The Celebration of the Gospel
The Celebration of the Gospel
December 18, 2016 —Fourth Sunday of Advent
“Joseph, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife…”
— Matthew 1.20
________We Gather as the Body of Christ______
CALL TO WORSHIP
Cantor: Alleluia. Alleluia. Make ready your hearts for the Coming One. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Response: In our deepest longing night, dawn upon us, God of light.
- In your dreams God promises: lend your heart and know my love. R.
- Don’t be afraid; God’s Word is good. A woman shall bear Emmanuel. R.
GREETING
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE Isaiah 7.13-14
Hear, O house of David! I myself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.
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CENTERING MUSIC A Rossetti Christmas Christina Rossetti, 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.]
* SONG O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Blue hymnal # 211 vv. 1,2,6
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
___________We Attend to the Word___________
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG I Wonder as I Wander arr. John Jacob Niles
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of mystery, Spirit of birth,
in dark times you come to us
in scripture, in strangers, in dreams.
Speak to us now. Let us hear your promise, and trust in you. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT Philippians 4.4-9
[Paul encourages us to be joyful, gentle, thankful and prayerful, and rooted in the peace of God.]
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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GOSPEL Matthew 1.18-25
[An angel comes to Joseph in a dream and tells him to take Mary as his wife, even though she is pregnant with a child that is not his.]
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by God through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of God commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
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SERMON
ADVENT SILENCE
SONG Love Came Down at Christmas Blue hymnal # 242
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.
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG Rocking
___________We Share at Christ’s Table _________
OFFERING OUR GIFTS 8:15: Rocking
10:30: Carol of the Birds Deborah Carr (Bells of St. Matthew’s)
* COMMUNION SONG Of the Father’s Love Begotten Blue hymnal #184 v. 1
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Beloved be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to our God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One our God.
It is good to give God thanks and praise.
God of mercy we give you thanks,
for you create us in love, make covenant to be our God,
claim us as your own, and call us to follow in your ways.
When we are lost and captive to powers within us and beyond us,
you condemn the forces of oppression and set us free.
Therefore with all creation we sing your praise:
Holy, holy, holy one, God of power and love,
heaven and earth shine with your glory.
Hosanna on high!
Blessed is the one who comes in your name.
Hosanna. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed are all who come in your name, and blessed is Jesus, your Christ.
An ordinary peasant, yet he bore your love, teaching and healing,
proclaiming the coming of your reign of mercy and justice,
opening our eyes to the holy in the ordinary.
[The Blessing And Covenant…]
Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
As often as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection until he comes again.
Remembering these, your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a living and holy sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Dying Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restores our life.
Christ will come again in mercy. Hosanna on high.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us,
that we may be for the world the Body of Christ,
born of your love, bearing your light into the darkness of this world.
Honor, glory and dominion, and eternal victory,
evermore and evermore. Amen.
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
Our Mother, 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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
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 have instilled your promise in our hearts, and your love in our flesh. Send us into the world to be signs of your coming for all who sit in darkness and shadow, in the name and the Spirit of Christ. Amen.
______ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World_____
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming Blue hymnal # 216
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE We stand and sing to our neighbors:
Go in peace, deepest peace.
May God’s grace never cease.
May the Spirit nest in your soul,
bring new life and make you whole.
Christ be born in your hearts.
Christ be born in your hearts.
POSTLUDE Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring – Johan Schop/J.S. Bach, arr: Mark Hayes
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.]
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