SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY

First Sunday of Advent

November 28, 2021      Ten Thirty in the morning

Minister: The Reverend Aaron Ochart                            Liturgist: Dennis McCrea

Bold face indicates congregational participation.         🔔 indicates to stand in body or in spirit

GATHERING

WORDS OF WELCOME

PRELUDE: “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent” Henry Colemen

ADORATION

CALL TO WORSHIP (Lighting the Advent Candles)

Candle Lighters: What is worship? 

Choir, Lay Leader and Minister: Is it something we do once a week? 

Children and youth: Is it about us or about God? 

(Light the candle) 

(video) Luke 2:16-20 The shepherds went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they  saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. Everyone who heard it was amazed at  what the shepherds told them. Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully.  The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. 

Women and girls: We worship the Creator, the Messiah, the wind of the Spirit, the newborn King. 

Men and boys: We worship with all that we are and all that we have, our hearts, our minds, our souls  and our strength. 

Congregation: Worship is here, and we worship everywhere, bringing to others the good news of the  Prince of Peace. 

Let us pray: Creator of all, as we begin this holy season, filled with the hope of the coming of the Messiah, quiet our  hearts and minds that we may worship you fully, love you more dearly and see you more clearly. Amen.🔔 HYMN: “My Soul Cries Out With a Joyful Shout”  STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN

1. My soul cries out with a joyful shout that the God of my heart is great,

and my spirit sings of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait.

You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight, and my weakness you did not spurn, 

so from east and west shall my name be blest. Could the world be about to turn?

Refrain: My heart shall sing of the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn.

Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn.

2. Though I am small, my God my all, you work great things in me, 

and your mercy will last from the depths of the past to the end of the age to be.

Your very name puts the proud to shame, and to those who would for you yearn,

you will show your might, put the strong to flight, for the world is about to turn. (Refrain)

3. From the halls of power to the fortress tower, not a stone will be left on stone.

Let the king beware for your justice tears every tyrant from his throne.

The hungry poor shall weep no more, for the food they can never earn;

there are tables spread; every mouth be fed, for the world is about to turn. (Refrain)

4. Though the nations rage from age to age, we remember who holds us fast:

God’s mercy will deliver us from the conqueror’s crushing grasp.

This saving word that our forebears heard is the promise which holds us bound, 

till the spear and rod can be crushed by God, who is turning the world around. (Refrain)

THE CHILDREN’S MESSAGE: “ The Waiting Place”

ANTHEM: “Long ago, Prophets Knew” Arranged by Lloyd Larson

Long ago, prophets knew Christ would come, born a Jew, come to make all things new,

bear his people’s burden, freely love and pardon. 

God in time, God in man, this is God’s timeless plan: He will come, as a man, 

born himself of woman, God divinely human.

Ring bells ring! Sing choir sing! When he comes, who will make him welcome?

Mary hail! though afraid, she believed, and she obeyed. In her womb, God is laid 

till the time expected, nurtured and protected. 

Journey ends! Where afar, Bethl’hem shines, like a star, stable door stands ajar 

unborn Son of Mary, Savior do not tarry!

READING: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14 (p. 731)

HOMILY: “Wait” the Rev. Aaron Ochart

INVITATION TO CELEBRATE A GOOD ADVENT

One: Advent means waiting. As God’s people waited for deliverance, as they waited through exiles and occupations for the coming of David’s Son; so we wait for Christ to come afresh in our lives, and God’s Kingdom to be revealed. 

Many: Come thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free.

THE SANCTUARY EVERGREENS/ WREATHS

ONE: How Shall we make this place a reminder of our need for repentance, and that faithfulness and integrity comes from God our maker and redeemer?

MANY: Let us hang garlands and wreaths as Hosea speaks the word of God. 

READING: Hosea 14:8-9

O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; your faithfulness comes from me. Those who are wise understand these things; those who are discerning know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.

THE CHRISTMAS TREE

One: God, the Holy one of Israel, is a God of comfort and compassion. With the Christmas tree we remember God’s everlasting promises to the poor and needy. Isaiah spoke of God’s making of the wilderness a place of blessing where water and plants, even pine trees, would manifest God’s loving action to save and provide. 

MANY: God’s Love is everlasting, Christ is everliving.  

READING: Isaiah 41:17-20

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive; I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together, so that all may see and know, all may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.

HANGING CHRISMONS AND OTHER SYMBOLS OF FAITH

One: Here in this place we prepare for the coming of the Lord. Here we will remember his Advent, his birth in Bethlehem, weak and helpless as an infant. And here we rekindle our prayer, “Come, Lord Jesus” as we await his coming as the bright and morning star. 

Many: Hang symbols and signs of Christ: ruler, prophet, priest. Hang stars, crosses, triangles, the ‘alpha’ and the ‘omega’ to remind us of his identity, his story, and of the holy Trinity. 

READING: Revelation 22:12-21

‘See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.’ Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. ‘It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.’

The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’

And let everyone who hears say, ‘Come.’

And let everyone who is thirsty come.

Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift…

The one who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’

People: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.               

EXPLANATION OF OTHER SYMBOLS

 RESPONSE 

🔔 AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. 

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY

🔔DOXOLOGY     Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below;

Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

PRAYERS of the PEOPLE 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever.  Amen

🔔Hymn 9: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” VENI EMMANUEL

1. O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lowly exile here until the Son of God appear. 

Refrain: Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. 

3. O come, O come, thou Lord of might, who to thy tribes on Sinai’s hight 

in ancient times didst give the law in cloud and majesty and awe. (Refrain)

4. O Come, thou root of Jesse, free thine own from Satan’s tyranny; 

from depths of hell thy people save and give them victory over the grave. (Refrain)

6. O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here;

disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight. (Refrain)

7. O come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind; 

bid envy, pride, and discord cease; fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. (refrain) 

🔔PARTING PRAYER: Prayer of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32)

Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. Amen.

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” Garnett