Christmas Chimes

Welcome and Opening Prayer

Introit       "Wexford Carol"

Sharing of the New Year Greeting

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 113

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Prayer for a New Year

ALL:  A new day has dawned, a new year begun.  O Lord, call us so we may hear your voice.  The world turns to hopes and dreams of the future.  O Lord, keep us in your ways and on your path.  We enter this new year with hope and excitement.  O Lord, remind us that you lead us.  O Lord, guide us as look to you, and worship you.  Amen.

Response Hymn 137

He came down that we may have love.  

He came down that we may have love.  

He came down that we may have love.  

Halleluia, forevermore!

Hebrew Reading:   Isaiah 63:7-9

Musical Offering    “Awake, Awake, For Night is Flying”     Wachet Auf

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 2:13-18

Hymn 135 There's a Star in the East

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 2:19-23

Gospel Reading: Luke 2:15-21

Litany of Gratitude

ONE: Generous God, for the abundance of your blessings to us day by day and year by year,

ALL: We give you our thanks.

ONE: For the simple pleasures of life: for garden harvests, coffee conversation, and familiar surroundings, For health and strength to appreciate the wonder of life, For needs met and desires fulfilled,

ALL: We give you our thanks.

ONE: For foods distributed to nourish body and spirit, For homes which supply shelter, which nurture order and beauty, and offer hospitality,

ALL: We give you our thanks.

ONE: With hearts that forgive as freely as you have forgiven,  with enthusiasm of spirit for the gift of life, with music which declares your everlasting goodness, with prayers for mutual understanding and peace,

ALL: We worship you with joy.

ONE: With creative pursuits which contribute our God-given talents, with words which honor you as Creator, Redeemer, and Holy Spirit, with time volunteered and dedicated to service in church and community, with years committed to extending the love of Jesus Christ,

ALL: We worship you with joy.

ONE: With gifts of money which reach farther than we can manage ourselves, with deeds done in service of neighbor and stranger, with holy days set apart to celebrate your goodness and grace, with family and friends distant and nearby

ALL: We worship you, God, with grateful hearts and joyful spirit.  Alleluia. Amen.

Musical Offering   “Green Grow'th the Holly”

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.”  Today 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     “Herrick's Carol”

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.

Prayers of the People

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 130     Break Forth O Beauteous Heavenly Light

Closing 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!

Announcements

Christmas Bells

Opening Prayer

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. And we give you thanks. Amen.

Welcome

Introit       David Wales

Call To Worship 1

ONE:   Alleluia the Christ child comes, and we await his birth.

ALL:   Let us throw off our distractions, and allow the chaos to settle.

ONE:   Let us watch for the signs, and listen to the messengers.

ALL:    Let us stand on tiptoe, and shout aloud and sing! Something new is emerging, something new is being birthed.  Let us worship God!

Hymn 112  On Christmas Night all Christians Sing

Prayer of Confession

Patient Lord, forgive our lack of faith in your loving power. We look around us and all that we see is what we don't have. We fail to notice the daily blessings you lavish upon us. Clear our blindness to the needs of others. Strengthen us and move us from lame excuses for not serving you. Help us to truly listen to one another, not with our pat answers ready, but with loving and generous hearts. Heal us and make us ready to truly be your disciples. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

Response Hymn 113

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Assurance of Forgiveness 3

ONE:  Behold and believe in the wondrous power and love of God! It is poured out for you and for God's beloved world. Rejoice in this good news, for it is given especially to you. Amen.

ALL:  Thanks be to God!

Sharing the Peace of Christ

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 155 (sing twice)

Raise a song of gladness, people 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 52:7-10   John 1:1-14

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem   “This Little Babe”      Ceremony of Carols      Benjamin Britten

Christmas Sermon   Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 110 Love Has Come

Invitation to the Offering

God has been good to us in ways we do not understand and for reasons we cannot comprehend.  Let us honor God with our gifts, out of thankful hearts and joyous spirits.  Let us give as people whose work is inextricably linked to God's great works of creation, redemption and empowerment.  You are welcome to bring your offering forward and put it in this basket now, or later, and you are always welcome to continue to mail your gifts to the church.  Let us receive this morning's offering.

Offertory    David Wales

Prayer of Dedication

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 – and thus may we and other know ourselves to be blessed.  Bless what we give and bless what we keep that all are used for your work in the world.  Amen.

Prayers of the People

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 132    Good Christian Friends, Rejoice

Pastoral Blessing

Closing 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 “O Tannenbaum”

Announcements

1 Christine Sine GodSpace (2012)

2 Ministry Matters

3 Terry Falla and Beryl Turner, in Be Our Freedom Lord

Prelude   “Christmastime is Here”     Vince Guaraldi

Ringing of the Christmas Chimes

Introit       “A Christmas Alleluia”     Chris Tomlin

Welcome

Introit       David Wales

Sharing the Peace of Christ

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!

Lighting of the Christ Candle

We come to receive the light of Christ as we celebrate his miraculous birth; we receive this light that illuminates the holy path of hope, peace, joy, and love. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onwards and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Reflection on the Word Light  Bonnie Morgan

ONE:  Let us pray:

ALL:  O Lord our God, the night is far spent, and the day is at hand.  Keep us observant, watching for the coming of your Son, in whom is light to reflect your splendor.  Come and lead us to joy and peace.  Amen.

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 Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Musical Offering      “Follow the Star”     Sally K. Albrecht/Franz Gruber

Gospel Reading: Luke 2:1-7

Hymn 121  O Little Town of Bethlehem (verses 1, 2, and 4)

Gospel Reading: Luke 2: 8-14

Hymn 113  Angels We Have Heard on High

Gospel Reading: Luke 2:15-20

Christmas Message  "Do You Hear?"  Reverend Debra McGuire

Musical Offering   “Do You Hear What I Hear”  Noel Regney/Gloria Shayne, Arr. Harry Simone

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  “Sweet Little Jesus Boy”    Robert MacGimsey

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.

Musical Offering     “O Holy Night”     Adolphe Adam

Sharing the Light of Christ

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

Due to technical problems, the audio portion of our Christmas Eve worship ends at 0:50 on this video.  We're sorry that you missed it; it was beautiful!

Advent Bells

Opening Prayer

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. And we give you thanks. Amen.

Welcome

Introit       “Ave Maria”          J.S. Bach/Charles Gounod

Advent Candle Lighting: LOVE

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

ALL:     The glow of God's Love 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.

Reflection on the word Love   Janine Mooney

Advent Prayer

ALL: 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 88

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,

that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!  Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Call To Worship 1

ONE:   Alleluia the Christ child comes, and we await his birth.

ALL:   Let us throw off our distractions, and allow the chaos to settle.

ONE:   Let us watch for the signs, and listen to the messengers.

ALL:    Let us stand on tiptoe, and shout aloud and sing! Something new is emerging, something new is being birthed.  Let us worship God!

Hymn 106  Prepare the Way, O Zion

Prayer of Confession

Patient Lord, forgive our lack of faith in your loving power. We look around us and all that we see is what we don't have. We fail to notice the daily blessings you lavish upon us. Clear our blindness to the needs of others. Strengthen us and move us from lame excuses for not serving you. Help us to truly listen to one another, not with our pat answers ready, but with loving and generous hearts. Heal us and make us ready to truly be your disciples. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

Response Hymn 89

For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits;

truly my hope is in you

For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits;

truly my hope is in you

Assurance of Forgiveness 2

ONE:  Behold and believe in the wondrous power and love of God! It is poured out for you and for God's beloved world. Rejoice in this good news, for it is given especially to you. Amen.

ALL:  Thanks be to God!

Sharing the Peace of Christ

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 95 (sing twice)

Prepare the way of the Lord.  

Prepare the way of the Lord,

And all people will see the salvation of our God

Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-16   Matthew 1:18-25

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem   “Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming”     Praetorius/Beethoven, Arr. Shafferman

Sermon  "God Still Loves Us"    Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 110 Love Has Come

Invitation to the Offering

God has been good to us in ways we do not understand and for reasons we cannot comprehend.  Let us honor God with our gifts, out of thankful hearts and joyous spirits.  Let us give as people whose work is inextricably linked to God's great works of creation, redemption and empowerment.  You are welcome to bring your offering forward and put it in this basket now, or later, and you are always welcome to continue to mail your gifts to the church.  Let us receive this morning's offering.

Offertory   “Light of the World”          Tim Hughes

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 – and thus may we and other know ourselves to be blessed.  Bless what we give and bless what we keep that all are used for your work in the world.  Amen.

Prayers of the People

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 93    Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates

Pastoral Blessing

Closing 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 “Breath of Heaven”     Amy Grant/Chris Eaton

Announcements

1 Christine Sine GodSpace (2012)

2 Ministry Matters

3 Terry Falla and Beryl Turner, in Be Our Freedom Lord

Advent Bells

Opening Prayer  1

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. And we give you thanks. Amen.

Welcome

Introit       “Emmanuel Soon Will Appear”     Don Besig

Advent Candle Lighting: JOY

ONE: The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing.

ALL:   Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.

Reflection on the word Joy   Walter and Doreen Bird

Advent Prayer

ALL: O Lord, our redeemer, you lead us from languishing in sorrow's shadows into laughter's joy over your abundant restoration. Thank you that you are coming for us to lead us home along your Way, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Response Hymn 88

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer

our spirits by thine advent here;

disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

and death's dark shadows put to flight.

Call To Worship 2

ONE:  Sing praises to God on high, for glorious are God's works.

ALL:   Sing praises to the ends of the earth.

ONE:  Shout and sing for joy, O people of God,

ALL:   for great is the Holy One in our midst, blessed is the One who comes to dwell among us.  Let us worship God!

Hymn 611 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

Prayer of Confession

Patient Lord, forgive our lack of faith in your loving power. We look around us and all that we see is what we don't have. We fail to notice the daily blessings you lavish upon us. Clear our blindness to the needs of others. Strengthen us and move us from lame excuses for not serving you. Help us to truly listen to one another, not with our pat answers ready, but with loving and generous hearts. Heal us and make us ready to truly be your disciples. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

Response Hymn 89

For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits;

truly my hope is in you

For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits;

truly my hope is in you

Assurance of Forgiveness 3

ONE:  Behold and believe in the wondrous power and love of God! It is poured out for you and for God's beloved world. Rejoice in this good news, for it is given especially to you. Amen.

ALL:  Thanks be to God!

Sharing the Peace of Christ

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 95 (sing twice)

Prepare the way of the Lord.  

Prepare the way of the Lord,

And all people will see the salvation of our God

Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10   Matthew 11:2-11

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem  “Light of the World”     We the Kingdom  

Sermon   Peace   Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 107   Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn

Invitation to the Offering

God has been good to us in ways we do not understand and for reasons we cannot comprehend.  Let us honor God with our gifts, out of thankful hearts and joyous spirits.  Let us give as people whose work is inextricably linked to God's great works of creation, redemption and empowerment.  You are welcome to bring your offering forward and put it in this basket now, or later, and you are always welcome to continue to mail your gifts to the church.  Let us receive this morning's offering.

Offertory   “Joyful, Joyful”

Prayer of Dedication 4

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 – and thus may we and other know ourselves to be blessed.  Bless what we give and bless what we keep that all are used for your work in the world.  Amen.

Prayers of the People

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 100    My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout

Pastoral Blessing

Closing 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  “A Prelude to Advent”     trad Latin/Frederic Chopin     Arr. Ruth Schram

Announcements

1 Joanna Harader Spacious Faith

2 Harry Disher, Grand Bend/Greenway P.C

3 Ministry Matters

4 Terry Falla and Beryl Turner, in Be Our Freedom Lord

Advent Bells

Opening Prayer  1

O God, as we worship, make yourself known to us.  If we have doubts, help us not to fear them but, rather, help us to find your presence in the ache of our uncertainty. If we have questions, relieve us of the burning need to always answers, and help us to understand that in the darkness of things unknown it is easier to discover a flicker of light. If we have pain, help us to sense that you can always heal, though not always protect. If we have joy, help us to share it. Help us to see that joy feels best not bottled up but poured out like baptism-water on all who are here, and that in the flow of joy expressed is the flow of your spirit whom we invite, just now. Amen.

Welcome

Introit       "Dona Nobis Pacem"     Ray Rep

Advent Candle Lighting: PEACE

ONE: As the season of Advent begins we celebrate peace.

ALL:  Jesus Christ, whose birth we await, calls our community to justice and leads us in the way of peace.

ONE: Our community is forgiving.  We call one another to honesty and humility and respond to each other with abundant grace.

ALL:  Our community values relationships.  We live in harmony with one another even when we disagree, and strive to glorify God in everything we do.

ONE: Our community longs for unity.  We work together with other churches and organization, and live out God's reconciling love for all the world to see.

ALL:  Together, we are a sign of God's peace for the world.

Reflection on the word Peace   Rina Ranahan

Advent Prayer

ALL: God of all people and nations, you break through the cynicism of our world and offer a vision of the lion and lamb lying down together.  Open our eyes to see the signs of your coming world and inspire us to participate in all you are doing, in Jesus' name.  Amen.

Response Hymn 88

O come, Desire of nations,

bind, all peoples in one heart and mind;

Bid envy, strife, and discord cease;

fill the whole world with heaven's peace.

Call To Worship 2

ONE:  Do you hear the voice of one crying out in the wilderness? Will you heed the prophet's call?

ALL:   We will prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

ONE:  Hear the invitation of the prophet Isaiah:  Come, let us go up to  God's holy mountain, that we may learn to walk in all God's ways.

ALL:   For God will judge between the nations, and shall decide for many peoples, and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.  Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.  Let us come before God and learn God's ways of peace.

Hymn 163 Wild and Lone the Prophet's Voice

Prayer of Confession 2

God of the prophets, we confess our lack of preparedness and our tendency to wander away from you and your path. You call us to venture outside our comfortable spaces, yet we hunker down and excuse ourselves from faithful action. Forgive us, God. Call us again. Help us to respond this Advent in faith. Amen.

Response Hymn 89

For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits;

truly my hope is in you

For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits;

truly my hope is in you

Assurance of Forgiveness 3

ONE:  This is the good news in Jesus Christ.  We can stand before God, not through our own goodness, but through God's great kindness to us.  Rejoice and be glad, for God comes to us!

ALL:  Thanks be to God!

Sharing the Peace of Christ

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 95 (sing twice)

Prepare the way of the Lord.  

Prepare the way of the Lord,

And all people will see the salvation of our God

Scripture:  Isaiah 11:1-10   Matthew 3:1-12

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem     “Comfort, Comfort”     Genevan Psalter     Arr. John Furguson

Sermon   "Oh, I didn't know that!"   Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 96   On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry

Invitation to the Offering 3

Giving is not a casual act—it relates God's work to our work.  Peter writes: “as each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace, that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”  

Let us give as people whose work is inextricably linked to God's great works of creation, redemption and empowerment You are welcome to bring your offering forward and put it in this basket now, or later, and you are always welcome to continue to mail your gifts to the church.  Let us receive this morning's offering.

Offertory   “A Waiting Prayer”     Susan & Lee Dengler

Prayer of Dedication 2,3

God of mercy, accept these gifts and multiply them for Christ's mission of love and grace for all the world.  We pray you would receive them as a sign of our gratitude for your unending love, and guide us as we offer our whole selves in your service, seeking your abundant life for all. Continue to write your law of love on our hearts. Give us an unwavering passion for justice, and a tenacious faith that will not rest until the hungry are fed, the oppressed find relief, and the outsider finds a welcome. Amen.

Sacrament of Holy Communion 1

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.

Preparation of the Table

LEADER: The Lord be with you

PEOPLE: And also with you

LEADER: Lift up your hearts

PEOPLE: We lift them up to the Lord

LEADER: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

PEOPLE: It is right to give our thanks and praise

Words of Institution

Sharing of the Cup and Bread

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Generous God, You are the source of all life, creating and sustaining every living thing.

You are the source of all food, material and spiritual, nourishing us in both body and soul.

You are the light that goes before us, shining into the darkness.

May we be filled with your breath nourished by your food renewed by your living water and sustained by your love.

Prayers of the People

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 103    Come Now, O Prince of Peace

Pastoral Blessing

Closing 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  "Shalom Chaverim"     Traditional Israeli Round

Announcements

1 ”Touch of Holiness” by Ruth C. Duck

2 Presbyterian Outlook. Terri McDowell Ott

3 Rev. Teri Peterson, St. John's Church of Scotland, Gourock

Advent Chimes

Opening Prayer  1

Faithful God, your promises stand unshaken through all generations. Renew us in hope, that we may be awake and alert watching for the glorious return of Jesus Christ, our judge and savior, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Welcome

Introit  "Before Dawn"     Ola Gjeilo

Advent Candle Lighting: HOPE

ONE: As the season of Advent begins we celebrate hope.

ALL:  We know that through the birth of a tiny and helpless child, God is coming to save the world.

ONE: While we watch and wait for Jesus to arrive, we join in God's mission by bringing grace and mercy to those who need it most.

ALL:   We engage the poor and the poor in spirit, letting Christ's light shine through us.

ONE: We speak words of comfort and love to a world in need of healing as we share our stories of God's transforming Spirit.

ALL:   Together, we are a sign of God's hope for the world.

Reflection on the word Hope  Lyn Hughes and George Lynch

Advent Prayer

ALL: God of surprising grace, when we least expect it you bring fresh new life; and where we feel that all is lost, you bring redemption. Give us courage as we share all you have done, all you are doing, and all you will accomplish through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Response Hymn 88

O come, thou Key of David, come,

and open wide our heavenly home;

make safe the way that leads on high,

and close the path to misery.

Call To Worship

Hear the invitation of the prophet Isaiah:  Come, let us go up to  God's holy mountain, that we may learn to walk in all God's ways.  For God will judge between the nations, and shall decide for many peoples, and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.  Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.  Let us come before God and learn God's ways of peace.

Hymn 77    Isaiah the Prophet Has Written of Old

Prayer of Confession

We confess, O God, that we do not take seriously your coming into our lives.  We do not believe that salvation is near; we do not act uprightly, loving you, our neighbors, or ourselves; nor do we bend our swords and spears.  Forgive us, we pray, that we might once again walk in your light, choosing for the world of our Christ.  Amen.

Response Hymn 89

For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits;

truly my hope is in you

For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits;

truly my hope is in you

Assurance of Forgiveness 3

ONE:  This is the good news in Jesus Christ.  We can stand before God, not through our own goodness, but through God's great kindness to us.  Rejoice and be glad, for God comes to us!

ALL:  Thanks be to God!

Sharing the Peace of Christ

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 95 (sing twice)

Prepare the way of the Lord.  

Prepare the way of the Lord,

And all people will see the salvation of our God

Scripture: Isaiah 2:1-5   Matthew 24:36-44

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem   Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence    17th Century French Carol   Arr. Philip Keveren

Sermon   Peter Stiehler

Hymn 104   O Lord, How Shall I Meet You

Invitation to the Offering 2

Giving is not a casual act—it relates God's work to our work.  Peter writes: “as each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace, that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”  Let us give as people whose work is inextricably linked to God's great works of creation, redemption and empowerment

Offertory   “Whence Comes This Rush of Wings”     Old French Carol  Arr. J. Reddell-Popovich

Prayer of Dedication 2,3

Collaborative Creator God, you call us to join in your work of love in the world, and you equip us with all we need to follow your lead. Now make us generous of hand, heart, and mind, as you are. As we return to you a portion of your gifts, we pray you would receive them as a sign of our gratitude for your unending love, and guide us as we offer our whole selves in your service, seeking your abundant life for all. Continue to write your law of love on our hearts. Give us an unwavering passion for justice, and a tenacious faith that will not rest until the hungry are fed, the oppressed find relief, and the outsider finds a welcome. Amen.

Prayers of the People

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

Closing 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   “Gabriel's Message”     Basque Carol   Arr. J. Reddell-Popovich  

Announcements

1 BCW

2 Life in Liturgy

3 Rev. Teri Peterson, St. John's Church of Scotland, Gourock