended to the right hand of God. He<br />
rules over his church. He sent the Spirit to baptize our hearts, and one day every<br />
knee shall bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord! To each other we say<br />
“Merry Christmas!” To him we say, “Glory to God in the highest!
HYMN OF PRAISE................................................. “Go Tell it on the Mountain”<br />
Go, tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and everywhere<br />
Go, tell it on the mountain, That Jesus Christ is born.<br />
While shepherds kept their watching over silent flocks by night,<br />
behold throughout the heavens, there shone a holy light.<br />
Go, tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and everywhere<br />
Go, tell it on the mountain, That Jesus Christ is born.<br />
INVOCATION .............................................................. Rev. Reyna Hughes<br />
PRAYER RESPONSE<br />
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,<br />
O come, let us adore him,<br />
Christ the Lord.<br />
MUSIC SELECTION ............................................................. St Paul Choir<br />
SCRIPTURE READING ..................................................... Rev. Elsie Curl<br />
Isaiah 7:6-7<br />
6 “Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves,<br />
and make the son of Tabeel king over it.” 7 Yet this is what the Sovereign<br />
Lord says: “‘It will not take place, it will not happen,<br />
Leader: The word of God for the People of God<br />
People: Thanks be to God<br />
CHRISTMAS EVE / CHRISTMAS DAY - THE CHRIST CANDLE<br />
Led by the Van Cleaf family<br />
page 5<br />
TITHING & OFFERINGS<br />
Silent night, Holy night All is calm, all is bright<br />
Round yon virgin, mother and child Holy infant, tender and mild<br />
Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.<br />
Silent night, Holy night Shepherds quake, at the sight<br />
Glories stream from heaven above Heavenly, hosts sing Hallelujah.<br />
Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.<br />
All things come of Thee, O Lord; and of Thine own have we given Thee.
ANNOUNCEMENTS<br />
SPECIAL WISHES ............................................... Birthday & Anniversaries<br />
19. Carole Smithers 20.James Culp, Edward M. Brown III, Adrienne Ray<br />
22. Cynthia Smithers <strong>25</strong>. Velma Wise<br />
SERMONIC SELECTION ............................................... St Paul Choir<br />
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE<br />
Rev. Morné E. Meyer, MDiv.<br />
INVITATION TO CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP<br />
BENEDICTION AND CLOSING REMARKS
CHRISTMAS EVE / CHRISTMAS DAY<br />
THE CHRIST CANDLE<br />
Led by the Van Cleaf family<br />
INTROIT: “Hark the herald angels sing, Jesus the Light of the world: Glory<br />
to the Newborn King, Jesus the Light of the world. (Refrain) We’ll walk in<br />
the light, beautiful light, Come where the dewdrops of mercy are bright,<br />
Shine all around us by day and by night, Jesus the Light of the world.”<br />
Reader: Please stand for advent liturgy. Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus<br />
Christ.<br />
Reader: This advent season we have lit candles to remember that Jesus<br />
fulfills the stories of Israel, God, and the whole world, and that he is greater<br />
than the kingdoms of this earth. All of these point us to the beautiful truth we<br />
celebrate, that Jesus is born king of heaven and earth. Not even heaven could<br />
contain its joy as the Son of God stepped into his own creation, taking on<br />
human flesh, in order to establish God’s kingdom on earth and save us from<br />
our sins.<br />
THE LIGHTING OF THE FIRST (Purple) , SECOND, (Purple) THIRD<br />
(Pink) AND FOURTH (Purple) CANDLES<br />
The first purple candle to be lit, is opposite the pink candle then move in a<br />
clockwise rotation.<br />
LIGHTING OF THE WHITE CANDLE (in the center.)<br />
Reader: We light the final candle of Advent to celebrate the birth of God’s<br />
Son, our Savior and King, who alone can give joy and lasting peace in a dark<br />
world so desperately in need of his grace.<br />
Reader: Let us pray together:<br />
ALL: Gracious Father, Thank you that you have not left this world in<br />
darkness, but have sent your eternal Son as the light of the world, to show us<br />
your glory, to give us new life and joy. Open our eyes to see Jesus more<br />
clearly, to trust him more fully, to serve him more joyfully, and to find all our<br />
satisfaction in him. Amen.<br />
Reader: You may be seated.
Bishop Errenous Earl McCloud, Jr., Guest Preacher<br />
200 Year Anniversary Meeting – January 5 th - 7 pm via Zoom<br />
(open for more members to serve)<br />
We are reminding all our members that all contributions for the 2022 tax year<br />
must be in the church office by December 31, 2022 or mailed in a letter<br />
postmarked December 31, 2022 per the new IRS tax law.<br />
Any contributions received after that date will be applied to your 2023 statement.
ST PAUL AME CHURCH<br />
Rev. Morné E. Meyer, MDiv<br />
Official Board Meeting:<br />
January 10, 2022 at 7pm via Zoom
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