The Prelude
For Reflection
The world asks, “What does a man own?” Christ asks, “How does he use it.” Andrew Murray
The Welcome, News and Announcements
The Moment for Stewardship Pam Postle
The Stewardship Recitation and Hymn #733 “We Are One In Mission”
1We all are one in mission,
We all are one in call,
Our varied gifts united
By Christ, the Lord of all.
A single, great commission
Compels us from above
To plan and work together
That all may know Christ’s love.
2 We all are called for service
To witness in God’s name;
Our ministries are different,
Our purpose is the same:
To touch the lives of others
With God’s surprising grace
So ev’ry folk and nation
May feel God’s warm embrace.
3 Now let us be united
And let our song be heard.
Now let us be a vessel
For God’s redeeming word.
We all are one in mission,
We all are one in call,
Our varied gifts united
By Christ, the Lord of all.
The Introit
The Call to Worship Pastor Dan
One: The nights around us grow longer, All: But in you, O God, we hope. One: The days are growing colder, All: But in you, O God, we hope. One: We are ever caught up in the cycles of life and death. All: But in you, O God, we hope.
The Unison Invocation
Among the poor, among the proud, among the persecuted, among the privileged, Christ is coming to make all things new…
…In the meantime, and as we wait, we bodly pray:
The Lord’s Prayer Pastor Dan
… the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy will be done, thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors 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 Lighting of the Advent Candle Kris Alling One: We light candles for throughout Advent leading to Christmas and reflect on the coming of Christ, entering a troubled world. And so we light the second candle, the candle of peace, and dare to express our longing for peace, for healing, and the well-being of all creation.
The Advent Hymn (Verse Two) “Light the Advent Candle” (Please, from the safety of your home, feel free to sing out with gusto.) “Light the Advent candle, two: Think of humble shepherds who filled with wonder at the sight of the child of Christmas night. Candle, candle burning bright, shining in the cold winter night; candle, candle, burning bright, fill our hearts with Christmas light.”
The Unison Advent Prayer Kris Alling
All: The light is surely coming! With anticipation we wait for the light to coax the branch of mercy, to shed lifelessness and to sprout new fruit. We open our hearts to be transformed with the promise of possibility that is to come. As we light the candle of Peace, we pray that it will brighten our path, that our steps inside this church might align with our steps outside in the world. And we await the Son of God.
The Scripture Lesson
Isaiah 11:5-7
New Revised Standard Version
5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
6 The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.
7 The cow and the bear shall graze,
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The Hymn #105 “People Look East”
(Please, from the safety of your home, feel free to sing out with gusto.)
People, look east. The time is near of the crowning of the year. Make your house fair as you are able, Trim the hearth and set the table. People, look east and sing today: Love, the guest, is on the way. Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare, one more seed is planted there: Give up your strength the seed to nourish, that in course the flower may flourish. People, look east and sing today: Love, the rose, is on the way.
We Proclaim God’s Word
Prayer of Illumination
The Meditation “Hope and Hopelessness”
Music for Meditation
We Respond to God’s Word
The Offertory
The Offertory Anthem
**The Doxology
**The Unison Prayer of Dedication
With these gifts, we seek to accomplish the good you intend, O God. With these offerings, we commit ourselves anew to your way of peace. Prosper the work of your church in this place and link us with all who watch and wait for your revelation. Amen.
The Service of Holy Communion
The Invitation to the Table
One: The Lord be with you.
All: And also be with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
One: Holy God, father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, with joy we praise you and give thanks to your name. You commanded light to shine out of darkness. You made us in your image- To live with one another in love. Through the ages you promised yourself in covenant. You called for justice in the cry of the prophets. Through long generations you have been faithful and kind to all your creation, including the children.
All Reciting: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
The Special Music Hymn # 525, “Let Us Break Bread Together” Pam Postle
(Please, from the safety of your home, join us in shaking out a joyful noise unto the Lord and feel free to sing out with gusto.)
Minister: Remembering all your mighty and merciful acts,
We break bread and share one cup
Giving thanks for your saving love and Jesus Christ.
As you raised our Lord from death
And call us with him from death to life, we give ourselves to you
To live for him and joy and grateful praise.
According to God‘s Commandments:
We remember his death,
We proclaim his resurrection,
We await his coming in glory.
Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these your gifts of bread and wine. Pour out your Holy Spirit on those gifts that the people bring from home.
Make them to be for them and for us the body and blood of Christ
That we may be The body of Christ for the world.
Through Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
All glory and honor are yours, Almighty God,
Forever and ever.
Amen.
Through the words of the prophets
You promised your people to redeemer, and gave hope for the day
When justice show roll down like waters,
And righteousness like an ever flowing stream.
Sharing of the Bread and Cup
We take the bread:
On the night of his arrest,
Jesus Christ took bread, Blessed it
And broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “ this is my body broken for you.”
We take the cup:
On the night of his betrayal, Jesus Christ
Took the cup,
“This is the new covenant, my blood shed for the forgiven us of sins. As often as you drink of it, do so in remembrance of me.”
The Silent, Intercessory and Pastoral Prayer
We Go Forth in God’s Name
**The Charge and Benediction
**The Sending Hymn #747, “The Lord Now Sends Us Forth”
The Lord now sends us forth with hands to serve and give,
to make of all the earth a better place to live.
The angels are not sent into our world of pain
to do what we were meant to do in Jesus’ name;
that falls to you and me and all who are made free,
Help us, O Lord, we pray, to do your will today.
**Postlude
Attributions
Call to Worship reprinted from All Earth is Waiting, Katie Z. Dawson; Invocation adapted and reprinted from Cloth for the Cradle; Wild Goose Worship, copyright 1997; Unison Prayer of Dedication reprinted and adapted from Fresh Winds of the Spirit, Book 2 by Lavon Bayler.
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