Gathering
Entering Into Worship “Long Ago, Prophets Knew“” (vs. 1)
(L) 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.
(R)
Ring, bells, ring, ring, ring! Sing,
choirs, sing, sing, sing!
When He comes, when He comes, who will
make him welcome?
Concerns, Joys, Ministry Announcements & Opening
Prayer
*Responsive Scripture (Based on Psalm 25:1-5)
(L) To you O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I
trust, O my God. No one whose
hope is in you
will ever be put to shame,
(R)
Show me your ways O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your
truth and teach
me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you
all day long.
*Lighting of the Advent Candle
Dan Mains Family
(L) We light one candle to remind us that we can have hope
for our daily lives,
because what
God has promised us in Christ is true.
(R)
God of hope, we pray that through your ever present Spirit, that you
would enable us
to live out your promises to us in our daily lives, so that
the hope of
Christ would never be far from us. Amen.
*Hymn “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” 376
Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of
heaven, to earth come down,
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling, All Thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion, Pure,
unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation, Enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit Into
every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit, Let us find
the promised rest;
Take away the love of sinning; Alpha and
Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning, Set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty to deliver, Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return, and never, Nevermore Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing, Serve Thee
as Thy hosts above;
Pray, and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.
Finish, then, Thy new creation; Pure and
spotless let us be;
Let us see Thy great salvation Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory, Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee, Lost
in wonder, love, and praise.
*Profession of Faith (Apostles‘ Creed)
I
believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son,
our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he
descended to the dead. On the third day
he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the
Father and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; one holy
universal Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the
resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
*Passing Of the Peace (Hope, Unity, Purpose)
The Word Proclaimed
Prayer for Illumination (Based on 1st Thessalonians 3: 11-13))
Spirit
of the Living God, open our hearts and minds to your word in order to clear the
way for us to come to you, making the love of the Father increase and overflow
for each other and everyone else, and strengthening our hearts so that we will
be blameless and holy when our Lord Jesus returns. Amen.
Old Testament Reading Jeremiah 33: 14-16 (page 1,232)
Gospel Reading Luke
21: 25-36 (page 1,636)
(L) This is the word of the
Lord,
(R) Thanks be to God
Anthem (Ladies
Trio) “What
Can We Give to the King?” arr. Fettke
Children's Time
Sermon “Balance”
Responding to
the Word *Hymn “Prepare the Way” 13 Prepare the way, O Zion, Your Christ is drawing near! Let every hill and valley A
level way appear. Greet One who comes in glory, Foretold in sacred
story. O blest is Christ that came In God's most holy name. Christ brings God's rule, O Zion; He comes from heaven
above. His rule is peace and freedom, And
justice, truth, and love. Lift high your praise resounding, For
grace and joy abounding. O blest is Christ that came In God's most holy name. Fling wide your gates, O Zion; Your Savior's rule
embrace. And tidings of salvation Proclaim in every place. All lands will bow rejoicing, Their
adoration voicing. O blest is Christ that came In God's most holy name. *Invitation to and Prayer of
Repentance We
confess O God that we often lose our spiritual balance. We focus too much on what was, not on what
will be. What we already know comforts
us, the new thing you may bring often scares us. By looking too much at the past we miss out
on the new thing you may be trying to do in the present, having our hope
diminished as we see the past slipping through our fingers. We thank you that in Christ, our past,
present and future has been redeemed. By your Spirit help give us a more balanced
view, appreciating the past, but also looking toward the future you bring with
hope. Amen. *Assurance of Pardon *Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, Amen. Invitation
To Stewardship Receiving
of Tithes, Intentions and Our Reason For Hope “The
Shepherd‘s Farewell” Berlioz *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. *prayer of thanksgiving & Lord’s Prayer (Interpreted) Send Forth *Charge and Benediction *Response “Come, Thou Long
Expected Jesus” (vs.2) Israel’s strength and consolation, Hope of all the
earth Thou art; Dear desire of every nation, Joy of every longing
heart. Postlude “An
Acclamation of Joy” Paxton * * * * * * God of Love and
mystery, all praise and glory to your name. May your will for my life, your
Church and this world be perfectly accomplished. Give us this day all that we
need, and help us to forgive others as you have forgiven us in Christ, and
empower us through your Spirit to overcome the temptation to live self-centered
instead of other-centered lives, saving us from the evil of this age. For yours
is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
*Hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” 9
O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel,That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear.Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel! O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here;Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight.Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel! O come, Desire of nations, bind All peoples in one heart and mind;Bid envy, strife, and discord cease; Fill the whole world with heaven's peace.Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!