The Celebration of the Gospel
November 27, 2016 —1st Sunday of Advent
Advent begins in deep darkness, yearning for hope of dawning light.
The night is almost gone; the day is near.
— Romans 13.12
________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.
1. Now is the time to wake from your sleep. The night is far gone; the day is near. R
2. Watch for the unexpected hour. Come, let us walk in the light of God. R
GREETING
CENTERING MUSIC What Is This Lovely Fragrance? French Carol, arr: Alice Jorda
[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 People, Look East Blue hymnal # 202
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
____________We Attend to the Word__________
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come Paul O. Manz
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Gentle God, the darkness draws in around us. In our hearts, in our communities, in the nation and the world there is mistrust and fear and despair; there is hurt and injustice. Yet you promise your light. You promise you are coming. Ready our hearts, God, for your coming. Help us to see signs of hope. Help us to see the coming of Christ. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT Isaiah 2.1-5
[In a time of violence and despair, the prophet describes a vision of peace in which all nations live in the light of God’s Word and convert weapons of war into tools for growing things. ]
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come the mountain of God’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Holy One,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that God may teach us God’s ways
and that we may walk in God’s paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
The Holy One shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
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NEW TESTAMENT Romans 13.11-14
[The dawn of God’s new era encourages us, despite the darkness around us, to wake up and prepare by living as people of light. ]
You know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep.
For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers;
the night is far gone, the day is near.
Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light;
let us live honorably as in the day,
not in intemperance and self-indulgence,
not in excess and licentiousness,
not in quarreling and bitterness.
Instead, let go of all your self-centered desires
and clothe yourselves with our Savior Jesus Christ.
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GOSPEL Matthew 24.36-44
[Jesus tells us to be alert all the time, for we do not know when God will appear in our lives. ]
About the day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Only Begotten, but only Abba God. The coming of the Promised One will be as in the days of Noah: in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away. So too will be the coming of the Promised One. Two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Savior is coming.
But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, the owner would have stayed awake and would not have let the house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Promised One is coming at an unexpected hour.
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SERMON
ADVENT SILENCE
SONG Child of Promise Steve G-H
Child of promise, oh, child of hope, prophets spoke of you:
visions treasured but unfulfilled. Shall our dreams come true?
Help us wait for you.
Child of woman, oh, child of God, birthing us anew,
make a room, oh, make a womb, in our hearts for you.
Help us wait for you.
Child of patience, oh, child of pain, suffering ills we do,
heal, forgive and help us be gentle child, like you.
Help us wait for you.
Child of wonder, oh, child of joy, you make all things new.
Re-create us, come again like the morning dew.
Help us wait for you.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
___________We Share at Christ’s Table_________
OFFERING OUR GIFTS Watchman, Tell Us Of The Night Jakob Hintze, arr: Mark Hayes
* COMMUNION SONG
O Christ, you call to your table here
your blessed children, your people dear.
Our gifts we bring, and your praise we sing,
as we gather to wait for your coming.
Come, come, Emmanuel!
The bread and wine your presence tell.
Come, come, and fill our hearts,
and make of us signs of your coming.
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 Light, we thank you,
for in the beginning you brought light out of darkness.
In Egypt you condemned the forces of oppression
and brought us out of slavery to freedom.
In the wilderness you fashioned your People.
In the life and death and resurrection of Jesus
you shined light in our lives, light that renews the world.
We rejoice on the light of hope; and therefore with your people
and with all Creation we sing your praise:
Holy, holy, Holy One, all Creation shines with your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in your name.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed are all who come in your name, and blessed is Jesus, your Christ,
who loved the neglected and healed the broken,
who gathered the outcast and gave hope to the despairing.
Christ is the flesh of your presence and the light of your coming.
[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. Christ will come again in love.
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,
filled with the light of your presence,
living in hope of your coming.
Amen. Amen. Alleluia. 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. In this sharing the light of your coming has dawned among us. Send us into the world, filled with this hope, walking in your light. Amen.
_______We Are Sent in Ministry to the World____
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light Blue hymnal #206
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE We stand and sing to our neighbors:
Go in peace, Beloved. Bless you now, my friends.
Bear the light of Jesus, love that never ends.
Wait for your God for patience is our call.
Christ is coming soon now! Love and joy to all!
POSTLUDE
The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns Tune: Morning Song, arr: Lani Smith
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.]