First Sunday of Advent – Decmber 2, 2012

GATHERING

ANNOUNCEMENTS

GREETING

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

People: God is faithful; by Him we were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE

Lois, Ann, Liz Rees & Joan Evans, light the first candle.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Hope has come; let the people rejoice! Bring songs of praise to worship the Savior who has come to earth. Come with shouts of joy to honor the God who took on flesh. Lift up your voices to the King who forever reigns on high. Hope has come; let the people rejoice!

 

* OPENING HYMN             “O Come O Come Emmanuel”        UMH #211,v1,2,3,4

 

CALL TO CONFESSION

UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Precious Savior, we praise You because You are near. You have walked among us—living as we live, knowing our pain, experiencing our joy. You chose to come close, to see us face to face. You know firsthand how difficult it is to live down here on earth. Thank You for getting Your feet dirty, for reaching out to touch us, for loving us in person. We know that You are able to empathize with our weakness, and we are so grateful, Jesus. May we spend this season sharing this blessed message of hope with all we meet. Thank You for coming to us. Amen.
ASURANCE OF PARDON

 

TIME WITH THE YOUTH                                                                         Janet Keffer

 

*HYMN            “Lo’ How a Rose E’re Blooming”                                   UMH #216

 

LITANY for ADVENT

Call: The Son of God is among us, bringing hope to all

Response: Restore us, O God.

Call: Hope feels far from us and we fail to believe.

Response: Restore us, O God.

Call: Our hope is displaced, falling short of eternity.

Response: Restore us, O God.

Call: We want to know and believe in the one who brings hope to our lives.

Response: Restore us, O God.

Call: Give us a faith that is sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see

Response: Restore us, O God.

 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE/JOYS AND CONCERNS

 

OFFERING

UNISON PRAYER O God who is ever near us, in these final days before Your coming, we offer our prayers to You. We thank You for life itself; we thank You for Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. In this meal today, we eat and drink in anticipation of the coming of the Christ. Help us to feel Your presence, Emmanuel, God with us, as we take the bread and cup. Amen.

 

PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERING

*DOXOLOGY                                                                                                 UMH #95

 

PROCLAMING GOD’S WORD

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON                                                               Luke 21: 25-36

MESSAGE                                                                                              Michael Keffer

 

COMMUNION

PRAYER FOR THE BREAD AND CUP

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

 

HYMN:           “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence                                      UMH #626

 

SENDING FORTH

*CIRCLE SONG:                         “Shine, Jesus Shine”                             Renew #247

Shine, Jesus shine, fill this land with the Father’s glory,

blaze, spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire;

Flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy,

send forth Your word, Lord, and let there be light. 

 

*BLESSING (May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.)

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*Stand as you are able. The quiet room is available in the back of the sanctuary if needed.

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