Together with Christians around the globe, we are now in the four-week, ancient celebration of Advent. Advent is a time of communal and personal examination, preparation, and hopeful, expectant waiting of the coming of God’s justice in the world.
PRELUDE Shepherd Pipes JOHNSON
*ADVENT PROPHECY Isaiah 7:11-16 (insert)
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES (insert)
*HYMN Watchman, Tell Us of the Night (insert) ST. GEORGE’S WINDSOR
*INVITATION TO CONFESSION
Our God is a welcoming God of refuge, and all are invited to let loose their burdens in this morning’s confession.
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of Interruptions,
we welcome you into our lives, asking that you call our attention to what’s new and urgent alongside what’s old and still worthy of our consideration.
In the vast diversity of your Creation, we understand that advocacy is a complicated thing.
Keep us responsive to the needs of our siblings, all people;
and where we have developed for-granted truths, interrupt us—Let us know that we took them.
Guide us, O God, as we shuffle, bend, and learn, always striving to more faithfully follow the way of Christ, your Beloved, Anointed One. Amen.
(Silent confession.)
CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE:
*HYMN 102 Savior of the Nations, Come, vs. 1 NUN KOMM, DER HEIDEN HEILAND
Savior of the nations, come;
virgin’s son, make here your home.
Marvel now, O heaven and earth,
that the Lord chose such a birth.
*ASSURANCE OF GRACE
In this season of waiting, the Good News is this: mercy, new life, hope, and joy are the gifts we receive from our God.
Thanks be to the God of Advent,
who is with us now and always, and
who will come again in glory! Amen.
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
Since we have been reconciled to God, let us now be reconciled to one another.
The peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
(The congregation is invited to exchange signs of peace.)
CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE
*HYMN 95 Prepare the Way of the Lord (sing twice) PREPARE THE WAY
Prepare the way of the Lord. Prepare the way
of the Lord, and all people will see the
salvation of our God.
SCRIPTURE READING
JOHN 3:12-17
For the word of God in scripture, for the word of God among us, for the word of God within us, thanks be to God.
SERMON
*HYMN 105 People, Look East, vs. 1&5 BESANCON
PRAYERS OF SUPPLICATION AND INTERCESSION
O God, in your lovingkindness:
Hear our prayer.
OFFERING The Boy Child of Mary
In addition to the offering plate, you may
give electronically through the Give-lify app
or our website’s donation page.
*DOXOLOGY VENI EMMANUEL
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God all creatures high and low
Praise God in Jesus fully known
Creator, Word, and Spirit, one.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Disruptive God, we thank you for discomfort. Life is messy. Truths can be hard to swallow. And sometimes it feels like the more we lean into your Word, the more we notice pain, toil, and suffering.
We are grateful, God, for the ways you alert us, keeping us mindful of the needs of others and the consequences of our actions.
Keep us aware, O God, keep us uncomfortable, so that we may recognize and challenge wrongdoings, seeking justice for all people;
We give thanks to you in all things as we pray, saying:
The LORD’S PRAYER, as we
call it here, can be found on the
back cover of your hymnal.
*HYMN 113 Angels We Have Heard on High GLORIA
*DISMISSAL
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in hope by the power of God’s holy Spirit. Amen.
Let us go forth in the name and Spirit of Christ Jesus. Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE Old English Carol FEDAK
We’d like to thank those who served in and prepared worship today:
Bill Maul, Music Director
Greg Gardner, Liturgist
Woodland Vocal Ensemble, Special Music