WESTLAKE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

27650 Center Ridge Rd. Westlake OH 44145

(440) 871-3088

December 11, 2016 10:00 a.m.

ORDER OF WORSHIP December 11, 2016 10:00 a.m.

Third Sunday of Advent: Joy

(* the congregation is invited to stand as able)

GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE IN PRAISE

TOLLING OF THE CHIMES The chimes call us to quiet and to prepare for worship. Reflect during the prelude about what a difference Jesus has made in your world.

GREETING Welcome to WUMC! All members, friends, and visitors are invited to sign the Attendance register. Help us to keep our information up to date and get to know those worshiping near you! Also, please refer to the “FYI Wel-come” insert for upcoming events!

CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS

Prayer request cards are in the pews. If you have any concerns or celebra-tions please fill out a card. You may hand it to an usher or the pastor dur-ing music between scripture lessons (as indicated in the bulletin).

PRELUDE “Magnificat primi toni #3 and #5” Johann Pachelbel

The “Magnificat” or “Song of Mary” is today's Gospel lesson from the book of Luke. The Virgin Mary has learned from the angel Gabriel that she is to give birth to the Son of God. Being an obedient servant of the Lord, Mary sings praises.

* CALL TO WORSHIP**

L: In a world where we often seek personal happiness, Advent beckons us to a deeper expression of our faith in Christ. P: For the Lord our God is with us both now and forevermore. L: Advent beckons us to remember God’s unconditional love, even when we stumble. P: For the Lord our God is with us both now and forevermore. L: Advent beckons us to remember God’s invitation to the human heart to be still in the face of strife. P: For the Lord our God is with us both now and forevermore. L: Advent beckons us to remember we always have hope, even when it seems as if our world is caving in around us. P: For the Lord our God is with us both now and forevermore.

* THE LIGHT ENTERS OUR WORSHIP * HYMN “Angels We Have Heard on High” 238, UMH

-- Please hold up prayer cards so ushers can receive them -- * OPENING PRAYER (in unison)

O God, whose will is justice for the poor and peace for the afflicted, let your herald’s urgent voice pierce our hardened hearts and announce the dawn of your kingdom. Before the advent of the One who baptizes with the fire of the Holy Spirit, let our complacency give way to conversion, oppression to justice, and conflict to acceptance of one another in Christ. We ask this through the One whose coming is certain, whose day draws near: your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE *** Megan and Chris Holden

SCRIPTURE READING Isaiah 35:10 p. 623-4, OT

This morning we light three candles. The first candle reminds us of the hope that God’s light never ceases to shine. The second candle reminds us that in a world of discord, we hear again the calming words of our Savior, “Peace, be still.” The third candle reminds us that our joy abides in God who gently whispers to each human heart, “Come follow me, for I have come that you might have life and have it to the fullest measure!”

CHORAL RESPONSE “Light of Hope” Joel Raney A TIME WITH CHILDREN Joshua Konow

HEARING & PROCLAIMING GOD’S WORD

SCRIPTURE LESSON Luke 1:46b-55 p. 53-4, NT

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

COMMUNITY TIME PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

THE LORD'S PRAYER 895, UMH

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy king-dom 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 for-give those who trespass against us. And lead us not into tempta-tion, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

WORSHIPING WITH OUR TITHES & OFFERINGS OFFERTORY “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” Wilbur Held * DOXOLOGY 94, UMH

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all crea-tures here below: Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God, the source of all our gifts! Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts! Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

* PRAYER OF DEDICATION CANTATA NO. 63 “Christians, Engrave the Day” Johann Sebastian Bach

SENDING FORTH

* BENEDICTION * THE LIGHT LEADS US INTO SERVICE _______________________________________________________________

UMH: United Methodist Hymnal FWS: The Faith We Sing

**Text by Rev. Rich Davis, Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, River Forest, IL From The United Methodist Book of Worship ***Adapted From Text by Rev. Rich Davis, Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, River Forest, IL Used by permission. Westlake UMC OneLicense.Net #A711142

Johann Sebastian Bach

Cantata No. 63

Christen, ätzet diesen Tag Christians, Engrave This Day

1 Chorus – Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass

Tromba I-IV, Timpani, Oboe I-III, Fagotto, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Christen, ätzet diesen Tag Christians, engrave this day In Metall und Marmorsteine! in metal and marble stone ! Kommt und eilt mit mir zur Krippen Come and hurry with me to the manger Und erweist mit frohen Lippen and prove with happy lips Euren Dank und eure Pflicht; your thanks and your duty; Denn der Strahl, so da einbricht, for the ray that there breaks in Zeigt sich euch zum Gnadenscheine. is shown to you as the light of grace.

2 Recitative – Alto

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

O selger Tag! o ungemeines Heute, Oh blessed day! Oh extraordinary today' An dem das Heil der Welt, on which the saviour of the world, Der Schilo, den Gott schon im Paradies the Schilo [Messiah], whom God already in paradise Dem menschlichen Geschlecht verhieß, promised to the human race, Nunmehro sich vollkommen dargestellt now reveals himself fully Und suchet Israel von der Gefangenschaft und Sklavenketten and seeks from the imprisonment and slave chains Des Satans zu erretten. of Satan to rescue Israel.

3 Aria (Duetto) – Soprano, Bass

Oboe Solo, Continuo

Gott, du hast es wohl gefüget, God, you have well ordained Was uns itzo widerfährt. what now happens to us. Drum laßt uns auf ihn stets trauen Therefore let us always trust in him Und auf seine Gnade bauen, and build on his grace, Denn er hat uns dies beschert, for he has bestowed on us Was uns ewig nun vergnüget. what delights us now and for ever.

Du liebster Gott, was sind wir arme doch? Dear God, what are we then in our wretchedness?Ein abgefallnes Volk, so dich verlassen; A fallen people, who forsake you; Und dennoch willst du uns nicht hassen; and nevertheless you do not choose to hate us; Denn eh wir sollen noch nach dem Verdienst zu Boden liegen, for before we should lie on the earth according to our deserts, Eh muß die Gottheit sich bequemen, before that the deity must condescend Die menschliche Natur an sich zu nehmen to take human nature upon himself Und auf der Erden and on the earth Im Hirtenstall zu einem Kinde werden. in the shepherds' stall to become a child. O unbegreifliches, doch seliges Verfügen! Oh incomprehensible but blessed decree!

4 Recitative – Tenor

Continuo

So kehret sich nun heut In this way now today is transformed Das bange Leid, the anxious suffering Mit welchem Israel geängstet und beladen, with which Israel was distresed and burdened In lauter Heil und Gnaden. into pure salvation and grace. Der Löw aus Davids Stamme ist erschienen, The lion from the stock of David has appeared, Sein Bogen ist gespannt, das Schwert ist schon gewetzt, his bow is stretched, his sword is already sharpened, Womit er uns in vor'ge Freiheit setzt. with which he places us in our former freedom.

5 Aria (Duetto) – Alto, Tenor

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Ruft und fleht den Himmel an, Call and implore heaven, Kommt, ihr Christen, kommt zum Reihen, come, you Christians, come into the ranks, Ihr sollt euch ob dem erfreuen, you should rejoice on account of that Was Gott hat anheut getan! which God has done today! Da uns seine Huld verpfleget since his graciousness maintains us Und mit so viel Heil beleget, and endows us with such great salvation Daß man nicht g'nug danken kann. that sufficient thanks cannot be given.

6 Recitative – Bass

Oboe I-III, Violino I/II, Viola, Fagotto, Continuo

Verdoppelt euch demnach, ihr heißen Andachtsflammen, For this reason be redoubled, you hot flames of devotion, Und schlagt in Demut brünstiglich zusammen! and strike in humility ardently together! Steigt fröhlich himmelan Mount joyfully to heaven Und danket Gott vor dies, was er getan! and thank God for what he has done!

7 Chorus – Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass

Tromba I-IV, Timpani, Oboe I-III, Fagotto, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Höchster, schau in Gnaden an Highest, look with grace on Diese Glut gebückter Seelen! this ardour of souls who bow [in worship]. Laß den Dank, den wir dir bringen, Let the thanks, which we bring you, Angenehme vor dir klingen, resound pleasingly before you, Laß uns stets in Segen gehn, Let us always go with your blessing Aber niemals nicht geschehn, but never let it happen Daß uns der Satan möge quälen. that Satan may torment us.

Christen, ätzet diesen Tag, BWV 63

The cantata is Bach's earliest extant cantata for Christmas, possibly composed in Weimar as early as 1713. The text of the cantata, which echoes theologians in Halle, suggests that it was composed with Halle's Liebfrauenkirche in mind, in 1713, when Bach applied to be organist of this church, or in 1716, when he was involved in rebuilding its organ. The text is possibly by that church's 'Pastor primarius' Johann Michael Heineccius, who also wrote the libretti for other Bach cantatas definitely written for Halle and had favoured Bach's application for organist at the church as a successor to Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow. Musicologist Christoph Wolff deducts from the "lavish forces" of four trumpets, timpani and three oboes on top of the strings, an unprecedented scoring in Bach's cantatas, that the work was not composed for the intimate Schloßkirche in Weimar. He dates it as 1714 or 1715. According to John Eliot Gardiner, the first perform-ance may have taken place in Weimar in the church of St. Peter und Paul, per-formed by the combined musicians of the ducal Capelle and the town.

The prescribed readings for the feast day were from the Epistle of Titus, "God's mercy appeared" (Titus 2:11–14) or from Isaiah, "Unto us a child is born" (Isaiah 9:2–7), and from the Gospel of Luke, the Nativity, Annunciation to the shepherds and the angels' song (Luke 2:1–14). The poet wrote a text centered in symmetry around a recitative, framed by two duets, two more recitatives and two equal chorus movements. The lack of a closing chorale, which closes most of Bach's later cantatas, has raised the question if the work is based on a secular can-tata.

According to Gardiner, the cantata was performed again to celebrate the bicenten-nial of the Reformation in Halle in 1717. The musicologist Philipp Spitta assumed that the cantata was written for a 1723 premiere in Leipzig, because Bach per-formed it on the First day of Christmas in his first year as Thomaskantor, turning to new compositions that year only for the Second and Third of Christmas, Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, BWV 40, and Sehet, welch eine Liebe hat uns der Vater erzeiget, BWV 64. The musicologist Julian Mincham assumes that Bach chose this cantata for his first Christmas as Thomaskantor because "an inspired piece that commenced and concluded with impressive choruses, was exactly the right work for the occasion and nothing new was likely to eclipse it." It demanded the largest group of performers since Bach had begun his post half a year before, asking for four trumpets, timpani and three oboes in addition to the regular four voice parts and strings. Bach performed the cantata in Leipzig at least one more time, possibly in 1729.

The cantata in seven movements is festively scored for four vocal soloists (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass), a four-part choir, four trumpets, timpani, three oboes, bassoon, two violins, viola, organ in a later version, and continuo.

“Christen, ätzet diesen Tag, BWV 63.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikime-dia Foundation, Inc., 11 December 2015. 17 December 2015.

DIRECTOR Joshua Konow

CHANCEL CHOIR

SOPRANOS Laurie Forbush Beth Garrett Jackie Gramlich Judy Lawless Constance Metzinger Diana Metzinger

ALTOS Carol Askin Nanci Danburg Lynne Goerlich Ann Henkelman Adrienne Lehotsky Barb Parker Debby Patterson Jean Ruck Barbara Siwik

TENORS Douglas Brown Jim Gramlich Eleanore Lehto John Thaler

BASSES Tom Aldrich Harry Askin Dick Lehto Dick Parks Jack Patton Len Siwik Jim Schmitz Ken Wardell

OBOE Teil Buck Joseph Tolonen Thomas Friedle

BASSOON Carly Gomez

TRUMPET Matt Wirfel Chris Lichtler Benjamin Steger Alex Pinto

TIMPANI Kengo Ito

1ST VIOLIN Michelle Oh SooJeong Yoon

2ND VIOLIN Kelly Sohyoung Lee Hsuan Chen

VIOLA Christopher Gokelman Micaela Murphy

CELLO Rachael Lemna Brianna Tam

BASS Maxwell Morgan

CONTINUO Annie Kaschube

SOLO VOCALISTS Soprano – Marian Vogel Alto – Missy Sorohan Tenor – Tim Culver Bass – Robert Pierce

Bach Cantata Musicians

Westlake United Methodist Church 27650 Center Ridge Rd. 440-871-3088 Westlake, Ohio 44145 westlakeumc.org

This worship service is being live-streamed via our website: westlakeumc.org.

Please note that due to copyright and licensing restrictions, not all music or other multimedia

presentations may be broadcast.

In Our Service Today:

Liturgist: Dick Swartz

Ushers: Carole Miller, Ed Hammon, Jim Marshall, Sam Marshall

Greeters: Shirley Peritch, Betty Levis, Barbara Deeds

Please join us every Sunday after the 10:00 service in Fellowship Hall for Coffee and Fellowship Hour.

All are welcome!