3rd Sunday of Advent – December 11, 2011

GATHERING

GREETING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ.

God is faithful; by him we were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.                                                             –based on 1Corinthians 1:3, 9

 

PRELUDE                                                                                                      Patty Bell

 

LITANY for ADVENT

Call: Advent calls us to joyful anticipation of the Messiah, but sometimes joy is lacking.

Response: Restore us, O God.

Call: When our delight is overshadowed by worry and fear,

Response: Restore us, O God.

Call: When problems loom large and solutions are elusive,

Response: Restore us, O God.

Call: When relationships are painful and hurt results,

Response: Restore us, O God.

Call: When busyness and activity crowd out what is meaningful and important,

Response: Restore us, O God.

Call: When disappointments mount and disillusionment descends,

Response; Restore us, O God. Amen.

Call: Joy to the world! The light of the world is coming!

All: Restore to us, O God, the joy of your salvation!

 

*OPENING HYMN:             “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”                     UMH 211

 

TIME WITH THE YOUTH:        LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLES

Reader 1: Rejoice, again I say rejoice!

Reader 2: Jesus said, “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you.

Reader 3: and that your joy may be complete.’

All: Thanks be to God! Christ came down that we might have joy…hope…peace        Light the third candle JOY

 

PROCLAMING GOD’S WORD

 

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24                              PB, pg. 192

PSALM: 126

MESSAGE                                                                                         Pastor Vicki Lerdahl

HYMN:           “Angels From The Realms Of Glory”                                    UMH 220

 

PRAYERS AND OFFERING

 

OFFERING
*PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERING                                    UMH 234 refrain only

O come, let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

 

CONFESSION

In us is great darkness, pleading for light. Yet, O God, we avoid the light that you offer us. We light Advent candles, we sing favorite hymns of faith, and we attempt to feel joyful in the midst of a beautiful season. And we still avoid the light that you offer because that would require too much of us. It is easier to open presents than to repent and live life as the Christ child would call us to do. Forgive us. Change us, we pray. Amen.

 

WORDS OF ASSURANCE God grants courage to those who ask to be closer to the light. God forgives us as we sincerely desire to walk through the darkness of our sin and into the light of God’s grace.

 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

 

PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER

 

COMMUNION

 

PRAYER FOR THE BREAD AND CUP                                        Pastor Vicki

Come, All are welcome at the Lord’s Table!

SENDING FORTH

 

*CIRCLE SONG:

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

 

*BLESSING

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