Bells

Opening Prayer 1

Almighty God, It's dark outside and the nights are long. We watch and wait with mounting expectation for the coming of your son into the world. We ease our waiting with the blandishments of tinsel and tree. We delight in their beauty, but Lord, in our eagerness guard our hearts from celebrating the things we have made instead of the gift you will give. Amen.    

Welcome

Introit     O Come, O Come Emmanuel      French Carol, Arr. Bruce Greer

Advent Candle Lighting

We Gather

ONE: Arise and be bold, good news of hope is here!

ALL: The warm glow of the Divine lightens our hearts.

ONE: Here we are together, not alone. We join with the cloud of witnesses here, there, elsewhere, and everywhere. On this first Sunday in Advent, we will dream and imagine a different future, a rising-up and life-flourishing one. We are witnesses to hope.

We Listen: a reflection on Hope

We Pray

God-of-righteous-dreaming, lighten our hearts with an enlarged imagination to dream new possibilities: to imagine a world where transformation will happen, where creation is mended and restored, and where exiles and strangers will find a home. Become in our lives the way to what we need, to what we can become, and to what we can do.  Amen.

Response Hymn 90

Wait for the Lord, whose day is near.

Wait for the Lord; be strong; take heart!

Call to Worship 2

ONE: November ends. December begins.

ALL: We find our beginning and our ending in God.

ONE: Month after month, our God attends us and supports us.

ALL: For God's company, we offer thanks and praise.

ONE: Let us worship the God who gives us Jesus Christ:

ALL: God who is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the Living One and our Redeemer, now and forever.  

Hymn 107      Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn

Affirmation of Faith 3

We believe in God, creator and lover of the earth, origin and destiny of us all.

We believe in Jesus the Christ—God coming to us in the fragile promise of a baby yet unborn—who emerges as the herald of hope, God's laughter in the face of despair. Plunged into death and hell, he broke free the captives, and is leading the way to the land of promise where justice and peace will flourish.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who implants the seed of truth, brings us to birth as the body of Christ, and empowers us to confront and transform all that is corrupt, degrading and deceitful.

We believe in the coming reign of God. Announced by the Baptist, it has drawn near to us in Jesus, and will be consummated in the glorious marriage of earth and heaven, when all who have passed through the world's deep sorrow will be raised from the waters, robed in righteousness, and gathered into the joyous fulfilment of God's desire.

For the coming of that day on this day, we work and pray: Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

Response Hymn 89

For you O Lord, my soul in stillness waits.

Truly my hope is in you

Sharing of the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 95

Prepare the way of the Lord, prepare the way of the Lord,

And all people will see the salvation of our God

Scripture: Mark 13:24-37, Matthew 24:29-44, Luke 21:25-36

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem    A Waiting Prayer     Susan & Lee Dengler

Sermon     Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 88     O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Invitation to the Offering 4,5

All things in heaven and earth belong to God, who is coming in glory to reveal a new creation.  God has abundantly blessed us and called us to be a community that blesses others through the sharing of our love, our talents, and our material possessions. Let us rejoice now in what we have been given and in what is ours to give.

Offertory     Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence     French Carol, Arr. Phillip Keveren

Prayer of Dedication 3

God of extravagant mercy, with hands outstretched you have poured out wonder and pleasure and delight, goodness and beauty and bounty. So take these offerings, we pray, as our protest against all that is evil and ugly and impoverished, trivial and wretched and tyrannical, in our world and ourselves. Bless what we give and bless what we keep, that all may be used for your glory. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

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 82    Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

Pastoral Blessing

Community Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!  

Postlude     Comfort, Comfort     Genevan Psalter, Arr. John Ferguson

1 Grace Church, Ealing, London

2 Harry Disher, Grand Bend/Greenway P.C., Etobicoke, Ont

3 Words for Worship, Arlene Mark, ed.

4  PCUSA Peace and Global Witness

5 Touch of Holiness, Ruth Duck and Maren Tirabassi

Advent Bells

Opening Prayer 1

The coming of our Lord is near, and we wait in joyful expectation. Draw close, Lord Jesus Christ and shed your light on all that is filled with darkness. The coming of our Lord is near, and we wait with hope filled hearts. Draw close, God's beloved son and teach us the wonder of your all-embracing love. The coming of our Lord is near, and we wait for God's redeeming presence. Draw close, Savior of all creation. Our hearts ache for justice, our minds long for holiness, and our spirits seek for unity. The coming of our Lord is near and we wait for the fulfillment of God's promises. Draw close, reconciler and transformer of all things, and renew our world, restore your peace, display your righteousness. The coming of our Lord is near and we wait, attentive to the signs of his coming. Draw close, Lord Jesus Christ, God beyond imagining, fully God yet truly human, draw close. Amen.    

Welcome

Introit     An Advent Reflection     Joseph Martin

Advent Candle Lighting

We Gather

ONE: Arise, take courage, and catch a glimpse of peace!

ALL: The warm glow of the Divine lightens our hearts.

ONE: We are together, not alone. In spirit and in community we gather on this second Sunday in Advent in solidarity and with courage to partner for a world full of peace where all of creation will flourish. Our witness is to and for peace.

We Listen: a reflection on Peace

ALL: Peace is real and possible. In solidarity we pray, work, and wait for its blossoming.

We Pray

God-of-peace-and-possibility, kindle in the hearts of all compassion and love so that goodness, just deeds, the common good, and trust may flourish. Bless and gift all with hope for a future of peace built on justice for all. In the name of the Child, the peaceful one.  Amen.

Response Hymn 90

Wait for the Lord, whose day is near.

Wait for the Lord; be strong; take heart!

Call to Worship 2

ONE: A voice cries out: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

ALL: Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

ONE: Speak to us Lord. As you promised through your prophets Isaiah and John the Baptist, come to us now.

ALL: May all the barriers be removed so that we can receive your Word and worship you, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hymn 451      Open My Eyes, That I May See

Affirmation of Faith 3

We believe in God, creator and lover of the earth, origin and destiny of us all.

We believe in Jesus the Christ—God coming to us in the fragile promise of a baby yet unborn—who emerges as the herald of hope, God's laughter in the face of despair. Plunged into death and hell, he broke free the captives, and is leading the way to the land of promise where justice and peace will flourish.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who implants the seed of truth, brings us to birth as the body of Christ, and empowers us to confront and transform all that is corrupt, degrading and deceitful.

We believe in the coming reign of God. Announced by the Baptist, it has drawn near to us in Jesus, and will be consummated in the glorious marriage of earth and heaven, when all who have passed through the world's deep sorrow will be raised from the waters, robed in righteousness, and gathered into the joyous fulfilment of God's desire.

For the coming of that day on this day, we work and pray: Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

Response Hymn 89

For you O Lord, my soul in stillness waits.

Truly my hope is in you

Sharing of the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 95

Prepare the way of the Lord, prepare the way of the Lord,

And all people will see the salvation of our God

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8; Matthew 3:10-12, 11:2-6; Luke 3:10-14; John 1:6-9, 29

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem    Already On The Way     Seph Schlueter and Benjamin William Hastings

Sermon     Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 87     Comfort, Comfort Now My People

Invitation to the Offering 4,5

All things in heaven and earth belong to God, who is coming in glory to reveal a new creation.  God has abundantly blessed us and called us to be a community that blesses others through the sharing of our love, our talents, and our material possessions. Let us rejoice now in what we have been given and in what is ours to give.

Offertory     Christmas Alleluia     Chris Tomblin

Prayer of Dedication 3

God of extravagant mercy, with hands outstretched you have poured out wonder and pleasure and delight, goodness and beauty and bounty. So take these offerings, we pray, as our protest against all that is evil and ugly and impoverished, trivial and wretched and tyrannical, in our world and ourselves. Bless what we give and bless what we keep, that all may be used for your glory. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Sacrament of the Lord's Supper

Preparation of the Table

Invitation and Great Prayer of Thanksgiving 6

Welcome to the delight that is this table. Our Lord's table. Welcome to the table where the love of God meets Humanity. We welcome everyone to this table, no matter your church background, your knowledge of biblical ideas, no matter your sexual orientation or gender truth, no matter your mood. Wherever and whoever you are you are welcome here, you belong, you are worthy.

This is for you, but it may change you from one who is anxiously concerned about their own redemption into one who knows that Christ's body is the earth and all who walk upon it, are one in Him. Into knowing that we are not redeemed by our being good but by our being connected. Into knowing that daring to eat at the table of Jesus Christ has unimaginable consequences.

So come, come to be made whole, and to participate in the work of making us one with God and each other.

ONE: The Lord be with you

ALL: And also with you

ONE: Lift up your hearts

ALL: We lift them up to the Lord

ONE: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

ALL: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

ONE: It is truly right and our greatest joy to give you thanks and praise, eternal God, creator of the universe. You made us from the dust of the earth, Breathed into us the breath of life, And set us in your world to love you. We rejected your love, your peace. We chose to live in enmity with one another Rather than peace with you and all creation. But you did not reject us, and you called us back to you over and over again. We thank you for the prophets like John who prepared the way of peace. Therefore we praise you, Joining our voices with the heavenly choirs And with all the faithful of every time and place, Who forever sing to the glory of your name, saying together:

ALL:  Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

ONE:  We give you thanks for Jesus at whose birth the angels sang of the coming reign of peace on earth, who fed the hungry, humbled the mighty, and proclaimed the good news. With thanks and praise we offer ourselves to you, sharing this holy meal, Remembering Christ's dying and rising, And praying: Come, Lord Jesus! Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us— this bread, this cup, this people— Christ's body and blood, that brings us peace. As you make us one in the Spirit, grant us the strength and wisdom to seek peace in the world. Keep us in the peace of Christ until you gather us at your table in glory Guide us in the path of peace. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen.

Words of Institution

Sharing of the Cup and Bread

Prayer of Thanksgiving

God our hope, we give you thanks that you have given us this foretaste of the heavenly realm of justice and peace. Strengthen us with this food from your table as we seek to serve you. Lead us in lives of purpose and joy as we await the coming again in glory of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

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 378    We Wait the Peaceful Kingdom

Pastoral Blessing

Community Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!  

Postlude     Soon and Very Soon     Andraé Crouch

1 Christine Sine  Godspace

2 David Beswick

3 Words for Worship, Arlene Mark, ed.

4  PCUSA Peace and Global Witness

5 Touch of Holiness, Ruth Duck and Maren Tirabassi

6 re:worship

Advent Bells

Opening Prayer 1

God, who art the Most High Lord of all, you have a surprising preference for people who are small and humble and who expect everything from you. You chose Mary, the unassuming virgin from Nazareth, to become the mother of your Son Jesus. Through your Holy Spirit make us aware of the poverty of our hearts, that we may be open to you and welcome you, be ready, like Mary, to serve you and your plans, and expect everything from you. Come to us and give yourself to us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.     

Welcome

Introit     The Only Son from Heaven     J.S. Bach

Advent Candle Lighting

We Gather

ONE: Arise and celebrate, good news of deep joy is here!

ALL: The warm glow of the Divine lightens our hearts.

ONE: Here we are together. We are not alone. We gather on this third Sunday in Advent with gratitude and overflowing generosity, blessed multiple times by our give-away God. We are witnesses to joy.

We Listen: a reflection on Joy

ALL: The Joy of Christ is good news, unexpected and surprising in its overflowing

We Pray

God-who-lights-up-life give us joyful, generous, and courageous hearts. As we lean on your love may your joy well up in us so that our joy may overflow and flourish, witnessing to a life of constant gratitude, full of grace, cathartic hilarity, and goodness. Amen.

Response Hymn 90

Wait for the Lord, whose day is near.

Wait for the Lord; be strong; take heart!

Call to Worship 2

ONE: Our souls magnify the Lord, and our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.

ALL: God has looked with favor on the lowliness of God's servant.

ONE: God's mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

ALL: God has shown strength with God's arm. God has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

ONE: God has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;

ALL: God has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.

ONE: Come, for God is doing a new thing!

ALL: Come, let us worship God!  

Hymn 99      My Soul Gives Glory to My God

Affirmation of Faith 3

We believe in God, creator and lover of the earth, origin and destiny of us all.

We believe in Jesus the Christ—God coming to us in the fragile promise of a baby yet unborn—who emerges as the herald of hope, God's laughter in the face of despair. Plunged into death and hell, he broke free the captives, and is leading the way to the land of promise where justice and peace will flourish.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who implants the seed of truth, brings us to birth as the body of Christ, and empowers us to confront and transform all that is corrupt, degrading and deceitful.

We believe in the coming reign of God. Announced by the Baptist, it has drawn near to us in Jesus, and will be consummated in the glorious marriage of earth and heaven, when all who have passed through the world's deep sorrow will be raised from the waters, robed in righteousness, and gathered into the joyous fulfilment of God's desire.

For the coming of that day on this day, we work and pray: Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

Response Hymn 89

For you O Lord, my soul in stillness waits.

Truly my hope is in you

Sharing of the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 95

Prepare the way of the Lord, prepare the way of the Lord,

And all people will see the salvation of our God

Scripture: The voices of Mary, Zechariah, and John

Luke 1:26-38, Luke 1:46b-55, Luke 1:67-79, John 1:1-5, 14, 16-18

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem    Ave Maria     J.S. Bach/Charles Gounod

Sermon     Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 20     All Things Bright and Beautiful

Invitation to the Offering 4,5

All things in heaven and earth belong to God, who is coming in glory to reveal a new creation.  God has abundantly blessed us and called us to be a community that blesses others through the sharing of our love, our talents, and our material possessions. Let us rejoice now in what we have been given and in what is ours to give.

Offertory     Glory, Let there be Peace     Chris Stevens, Matt Maher, Rachel Popadic

Prayer of Dedication 3

God of extravagant mercy, with hands outstretched you have poured out wonder and pleasure and delight, goodness and beauty and bounty. So take these offerings, we pray, as our protest against all that is evil and ugly and impoverished, trivial and wretched and tyrannical, in our world and ourselves. Bless what we give and bless what we keep, that all may be used for your glory. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

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 134    Joy to the World!

Pastoral Blessing

Community Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!  

Postlude     Prepare The Way     Wohrle, Cleveland, Bowe, Hulse, Amundrud

1 Liturgies Alive, Models of Celebration

2 Rev. Stephen M. Fearing

3 Nathan Nettleton

4  PCUSA Peace and Global Witness

5 Touch of Holiness, Ruth Duck and Maren Tirabassi

6 Words for Worship, Arlene Mark, ed.

Advent Bells

Opening Prayer 1

God beyond time and space, take this moment of worship and bless it. May the grace experienced in this place be multiplied to overflowing so that your whole world sees the light of your love. God of new surprises, take each of us here, and bless us. Create in us clean hearts, refresh our spirits, and transform our whole beings, until we reflect your love and compassion through and through. In the name of Emmanuel, God with Us, the one who comes to us even now, Amen.     

Welcome

Introit          Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus     Charles Wesley, Arr. Marie Pooler

Advent Candle Lighting

We Gather

ONE: Love abundant overflows, pouring into our midst: Rise, take heart, and love deeply.

ALL: The glow of God the Divine Lover lightens our hearts.

ONE: We are together and never alone. Gathered on this fourth Sunday in Advent we witness to God's deep love and tender compassion for the whole world. Our witness is love

We Listen: a reflection on Love

ALL: ALL: God's love comes to ground, and like an arc, large to hold, embrace, heal, and restore.

We Pray

God-who-never-ceases-to-love, kindle our hearts that we may burn anew with your love. Bless us with the flame of lively living and believing. Take our words and release them to speak of you; take our minds and broaden them to reflect your overflowing love; take our hearts and set them alight with your desire for goodness. In the name of the One full of love. Amen.

Response Hymn 90

Wait for the Lord, whose day is near.

Wait for the Lord; be strong; take heart!

Call to Worship 2

ONE: When Jesus is born to Mary and Joseph,

ALL: God is there.

ONE: When Jesus is presented at the temple,

ALL: God is there.

ONE: When Simeon holds Jesus in his arms,

ALL: God is there.

ONE: When Anna recognizes Jesus in the temple,

ALL: God is there.

ONE: This very morning,

ALL: God is here.

ONE: In the future we cannot see,

ALL: God is there. Let us worship God!

Hymn 113     Angels We Have Heard on High

Affirmation of Faith 3

We believe in God, creator and lover of the earth, origin and destiny of us all.

We believe in Jesus the Christ—God coming to us in the fragile promise of a baby yet unborn—who emerges as the herald of hope, God's laughter in the face of despair. Plunged into death and hell, he broke free the captives, and is leading the way to the land of promise where justice and peace will flourish.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who implants the seed of truth, brings us to birth as the body of Christ, and empowers us to confront and transform all that is corrupt, degrading and deceitful.

We believe in the coming reign of God. Announced by the Baptist, it has drawn near to us in Jesus, and will be consummated in the glorious marriage of earth and heaven, when all who have passed through the world's deep sorrow will be raised from the waters, robed in righteousness, and gathered into the joyous fulfilment of God's desire.

For the coming of that day on this day, we work and pray: Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

Response Hymn 89

For you O Lord, my soul in stillness waits.

Truly my hope is in you

Sharing of the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 95

Prepare the way of the Lord, prepare the way of the Lord,

And all people will see the salvation of our God

Scripture: The voices of Angels and Prophets

Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:8-14, Luke 2:27-38

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem    Light of the World     Bergthold; and Ed, Franni, Martin, and Scott Cash

Sermon     Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 135     Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow

Invitation to the Offering 4,5

All things in heaven and earth belong to God, who is coming in glory to reveal a new creation.  God has abundantly blessed us and called us to be a community that blesses others through the sharing of our love, our talents, and our material possessions. Let us rejoice now in what we have been given and in what is ours to give.

Offertory     Child of Love     Steve D. Hindalong, Mark D. Lee, Matthew West

Prayer of Dedication 6

God of extravagant mercy, with hands outstretched you have poured out wonder and pleasure and delight, goodness and beauty and bounty. So take these offerings, we pray, as our protest against all that is evil and ugly and impoverished, trivial and wretched and tyrannical, in our world and ourselves. Bless what we give and bless what we keep, that all may be used for your glory. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

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 134    Joy to the World!

Pastoral Blessing

Community Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!  

Postlude     What Are We Waiting For?     Joanna Mills

1 Rev. Nancy J  Wonderings, writing and scribbles

2 Rev. Robert George, Karen George, Judy Colby-George,

Past Meets Future: A Blessing for Today, United Church of Christ

3 Nathan Nettleton

4  PCUSA Peace and Global Witness

5 Touch of Holiness, Ruth Duck and Maren Tirabassi

6 Words for Worship, Arlene Mark, ed.

Prelude     Christmas Selections     Elise MacGregor Ferrell, Bagpiper

Christmas Bells  

Welcome

Introit          Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus     Charles Wesley, Arr. Marie Pooler

Sharing of the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 132

Good Christian Friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice!

Give ye heed to what we say: Jesus Christ is born today;

Ox and ass before him bow, and he is in the manger now.

Christ is born today! Christ was born today!

The Candle of Light

We Gather

ONE: Arise and celebrate: God loves the world, a child is born!

ALL:The glow of the Divine lightens our hearts like an infant stepping to love.

ONE: Here we are together in a world caught between anxiety and hope, celebrating what God has done in Christ. We will never be alone. May our remembering and celebrating change how we live and open our hearts and communities, so that all can together live and share in fullness of life.

We Listen: a reflection on Light

We Pray

God-always-with-us, we thank you for your love that keeps faith with and encourages us to imagine a world where the power of love can loosen the grip on restrictive ways to embrace a new life of flourishing possibilities. Through Jesus, stir us by the light of your love so that we may return to your way of fullness of life you intend for all.

Hymn 134     Joy to the World

Christmas Prayer

O God of love, you have brought us together tonight and blessed us with your very self. Open our eyes to the light of Christ which glows in the darkness of a world engulfed in apathy, pain and loss; a world separated from you. Speak to us now that we may hear the good news of your salvation. Bring us into the wonder of your presence. Fill us with that light that we may carry it out with us into our lives. Amen.

Response Hymn 152     

O Jesus, while the star of grace impels us on to seek your face,

Let not our slothful hearts refuse the guidance of your light to use.

Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7

Hymn 86     The People Who Walked in Darkness

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Musical Offering     Holy Manger     Old French Carol,  Arr. John Horman

Scripture:     Luke 2: 8-14

Hymn 113     Angels We Have Heard on High

Scripture     Luke 2:15-20

Christmas Message     Reverend Debra McGuire

Musical Offering     God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/Little Drummer Boy

                                  Traditional English Carol/Harry Simeone, Arr. EMF

Invitation to the Offering

In Matthew 2:11 we read, “On entering the house, the wise men saw the child with his mother, and knelt down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts.” Tonight as we celebrate the birth of the child, we are invited to offer our gifts as well. We acknowledge and give thanks for all the gifts of time and creativity and talent and energy and ideas and money that are collected every day here at Bethany. Let us respond from grateful hearts to this invitation to give.

Offertory     What Child is This     Traditional English Carol, Arr. EMF

Prayer of Dedication

God of Love and Light, on this night of mystery and wonder, we present our offering here, knowing you will guide us for its use. Bless what we give and bless what we keep, that all may be used for your glory. Amen.

Christmas Candle Lighting

ONE: We who dwelled in darkness have seen a great light;

ALL: And on us this night a great light shines.

ONE: A Child has been born for us.

ALL: And he is named Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel.

Hymn 122    Silent Night, Holy Night

Depart in Peace.  Merry Christmas!

(We are unfortunately unable to provide video for this service)

Christmas Bells

Opening Prayer 1

Lord, in this holy season of prayer and song and laughter, we praise you for the great wonders you have sent us: for shining star and angel's song, for infant's cry in lowly manger. We praise you for the Word made flesh in a little Child. We behold his glory, and are bathed in its radiance. Be with us as we sing the ironies of Christmas, the incomprehensible comprehended, the poetry made hard fact, the helpless Babe who cracks the world asunder. We kneel before you: shepherds, innkeepers, wise men. Help us to rise bigger than we are. Amen.    

Welcome

Introit Hymn 133          O Come All Ye Faithful

Call to Worship 2

Wonder of wonders, God has come to us! Not as a judge, but a Savior, not in power, but as a servant. Wonder of wonders, God comes to us! Not in silence, but in the Word made flesh; not in the shadows, but bringing Light. Wonder of wonders! God is with us! Let us worship God!  

Hymn 132     Good Christians All, Rejoice

Affirmation of Faith 3

We believe in God, creator and lover of the earth, origin and destiny of us all.

We believe in Jesus the Christ—God coming to us in the fragile promise of a baby yet unborn—who emerges as the herald of hope, God's laughter in the face of despair. Plunged into death and hell, he broke free the captives, and is leading the way to the land of promise where justice and peace will flourish.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who implants the seed of truth, brings us to birth as the body of Christ, and empowers us to confront and transform all that is corrupt, degrading and deceitful.

We believe in the coming reign of God. Announced by the Baptist, it has drawn near to us in Jesus, and will be consummated in the glorious marriage of earth and heaven, when all who have passed through the world's deep sorrow will be raised from the waters, robed in righteousness, and gathered into the joyous fulfilment of God's desire.

For the coming of that day on this day, we work and pray: Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

Response Hymn 175

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and God's righteousness,

And all these things will be added unto you, Allelu, Allelluia

Sharing of the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 155

Raise a song of gladness, peoples of the earth.

Christ has come, bringing peace, joy to every heart.

Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart.

Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart.

Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-2, 8-10a

Hymn 123     It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

Scripture:   Matthew 2:7-12

Hymn 115     Away in a Manger

Scripture:  Matthew 2:13-23

                    Luke 2:1, 8-20

Hymn 147     The First Nowell

Sermon     Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 135     Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow

Invitation to the Offering

In Matthew 2: 11 we read, “On entering the house, the wise men saw the child with his mother, and knelt down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts.” As we continue to celebrate the birth of the Christ, we are invited to offer our gifts as well. We acknowledge and give thanks for all the gifts of time and creativity and talent and energy and ideas and money that are collected here at Bethany. Let us respond from grateful hearts to this invitation to give.

Hymn 129     Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

Prayer of Dedication

God of Love and Light, in this season of mystery and wonder, we present our offering here, knowing you will guide us for its use. Bless what we give and bless what we keep, that all may be used for your glory. Amen.

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

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 146    Gentle Mary Laid Her Child

Pastoral Blessing

Community Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!  

Postlude Hymn 119     Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

1 Prayers for Christmas

2 Newlands Methodist Church https://newlandsmethodistchurch.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/25th-december-2020-christmas-day-service.pdf

3 Nathan Nettleton

4  PCUSA Peace and Global Witness

(We are unfortunately unable to provide video for this service)

Christmas Bells

Opening Prayer 1

O Star-flinging God, whose light dances across eternity, dazzle us into your presence this new year. Open our hearts to the mystery of your love. Awaken us to your presence, knit to the ordinary. Reveal to us what is possible, but not yet present. Heal us, that we might be healers. Reconcile us to you and to ourselves, that our living might be reconciling. Stop us often, we pray with news that is good with hope that holds with truth that transforms with a Word tailored to this trail we're on. May the word of your grace guide our steps like the sun by day and the north star by night, as we travel into the gift of a new year. Amen.         

Welcome

Introit

Call to Worship 2

Holy God of Joy, We rejoice in the reality of who you are. We live within the joy of your love for us. Our contentment comes and goes. Our happiness ebbs and flows. Our feelings depend upon our circumstances, our physical health, our brain chemistry. But our joy is deeply rooted in our identity as your beloved children. Let us worship God together!  

Hymn 143     Angels, From the Realms of Glory

Prayer of Confession 3

O God, You who are always doing a new thing, we confess that we sometimes close windows against the fresh air of new ideas, against the noise of other people's worries, against the winds of change. God of every place and time, we confess that we often draw the curtains against people who are different, against world news or community concerns. Forgive us our insulation in our locked homes, our shuttered churches, the security systems on our hearts. Open up our lives, and let your Spirit blow through. Amen.

Response Hymn 175

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and God's righteousness,

And all these things will be added unto you, Allelu, Allelluia

Words of Assurance 4

ONE: This is the time of God's favor, God's grace continues to proclaim release to the captives, sight to the blind, Good News to the poor and freedom to the oppressed.

ALL: We live as loved, forgiven and free people through the grace of God! Hallelujah! Amen.

Sharing of the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 155

Raise a song of gladness, peoples of the earth.

Christ has come, bringing peace, joy to every heart.

Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart.

Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart.

Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-6, Matthew 2:1-12

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem     Light of the World – Here I Am To Worship     Tim Hughes

Sermon   Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 145     What Child is This?

Invitation to the Offering 4,5

All things in heaven and earth belong to God, who is coming in glory to reveal a new creation. God has abundantly blessed us and called us to be a community that blesses others through the sharing of our love, our talents, and our material possessions. Let us rejoice now in what we have been given and in what is ours to give. We invite you to bring your offerings here to the basket on the table now, or later, and as always you may continue to mail your offerings to the church. Let us receive this morning's offering.

Offertory     

Prayer of Dedication 6

God of extravagant mercy, with hands outstretched you have poured out wonder and pleasure and delight, goodness and beauty and bounty. So take these offerings, we pray, as our protest against all that is evil and ugly and impoverished, trivial and wretched and tyrannical, in our world and ourselves. Bless what we give and bless what we keep, that all may be used for your glory. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Sacrament of the Lord's Supper

Preparation of the Table

Invitation and Great Prayer of Thanksgiving 6

Welcome to the delight that is this table. Our Lord's table. Welcome to the table where the love of God meets Humanity. We welcome everyone to this table, no matter your church background, your knowledge of biblical ideas, no matter your sexual orientation or gender truth, no matter your mood. Wherever and whoever you are you are welcome here, you belong, you are worthy.

This is for you, but it may change you from one who is anxiously concerned about their own redemption into one who knows that Christ's body is the earth and all who walk upon it, are one in Him. Into knowing that we are not redeemed by our being good but by our being connected. Into knowing that daring to eat at the table of Jesus Christ has unimaginable consequences.

So come, come to be made whole, and to participate in the work of making us one with God and each other.

ONE: The Lord be with you

ALL: And also with you

ONE: Lift up your hearts

ALL: We lift them up to the Lord

ONE: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

ALL: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

ONE: It is truly right and our greatest joy to give you thanks and praise, eternal God, creator of the universe. You made us from the dust of the earth, Breathed into us the breath of life, And set us in your world to love you. We rejected your love, your peace. We chose to live in enmity with one another Rather than peace with you and all creation. But you did not reject us, and you called us back to you over and over again. We thank you for the prophets like John who prepared the way of peace. Therefore we praise you, Joining our voices with the heavenly choirs And with all the faithful of every time and place, Who forever sing to the glory of your name, saying together:

ALL:  Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

ONE:  We give you thanks for Jesus at whose birth the angels sang of the coming reign of peace on earth, who fed the hungry, humbled the mighty, and proclaimed the good news. With thanks and praise we offer ourselves to you, sharing this holy meal, Remembering Christ's dying and rising, And praying: Come, Lord Jesus! Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us— this bread, this cup, this people— Christ's body and blood, that brings us peace. As you make us one in the Spirit, grant us the strength and wisdom to seek peace in the world. Keep us in the peace of Christ until you gather us at your table in glory Guide us in the path of peace. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen.

Words of Institution

Sharing of the Cup and Bread

Prayer of Thanksgiving

God our hope, we give you thanks that you have given us this foretaste of the heavenly realm of justice and peace. Strengthen us with this food from your table as we seek to serve you. Lead us in lives of purpose and joy as we await the coming again in glory of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

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 151    We Three Kings of Orient Are

Pastoral Blessing

Community Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!  

Postlude

1 Glenn Mitchell MINemergent's Daily Communique

2 Joanna Harader, Spacious Faith http://spaciousfaith.com/https://newlandsmethodistchurch.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/25th-december-2020-christmas-day-service.pdf

3 re:worship

4  PCUSA Peace and Global Witness

5 Touch of Holiness, Ruth Duck and Maren Tirabassi

6 Arlene Mark, Words for Worship