The Celebration of the Gospel
December 2, 2018 — First Sunday of Advent
Stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
—Luke 21.28
______ We Gather as the Body of Christ______
GREETING
PRELUDE Advent Prayer – Anthony Giamanco
[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.
You may light avotive candle in prayer
any time during the prelude, hymns, offering, Peace, communion or postlude.]
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE
Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison.
[= “Lord, have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.”]
SCRIPTURE Jeremiah 33.14-16
[God promises Israel a just and faithful ruler, a descendant of David (a “righteous branch”).]
The days are surely coming, says the Holy One, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up from David’s line; a ruler who shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “God is our justice.”
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RESPONSE
Leader: A new world is coming, according to the promises of God. The time is coming.
All: We light a candle in hope, watching the clock.
We cannot hasten the future. But we wait with intention.
Deepen our longing, God, and bless our waiting.
* SONG O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Blue hymnal # 211, v. 1-2
_________ We Attend to the Word_________
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG Veni, veni Emmanuel Arr. By Zoltan Kodaly
PRAYER
In this dark time of year, God, we long for your coming. When darkness falls upon the world, we long for your peace. For healing, we wait. For justice, we hope. Strengthen our hearts, that we may be steadfast in faith, constant in love, and radiant with hope even when times are dark. In the name of Christ, who is coming, and who is always with us, we pray. Amen.
(10:30) * PSALTER Psalm 25.1-10 Blue hymnal, page 756:1
[We who “wait for God” pray that God will forgive us and lead us in God’s ways.]
To you, O Holy One, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.
Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
Make me to know your ways, O God;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
Be mindful of your mercy, O God, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
but remember me according to your steadfast love,
for your goodness’ sake, O God!
Good and upright are you, Holy One;
therefore you instruct sinners in the way.
You lead the humble in what is right,
and teach the humble your way.
All your paths are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep your covenant and decrees.
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GOSPEL Luke 21.25-36
[Jesus alerts us to be watchful for the coming of God’s reign into our midst. An as alternative to the world’s despair at the storms of life and our power struggles (“signs in the heavens”) Jesus commends a spirit of inner watchfulness, being alert for signs of God’s presence like we watch for spring.]
Jesus said: “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the New Human coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the New Human.”
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SERMON Deepen your longing
SONG In this Holy Darkness Steve G-H
Savior, in our longing darkness, come into our deepest night,
come and grace our hunger and yearnings; for we live by hope, not sight.
Love, we long for you. Come bless us. Help us all to walk in the light.
Savior, in this deepening darkness come to us who inwardly mourn.
Raise the love that lies a captive; mend the cloth that has been torn.
Come to us with peace, with holy love: bring the dawning light of morn.
Savior, in this lonely darkness, how we long to see your face!
Yet you move, unseen among us with your mercy and your grace.
Give us eyes of faith to see you, hidden in each time and place.
Savior, in this holy darkness, no one sees the flight of the dove.
No one hears the song of the angels. Yet there shines a lone star above.
Grant this joy, to know your presence here. Come and fill our hearts with your love.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer at the microphone.]
PRAYER SONG — God, We Are Waiting — Steve G-H
God, we are waiting, watching and hoping.
Come to us and save us and bring us peace.
1. In the midst of fear and the world’s distress
look for signs that God is here to bless.
Let your heart not be weighed down with fear:
your redemption’s drawing near.
2. God will cause a righteous branch to grow,
flourishing with love and justice.
Help us walk the path of love, O God,
lead us in the way of hope.
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
________We Share at Christ’s Table ________
OFFERING OUR GIFTS — The Father’s Rose — arr: Mark Hayes
* COMMUNION SONG
The promise of your coming, Love, is dawning in the east
Your praise we sing, our gifts we bring, preparing for your feast.
God, as we set this table, prepare our hearts as well.
O Come to us, abide with us, our dear Emmanuel.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
Beloved, God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Faithful One, our God.
It is good to give God thanks and praise.
We thank you, God, for you create us in your image.
You judge the forces of evil and set us free from all that oppresses,
calling us to justice and freedom.
You promise a new world, dawning just beyond our imagination.
You walk with us through the dark toward the light;
and we rejoice that your presenceis the light.
Therefore we sing your praise with all Creation:
Holy, holy holy God of love and power,
earth and heaven shine with your glory. Hosanna.
Blessed is the one who comes in your love.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna.
Blessed are all who come in your name,
and blessed is Jesus, your Christ, who embodied among us the Realm to Come.
The light of that Realm began to dawn in his teaching and healing,
in his witness for justice, in the community he gathered, in his death and resurrection.
[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:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. And Christ will come, will come again.
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,
in our speaking and praying and acting, living signs of Christ’s coming.
Amen. Hosanna.
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
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.]
PRAYER OF BLESSING
Gracious God, we thank you for this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Your presence among us is a living sign that there is more to come. Fed by your grace, may we deepen our longing as we await the coming of Christ. Send us in hope, to serve with love and joy. Amen.
____ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World___
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus Blue hymnal #196
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE We stand and sing to our neighbors:
May the grace and peace of Christ be with you my friends.
Go and share the love of God, love that never ends.
POSTLUDE A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding Tune: MERTON, arr: Mark Hayes
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.
Following worship please join us for fellowship and refreshments.]