Order of Worship

01 December 2024

Our morning together will usher in the season of Advent. We want to cave into the Christmas season pressure, and we will. However, we will keep the theology of hope with us as we anticipate the meaning of the birth of the Christ child. Today we light the first candle. It is the candle of hope, and our theme is "You Are a Blessing".

You are a beloved child of God. What helps you remember this truth? When do you doubt this truth?

WELCOME TO SHADOW ROCK UCC!

Prelude ~ Sing We Now of Christmas/ God Rest You Merry

Shared by Christne Kyhn and Peter Kyhn arr. Brant Adams

WELCOME! Thanks for making Shadow Rock your chosen

spiritual family.

GATHERING IN THE SPIRIT’S PRESENCE

Centering Affirmation: You are a beloved child of God. What helps you remember this truth? When do you doubt this truth?

Welcome and Announcements

Led by Pastor Ken

Opening Words

One: Who are we and what are we called to do?

All: We are the sensitive and responsive ones

called to create a world where every person

is radically affirmed and barriers between

people become bridges of inclusion, justice,

and spirituality.

Call to Worship

Led by Linda Pape

(Please stand in body, mind, or spirit)

One: Hear these ancient and wise words from our Advent

tradition. God says,

“Do not be afraid.”

“I have called you by name.”

“I will be with you.”

“You are precious and honored in my sight.”

All: At the beginning of this season, at the start of this

week, at the top of this hour, may we wrap ourselves in these words.

One: In a weary and worn world, how do we begin again?

Where do we start?

All: Let us begin with the good news!

Let us begin by trusting that we are a blessing,

loved by a gracious God.

Let us begin with hope.

Let us begin with warmth and welcome.

Let us begin with music and singing!

One: Yes, let us begin with hope.

All: Today we light the candle of hope to shine a light in a worn and weary world. May this be our new beginning.

One: May hope flow forth from here. May all the people say

Amen!

Singing Our Faith ~ Pass It On as an Advent Song

By Jean WaƩ

It only takes a spark to get a fire going,

And soon all those around can warm up

in its glowing;

That's how it is with God's Love,

Once you've experienced it,

Your spread the love to everyone, you

want to pass it on.

What a wonderous time is now,

When all of life is blooming.

Our friends begin to sing, the children start their growing;

That's how it is with God's love,

Once you've experienced it.

You want to sing, to love we cling, you want to pass it on.

I wish for you my friend this happiness that I've found;

You can depend on God, It matters not where you're bound,

I'll shout it from the mountaintop, I want the world to know

The Lord of love has come to me, I want to pass it on.

I'll shout it from the mountaintop - I want the world to know

The Lord of love has come to me. I want to pass it on.

Prayer for Illumination

Shared by Pastor Ken

Call to Confession

Offered by Linda Pape

In the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel tells Mary two things: that she is highly favored, and that she is going to have a child.

Mary’s response to this news is simple. With awestruck

authenticity, she asks, “How can this be?”

Every time we approach the prayer of confession, I ask myself this same awestruck quesƟon, “How can this be?” How can God’s mercy know no end? How can God be so gracious with someone as fickle as me?

Regardless of the week we’ve had, this good news never changes.

So join me in speaking the truth of our lives. Join me in the prayer of confession, and may God’s mercy leave you awestruck.

Let us pray.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION with our hearts and voices together

Led by Pastor Ken

Affirming God,

Your first words to creation were words of love.

You looked at this earth and said, “It is good.”

You spoke of affirmations through the prophets.

You spoke of blessings over Mary.

You spoke of belonging through Christ.

At every turn, you have reiterated that we are a blessing.

We are made in your image, and we are held in your love.

Forgive us for forgetting this truth.

Forgive us for measuring our worth by society’s measuring stick instead of yours.

We believe. Help our unbelief.

In the Spirit of the One who is coming, we pray.

Amen.

WORDS OF FORGIVENESS

Offered by Linda Pape

My Shadow Rock Family of Faith,

I don’t know the last time someone told you that you are good, just as you are.

I don’t know the last time you heard that you are loved and

created in the image of God. I don’t know the last time you

trusted those words and truly believed that you are a blessing.

However, in case it has been a while, hear these words from the prophet Isaiah:

God says,

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you.

I have called you by name.

You are mine.”

We are forgiven. We are loved. Let it leave you awestruck.

Thanks be to God! May we believe it. Amen.

Celebrations

Led by Pastor Ken

Forgiveness is one of the most powerful forces on earth. The

cynic says power is the ability to destroy. The spiritual person says the ability to create and recreate is the most powerful force on earth. We celebrate life and love and its power to lead us down the path of forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation.

Special Music for Thinking of You Cards

~ Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

arr. Ovid Young

Shared by Christine Kyhn

In the pew racks are cards with the title “Thinking Of You”. Please use these cards to write a note to someone so they know they are remembered and cared for. Put the card in the offering plate when it comes by and the church office will forward the cards to the person you addressed in the card. This was one of the elements of our time together you lifted up as important for all of us. Thank you! 

This is a good time for you to get a piece of bread and some juice or wine for communion. This allows us to eat and drink together.

INVITATION TO THE TABLE

Led by Linda Pape and Pastor Ken

Friends, Advent is a season of waiting.

We wait for Christ to be born.

We wait with the feeling that love is near.

We wait for God’s promised day.

Advent is a season of waiting.

And while we humans are good at many things, waiting is not high on that list. We are an impatient and anxious bunch, eager for the hope of what comes next. Maybe that’s why this Table is such a gift.

For when we come to this Table, for just a moment, the waiting stops. When we come to this Table, for just a moment, we get a glimpse of God’s promised day. We get a glimpse of a world where all are fed and all are welcomed.

And for just a moment we can believe the angels when

they say, “Be not afraid.” For just a moment, Mary’s words tumble through our minds— words of justice and hope, words like, “the hungry have been filled” and “the humble have been lifted.”

So come to this Table.

Come catch a glimpse of what could be.

Come end your waiting, for love is hovering close.

This is what it’s all about.

God is all around us.

So come. This good news is for you.

All are welcome here.

(Everyone is invited to the Table of Love to share the bread and cup. Take a piece of bread, dip it into the cup, and eat it. Come up by way of the center aisle and return by way of the side aisles. Our Advent offering goes to our Immigration Justice Ministries Fund.)

Communion Song ~ O Come, O Come Emmanuel

arr. Christine Kyhn

 Invitation to Rededicate Ourselves to The More of Life

Shared by Linda Pape

We prepare ourselves for experiencing the act of giving of ourselves and our offerings with the reading of this reflection.

Reflection ~ “Point In Time"

Shared and WriĴen by Linda Pape

We stand on a

Threshold in time,

A poignant point

Of entry.

Beginning, we tread

Lightly.

We who are God particles

Not the Higg’s boson,

But the Spiritual,

Able to save some

With love.

If we listen and understand,

If we stay compassionate.

But, often overwhelmed, we

Become lethargically numb.

Instead, moving with the rhythm

Of the world’s music

Stopping to listen and hear

Asking when is enough, enough?

Reaching our hands

Out to others

Will it be enough?

The decisions we make

The actions we take

Making a difference

Even if small

By being more inclusive

Time to stop cloistering

Secluding ourselves from

The outside world of pain

That’s feeding our fears

Throwing off our

Cloaks of confusion.

Turning off the

Media misinformation

Loving and giving anyway,

Heads no longer in the sand,

Seeking freedom and justice for all.

Will we stand tall?

Easy to be against something,

Easy to join the bandwagon,

But what will you stand for

As you step over this threshold in time?

Written by: Linda Pape 11-25-23

Offering and Offertory~ Go Tell It On the Mountain

Shared and arr. by Christine Kyhn

Word About Life

Shared by Pastor Ken

Words For Mission

Led by Linda Pape

One: The ceaseless flow of endless time no one can check or stay;

All: we'll view the past with no regret, nor future with dismay.

One: The present slips into the past, and dream-like melts away; the breaking of tomorrow's dawn begins a new today.

All: The Spirit of Life and Love can echo in our lives,

in our words,

in our deeds,

in our moods,

in our dreams.

One: One day they will not echo. They shall be born. These are the times!

All: We are the people!

One: All of Creation is blessed.

All: May we love all and serve all.

One: May God be with you.

All: And also with you.

One: Amen.

All: Amen.



EMPOWERING AND SENDING

Sending Forth Song ~ The Ceaseless Flow of Endless Time

by John Andrew Storey

The ceaseless flow of endless Ɵme no one can check or stay;

we'll view the past with no regret,

nor future with dismay.

The present slips into the past, and dreamlike melts away;

the breaking of tomorrow's dawn

begins a new today.

The past and future ever meet in the eternal now:

to make each day of thing complete

shall be our Advent vow.

Thank you for being with us!

Sermon Reboot is ON for today.

This is a time to talk about the message and explore together using the ORID Art Form Conversation methodology. What is ORID? It stands for Observation, Reflection, Interpretation, and Decision. You will get the hang of it.