December 16, 2018
Third Sunday of Advent
ANNOUNCEMENTS (On video screen - beginning 30 minutes prior to worship)
GREETING
PREUDE Joy, Bethlehem Joy (Davis)
CALL TO WORSHIP and ADVENT WREATH LIGHTING
Pastor: Rejoice! Lift up your hearts. Let go of fear and anxiety.
Silence your inner critic - for God comes to set us free.
Congregation: As the year draws to an end, and tiredness and timetables
sap our energy for celebration, hear the Good News: you are free!
Liturgist: Today we continue the journey through the words and music of Advent
and gather to light a flame of joy, a beacon of light in our communities.
(Candle of joy is lighted)
Congregation: Christ has come!
Christ is coming!
Christ will come again!
HYMN Rejoice in the Lord Always! (Sing 3 times)
PRAYER OF CONFESSION & ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Pastor: We are God’s beloved children. Sometimes we forget that and act otherwise. Let us confess our sin before God and one another.
All: Holy One, forgive us when we forget who we are, and act as if we are totally separate from you. Forgive us when our religious activities become dull repetition that keeps you at arm’s length. Forgive us when we keep our world so small that we cannot see who is shut out of it. Forgive us when our image of you is too small, too inadequate, or too immature. Forgive us when we keep ourselves busy and put service above prayer. Forgive us when small irritations with each other restrict us from growing in love for each other. Forgive us and renew our faith and love that we might more faithfully live out the Way of Jesus. Amen.
(Time of Silent Confession)
Pastor: Sisters and brothers in Christ,
Rejoice! We are forgiven!
Liturgist: Even so, may we also be disturbed by the Spirit who calls us
to enlarge our vision, stretch our capacity to love, and share our joy.
Congregation: AMEN TO THAT!
All: We, who are in this place,
out in the world and in our private lives,
through our words and actions,
will reveal Jesus Christ as the center
of who we are and ever hope to be.
In this way, God's Light and Joy will reign!
HYMN OF PRAISE Rejoice in the Lord Always! (Sing 1 time)
Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice!
Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Again, I say, rejoice!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Again, I say, rejoice!
PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
SPECIAL TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN
HYMN Rejoice, the Lord is King Bulletin, Page 4
HEBREW READING The Lord Renews with Love! Zephaniah 3:14-20
SECOND READING Rejoice! The Lord is near! Philippians 4:4-11
NEW TESTAMENT READING What must we do? Luke 3:7-18
SERMON & PASTORAL PRAYER Rev. Laura C. Bair
ANTHEM Sing We Now Chancel Choir
OFFERING INVITATION
Liturgist: “The day of rejoicing is coming,” says the prophet Isaiah, and we wait for it together. Our gifts, given today, help us to strengthen one another and to offer hope to the world as we look forward to that great day of everlasting joy. So, with great hope and anticipation, let us gather our generous tithes and offerings.
OFFERTORY The Joy of the Coming Messiah (Smith)
DOXOLOGY Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow #550
OFFERTORY PRAYER
All: Generous God, we present to you, these gifts and the very gift of ourselves. May all be used to make a difference in the lives of people where hope, peace, and joy is scarce. May our gifts be a reminder, to those who receive them, of your amazing love. We continue to pray, as Christ taught us, saying: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy
name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, 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.
HYMN Joy to the World Hymnal, #120
BENEDICTION
Pastor: Today you have been entrusted with words
that have the capacity to change lives:
you now have the imprint of the Gospel of Christ
in your minds and on your hearts.
May God give you the grace and the strength
to live out this calling.
May Christ’s way of justice and compassion
flow through your words and actions.
And may the Spirit bring back to mind
the words you have heard today.
The blessing of the Emmanuel be with you, this day and always.
All: Amen.
POSTLUDE Joy and Peace Be With You (Jackson)
Worship Resources
Sidell, Ann. “Confession & Assurance.” Prayers and liturgies for Advent and Christmas: Year C of
the Lectionary. 03 Dec 2018.
Andrews, Henrietta S. “Offering Invitation and Offertory Prayer.” Joy is Coming! Service
Prayers for the 3rd Sunday of Advent. 03 Dec 2018.
GREETING
PREUDE Joy, Bethlehem Joy (Davis)
CALL TO WORSHIP and ADVENT WREATH LIGHTING
Pastor: Rejoice! Lift up your hearts. Let go of fear and anxiety.
Silence your inner critic - for God comes to set us free.
Congregation: As the year draws to an end, and tiredness and timetables
sap our energy for celebration, hear the Good News: you are free!
Liturgist: Today we continue the journey through the words and music of Advent
and gather to light a flame of joy, a beacon of light in our communities.
(Candle of joy is lighted)
Congregation: Christ has come!
Christ is coming!
Christ will come again!
HYMN Rejoice in the Lord Always! (Sing 3 times)
PRAYER OF CONFESSION & ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Pastor: We are God’s beloved children. Sometimes we forget that and act otherwise. Let us confess our sin before God and one another.
All: Holy One, forgive us when we forget who we are, and act as if we are totally separate from you. Forgive us when our religious activities become dull repetition that keeps you at arm’s length. Forgive us when we keep our world so small that we cannot see who is shut out of it. Forgive us when our image of you is too small, too inadequate, or too immature. Forgive us when we keep ourselves busy and put service above prayer. Forgive us when small irritations with each other restrict us from growing in love for each other. Forgive us and renew our faith and love that we might more faithfully live out the Way of Jesus. Amen.
(Time of Silent Confession)
Pastor: Sisters and brothers in Christ,
Rejoice! We are forgiven!
Liturgist: Even so, may we also be disturbed by the Spirit who calls us
to enlarge our vision, stretch our capacity to love, and share our joy.
Congregation: AMEN TO THAT!
All: We, who are in this place,
out in the world and in our private lives,
through our words and actions,
will reveal Jesus Christ as the center
of who we are and ever hope to be.
In this way, God's Light and Joy will reign!
HYMN OF PRAISE Rejoice in the Lord Always! (Sing 1 time)
Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice!
Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Again, I say, rejoice!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Again, I say, rejoice!
PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
SPECIAL TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN
HYMN Rejoice, the Lord is King Bulletin, Page 4
HEBREW READING The Lord Renews with Love! Zephaniah 3:14-20
SECOND READING Rejoice! The Lord is near! Philippians 4:4-11
NEW TESTAMENT READING What must we do? Luke 3:7-18
SERMON & PASTORAL PRAYER Rev. Laura C. Bair
ANTHEM Sing We Now Chancel Choir
OFFERING INVITATION
Liturgist: “The day of rejoicing is coming,” says the prophet Isaiah, and we wait for it together. Our gifts, given today, help us to strengthen one another and to offer hope to the world as we look forward to that great day of everlasting joy. So, with great hope and anticipation, let us gather our generous tithes and offerings.
OFFERTORY The Joy of the Coming Messiah (Smith)
DOXOLOGY Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow #550
OFFERTORY PRAYER
All: Generous God, we present to you, these gifts and the very gift of ourselves. May all be used to make a difference in the lives of people where hope, peace, and joy is scarce. May our gifts be a reminder, to those who receive them, of your amazing love. We continue to pray, as Christ taught us, saying: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy
name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, 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.
HYMN Joy to the World Hymnal, #120
BENEDICTION
Pastor: Today you have been entrusted with words
that have the capacity to change lives:
you now have the imprint of the Gospel of Christ
in your minds and on your hearts.
May God give you the grace and the strength
to live out this calling.
May Christ’s way of justice and compassion
flow through your words and actions.
And may the Spirit bring back to mind
the words you have heard today.
The blessing of the Emmanuel be with you, this day and always.
All: Amen.
POSTLUDE Joy and Peace Be With You (Jackson)
Worship Resources
Sidell, Ann. “Confession & Assurance.” Prayers and liturgies for Advent and Christmas: Year C of
the Lectionary. 03 Dec 2018.
Andrews, Henrietta S. “Offering Invitation and Offertory Prayer.” Joy is Coming! Service
Prayers for the 3rd Sunday of Advent. 03 Dec 2018.
