The Celebration of the Gospel
December 15 , 2019 — Third Sunday of Advent
You have brought down the powerful from their thrones
and raised up the lowly .
—Luke 1.52
______ We Are Received as Children of God____
GREETING
PRELUDE 8:15: Lo How a Rose — Douglas Mears (Ringtones)
10:30: Coventry Carol – Michael Helman (Bells of St. Matthew’s)
[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.]
* ADVENT SONG – Come, Holy Dawn – Steve G-H
Congregation:
Come, morning star, light our way, in our darkest night.
Come, light of God, grant us peace, gently shining bright.
Come, holy dawn, sun of love, fill us with your light.
Cantor:
Patience now, my people! God’s promises are sure.
Justice quells the mighty, empowering the poor.
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE – James 5.7-8
[The author tells us to wait with patience, like a farmer waiting for the growing season in trust and confidence.]
Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Promised One. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Promised One is near.
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*SONG – Hail to the Lord’s Anointed – Blue hymnal #203
____We Are Transformed by the Love of Christ____
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
PRAYER
God, we await the coming of your justice and mercy. As you did with Mary, you place the world-changing power of your grace in our hearts. Bless us, that we ourselves may be the way your justice enters the world. Speak your Word to us, and may it be with us according to your word. Amen.
(10:30) HEBREW BIBLE Isaiah 35.1-10
[The prophet foresees God’s redemption in the form of healing of nations, of societies, of individuals, and even of Creation. Deserts will blossom, the blind will see and the disabled dance, and people who have been outcast will find joy and belonging.]
The arid land shall be glad,
the desert shall rejoice and blossom.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
the majesty of our God.
Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
“Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God.
The Holy One is coming in triumph,
with unassailable justice.
God will come and save you.”
Then our blind eyes shall be opened,
and the ears of our hearts unstopped;
then the unmoving shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the silenced sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert.
A highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Holy Way;
and the redeemed shall walk there.
Those whom God has liberated will return,
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
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* CANTICLE – Luke 1.46-55
[Mary sees evidence of God’s grace both within herself (“the Mighty One has done great things for me”) and also the world around her: God has lifted up the lowly and also brought down the powerful—a vision of radical social re-ordering. ]
And Mary said, “My soul proclaims your greatness, O God,
and my spirit rejoices in you, my Savior,
for you have looked with favor on the lowliness of your servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is your name.
Your mercy is for those who fear you from generation to generation.
You have shown strength with your arm;
you have scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
You have brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
you have filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
You have helped your servant Israel, in remembrance of your mercy,
according to the promise you made to our ancestors,
to Sarah and Abraham and to their descendants forever.”
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GOSPEL Matthew 11.2-11
[John asks if Jesus is the “one who is coming,” that is, the messiah. Jesus simply points to the evidence: as Isaiah promised, the blind see, the immobilized walk, and the poor receive good news.]
When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
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SERMON Empowerment
SONG – Star-Child – Black hymnal # 2095
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
___________We Share at Christ’s Table_________
OFFERING OUR GIFTS
8:15: Meditation on Veni Emanuel” Matthew Prins (Ringtones)
10:30: Wexford Carol – arr. Jason Krug (Bells of St. Matthew’s)
* COMMUNION SONG
God, we thank you for your gifts, all your gifts,
grace that heals and power that lifts.
So we come now to your table,
bringing gifts as we are able.
For your justice, joy and peace
here we gather, share and feast.
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.
God, eternal, love is your throne, love is your throne;
you create us as your own.
Love, you lead us in new living:
so we gather, freely giving.
Praise God, ocean, land and sky!
Sing hosanna! Praise on high!
Jesus, lover of our souls, every soul,
taught and loved and made us whole.
All the world in joy is humming
with the hope of Jesus’ coming.
Christ has died and Christ is ris’n.
Christ in love will come again.
The Blessing & Covenant
Pour on us your spirit of love, spirit of love,
come, descend, O gentle Dove.
Make us now your blest community;
love and mercy be our unity.
Jesus, Savior, friend so dear,
make us now your Body here.
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. 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. As you did with Mary, you have conceived in us your vision of justice. You have made your Word flesh among us. Send us into the world as vessels of your mercy. May it be with us according to your Word. Amen.
______ We Are Sent in the Power of the Holy Spirit_____
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG – It Came Upon the Midnight Clear – Blue hymnal #218
* 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 – In the Bleak Midwinter – Harold Darke, arr: Stephen Nielson