It’s A Wonderful Life

November 28, 2021
Pastor Stacy Dickson
Worship

Save

Service of Worship

It Is Well With My Soul
Arr. Fred Bock
© Fred Bock Music Company
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051

Opening Prayer
Life-giving God, we are a blessed people.
In this moment of worship we pray that you might bless us anew.
Give us ears to hear the melodies of praise that fill the world around us.
And as we hear the songs, teach us to sing,

to dance with abandon,

to rejoice in the wonders of your grace.
Forgive us when we have passed by signs of your mercy.
From this moment forward,

open our eyes to the places where joy is springing up from parched ground.
Lead us by your Spirit in the pathways of your overflowing peace, hope, and joy.
Amen.

Opening Song — He Has Made Me Glad

Verse
I will enter His gates
With thanksgiving in my heart
I will enter His courts with praise
I will say this is the day
That the Lord has made
I will rejoice
For He has made me glad

Chorus
He has made me glad
He has made me glad
I will rejoice for
He has made me glad
He has made me glad
He has made me glad
I will rejoice for
He has made me glad

(Repeat)

He Has Made Me Glad
Leona Von Brethorst
© 1976 Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051

Lighting the Advent Candle

Joys and Concerns, Pastoral Prayer

Pastoral Prayer
For the speechless tongues of those oppressed
For weak hands, feeble knees, widowed, spirits

Made lame, we pray

For those orphaned from war, violence, fear
Parentless children, silent, stifled cries. For the
hungry, we pray

For wives, beaten, abused, trampled, shot
Spirits abandoned, imprisoned by fear. For
Women, we pray

In the dry land of desert wilderness, parched
Stranded spirit, a deer that cannot leap. For the
Broken, we pray

Blessed are those whose help is God
Happy are those whose hope is God, for the
Good News, we pray

For the Good News of God, born human, who
Comes to live and love us, as us, be glad, rejoice,
Singing, we pray

For hope, like blooming flowers in a dusty desert
For hope, compassion bursting forth, be strong!
God is with us.
Amen.

For those who are called and able, gifts and tithes can still be made through online giving, by mailing them in, and by dropping them off to the office through the secure mail slot to the left of the double door entry to the church hallway.

Offertory — Leah and Rachelle

Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground)
Chris Tomlin | Ed Cash
© 2009 sixsteps Music | Vamos Publishing | worshiptogether.com songs | Wondrously Made Songs
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051

Doxology

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. Amen…

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Doxology for Advent
Thomas Ken | Dean McIntyre
© United Methodist General Board of Discipleship
Used by Permission

Offertory Prayer

Holy God of new beginnings, as we share our tithes and offerings with you, we are filled with hope. We enter the season of Advent with expectation; we have left behind us a time of fear, isolation, and uncertainty; and we raise our heads because we know our redemption is coming near. May our gifts be dedicated to help heal the brokenness of our world and to welcome our Messiah into the world once again. In Christ, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 35:1-10 (NRSV)

1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus
2 it shall blossom abundantly,
and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the LORD,
the majesty of our God.

3 Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
“Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
He will come and save you.”

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
7 the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

8 A highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Holy Way;
the unclean shall not travel on it,
but it shall be for God’s people;
no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
9 No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Sermon — Pastor Stacy Dickson
It’s A Wonderful Life

Closing Song — Give Thanks Unto the Lord

1. Give thanks unto the Lord
Call on His name
Give thanks unto the Lord
Call on His name
And sing to Him
Sing praise to Him
Glory in His holy name

Chorus
And rejoice in the Lord
Rejoice in the Lord
Let the hearts of those
Who seek the Lord rejoice
And rejoice in the Lord
Rejoice in the Lord
Let the hearts of those
Who seek the Lord rejoice

Chorus

2. Give thanks unto the Lord
For He is good
Give thanks unto the Lord
For He is good
And His love endures forever
Call upon His holy name

Chorus

3. Tell all the nations
What He has done
Tell all the nations
What He has done
Tell of His mighty deeds
All His mighty deeds
Glory in His holy name

Chorus

Psalm Of Thanks
Andy Park
© 1992 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing | Vineyard Songs Canada
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051

Benediction

One day the wilderness will blossom with flowers;
and the desert wasteland will come alive with new growth.
And God’s glory and splendor will be on full display.
With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,
and encourage those who have weak knees.
Say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, and do not fear,
for your God is coming to save you.”
So go with confidence into the days ahead.
And may the love of God,
the grace of Jesus Christ,
and the presence of the Holy Spirit,
be among you and within you. Amen.

Postlude – Hani

How Great Thou Art
Arr. Craig Curry