A More Light Congregation

Bethany Presbyterian Church

This Week in Worship

Prayer of Preparation

Come, Lord Jesus, come. Come into our midst. Come into our hearts. Come into our homes and our community, into our schools and workplaces. May we welcome you everywhere, making room for you, preparing for you, anticipating your arrival with joy and reverence. We commit this season of Advent to becoming ready. Shine your light in those nooks and crannies we keep in the shadows. Sweep the cobwebs from our long-hidden doubt and fear. Repair our torn and wounded places. We long for your arrival. Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.


Call to Worship

One: You who are poor, why have you come?  

All: To hear good news.  

One: You who are brokenhearted, why have you come?

All: To heal our hearts.  

One: You who are captive, why have you come?  

All: To hear words of freedom.  

One: You who are prisoners, why have you come?

All: To be released from what binds us.  

One: You who mourn, why have you come?

All: To receive comfort.  

One: Then you are welcome here in this place, at this table, where Jesus offers blessing for all.


Prayer of Confession

One: Lord God,   we praise you for sending light into this world. We confess that we live as though the light had never defeated darkness. We confess that we ignore the Savior you sent to be among us and to live in us. We’ve kept the birth of your Son confined to the Christmas season  and do not yearn for his coming each moment in our waiting hearts.

All: Forgive us for not opening our eyes to Jesus. Prepare us for His return.   Help us rejoice in the light,  so that your grace can illuminate the darkened places of our hearts. Amen.


Call and Response






Silence

Assurance of our Forgiveness

Friends, know and believe, that as we wait for the birth of the baby Jesus — and the return of our Savior — we are already forgiven. Thanks be to God! Amen.



Response Hymn #95





Lighting of the First Candle of Advent

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. (The candle is lit)

One: Let us pray:

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 restoration. Give us courage as we share all you have done, all you are doing, and all you will accomplish through Jesus Christ. Amen.


Preparation for the Word - Hymn #88


December 3, 2017

First Sunday of Advent ~ Celebration of Holy Communion

Sermon by Reverend Robin Crawford

"Tantrum!"

Lord, have mercy (Lord, have mercy)

Christ, have mercy (Christ, have mercy)

Lord, have mercy  (Lord, have mercy)

Prepare the way of the Lord

Prepare the way of the Lord

And all people shall see the salvation of our Lord

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

That mourns in lowly exile here until the Son of God appear


Scripture  

Mark 10:46-52

Prayer of Preparation

God in this season suspended between hope and fulfillment, let us never forget what you have done.  May we be overwhelmed by your mercy, which flows in wave after wave.  May we be honest about the darkness within us, and perceptive of the light around us.  May we make straight the path for the Lord, that together we may see God’s glory revealed.  Amen.


Call to Worship

One: In the lonely places

The wilderness

Where we stand forlorn

Windswept and alone

Your voice calls out

All: Prepare a way for the Lord.

One: In the dark places  

The shadows

Where we hide our fears

Embrace our tears

Your voice calls out

All: Prepare a way for the Lord.


Advent Prayer

Holy God, we long for your peace, and trust in your promise; we hear your call to turn toward you, to change our lives and welcome you in.  Meet us here and fill our minds with your wisdom

and our hearts with your peace, that our worship together may open us to the challenge of your dream of wholeness for all. In the Name of the One who is coming, we pray. Amen!


Call and Response




Silence


Response Hymn #90



Preparation for the Word Hymn #95




Lighting of the Second Candle of Advent

One: In this season of Advent, we celebrate God’s 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 organizations, and live out God’s reconciling love for all the world to see.

All: Together, we are a sign of God’s peace in the world. (The candle is lit)

One: Let us pray:

All: God of all people and all 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 kingdom and inspire us to participate in all you are doing in Jesus’ name. Amen.


Preparation for the Word - Hymn #88


December 10, 2017

Second Sunday in Advent

Sermon by Reverend Kathryn Pyke

"Expecting Something New"

Lord, have mercy (Lord, have mercy)

Christ, have mercy (Christ, have mercy)

Lord, have mercy  (Lord, have mercy)

Prepare the way of the Lord

Prepare the way of the Lord

And all people shall see the salvation of our Lord

O come, thou Wisdom from on high, who orderest all things mightily:

to us the path of knowledge show; and teach us in her ways to go

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel

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Wait for the Lord, whose day is near.

Wait for the Lord; be strong, take heart!

Gathering Prayer

As streets fill with shoppers

Bright lights and tempting offers

Christmas songs and children’s laughter

You lead us along a different path

To a desert river and a Prophetic voice

A call to repentance, a call to service

A call to immerse ourselves in living water that will never run dry  

A call to prepare a way in our own lives

For the Savior of the world to enter in

To know the touch of tender mercy

And rest in your forgiving love

For your faithful prophets

And your Living Word

We give you thanks. Amen.


Call to Worship

One: Now is the time, let us pause.

All: As we wait, may we hear the voice of God.

One: Now is the time, let us watch.

All: In our homes, at our work, even while waiting in line— may we see the face of Christ.

One: Now is the moment, let us prepare our hearts.

All: In our words, in our hearts, in all we say and do— may God’s extravagant love shine through.


Advent Prayer

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.


Call and Response




Silence


Response Hymn #90



Preparation for the Word Hymn #95




Lighting of the Third Candle of Advent

One: In this season of Advent, we celebrate God’s joy.

All: Knowing that Christ is coming, to bring healing and wholeness to the world, is a source of genuine delight!

One: When we gather for worship it is a celebration, an opportunity to rejoice in all that God is doing among us and beyond us.

All: Our lives are marked by laughter and friendship, as we love our neighbors with wide smiles and open arms.

One: Even when we face difficulty and trouble we sing a song of faith, confident that Jesus is able to redeem our suffering world.

All: Together, we are a sign of God’s joy for the world. (The candle is lit)

One: Let us pray:

All: God of transformation, we rejoice that you lift up the lowly and fill the hungry with good things. We marvel at your power to change hearts and lives. Fill us with your Spirit this season so that our voices declare your goodness and our lives proclaim your mercy in Jesus Christ. Amen.


Preparation for the Word - Hymn #88


December 17, 2017

Third Sunday in Advent

Sermon by Reverend Kathryn Pyke

"In the Meantime"

Lord, have mercy (Lord, have mercy)

Christ, have mercy (Christ, have mercy)

Lord, have mercy  (Lord, have mercy)

Prepare the way of the Lord

Prepare the way of the Lord

And all people shall see the salvation of our Lord

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.

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Wait for the Lord, whose day is near.

Wait for the Lord; be strong, take heart!

Gathering Prayer

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.


Call to Worship

We sing of God's mercy and grace shown to all generations.   We praise God's constant and never-ending love and faithfulness. We rejoice that God's promise of an anointed one—the Messiah— is about to be fulfilled.   O come, O come, Emmanuel—God with us—forever!



Advent Prayer

One: Into the daily cycle of our lives, when all seems well  with us and with the world, when our yoke is easy  and the burden light,  You break in

All: And scatter our complacency

One: Into the daily cycle of our lives when we are comfortable and at our ease, when the fire is lit but eyes are closed, You break in

All: And challenge our dependency

One: You break into our daily prayers, humble hearts, lay souls bare - You break in

All: You break in

One: You break in when defenses are down with an Angel's shout or the quietest sound - You break in

All: You break in

One: And we change

All: And all things change

One: When you break in


Call and Response




Silence


Response Hymn #90



Preparation for the Word Hymn #95




Lighting of the Third Candle of Advent

One: In this season of Advent, we celebrate God’s love.

All: Soon we will welcome the beautiful and radical love of God as Jesus Christ comes to live among us.

One: We embrace our identity as beloved children and let this truth guide our decisions and relationships.

All: In our homes and in our church we offer warm hospitality by welcoming those we don’t know, those who are in need, and those who are different from us.

One: We demonstrate our care for creation in real and tangible ways through the products we buy, the food we eat, and the way we live every day.

All: Together, we are a sign of God’s love for the world. (The candle is lit)

One: Let us pray:

All: God of extravagant generosity, in Jesus we discover the depth of your care and the lengths you will go to save us. Forgive us when we ignore the needy, trample your creation and refuse to share all that we receive from you. Teach us to love our neighbors, caring for each other in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.


Preparation for the Word - Hymn #88


December 24, 2017

Fourth Sunday in Advent

Sermon by Reverend Kathryn Pyke

"Favored by God"

Lord, have mercy (Lord, have mercy)

Christ, have mercy (Christ, have mercy)

Lord, have mercy  (Lord, have mercy)

Prepare the way of the Lord

Prepare the way of the Lord

And all people shall see the salvation of our Lord

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

Scripture  

Luke 1:26-38

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Wait for the Lord, whose day is near.

Wait for the Lord; be strong, take heart!

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December 24, 2017  

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service






Lighting the Christ Candle

One: Behold, I bring you good news of great joy; for to you is born in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!

All: Jesus has arrived in grace and mystery, renewing faded hopes and announcing peace to a weary world.

One: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom God favors!

All: Jesus comes among us in power and glory inspiring fresh Christmas joy and calling us to lives that are full of God’s love.

One: Jesus, the light of the world, is born.

All: Let Christ’s light shine in the darkest corners of our lives. Let Christ’s light shine in the darkest corners of our world. God is with us. (The candle is lit)

One: Let us pray:

All: God of grace and glory, as we celebrate this Christmas, transform our hearts and our lives so that your Good News is not an old story but a fresh truth lived out every day through the power of Jesus Christ. Amen


Prayer of Adoration

Loving God, deep in the night when all the world had locked the doors on love and closed the shutters on hope, you pierced the darkness with Light and a baby’s cry. Never again shall we be alone. No more shall we sit in fear. For Christ, the Light of the World and of our lives, is born. God of angels and babies, open us once again to this miracle, this wonder that you became one with us. Let the angels sings for us; let the star shine for us; let the child smile at us – here and now on this holy night. Amen.


Preparation for the Word - Hymn #88




First Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7

Musical Offering: "Still, Still, Still" - Chancel Choir

Second Reading: Luke 2:1-7

Musical Offering: "O Holy Night" - Lyn Hughes and George Lynch

Third Reading: Luke 2:8-14

Carol #113 "Angels We Have Heard on High"

Fourth Reading: Luke 2: 15-20

Carol #146 "Gentle Mary Laid Her Child"

Meditation by Reverend Kathryn Pyke

Carol #145 "What Child is This?"

Offertory: "Unto Us" - Bethany Prayz

Carol #134 "Joy to the World"

Christmas Eve 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.


Carol #122 "Silent Night"

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

That mourns in lowly exile here until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel

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December 31, 2017

A Festival of Lessons and Carols

Prayer of Invocation

Wondrous God, open our hearts and minds so we may hear once again the angels’ song, and know that Christ is born for us and for all. Touch the world with joy this holy day, and fill us with peace and childlike wonder.   Surprise us and bless us with the simple miracle of the birth of the Christ  child. Amen.

Readings

#1  Isaiah 9:2-6a


#2 Toward the Light

From Kneeling in Bethlehem by Ann Weems


#3 Luke 1:26-35, 38


#4 “People of Ceaseless Hope”

by Walter Burghardt


#5 Matthew 1:18-25


#6 First Coming by Madeline L'Engle


#7 Luke 2:1-7


#8 The Christmas Spirit by Ann Weems


#9 Luke 2:8-20


#10 Christmas Comes by Ann Weems


#11 Matthew 2:1-12


#12 Unto Us a Son Was Given


#13 Che Jesus

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Archive - Advent & Christmas 2017