Order of Worship

Opening Voluntary

Welcome/Greetings

Choral Introit

*Opening Hymn #196 – “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”            

Lighting of the Advent Candle          Allison and Liam LaVoie

All-powerful God, increase our strength of will for doing good that Christ may find an eager welcome at his coming and call us to his side in the kingdom of heaven, where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God, forever and ever.  Amen.

*Call to Worship

L:  As we journey through the Sundays of Advent, listen to the promises of God:

P:  a righteous branch springs forth,

L:  a promise of justice and righteousness,

P:  a promise of safety.

L:  Listen to the promise of Jesus: 

P:  the kingdom of God draws near.

L:  Keep alert; watch for signs of hope.

P:  Our Advent journey begins.

*Opening Prayer

God of every season, as we begin our journey through Advent, turn our hearts toward you.  Guide us into your realm of peace and joy.  Teach us to set aside our worries, as we walk in faithfulness and trust.  May the love within us be born anew.  Help us remain alert, that we may respond to pain and suffering and notice the signs of abundant life all around us.  Come, Lord Jesus; come to us now, we pray.  Amen.

Children’s Sermon       Pastor Kim

Scriptures

Old Testament – Psalm 25:1-10

¹ In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.  ² I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.  ³ No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause.  ⁴ Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.  ⁵Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.  ⁶ Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.  ⁷ Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.  ⁸ Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.  ⁹ He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.  ¹⁰ All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.

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

Gospel – Luke 21:25-36

²⁵ “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars.  On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.  ²⁶ People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.  ²⁷ At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  ²⁸ When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”  ²⁹ He told them this parable:  “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.  ³⁰ When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.  ³¹ Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.  ³² “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.  ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.  ³⁴ “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.  ³⁵ For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth.  ³⁶ Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

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

*Hymn before Sermon #334 – “Sweet, Sweet Spirit”    

Sermon – “Lift Up Your Heads, Redemption is Coming!”                    Pastor Kim

Pastoral Prayer

Invitation

Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another.  Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.

Prayer of Confession

Compassionate God, show us your ways.  Guide us in your paths and lead us in your truth.  For your love is faithful, and your will brings us abundant life.  It is easy to be distracted during this busy time of year.  The worries of life threaten to overwhelm us.  Remind us of who we are meant to be:  merciful, faithful, patient, and loving.  We will place our trust in you, no matter what happens.  May we forget our past mistakes and live into a future filled with love.  Amen.

Words of Assurance

God’s mercy and steadfast love are eternal.  God shows us the way to abundant life.

Passing of the Peace of Christ

May God increase our love for one another and strengthen our hearts in holiness, as we greet one another in peace.

Invitation to Tithes and Offering

As God promises to execute justice and righteousness in the world, God invites us to help make this promise a reality.  Let us offer our gifts and our lives, that all may be blessed.

Chancel Choir – “Taste and See”                                                 

*Hymn No. 95 – Presentation of the Offering

*Prayer of Dedication

We thank you, God, for the joy we feel this day.  We are blessed by this community of love, this sanctuary of acceptance.  We place our trust in you, knowing that you care for us.  With deep gratitude for all you provide to us, we offer our gifts to you.  Centered our hearts during this season of giving.  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 #368 – “My Hope Is Built”                                   

*Dismissal with Blessing

Closing Voluntary – “Toccata in e minor” by Pachelbel