Order of Worship

Opening Voluntary – “Ein Feste Burg” by Johann Christoph Bach

Welcome/Greetings

Choral Introit

*Opening Hymn #213 – “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates”        

Lighting of the Advent Candle  ~Peace~  Rebecca, Anthony and Amaya Heyward

Loving God, in this time of preparation and planning, we thank you for the hope and peace you unfailingly offer us.  Show us the creative power of hope.  Teach us the peace that comes from justice.  Prepare our hearts to be transformed by you, that we may walk in the light of Christ.

*Call to Worship

L:  People of God, Christ has invited us here!

P:  We gather to praise God, who brings justice and righteousness to all.

L:  We gather to give thanks to God for hope and peace.

P:  Blessed be the Lord, who has done marvelous things.

L:  Let us praise God together!

*Opening Prayer

God of hope and peace, as we worship you this day, may we catch a glimpse of your peace; may we open ourselves to receive your grace; may we welcome one another, as you have welcomed us; may we prepare hearts and our lives, for Christ to be born in us once again.  And when our worship is done, may we be renewed in body and spirit, prepared to bring your righteousness and justice to the world.  In the name of Christ, we pray.  Amen.

Scriptures

Old Testament – Isaiah 11:1-10

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.  ² The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—³ and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.  He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; ⁴ but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.  He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.  ⁵ Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.  ⁶ The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.  ⁷ The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.  ⁸ The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.  ⁹ They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.  ¹⁰ In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.

L:  The Word of God, For the People of God.  P:  Thanks be to God.

New Testament – Romans 15:4-13

⁴ For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.  ⁵ May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, ⁶ so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  ⁷ Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.  ⁸ For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed ⁹ and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.  As it is written:  “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.”  ¹⁰ Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”  ¹¹ And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.”  ¹² And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.”  ¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

L:  The Word of God, For the People of God.  P:  Thanks be to God.

*Hymn before Sermon #3003 – “How Great is Our God”  (W&S Hymnal-Green)

Sermon – “The Arrival of Peace – On Earth As It Is In Heaven”    Rev. Eumin Kim

Pastoral Prayer

Invitation

John the baptizer called us to repent as the kin-dom of heaven comes near.  Yet, we often decide that we would rather not change our lives to see that realm.  Let us come to God and ask for a spirit of repentance as we confess our sins to God and to one another.

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, there are days when we lose our way.  We forget, or simply don’t trust, your vision of peace.  We ignore the cries of those seeking justice.  We fail to bear good fruit in our lives.  Forgive us.  Remind us that we are yours.  Teach us how to make peace with ourselves and with our neighbors.  Help us proclaim your message of hope and continue our journey to Bethlehem—a journey of faith to a cradle of love.  In the name of Emmanuel, we pray.  Amen.

Words of Assurance

Brothers and sisters, siblings in Christ, the God of steadfast love encourages us to continue in the faith.  Rejoice, for God brings forgiveness and healing.  Thanks be to God!

Passing of the Peace of Christ

L:  Wherever you have been, you are welcome here!

P:  We are glad to be here, gathered in the glorious name of God!

L:  Here and everywhere, may the peace of Christ be with you.

P:  And also with you.

Invitation to Tithes and Offering

We give thanks for the blessings God gives us—blessings that nourish us and help us do wondrous things for God and God’s world.  In a spirit of thanksgiving, let us now offer what we can to God as a way to show our thanks.

Chancel Choir – “Bring Us Peace” by Craig Courtney

*Hymn No. 95 – Presentation of the Offering

*Prayer of Dedication

Abundant God, your blessings and righteousness are bountiful in our lives.  May these gifts bear good fruit as they go forth, that peace may come, that creation may be healed, and that those who cry for justice may be heard.  Amen.

Thanksgiving and Communion

The Great Thanksgiving:

L:  The Lord be with you. 

P:  And also with you. 

L:  Lift up your hearts.

P:  We lift them up to the Lord.

L:  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

P:  It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty (almighty God), creator of heaven and earth.  You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life.  When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast.  You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God, and spoke to us through your prophets, who looked for that day when justice shall roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream, when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

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.

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ, whom you sent in the fullness of time to be a light to the nations.  You scatter the proud in the imagination of their hearts and have mercy on those who fear you from generation to generation.  You put down the mighty from their thrones and exalt those of low degree.  You fill the hungry with good things, and the rich you send empty away.  Your own Son came among us as a servant, to be Emmanuel, your presence with us.  He humbled himself in obedience to your will and freely accepted death on a cross.  By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:  “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.”

When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:  “Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.  Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine.  Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.  Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father (God), now and forever.  Amen.

BREAKING THE BREAD

GIVING THE BREAD AND CUP

PRAYER AFTER RECEIVING COMMUNION

We give thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us at your table by granting us the presence of Jesus Christ.  Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and send us forth into the world in courage and peace, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Amen.

*Closing Hymn #431 – “Let There Be Peace on Earth”                

*Dismissal with Blessing

Closing Voluntary – “Improvisation on ‘IN DULCI JUBILO'” by Michael Barker