December 18th, 2022
8:30 am Chapel Order of Service
Advent Lessons and Carols
Gathering and Announcements
Prelude
Call to Worship
In the midst of darkness, God brings a new light.
Thanks be to the God of light.
In the midst of confusion and fear, God brings hope and peace.
Thanks be to the God of peace.
In the midst of strife and stress, God comforts and soothes us.
Let us praise God who truly loves us and brings us new life. AMEN.
Hymn of Preparation: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus 196 UMH
Candle Lighting Liturgy
Worship Leader: Over a hundred people, from the ages of two to eighty years
old, were asked the question, “What makes you feel connected; what makes
you feel loved?” From the voices of different generations, hear their answers:
Older Adult: Handwritten notes.
Adult: Casseroles.
Teenager: Being invited in.
Child: Reading a book together.
Older Adult: The passing of the peace.
Adult: Family walks.
Teenager: Youth group.
Child: When I see my friends at preschool.
Older Adult: Surprise phone calls.
Adult: Making music with other people.
Teenager: Home-cooked food.
Child: Belly laughs.
Older Adult: Eye contact.
Adult: Dinner parties.
Teenager: An inside joke.
Child: Hugs.
Older Adult: Dancing with my partner in the kitchen.
Adult: Today we light the candle of love as a reminder that from the very first
generation, God has surrounded us with love. May this good news—these
threads of love—not only weave deeper connections between neighbors, but
shape our actions and allow us to see God more clearly.
Another worship leader or reader lights the candle.
Adult: In a lonely world, let this light shine bright. From generation to
generation, we are held in God’s love. Thanks be to God for that good news.
Amen.
Bidding Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
Beloved in Christ, as we await the great festival of Christmas,
let us prepare ourselves so that we may be shown its true meaning.
Let us hear, in lessons from Holy Scripture,
how the prophets of Israel foretold
that God would visit and redeem the waiting people.
Let us rejoice, in our carols and hymns,
that the good purpose of God is being mightily fulfilled.
Let us celebrate the promise that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,
will bring all peoples and all things
into the glory of God's eternal kingdom.
The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk,
the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear,
the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
But first, let us pray for the world that God so loves,
for those who have not heard the good news of God,
or who do not believe it;
for those who walk in darkness and the shadow of death;
and for the Church in this place and everywhere,
that it may be freed from all evil and fear,
and may in pure joy lift up the light of the love of God.
These prayers and praises let us humbly offer to God,
in the words that Christ himself taught us...
Reading 1: Genesis 3:1-15
Carol O Come, O Come Emmanuel (vs 1,7) 211 UMH
Reading 2: Isaiah 40: 1-11
Anthem Comfort, Comfort Ye My People
Reading 3: Micah 5: 2-4
Solo He Shall Feed His Flock G.F. Handel
Reading 4: Zephaniah 3: 14-18
Solo Rejoice Greatly G.F. Handel
Reading 5: Isaiah 65: 17-25
Quia Fecit Mihi Magna J.S. Bach
Translation: Because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
Reading 6: Luke 1: 46-55
Carol Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (vs 1,2) 216 UMH
Homily
Offertory
Communion
Jesus said: I am the bread of life.
All who come to me shall not hunger,
and all who believe in me shall not thirst.
With Christians around the world
and throughout the centuries,
we gather around these symbols
of bread and wine—simple elements
that speak of nourishment and transformation.
Let us pray.
Loving God, we thank you
that you are as close to us as breath,
that your love is constant and unfailing.
We thank you for all that sustains life,
and especially for Jesus Christ,
who teaches us how to live out
an ethic of justice and peace,
and for the promise of transformation
made manifest in his life, death and resurrection.
We ask you to bless this bread and this cup.
Through this meal, make us the body of Christ,
that we may join with you in promoting the well-being of all creation. Amen.
We remember on the night
when Jesus and the disciples
had their last meal together,
Jesus took the bread, gave thanks,
and gave it to the disciples,
saying “This is my body,
which is broken for you.
Take and eat it, and as often as you do, remember me.”
In the symbol of the broken bread, we participate in the life of Christ
and dedicate ourselves
to being his disciples.
In the same way he took the cup,
and after giving thanks
he gave it to the disciples, saying:
“Drink this, all of you.
This cup is the new covenant,
poured out for you and for many
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
In the symbol of the cup, we participate in the new life Christ brings.
Prayer After Receiving
Let us pray. We give thanks, loving God, that you have refreshed us at your table.
Strengthen our faith; increase our love for one another.
As we have been fed by the seed that became grain, and then became bread, may we go out into the world to plant seeds of justice, transformation, and hope. Amen.
Carol People, Look East vs 1,4 202 UMH
Benediction
As you leave this place, may you go knowing that
from generation to generation,
we have been claimed and loved.
From generation to generation,
God has been by our side.
From generation to generation,
we are not alone.
The God of yesterday and the God of tomorrow
knows you by name, loves you, and calls you forth,
saying, “Go be the person you are called to be,
love wildly, do justice, and come back soon.”
May it be so. Amen.
Postlude
