The Celebration of the Gospel
2nd Sunday of Advent
December 7, 2014
8:15 & 10:30 am
In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord.
— Isaiah 40.3
_______ We Gather as The Body of Christ_______
GREETING
PRELUDE Come, Emmanuel arr: Mark Hayes
[As we listen to the music we quiet our minds and bodies,
listen for our hearts’ deepest desires,
and become present to the Holy One who is lovingly present for us.]
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE from 2 Peter 3.10-15
[Assurance written to people who thought Jesus would return, and he hadn’t. It assures them God is giving more time for us to be ready. How shall we prepare? By leading lives of holiness and godliness, we both await and also hasten the day.]
The day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be changed in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be? Lead lives of holiness and godliness— in this way we not only wait for the coming of the day of God, we hasten it. In accordance with God’s promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, live at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. +
Leader: God of the new dawn,
we light this candle to awaken our hearts.
May your coming light our way,
the way of peace, the way of new life.
All: Make our hearts patient, still and receptive;
that we may repent, love one another,
and prepare a way for you in our hearts.
O Holy Spirit, strengthen our hearts, that we may live in hope.
Dawn upon us, and lead us in the way of your light.
Kindle our hearts, and lead us in the way of love.
Amen.
* SONG O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Blue hymnal #211 vv. 1, 5, 6, 7
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
__________ We Attend to the Word____________
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG Every Valley John Ness Beck
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of love, as we wait in the darkness, speak to us. Comfort us, make gentle what is rough in our lives, grant us your promise, and direct us in living out your good news. We pray in the spirit and company of Christ, who is here, and who is coming. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT Isaiah 40.1-11
[The prophet speaks with tender comfort to people who are in exile. God proclaims, “Prepare a way in the wilderness” for God’s people to come home. God is coming with power to save and lovingly shepherd the people.]
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her that she has served her term,
that her penalty is paid,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.
A voice cries out:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
A voice says, “Cry out!”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All people are grass,
their constancy is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
when the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades;
but the word of our God will stand forever.
Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good tidings;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up,
do not fear; say to the cities of Judah,
“Here is your God!” See, the Lord God comes with might,
whose arm is strong, who brings blessing,
who restores what is right .
She will feed her flock like a shepherd;
she will gather the lambs in her arms,
and carry them in her bosom,
and gently lead the mother sheep. +
GOSPEL Mark 1.1-8
[The author echoes Isaiah’s cry, “Prepare a way!” In the wilderness John the Baptist preaches repentance in preparation for “one more powerful” who is yet to come.
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight a path for God.’” John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” +
SERMON
SONG Prepare Your Way in Me Steve G-H
Prepare your way in me, Lord,
prepare your way in me, my Lord.
Make my rough places smooth,
the crooked make straight, my Lord.
Lay your hand at my root,
that I may bear fruit, my Lord.
Come and empty my heart
of all things but you, my Lord.
Guide my feet in your way,
fill me with your peace, my Lord.
Prepare your way in me, Lord,
prepare your way in me, my Lord.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
RESPONSE: This is my prayer. All: This is our prayer.
PASSING THE PEACE
__________We Share at Christ’s Table __________
OFFERING OUR GIFTS As Lately We Watched
Traditional Austrian Carol, arr: Franklin Ritter
* COMMUNION SONG Prepare the Way of the Lord Blue hymnal #207
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
SHARING THE HOLY MEAL
[Everyone is welcome at the table of Christ’s self-giving love.
The bread is wheat-, soy- and dairy free. We dip the bread in the juice.]
PRAYER OF BLESSING
Gracious God, we thank you for this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. You who are coming, lead us in a new way of living, by the light of your Spirit in and among us, for the sake of the renewal of the world, in the name of Christ. Amen.
_____________ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World___________
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG All Earth Is Waiting Blue hymnal #210
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE We stand and sing to our neighbors:
Go in peace; go in love. May God’s grace from above
dawn upon you tenderly, give you light and set you free.
Christ be born in your hearts. Christ be born in your hearts.
POSTLUDE
Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding Tune: MERTON, arr: Robert J. Powell
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.]