Service of Worship
Prelude – Hani
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Thomas Helmore
Public Domain
Welcome and Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
In a world that cries out, “Fear me!”
We will listen to Jesus’ words,
“Don’t be afraid!”
In a world that wants us to hate the other…
We will live Jesus’ call to,
“Love God.
Love your neighbor, as you love yourself.”
In a world that radicalizes…
We, too, will be radical.
Radical with our hospitality.
Radical with our hope.
Radical with our love.
Then come to this place,
ready to be who we are called to be.
Let us gather together
and worship God.
Opening Hymn — #202 People, Look East
1. People, look east. The time is near
of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today
Love, the Guest, is on the way.
2. Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
one more seed is planted there.
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
that in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today
Love, the Rose, is on the way.
3. Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim,
one more light the bowl shall brim,
shining beyond the frosty weather,
bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today
Love, the Star, is on the way.
4. Angels announce with shouts of mirth
him who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming
with the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today
Love, the Lord, is on the way.
People, Look East
Words: Eleanor Farjeon
Music: Trad. French Carol; harm by Martin Shaw
Public Domain
Scripture Reading — Isaiah 9:2-7 (NRSV)
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
4 For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
Children’s Time with Ms Becky
Joys and Concerns — Pastoral Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
We turn to the Lord who is coming and ask him to bring his light,
to end this world’s dark night of longing.
Come, Lord Jesus, break the chains of warfare and terrorism…
The night is almost over, it will be daylight soon.
Come, Lord Jesus, break the chains of poverty and hunger…
The night is almost over, it will be daylight soon.
Come, Lord Jesus, break the chains of homelessness…
The night is almost over, it will be daylight soon.
Come, Lord Jesus, break the chains of oppression, persecution
and denial of human rights…
The night is almost over, it will be daylight soon.
Come, Lord Jesus, break the chains of inequality
and unfair practices in our society…
The night is almost over, it will be daylight soon.
Come, Lord Jesus, break the chains of anxiety and unhappiness…
The night is almost over, it will be daylight soon.
Come, Lord Jesus, break the chains of apathy and indifference…
The night is almost over, it will be daylight soon.
Come, Lord Jesus, break the chains of sickness, disease and death…
As we pray the prayer you taught us to pray…
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.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and glory forever. Amen.
Lighting of the Advent Candle
Reader One: If ever there was a year we needed Advent, this is the year. We hardly know how to describe the year we have lived through. We hesitate to reflect on all the mess around us in 2020. All we know is that nothing seems right, nothing seems like it used to be, nothing. We need Advent!
Reader Two: The prophet Isaiah cried out for us, “O that you would tear open the heavens and come down … To make your name known … so that nations might tremble at your presence.” So tear through the mess, O Lord, and come down to us again. We long to be your people, a people of hope.
Reader One: We light this first candle as a sign of our hope. Hope that you can meet us, even in the mess of our world. Hope that you still see us, though we feel we are lost in the rubble. Let this light be the guide that brings us to Emmanuel once more.
Reader Two: O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
Offering Introduction
Offering Our Gifts to the Lord
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 — Marshall
Mary Did You Know
Buddy Greene | Mark Lowry
© 1991, 1993 Rufus Music | Curb Word Music
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.
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (Old 100th)
Louis Bourgeois | Thomas Ken
Public Domain
Offertory Prayer
Great God of wonderful surprises: we enter this season of preparation for your Son’s coming, looking not for just a memory of past events, but anticipating a return. We strive to get our lives in order and pray that our giving of ourselves to these preparations might reflect the earth-shaking importance of his coming. Help us to give ourselves generously, for we do not know the day or the hour. We pray in the name of the one who will come. Amen.
Sermon – Pastor Stacy Dickson
What’s In A Name?
Closing Hymn The King Shall Come (to the tune of Joy to the World)
1. The king shall come when morning dawns
and light triumphant breaks,
when beauty gilds the eastern hills
and life to joy awakes, and life to joy awakes,
and life, and life to joy awakes.
2. Not as of old a little child,
to bear and fight and die,
but crowned with glory like the sun
that lights the morning sky,
that lights the morning sky,
that lights, that lights the morning sky.
3. O brighter than the rising morn
when he, victorious, rose,
and left the lonesome place of death,
despite the rage of foes, despite the rage of foes,
despite, despite the rage of foes.
4. O brighter than that glorious morn
shall this fair morning be,
when Christ our king in beauty comes,
and we his face shall see,
and we his face shall see,
and we and we his face shall see.
5. The king shall come when morning dawns
and light and beauty brings;
hail, Christ the Lord! your people pray,
come quickly, King of kings,
come quickly, King of kings,
come quickly, quickly, King of kings!
The King Shall Come
Words: Anonymous Greek; trans. by John Brownlie, 1859-1925
Antioch Music: Arr. from G. F. Handel, 1741, by Lowell Mason, 1848 CM with Refrain
Published by The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship
Used by Permission.
Benediction
Postlude – Hani
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Rowland Prichard
Public Domain