Prelude
Welcome & Announcements
Introit – "Brightly Sound the Chimes" - Celebration Ringers
Hymn of Praise – Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus (UMH #196)
Come, Thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.
Call to Worship:
Pastor: Listen, for a voice is crying out:
People: A prophet calls us to change our lives.
Pastor: Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight a highway for our God.
People: For the Lord will speak peace to His people, to those who turn their hearts to Him.
Advent Wreath Liturgy
A prophet speaks and a psalmist sings, telling us how God will come:
Comfort my people, bring comfort to them, says your God; clear a way through the wilderness. Prepare a highway across the desert for your God. Then the glory of God will be revealed; all people will see it as love and faithfulness come together, and justice and peace embrace.
We light our second candle as a prayer of hope and longing, that God’s glory may be revealed on earth through justice, peace, and faithful love.
Lighting of the Second Advent Candle O Come, O Come Emmanuel, verse 2
(UMH #211)
O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
And order all things far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show
and cause us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Prayer (Unison) Living God, come into our world and into our lives anew. Guide and comfort us along your way of repentance as we watch and wait in hope. Amen.
Message in Music - "People Look East" - Celebration Ringers
Prayer of Intercession
Prayer of Confession
Ever-faithful God, as we begin to hear the voice of your prophets crying out, we immediately see how the clamor in our lives drowns out your call to change. We are attuned to the impatience, apathy and greed of this world and miss the righteousness of your way. Forgive us, O God. Guide us back to you via the road of repentance. By your Spirit, open our hearts to your justice and our minds to your peace such that your glory is revealed to all people. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Experiencing and Extending the Peace of Christ (Note: we will extend the Peace of Christ without physical contact.)
Offering
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Message in Music - "Every Valley" - Quartet
Sermon – "The Beginning of Hope" - Pastor Brad Text: Mark 1:1-8
Sacrament of Holy Communion
Hymn – Angels From the Realms of Glory, v1,3,4 (UMH #220)
Angels from the realms of glory,
wing your flight o’er all the earth;
ye who sang creations story
now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
Refrain:
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.
Sages, leave your contemplations,
brighter visions beam afar;
seek the great Desire of nations;
ye have seen his natal star:
Refrain:
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.
Saints before the altar bending,
watching long in hope and fear;
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
in his temple shall appear:
Refrain:
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.
Benediction
Postlude/Dismissal
Accompanist: Brian Barber
Quartet - Tammy Coapman, Jack Coapman, Alissa Nelson and Roy Nelson
Celebration Ringers Bell Choir
