Order of Worship for This Sunday
December 6, 2020
Worship in the Sanctuary
Or
View the Video Afterwards in your edition of Sunday Funday
Worship
Second Sunday of Advent
10:00
We Gather to Worship
Prelude
Announcements
Chiming of the Hour
Call to Worship
Let us prepare our hearts
as we await the coming of our Lord.
Let us watch for the one who heard our cries
and shouldered the suffering of our world.
Let us anticipate the coming of Christ’s eternal world
with wholeness, reconciliation and plenty for all.
Let us wait in expectation for the day
when God’s glory is revealed in all its fullness. Amen
Lighting of the Second Advent Candle Aurelia Meares
Today we light the candle of Peace - the Peace Christ brings.
*Responsive Affirmation Tune: Jessye's Carol
Green and silver, red and gold, and a story borne of old.
Peace and hope and love abide as Christ draws nigh. Amen.
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How Great Our Joy
While by the sheep we watched at night, Glad tidings brought an angel bright
How great our joy! Great our joy! Joy, joy, joy! Joy, joy, joy!
Praise we the Lord in Heaven on high! Praise we the Lord in Heaven on high!
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There shall be born, so he did say, In Bethlehem a Child today.
How great our joy! Great our joy! Joy, joy, joy! Joy, joy, joy!
Praise we the Lord in Heaven on high! Praise we the Lord in Heaven on high!
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There shall the Child lie in a stall, This Child who shall redeem us all.
How great our joy! Great our joy! Joy, joy, joy! Joy, joy, joy!
Praise we the Lord in Heaven on high! Praise we the Lord in Heaven on high!
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This gift of God we cherish well, That every joy our hearts shall fill.
How great our joy! Great our joy! Joy, joy, joy! Joy, joy, joy!
Praise we the Lord in Heaven on high! Praise we the Lord in Heaven on high!
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We Grow Through the Spoken Word
*Affirmation of Faith The Advent Affirmation
We believe in God the Creator, our Comforter – all knowing and all loving, all powerful and all giving, who brings the universe into being and at the same time knows us completely, cares for us compassionately, and loves us eternally. We believe in the Word made flesh who came and dwelt among us – Jesus the Christ who speaks comfort to our anxious hearts. Among even our burdens and fears, he fulfills the promise of peace. His advent proclaims the kingdom of heaven is at hand, where even they that dwell on the uppermost heights and those who know the unmeasurable depths are brought together on the level plain of God’s rich and sustaining love. His coming again continues in us this ministry of consolation, ensuring that the glory of the Lord was, is, and shall be revealed, and we shall see it together.
*Gloria Patri Glory Be to God, the Father - Regent Square
Glory be to God, the Father; Glory be to God, the Son.
Glory be to God, the Spirit, ever three, and ever one.
Come and worship, come and worship
Light of lights, our star, our sun. Amen.
Children's Moment
Pastoral Prayer and The Lord's Prayer
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,
For ever and ever. Amen
Response
O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray,
cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel! Amen.
Duet xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxNancy Lewis, Piano
Meditation on Bach’s First Prelude Incorporating Gounod "Ava Maria"
- Arranged by Preston Ware Orem
*Gospel Lesson xx Luke 1:46-56
Mary said,
“With all my heart I glorify the Lord!
47 In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior.
48 He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant.
Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored because the mighty one has done great things for me. Holy is his name.
50 He shows mercy to everyone, from one generation to the next, who honors him as God.
51 He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations.
52 He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones and lifted up the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty-handed.
54 He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, remembering his mercy,
55 just as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
*Presentation and Doxology xxxxxxxxxxxx Tune: Veni Emmanuel
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. Amen.
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The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came
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1 The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
"All hail," said he, "O lowly maiden Mary,"
"Most highly favored lady!" Gloria!
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2 "For know a blessed Mother you shall be,
All generations praise continually,
Your son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold."
"Most highly favored lady!" Gloria!
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3 Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head;
"To me be as it pleases God!" she said.
"My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name."
"Most highly favored lady!" Gloria!
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4 Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born
In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn;
And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say:
"Most highly favored lady!" Gloria!
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Sermon
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Excerpt from The Wild Knight
by G. K. Chesterton
The Christ-child lay on Mary's lap,
His hair was like a light.
(O weary, weary is the world,
But here is all aright.)
The Christ-child lay on Mary's chest,
His hair was like a star.
(O stern and cunning are the kings,
But here the true hearts are.)
The Christ-child lay on Mary's heart,
His hair was like a fire.
(O weary, weary is the world,
But here the world's desire.)
The Christ-child stood at Mary's knee,
His hair was like a crown.
And all the flowers looked up at Him,
And all the stars looked down.
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Joy to the World
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Joy to the world, the Lord will come!
Let earth receive her King;
let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.
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Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let all their songs employ;
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
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No more let sins and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground;
he comes to make his blessings flow
far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.
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We Go to Serve
*Benediction
Chimes The congregation in silent reflection
*Stand as you are able