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Advent 2021: Best Christmas Ever by Ellen Fizer

Evan Taylor
Dec 22, 2021
2 min read

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”


-Romans 6:23

25th Day of Advent

December 22, 2021


Best Christmas Ever


We can all remember that special Christmas when Santa Claus got everything right, and just about everything we wanted was under the tree. We declared that the best Christmas ever. Or as an adult, when we had enough money to buy all of our loved ones a gift; the meal was delicious; and your family was laughing and enjoying themselves and one another; and no one got into a serious argument. You may have declared that the best Christmas ever.


What is your favorite family Christmas story? Advent is a time for us to reflect on the very first Christmas. Have you ever wondered what Mary felt when she held the newborn Savior in her arms for the first time? There was no scrumptious holiday feast and no neatly wrapped gifts. The gifts for the newborn King would come later. Would Jesus Christ’s birth be Mary’s best Christmas ever?


Whether we celebrate this Christmas surrounded by loved ones or sitting alone in front of the TV watching the Hallmark channel movies, it can always be the best Christmas ever. Remember the reason we celebrate, and the best gift of all, the gift of eternal life


Prayer


Maker of all things, we pray that this Christmas season and all year long we remember and give thanks for your gift of eternal life through our Savior, Jesus Christ.And with this knowledge, this Christmas and every Christmas will be the best Christmas ever! AMEN


Sister Ellen Young Fizer

Steward Emeritus

Pearl P. Cook Senior Citizens Club

Advent 2021

Join us in a time of reflection, expectation, and contemplation during the season of Advent 2021.


Each day a new reflection with a scripture and prayer will be posted on the Metropolitan AME Church website and social media to encourage you to hear the words of those reflecting, anticipating, and contemplating with you in community as we thank God for what God has done, notice what God is actively doing and anticipate what God will do next.


Read along with us each day or download the book to read and write along with us offline.



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1518 M ST. NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20005 | (202) 331 -1426   CONTACT@METROPOLITANAMEC.ORG

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created by whatsyourseven.com   Maintained by Rev. Evan Taylor

Opening Selection

Exhortation

Doxology

Call to Worship
 

Morning Hymn

Prayers of the People
 

Prayer Response

Pastoral Moment

Welcome to Metropolitan

Worship Through Giving

Scripture Reading

Sermonic Selection

Sermon

Invitation to Christian Discipleship

Benediction

He's Been Good by Kenny Lewis and He's Able by Deitrick Haddon

The Kollective

Rev. Cozette Thomas

The Kollective

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen.

Sister Kwentoria Williams

Leader: We gather today to affirm our commitment to Christian Education. We are grateful to the teachings of our ancestors, the practices of faith that shape us, and the future of hope that inspires us to live faithfully as Christians. We confirm our choice to be people of faith and share in the work in partnership with God towards our hope and our future. We imagine together the world where hope prevails for all our components, families, churches, and communities. 

 

People: We have and always will be a Christian people of hope.

 

Leader: We recognize those who spoke life into us, who volunteered us for service, and who seeded opportunities in community to share the gifts and talents God has created, called us through, and equipped us with. 

 

People: We have and always will be a Christian people with a divine future.

 

Leader: We acknowledge our calling to follow God, as people who dream of a world as it ought to be, filled with flourishing people, places, and communities. We are determined to bring forth this new world as teachers, learners, sojourners, and community. 

 

People: We have and always will be a Christian people led by God.

 

Leader: We, as people of hope, are rooted in worship, liberation, and service; grounded in theologically sound teaching; committed to organizing for justice; and personified radical hospitality in the church, community, and world. 

 

People: Amen and Ase.

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Joyful, Joyful

African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal #75

The Kollective

Joyful, joyful, we adore You,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow'rs before You,
Op'ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!

All Your works with joy surround You,
Earth and heav'n reflect Your rays,
Stars and angels sing around You,
Center of unbroken praise;
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow'ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Praising You eternally!

Always giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean-depth of happy rest!
Loving Father, Christ our Brother,
Let Your light upon us shine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the mighty chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
God's own love is reigning o’er us,
Joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.



 

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Sister Margie Jones

Promises

by Lisa Smith and The Brown Singers

The Kollective

Rev. WIlliam H. Lamar IV

Welcome to Metropolitan

In this house, you'll find love 

In this house, you'll find peace, 

In this house, you'll find overwhelming joy, 

A strong foundation, an historic legacy, 

 

Welcome to Metropolitan 

Welcome to Metropolitan 

Welcome to Metropolitan AME 

 

Love, Peace, Joy, God's got it here for you 

Love, Peace, Joy, God's got it here for you 

Love, Peace, Joy, God's got it here for you 

 

Welcome 

Welcome 

Welcome 

 

Welcome to Metropolitan 

Welcome to Metropolitan 

Welcome to Metropolitan 

Welcome to Metropolitan AME

Your giving is a wonderful expression of God’s generosity. There are several ways to give: via check mailed to Metropolitan AME Church at 1518 M Street NW,

Washington, DC 20005, via credit card on the website at metropolitanamec.org/give via Realm, and via text.

To text to give, text "metro1518" to 73256.

Quincy Muse

Matthew 20:1-16 NRSVUE

For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around, and

He said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received a denarius. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.

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The Name

by Katrina Smith

The Kollective 

Rev. Thomas Brackeen 

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Rev. William H. Lamar IV

Rev. William H. Lamar IV

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