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Advent Bells

Opening Prayer 1, 2

God of darkness, in these days marked by cold air and growing night, gather us in your secret place of waiting. Remind us that the dark is not empty. Show us where new life is being formed. Reveal to us the fertile grounds of our waiting, that we might bear witness to your incarnation among us, both now and in the days to come. Lord Jesus Christ, we await your coming. We wait filled with hope, knowing your light will shine in the darkness. We wait anticipating your peace, believing that one day it will fill our world. We wait embracing your love. May we reach out to share it with our neighbors. We wait with joy, bubbling us in expectation of your birth. Lord we wait. Come soon and fill us with your life. Amen.

Welcome and Announcements

Hymn 86          The People Who Walked in Darkness

Advent Candle Lighting: HOPE 3

ONE: As we gather today, we remember the promised gifts of the Messiah. In the lighting of one candle, we set our gaze upon beacons that sustain us through sleepless nights and restless days. We bear this light together.

We call this candle Hope.

Advent Prayer

ONE: You, O God, are our hope, the quiet strength in our deepest longing. With the Holy Spirit as our guide, we join the prophet Jeremiah in testifying to your timeless, unending faithfulness in the shadowiest of days.

ALL: We stand in awe of a light that endures, a steady glow through the dimmest days. We draw near to the God who waits with grace, filling us with hope in every season. With hearts ignited, we work and wait for liberative justice, trusting that it shines beyond even the deepest shadows. Though our flames may falter, we press on, for God-is-with-us – Emmanuel is near. Amen.

Response Hymn 90

Wait for the Lord, whose day is near;

Wait for the Lord, be strong, take heart.

Call To Worship

ONE: The days are coming; your salvation is nearing.

ALL: Teach us your paths as we wait on your coming promise.

ONE: The heavens are speaking; your kingdom is arriving.

ALL: Strengthen our hearts as we wait on your coming promise.

ONE: The world is turning; new life is appearing.

ALL: Keep us alert as we wait on your coming promise.

ONE: We worship you with waiting hearts this day.

ALL: Fill us with hope in this season. Let us worship God together!

Hymn 82     Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

Affirmation of Faith 4

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 145

This, this is Christ the King,

whom shepherds guard and angels sing;

Haste, haste to bring him laud,

the babe, the son of Mary.

Sharing the Peace of Christ

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: Jeremiah 33:14-16

                   Luke 21:25-36

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Hymn 97     Watchman, Tell Us of the Night

Sermon   Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 105     People, Look East

Invitation to the Offering 5

The willingness to give is a sign of life. The fruit tree gives of its fruit, and we know it is alive. The ability to give comes and goes. Truly God is good to us in ways beyond our understanding. Offerings consist of many things, some of which are financial. As we offer our gifts and lives in this moment, may we become imitators of God, who holds nothing back from us, but is generous and gracious with us. You are invited to come and put your offerings and any prayer requests in this basket on the table now, or later this morning, and you are welcome to continue mailing your offerings to the church. Let us receive this morning's offering.

Hymn 129     Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

Prayer of Dedication

Almighty God, giver of every good and perfect gift, teach us to give to you all that we have and all that we are, that we may praise you not with our words only, but with our whole lives. We ask you to bless all of the gifts that we give, and bless what we keep, and fill us with joy as we discover ways to use our resources for your work in our world. Amen.

Sacrament of the Lord's Supper

Preparation of the Table

Invitation and Great Prayer of Thanksgiving 6

Rejoicing in the Lord always, we give thanks for the Word made flesh. With grateful hearts let us offer our whole selves to God.

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: Blessed are you, O Lord our God: We give thanks, O Lord, that the days are surely coming when all the world will see the fulfillment of your promise of salvation. You alone are our righteousness, our only hope for justice and peace. Therefore we praise you, joining the song of the universal church and the heavenly choir:

ALL:  Holy Lord, God of endless love, heaven and earth are surely full of your glory. The angels sang of it - we have been lavished with it. Blessed is he who was born that we might have life. Glory to God and on earth peace to all people.

ONE:  Holy God, as the travelers with their treasures were overwhelmed with joy on finding Jesus, so we also are overwhelmed on finding out the depth of his love for us. For Jesus showed just how beloved we are to him, by loving us and giving himself for us.

Send the power of your Holy Spirit upon these gifts of bread and wine, O God, that we may experience the presence of the Word-made-flesh - Jesus Christ. Breathe your Spirit in us that we may be one body with him - living out his ministry in the world today and every day. This we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Words of Institution

Sharing of the Cup and Bread

Prayer of Thanksgiving 7

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. We rejoice that you satisfy our needs. By your presence in this meal you have fed us and strengthened us, as a mother nourishes her baby. In this waiting season fill us with hopeful expectation that we may see the signs of your kingdom all around us and rejoice in your coming salvation and glory. Amen.

Prayers of the People 8

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

ONE: Lord, we have pulled out the Advent wreath, the Christmas tree, the poinsettias. We dusted off the hymns, unsung for a year, and unearthed the words of your prophets. Yet, in your eyes, these efforts are for nothing without the regular, persistent, deep pursuit of justice for all people. Our efforts are hollow without consistent work toward peace, reconciliation, and participation in your mission for creation.

In our hearts, we do long to be your people, to carry out your mission, to be lights in the darkness—proof that no darkness can overcome your truth. Awaken us to action. Stir us to courage. Rouse us to prepare a way in the wilderness for your coming, clearing the brush of oppression, racism, injustice, and hopelessness - so that all may see your light and perceive your coming. Amen.

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 121    O Little Town of Bethlehem

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!

Hymn 119    Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

1 PCUSA resources for Advent

2 Christine Sine (2012) GodSpace

3 “Wait for the Lord” Advent Candle Lighting, adapted from The Presbyterian Outlook, Nov. 2024

4 Nathan Nettleton

5 Thom Schuman Lectionary Liturgies

6 Rev. Bob Gibson for the London Conference of the United Church of Canada

7 adapted from PCUSA resources

8 lutheranjulia