Stock Pledges - Giving stock is a great way to give to the church. For those members who give stock to fulfill pledge obligations or other purposes, please contact Charles Tuten or Bill Allen at the church office (205.345.7261) with the necessary information as soon as you have notified your broker of the transfer.

Pastor’s Bible Study in January - Join us for the January Pastor’s Bible Study on “Churches of Greece and Turkey.” Contact Ken at ken@fumct.org or Ethelyn at ekstuhr@fumct.org. The Lee Sunday School Class will not meet Today or December 30 but will resume classes on Sunday, January 6. Church Office Hours: Our church office will be closed on December 24 and 25 and January 1. We are open on December 31.

MEMORIALS/HONORARIUMS DECEMBER 16, 2012

Caroline Powell Memorial Fund In Memory of Mrs. Caroline Powell given by Dr. Robert A. Dennis

Honorarium In Appreciation of Worship Hosts/Ushers & Volunteers

given by Cindy Sands In Honor of Diane Johnson

given by the Charlotte Shamblin Bible Study Circle

Memorials In Memory of Dr. John Shamblin

given by Jim & Lib Holman Thomson In Memory of Sara Hall Stipe given by The Astra Study Club

In Memory of Floyd Pugh Chappell Farrior given by Ray & Margie Moore

The Soup Bowl In Memory of Gloria Plott given by Heather Plott Sanders

ABOUT OUR CONGREGATION Attendance on 12/9: Traditions 525; Bridge: 454; Adult SS: 285; N/P SS: 41; K-

5 SS: 76; WOW: 34 Giving on 12/9: Budget: $42,795.43, Building: $16,497.89, Designated: $17,636. Attendance on 12/16: Traditions Worship 768; Bridge: 366; Adult SS: 324; K-5

SS: 52; WOW: 31 Giving on 12/16: Budget: $94,663.08; Building: $11,925.34; Designated:

$21,305.00 In the Hospital: DCH: Carole Stegall, Martha Corriher, Hal Stamps. Welcome New Members: Rebecca Howard, Floyd Prescott, Darbie Woodward

and Joyce Andrews. Births: Anne Clayton Welch (12/7/2012) daughter of David Clayton &

Elizabeth Welch, granddaughter of Martha Sue & Richard Brown. Patrick Leonard & Adeline “Addie” Creel Corder (12/14/2012) son and daughter of Amanda & Brock Corder, grandchildren of Ellen & Michael Black and Melinda & Lynn Corder

Deaths: In thanksgiving for his life, Dr. Richard Gurich, December 10, 2012. Sympathy to his wife Joyce, son Trey and daughter Jillian. Sympathy to Judy Hall in the death of her cousin, Jim Coryea of Tuscaloosa. Sympathy to Erin (Curtis) Tucker and family in the death of her aunt Marian Watson of Texas.

PRAYER REQUESTS Those Who Serve Our Country: 2nd Lieutenant Christopher Harwell; Staff Sgt. Brittany Millsaps; Ronald Barton Laycock US Navy, Bahrain, UAE. Other Prayer Concerns: Carter Culver (Stephanie Charboneau’s nephew); Pam Loper, Jane Walker; Carole Stegall; Julianne Sneckenberger; Michael Black; Tina Bearden Cox; Sandra Reed; Lynne Kimbrough & son Will; Marthalene Brown; Martha Sue Brown; John Powell; Bomar Ingram; Heather Whetston; Joy Phillips; Rosa McKinney; Doro-thy Benson (Liz Whipple’s grandmother); John Major Davis; Fuller Goldsmith; Jan Leopard Wright; Estelle Swann; Phillip Mann; Brian McSorley; Cayce & Jan Rumsey; May Prickett; Betty Harless; Letitia Roberts. This is a partial list of prayer requests. A team of people pray for the confidential prayer requests of the church. If you would like to become a member of the prayer team contact Mary at mary@fumct.org. Send your requests to Jennifer at Jennifer@fumct.org

ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACTIVITIES Welcome Reception - Join us at the Welcome Center next Sunday for a friendly reception. Are you looking for more information about our church? Would you like to learn your way around the building? Would you like to meet our pastors? Do you have questions that you would like answered? Join us at the Welcome Center at 10am we would love to meet you. Welcome to First United Methodist Church Tuscaloosa! For more information contact sam@fumct.org Year end Giving Opportunities - The Christmas offering we collect on Christmas Eve helps support the ministry of our Children’s Homes. However, it is our annual budget that is the life-blood of the operation and various ministries of the church. Through November, we received a little over $2,000,000. We will need a strong De-cember offering of $404,000 to meet all of our financial obligations. Valet Parkers Needed - We need valet parkers for our Christmas Eve Services from 5:30-7:15 p.m. If you can help, please email ekstuhr@fumct.org. Thank you. Christmas Serving Opportunities - We will be collecting coats (MEN'S, WOMEN'S, & CHILDREN'S) and blankets to pass out to the area homeless on Christmas Day. Please bring items to the church and place in receptacles labeled for these items. Eyeglasses for Honduras - Do you have old eyeglasses that you no longer use? Consider donating them to people in Honduras. Drop them off at the receptionist’s desk in the church office. Cost of Columbarium Niche - As part of the original plan for the Columbarium, the price for a niche will be increased from $2,800 to $3,000. This increase is to pro-vide for increasing interest expense on unsold niches. This change will take place ef-fective January 1, 2013.

First United Methodist Church Tuscaloosa 800 Greensboro Avenue

Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 Phone 205-345-7261

Facsimile 205-345-7263 After Hour Emergency Number: 205-886-7177

Website: www.fumct.org

December 23, 2012 9:00 a.m.

The Dance Centre 1825 McFarland Blvd North, Suite C

Tuscaloosa, AL 35406

Today in worship, we are blessed by the gifts and talents of the dancers from The Dance Centre and their Co-Directors, Rebecca Tingle and Melissa Verzino. Our dancers today are Caroline Evans, Jayci Kalb, Ali Marshall, and Caitlin Hall. The Dance Centre is committed to excellence in the highest quality dance edu-cation programs for young aspiring dancers. As we experience in worship this morning, a large part of their mission is to serve community and religious or-ganizations with their art. In today’s service of The Artistry of Christmas before Christmas Eve, it is fitting that we explore the wonder that the shepherds and the angels experienced at the announcement of the birth of the Christ-Child, through the wonder of artistic expression created by classical dance. Thank you to Rebecca Tingle and our dancers of The Dance Centre for making this worship service possible! Faithfully, James Seay Director of Music and Worship

*PASSING OF THE PEACE

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE Joe & Anita Bratton CHILDREN’S MINUTES A Classic Christmas Story Rev. Dan Kilgore

Following the Children’s Minutes, children ages K - 3rd grade should worship with their parents.

PASTORAL PRAYER Rev. Dan Kilgore The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray.

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, the power and the glory, forever. Amen. PRAYER RESPONSE Be Near Me Lord Jesus *OFFERTORY HYMN NO. 218 It Came upon a Midnight Clear CAROL

Stanzas 1, 4 It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, from angels bending near the earth, to touch their harps of gold: "Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heaven's all-gracious King." The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing. For lo! the days are hastening on, by prophet seen of old, when with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling, and the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing.

OFFERTORY PRAYER Ruth McFarland

OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD Please give the Friendship Pad slips to the usher as the offering is received. OFFERTORY Carol of the Bells arr. William Witherup Chancel Handbell Choir *DOXOLOGY VENI EMMANUEL

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. Praise God, all creatures here below. Praise God above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

SCRIPTURE Luke 2:8-20 Ruth McFarland (Pew Bible, NT p. 58)

RESPONSE TO THE WORD O, Holy Night by Adolphe Adam

WELCOME TO WORSHIP

Fourth Sunday of Advent December 23, 2012 - 9:00 a.m.

PRELUDE Angels We Have Heard on High arr. Ruth Elaine Schram O Come All Ye Faithful Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Chancel Handbell Choir Jerrod Newell, Director ANNOUNCEMENTS & WELCOME Ethelyn Stuhr Director of Older Adults Ministry and Congregational Care

Members and guests, please take the Friendship Pad, fill out the information and pass it down your pew. When it arrives at the other end of the pew, pass it back, taking note of those who are seated in your row.

CHIMING OF THE HOUR The sounding of the three chimes symbolizes the presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

*HYMN OF PRAISE NO. 220 Angels from the Realms of Glory REGENT SQUARE

Stanzas 1, 2, 4 Angels from the realms of glory, wing your flight o'er all the earth; ye who sang creation's story now proclaim Messiah's birth: Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King. Shepherds, in the field abiding, watching o'er your flocks by night, God with us is now residing; yonder shines the infant light: Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King. Saints, before the altar bending, watching long in hope and fear; suddenly the Lord, descending, in his temple shall appear: Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King.

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH A Modern Affirmation PASTOR: Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is the one true church, apostolic and universal, whose holy faith let us now declare:

ALL: We believe in God the Father, infinite in wisdom, power, and love, whose mercy is over all his works, and whose will is ever directed to his children's good. We believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of man, the gift of the Father's unfailing grace, the ground of our hope, and the promise of our deliverance from sin and death. We believe in the Holy Spirit as the divine presence in our lives, whereby we are kept in perpetual remembrance of the truth of Christ, and find strength and help in time of need. We believe that this faith should manifest itself in the service of love as set forth in the example of our blessed Lord, to the end that the kingdom of God may come upon the earth. Amen.

*GLORIA PATRI

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

SERMON The Artistry of Christmas: Dr. Ken Dunivant “Angels ” *HYMN OF DEDICATION NO. 238 Angels We Have Heard on High GLORIA

Stanzas 1, 2, 4 Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing o'er the plains, and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains.

Refrain Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heavenly song? Refrain See him in a manger laid, whom the choirs of angels praise; Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, while our hearts in love we raise. Refrain

*BENEDICTION Dr. Ken Dunivant *BENEDICTION RESPONSE What Sweeter Music arr. Rutter

POSTLUDE Hark the Herald Angels Sing Neil Harmon

(Hymn texts printed through permission of CCLI: 1108424)

Please silence all cell phones and pagers. Thank you.

HOSTS/USHERS

Debby Gryska, Tony Allison, Cindy Allison Leigh Snodsmith, Cooper Snodsmith

Blake Snodsmith, Andy Billings Worship Coordinator is Aaron Barr

ALTAR FLOWERS

The flowers on the altar are given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Judy Johnson

by Larry and Katie Johnson