In-Person, Sunday Morning at 9:30 am

or

Recorded Worship Service



December 4, 2022

To access, please visit our website at www.umcw.org/sermons

Order of Worship

Second Sunday of Advent

BOLD indicates congregational SPEAKING participation

GATHERING AS THE BODY OF CHRIST


Prelude

“Come, Ye Thankful People, Come”  

UMH #694

Welcome and Sharing of Announcements

Pastor: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Pastor: The risen Christ is with us.

People: Praise the Lord!



A Time to Make Connections

Call to Worship

Liturgist: The voice of the Lord declares, “Comfort, O comfort my people”.

People: A voice cries out, “Prepare the way of the Lord!”

Liturgist: The earth will be transformed, God’s glory will be revealed.

People: We expect your arrival in fire and flame. Instead, we follow a star on a cold night.

Liturgist: You meet us in this place, as we remember your curious way.

People: As we wait, cleanse us. As we wait, mold us.

Liturgist: Our ears and eyes perceive no other god besides You, and so we worship this day.

People: We are all your people and we will wait for You.



Lighting of the Advent Candle 

Reader One: “They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious” (Isaiah 11:9-10 NRSV).


Reader Two: We are the followers of that root of Jesse Isaiah spoke of. We are the ones who are now called to stand as a signal to the world, to all of creation, that peace is the will of the one who created us. Peace is the knowledge of the Lord that we proclaim from sea to shining sea.


Reader One: “In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea proclaiming. “Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” And “bear fruit worthy of repentance” (Matthew 3:1,2, 8 NRSV).


Reader Two: We light these candles, the candle of joyful hope and the candle of proclaimed peace, in part to remind ourselves that we are a people rising toward God’s promise. But we also light them as a sign to the world, an announcement there are some who hold on to hope and there are some who work the ways of peace. We stand as a sign that Emmanuel is still our fervent prayer.


Opening Prayer

Patient and loving God, we so easily launch ourselves in preparation for the secular festival of giving and parties and the swirl of social events; but we forget that the true preparation is the readiness of our hearts to receive you. Help us look again at our lives and turn them around so that they may be in tune with your will. We ask this in Jesus’ Name, AMEN. (Permission is granted to print this page for local church use. © 2012 Abingdon Pres)

Opening Hymn

  “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”

UMH #626


Blessings on the Giving Tree

Pastor Seok-Hwan


Children's Time

Courtney Till

(in-person only)

Advent Communion 


As we come to this table, we are reminded that this is the table of Jesus Christ, a banquet prepared for everyone. All who seek to be nourished and sustained in the journey of faith, all who seek wholeness and compassionate paths to peace and justice, are welcome here.  

 

God be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift our hearts in prayer.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is good to give God thanks and praise.

 

Let us pray:

Blessed are you, Breath of peace, Giver of all life, Source of love that knows no boundaries. Your song of wisdom rang out before the world began; throughout the ages, your song of liberation has impregnated us with your hope for a world where: those considered last and least are first and most; violence is overcome by the power of your ancient love; and, all siblings work together for peace.

 

You bring our longings to birth, and send prophets to awaken us to your approaching Advent among us. We thank you for those who, like Mary, have the strength and courage to give birth to your love in the world; for those who, like the shepherds, dare to seek out the Child of Bethlehem for those who, like the wise ones, actively challenge violent and oppressive powers.

 

We praise you that your everlasting light is shown to us in womb and tomb, in cradle and cross, in tenderness and compassion. We join in the Advent prayer of all your people,

 

O come, O come, Emmanuel

 

And, as we wait and watch for your coming among us, we proclaim your goodness.

All Sing: 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. (UM Hymnal, No. 211)

 

At this time, we also remember  all with whom you would have us share your feast. We pray for all who are in sorrow or in pain… all who are ill or alone… all who are close to our hearts… all our sisters who live with fear, oppression, or hunger… all whose lives have been blighted by violence, racism, or poverty… for all whom the world counts as last and least.

 

We pray for the church and its many ministries, for nations as they strive for peace and justice, for an end to violence against women.

 

God of hope, make this bread the means of our rebuilding, this wine the medium of our transformation, this table the foundation of our renewal, and this community the place of our rebirth. Amen.

 

At this time, we remember Jesus, Who on the night before he died, took a loaf of bread, gave you thanks, broke it, and said, “Take and eat; whenever you do this, remember me.” Likewise, after supper, he took the cup, saying, “This is the new covenant; remember me.”

 

Gracious God, Breath of peace, Source of love, we pray for your Spirit.

Make us, while many, one.

Make us, though broken, whole.

Make us, despite death, alive.

 

And so we pray:

Come, Holy Spirit, come.

 

And so we join with our siblings around the world in the prayer of Jesus:

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. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from the evil one. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen Amen.

 

SHARING THE BREAD AND CUP

The body of Christ,

the Bread of life.

The lifeblood of Christ,

the cup of blessing.

Let us eat and drink together

for our strengthening in the faith,

and for the sake of the world.


 

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

We thank you, God, for breaking into our world and pouring into our lives and our experiences. We thank you, God, for this meal of thanksgiving and the stories of love, grace, and hope that it tells. Amen. (Written by Alydia Smith, Program Coordinator, Worship, Music, and Spirituality, General Council Office)


Message in Music

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel "

by Lockwood, Neale, & Nockels

Praise Band

ATTENTION TO THE WORD OF GOD

Scripture Readings  Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 2:8-14


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.

Great will be his authority, 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.


Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”


Liturgist: The word of God for the people of God.

People: Thanks be to God.  


Message

“The Redemption of Scrooge II: Hope from Past Heartbreak”

 Pastor Seok-Hwan


We Respond

 

Offertory Hymn

 “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” 

UMH #218

 

Doxology

 UMH #95

 

*Offertory Prayer

God of mercy and grace, we pray that the gifts we offer this morning might be used to bring some compassion to the chaos that is our world. We give these gifts in love, hoping they will heal some of the hurting; and as they do, make the crooked road straight for the coming of the Christ. May the hills that separate us from sisters and brothers be made flat and may the valleys of our isolation be raised up, so we will be ready to welcome the Christ as one. In that holy name, we pray. Amen. (Luke 3:1-6)


*Closing Hymn

"Let There Be Peace on Earth"

UMH #431


The Blessing and Sending Forth       

Prepare for the coming of the Lord! Make way in your hearts for love! Get rid of all anger and fear, for God is about to bring incredible light to the world! Go in peace and confidence as witnesses to God’s love. AMEN


Response

“My Soul Magnifies the Lord” 

 by Chris Tomlin & Daniel Carson

Praise Band

In-Person Services


Communion: Valarie Wilder

Liturgist: Mark Beatty

Greeter/Usher: George and Marge Hodgman

Sound: Valarie Wilder

Projection:  Sharon Lipp

Organist: Matt Cron

Our Mission Statement
“God calls us to be disciples of Jesus, building community through service and fellowship and sharing the love of Christ with all.”

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“The United Methodist Church of Westford is an open and welcoming community of Christian Faith. Without any exceptions, we welcome anyone who seeks to love and to serve God.”
Please click here for “A Statement of Our Openness”.

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