December 8, 2019
Second Sunday in Advent
GREETING and ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE The Advent Star (Marshall)
CALL TO WORSHIP
Pastor: The time is coming when the Lord shall pour his most special blessing on the earth.
Congregation: We want to be ready for that time. What should we do?
Liturgist: Be vigilant. Keep your hearts, minds, and spirits open to God’s word.
Congregation: Help us, O Lord, to be aware of all your blessings.
Pastor: Come, let us celebrate God’s love for us.
Congregation: Make our hearts ready to receive your Gift of Love, O Lord.
All people: Amen!
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH
Pastor: Last Sunday we lit the Candle of Hope, remembering the hope which comes in Christ. (Light candle)
Liturgist: Today, we light the second candle of Advent, the Candle of Peace. (Light candle)
Congregation: God has a peaceful dream for the world, and we dream it too. We dream of a peaceful world of wolves and leopards and lions eating and sleeping and dancing with lambs, kids, and calves. We dream of a peaceful world where nations come together, where war is a memory, and we eat at one table.
All: On this day, we remember the Lord of All who brings peace which passes all understanding.
HYMN O Come, O Come Emmanuel Hymnal, #
CONFESSION
All: Holy and Loving God, we have dwelt in darkness and preferred it to the light; we have been proud of our accomplishments and despaired over our shortcomings. Smooth down the mountains of our pride, and lift up the valleys of our doubts. Open a path in the wilderness of our lives that we might find our way to you again. Refine us and prepare us once again for life in your kingdom. Amen.ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Pastor: Watch! Wait! God is bringing to you new hope and peace. It is a gift, given especially for you – one that you cannot earn – it’s a gift. Praise be to the Giver of All Great Gifts, our Lord.All: Amen!
HYMN OF PRAISE Gloria Patri Hymnal, #493
A SPECIAL TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN
HYMN Blessed Be Thy God of Israel (Chalice 135) Bulletin, Page 4
OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 11:1-10
EPISTLE READING Romans 15:4-13
GOSPEL READING Matthew 3:1-12
SERMON Rev. Laura Bair
PASTORAL PRAYER
ANTHEM Be it Unto Me (Mauldin) Chancel Choir
Cathy Rentzel, Solo
OFFERING INVITATION
Liturgist: We are a people of peace, living in the light of God’s promises. In this spirit may we give. Our tithes and offerings will now be collected.
OFFERTORY Star of the East (Jeffries)
DOXOLOGY We Give Thee But Thine Own (Verse 1) Hymnal, #258
OFFERING PRAYER
All: God of hope and wonder, even surrounded by confusion and trouble we look for you. Take these gifts and use them for acts of justice, peace, mercy, and hope. Receive also the gifts of our time and our actions that are just as precious to you as silver and gold. We pray in the name of Jesus as he 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 and ever. Amen.
HYMN Shalom Chaverim
(Sing 3 times)
First time through sing in HEBREW – Final two times in ENGLISH
BENEDICTION (Romans 15:13)
Pastor: 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.
All people: Amen!
POSTLUDE His Coming is Near (Winters)
PRELUDE The Advent Star (Marshall)
CALL TO WORSHIP
Pastor: The time is coming when the Lord shall pour his most special blessing on the earth.
Congregation: We want to be ready for that time. What should we do?
Liturgist: Be vigilant. Keep your hearts, minds, and spirits open to God’s word.
Congregation: Help us, O Lord, to be aware of all your blessings.
Pastor: Come, let us celebrate God’s love for us.
Congregation: Make our hearts ready to receive your Gift of Love, O Lord.
All people: Amen!
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH
Pastor: Last Sunday we lit the Candle of Hope, remembering the hope which comes in Christ. (Light candle)
Liturgist: Today, we light the second candle of Advent, the Candle of Peace. (Light candle)
Congregation: God has a peaceful dream for the world, and we dream it too. We dream of a peaceful world of wolves and leopards and lions eating and sleeping and dancing with lambs, kids, and calves. We dream of a peaceful world where nations come together, where war is a memory, and we eat at one table.
All: On this day, we remember the Lord of All who brings peace which passes all understanding.
HYMN O Come, O Come Emmanuel Hymnal, #
CONFESSION
All: Holy and Loving God, we have dwelt in darkness and preferred it to the light; we have been proud of our accomplishments and despaired over our shortcomings. Smooth down the mountains of our pride, and lift up the valleys of our doubts. Open a path in the wilderness of our lives that we might find our way to you again. Refine us and prepare us once again for life in your kingdom. Amen.ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Pastor: Watch! Wait! God is bringing to you new hope and peace. It is a gift, given especially for you – one that you cannot earn – it’s a gift. Praise be to the Giver of All Great Gifts, our Lord.All: Amen!
HYMN OF PRAISE Gloria Patri Hymnal, #493
A SPECIAL TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN
HYMN Blessed Be Thy God of Israel (Chalice 135) Bulletin, Page 4
OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 11:1-10
EPISTLE READING Romans 15:4-13
GOSPEL READING Matthew 3:1-12
SERMON Rev. Laura Bair
PASTORAL PRAYER
ANTHEM Be it Unto Me (Mauldin) Chancel Choir
Cathy Rentzel, Solo
OFFERING INVITATION
Liturgist: We are a people of peace, living in the light of God’s promises. In this spirit may we give. Our tithes and offerings will now be collected.
OFFERTORY Star of the East (Jeffries)
DOXOLOGY We Give Thee But Thine Own (Verse 1) Hymnal, #258
OFFERING PRAYER
All: God of hope and wonder, even surrounded by confusion and trouble we look for you. Take these gifts and use them for acts of justice, peace, mercy, and hope. Receive also the gifts of our time and our actions that are just as precious to you as silver and gold. We pray in the name of Jesus as he 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 and ever. Amen.
HYMN Shalom Chaverim
(Sing 3 times)
First time through sing in HEBREW – Final two times in ENGLISH
BENEDICTION (Romans 15:13)
Pastor: 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.
All people: Amen!
POSTLUDE His Coming is Near (Winters)
