NOTES: Today is the Sunday we light a candle for PEACE. PEACE is one of the most difficult aspects of the kingdom of God (the reign of Christ) to realize and fully experience in our world. Perhaps, it is because it does not fully depend upon any one or even any group of us being in tune with the love of God. We can only realize PEACE when all people live in tune with the love of God. PEACE is a tough job! But restoring PEACE to God's kingdom is not our job. It belongs to God. Refining the raw materials of human integrity and character into a peaceful world is the rightful work of the Creator of this world.
SCRIPTURE: Malachi 3:1-4
3 See,
I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord
whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the
covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?
For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; 3 he
will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the
descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they
present offerings to the Lord in righteousness.[a] 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.8:30 AM Order of Service
The Gathering
Welcome
Prelude
We Gather in The Light of Christ
Lighting the Christ Candles
Children come forward to light the candles as we share the responsive reading.
Leader: In the beginning, God said,
People: 'Let there be light' and there was light!
Leader: We light these candles today,
People: Because God is with us in this time and in this place!
Hymn of Praise:#128 "One Candle is Lit" (verse 2)
Call to Worship
Leader: Across
the universe, creation waits for the prophets to speak their words of expectation and their vision of renewal;
People: May we
gather round them today once more and let their longing grip us and lead us into birth and blessing.
Leader: So come
now my friends, this is the meeting place of promise and prophecy.
People: Let us listen through the ancient words that we might be ready to hear a baby’s cry.
~ written by Roddy Hamilton, and
posted on Mucky Paws. http://www.nkchurch.org.uk/index.php/mucky-paws
Invocation (UNISON)
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.
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
~ from First
Sunday of Advent Prayers and Litanies, posted on the Ministry Matters website.
www.ministrymatters.com/
We Contemplate God’s Word
Scripture
Sermon
We Pray Together
We Share Our Joys &
Concern
Prayer Hymn:#119 "O Come, O Come Emanuel" (verses 1, 2, & 4)
Praying Together
Ah Holy One,
in this season of Advent,
we wait for you to break into our worlds,
unexpectedly.
Help us to stay awake, to be aware, to hope against
hope.
We pray for your peace in this world
when You will settle things fairly between nations,
and make things right between peoples.
We pray for your peace
when all will turn their weapons into something
useful
but not for war.
We pray for you to show us
how to simply be advocates for your peace and
hope.
Help us to know that what we do makes a difference.
We pray for the peace you bring within families.
We pray for the peace you bring within ourselves.
We pray for your peace to come for those who are
ill,
those who are grieving,
Those who are struggling,
those who are suffering,
those who are lonely,
and those who have been devastated by disaster.
Surprise us with the possibilities
of how your vision of peace and hope might take
root,
and how we might live into this vision of justice
and love
for all of creation.
Even so Lord Jesus Come. Amen.
~ written by Rev. Karla Miller, Minister of
Community Life at Old North Church UCC in Marblehead, MA. Posted on RevGalBlogPals. https://revgalblogpals.org/2016/11/26/sunday-prayer-207/
We Gather at The Lord’s Table
Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn:#677 "Let There Be Peace on Earth" (sing once)
Communion Hymn:#677 "Let There Be Peace on Earth" (sing once)
The Elder’s Prayer of
Communion
Words of Institution
The Lord’s Supper
All are welcome to share at the
Table. Come forward using the center
aisle. As you partake of the bread and
the cup you are welcome to place an offering in the wooden bowl in front of the
table. The offering you share supports
the ministries and life of Christ’s church.
The Lord’s Prayer
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for Discipleship
Discipleship Hymn: #115 "There's Something About That Name"(sing once)
Blessing
People: For God has placed the light in us!
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
Children extinguish the candles as we share the responsive reading.
Leader: The light that was in one place at one time, is now in all places and all times,People: For God has placed the light in us!
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
10:40AM Service
Welcome
Prelude
Prelude
We Gather in the Light of Christ
Call to Worship
Leader: Across
the universe, creation waits for the prophets to speak their words of expectation and their vision of renewal;
People: May we
gather round them today once more and let their longing grip us and lead us into birth and blessing.
Leader: So come
now my friends, this is the meeting place of promise and prophecy.
People: Let us listen through the ancient words that we might be ready to hear a baby’s cry.
~ written by Roddy Hamilton, and
posted on Mucky Paws. http://www.nkchurch.org.uk/index.php/mucky-paws
Hymn of Praise:#128 "One Candle is Lit" (verse 2)
Invocation (UNISON)
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.
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
~ from First
Sunday of Advent Prayers and Litanies, posted on the Ministry Matters website.
www.ministrymatters.com/
Passing of the Peace
We return to our seats as the piano music begins.
Hymn of Faith:"Tell Me the Stories of Jesus" (verse 1, sing twice)
We Contemplate God’s Word
Scripture
Anthem
Children’s Sermon
Sermon
We Prayer Together
We Share Our Joys &
Concerns
Prayer Hymn:#119 "O Come, O Come Emanuel" (verses 1, 2, & 4)
Praying Together
Ah Holy One,
in this season of Advent,
we wait for you to break into our worlds,
unexpectedly.
Help us to stay awake, to be aware, to hope against
hope.
We pray for your peace in this world
when You will settle things fairly between nations,
and make things right between peoples.
We pray for your peace
when all will turn their weapons into something
useful
but not for war.
We pray for you to show us
how to simply be advocates for your peace and
hope.
Help us to know that what we do makes a difference.
We pray for the peace you bring within families.
We pray for the peace you bring within ourselves.
We pray for your peace to come for those who are
ill,
those who are grieving,
Those who are struggling,
those who are suffering,
those who are lonely,
and those who have been devastated by disaster.
Surprise us with the possibilities
of how your vision of peace and hope might take
root,
and how we might live into this vision of justice
and love
for all of creation.
Even so Lord Jesus Come. Amen.
~ written by Rev. Karla Miller, Minister of
Community Life at Old North Church UCC in Marblehead, MA. Posted on RevGalBlogPals. https://revgalblogpals.org/2016/11/26/sunday-prayer-207/
We Gather at The Lord’s Table
Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn#677 "Let There Be Peace on Earth" (sing once)
Communion Hymn#677 "Let There Be Peace on Earth" (sing once)
The Elder’s Prayer of
Communion
Words of Institution
The Lord’s Supper
All are welcome to share at the
Table. Come forward using the center
aisle. As you partake of the bread and
the cup you are welcome to place an offering in the wooden bowl in front of the
table. The offering you share supports
the ministries and life of Christ’s church.
The Lord’s Prayer
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for Discipleship
Discipleship Hymn:#115 "There's Something About That Name"(sing once)
Discipleship Hymn:#115 "There's Something About That Name"(sing once)
Acolytes come forward.
Blessing
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
Parting Song:#445 "Go in Peace"(sing once)
Acolytes extinguish the candles as we share the responsive reading.
Leader: The light that was in one place at one time, is now in all places and all times,
People: For God has placed the light in us!Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
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