December 7, 2014 Prep

Theme:  We are Workers--We Make Way for God's Presence

 Sound Notes:

Overall Advent Spiritual Step:  
Becoming an environment with open doors that God can enter and fill with loving presence.

 
Reference Scriptures: Isaiah 40:1-11

Comfort, O comfort my people,
    says your God.
² Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and cry to her
that she has served her term,
    that her penalty is paid,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
    double for all her sins.

³ A voice cries out:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
    make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
⁴ Every valley shall be lifted up,
    and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
    and the rough places a plain.
⁵ Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
    and all people shall see it together,
    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

⁶ A voice says, “Cry out!”
    And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All people are grass,
    their constancy is like the flower of the field.
⁷ The grass withers, the flower fades,
    when the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
    surely the people are grass.
⁸ The grass withers, the flower fades;
    but the word of our God will stand forever.
⁹ Get you up to a high mountain,
    O Zion, herald of good tidings;^[a]
lift up your voice with strength,
    O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,^[b]
    lift it up, do not fear;
say to the cities of Judah,
    “Here is your God!”
¹⁰ See, the Lord God comes with might,
    and his arm rules for him;
his reward is with him,
    and his recompense before him.
¹¹ He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
    he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
    and gently lead the mother sheep.

Call To Worship:
Leader:     Listen! Hear the voice of God calling out across the ages.
People     We make a way across the valleys, the mountains, and the plains, to hear the Lord.
Leader:     And, like a shepherd God  tenderly gathers us together, and says,
People:   "Comfort, O, comfort my people." 
Leader:       The grass withers and the flower fades;
People: But the word of our God will stand forever!

Invocation: 
O God,
You call to us from the wild places, and from the inner chambers of our hearts.
We come in answer to your call. We come in prayer and praise to prepare for your love at work in our world.
Reveal your glory that we may see it together. Inspire us to seek your kingdom on earth in our time.
And hear us as we pray the prayer our Lord taught his disciples,
Our Father... 

Hymn Suggestions:

Making several suggestions, but you can put them where you want them and where it will keep a balance of Carols with 'theme' music.

Also:  We will need to print an order of worship for the musicians with the songs & page numbers, during our experiment, just in case they don't check the blog.

Open Our Eyes, Lord (Maranatha Spiral book)
In This Very Room 295
Come, O Long, Expected Jesus 125
Joy To the World 143   
Here I Am, Lord, 452
You Have Called Me 455
 

Opening Song: Open Our Eyes, Lord  (Maranatha Spiral)

Hymn of Praise: In This Very Room 125

Prayer Hymn: In This Very Room  295

         

Communion Hymn:  Here I am, Lord  452

Hymn of Invitation: You Have Called Me 455


Closing Song: Joy to the World 143