Order of Worship

15 December 2024

Have you started the Christmas music and put up the tree? That is okay even if it is still Advent. We can theologically multitask. However, we will keep the process of waiting and the theology of hope with us as we anticipate the meaning of the birth of the Christ child. Today we light the third candle. It is the candle of joy, and we are glad that peace, hope, joy burn side by side. Our theme is "Do What You Can Do".

WELCOME TO SHADOW ROCK UCC!

Prelude ~

Shared by Travis Meyers

WELCOME! Thanks for making Shadow Rock your chosen

spiritual family.

GATHERING IN THE SPIRIT’S PRESENCE

Centering Affirmation: You are uniquely situated to bring light into the world. May you find courage this season to do the good that is yours to do. What ever good you do matters and makes a difference. May you see the ripples of your actions expand ever outward, touching lives and mending the fabric of our shared humanity.

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 The Johnstons

(Please stand in body, mind, or spirit)

One: In this weary world, we sing of joy.

In this fragile world, we lift each other up.

In this beautiful world, we look for God.

In this tender world, we hold onto hope.

All: This is the invitation of faith.

So in this time of worship, may we sing, lift up, look for, and hold onto our with-us God.

With hope in our hearts, amen!

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

Where do we start?

All: Let us begin with tenderness.

Let us begin with our hearts on our sleeve.

Let us begin from a place of vulnerability and hope.

Let us begin with love.

One: Yes, let us start with love.

Today we light the candles of hope, peace, joy, and love.

All: May the warmth and meaning of these lights be our cornerstone. May the truth in these lights help us

begin again.

Singing Our Faith ~ Angels From the Realms of Glory

by James Montgomery

Angels from the realms of glory,

Wing your flight o’er all the earth;

Ye who sang creation’s story

Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.

Come and worship, come and worship,

Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Saints, before the altar bending,

Watching long in hope and fear;

Suddenly the Lord, descending,

In His temple shall appear.

Chorus

All creation, join in praising

God, the Father, Spirit, Son,

Evermore your voices raising

To th’eternal Three in One.

Chorus

Prayer for Illumination

Shared by Pastor Ken

Call to Confession

Led by the Johnstons

Friends,

Hope can feel slippery. One moment we may believe that change will come, that good will win, that the suffering of today will not be the suffering of tomorrow.

The next moment we can receive word of more gun violence, of more mudslinging, or yet another missile headed toward a group of humans.

Hope can feel slippery. Fortunately for us, God’s grace is not. No matter what we are able to hold, God is able to hold onto us.

So trustng that God’s grace does not let us go, join me in the prayer

of confession:

Prayer of Confession

Led by Pastor Ken

Gracious God,

You paint pictures of what could be, but too often we declare those visions impossible. You speak of the lion lying down with the lamb, but we spout skepticism and uncertainty. You dream of a more just day, but we poke holes in the plan, unable to fathom that horizon. Too often in our cynicism we feel too smart for your

pictures, dreams, and holy work among us.

Forgive us for losing sight of hope.

Forgive us for assuming that what we see is all there is.

Open up our hearts to see the world as you see it.

Open up our hearts to risk hope, to dream dreams,

and to not be afraid of either.

With gratitude we pray, amen.

Words of Forgiveness

Shared by the Johnstons

My Shadow Rock family and Friends,

No matter what you hold onto, and no matter what you let slip through your hands, life, love, and God is holding onto you.

That good news will never change.

So hear and believe the good news of the Gospel:

Today is a new day. Today, we have reason to hope. Today, we are

forgiven. And the same will be true tomorrow.

Thanks be to God for a love like that.

Amen.

Celebrating Our Reconciliation ~ What Child Is This

What child is this, who, laid to rest,

On Mary’s lap is sleeping,

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet

While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;

Haste, haste to bring Him laud,

The babe, the son of Mary!

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh;

Come, peasant, king, to own Him!

The King of Kings salvation brings;

Let loving hearts enthrone Him!

Raise, raise the song on high! The virgin sings her lullaby.

Joy! joy! for Christ is born, The babe, the son of Mary!

Celebrations

Led by Pastor Ken

John the Baptist’s followers once asked him, “What shall we do?”

Church, knowing the state of the world, what is your answer? In the Spirit of Jesus Christ, we say: Do not be discouraged by the weight of the world. Instead, hold fast to hope. Roll up your sleeves. Feed the hungry. Tend the garden. If you have two coats, give one away. Do the good that is yours to do. In doing so, you will see God. For this we believe: small acts of love can make a difference. Amen.

Special Music for Thinking of You Cards

~ Shared by Travis Meyers

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 Rededicate Ourselves to The More of Life

Shared by The Johnstons

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

Reflection ~ “In Your Midst”

by Hildegard of Bingen

Shared by the Johnstons

We prepare ourselves for experiencing the act of giving of

ourselves and our offerings with the reading of this

reflection.

I, God, am in your midst.

Whoever knows me can never fall,

Not in the heights,

Nor in the depths,

Nor in the breadths,

For I am love,

Which the vast expanses of evil

Can never still."

Offering and Offertory~

Shared by Travis Meyers

Word About Life ~

Shared by Pastor Ken

And Mary said,

‘My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,

for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.

Surely, from now on all generaƟons will call me blessed;

for the Mighty One has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

His mercy is for those who fear him

from generaƟon to generaƟon.

He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scaƩered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,

and liŌed up the lowly;

he has filled the hungry with good things,

and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

according to the promise he made to our ancestors,

to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

And Mary remained with her for about three months and then returned to her home.

Words For Mission

Led by The Johnstons

One: We believe in a God who gives us reason to hope,

a God who fills our nights with stars,

who follows winter with spring,

who dwells with and among us.

We believe that this God has dreams for creaƟon,

dreams of jusƟce like a mighty stream

and swords that will be beaten into plowshares.

Therefore, we push cynicism aside.

We risk vulnerability.

We hold onto hope, and we declare:

“Life and love will have the last word in history”

These are the Ɵmes!

One: 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 ~ Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Hark! the herald angels sing,

“Glory to the new born King,

peace on earth, and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled!”

Joyful, all ye naƟons rise,

join the triumph of the skies;

with th’ angelic host proclaim,

“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Hark! the herald angels sing,

“Glory to the new born King!”

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all he brings,

risen with healing in his wings.

Mild he lays his glory by,

born that man no more may die,

born to raise the sons of earth,

born to give us second birth.

Hark! the herald angels sing,

“Glory to the new born King!”

Come, Desire of naƟons, come,

fix in us thy humble home;

rise, the woman’s conquering Seed,

bruise in us the serpent’s head.

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface;

stamp thine image in its place.

Second Adam from above,

Reinstate us in thy love.

Hark! the herald angels sing,

“Glory to the new born King!

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.