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
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: ”Amazing Grace” UMH 378
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE
All: We light this candle as a reminder of God’s timeless message:
Hope is born anew.
One: For in hope we were saved. We hope and we wait with patience.
All: Thanks be to God! Christ came down that we might have hope.
Light the first candle
OPENING PRAYER
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.
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.
–*Based on Hebrews 11:1
TIME WITH THE YOUTH
PROCLAMING GOD’S WORD
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Isaiah 64:1-9 (Advent patience) PB, pg. 658
PSALM 80:1-7, 17-19 PB, pg. 519
MESSAGE Pastor Vicki Lerdahl
PRAYERS AND OFFERING
CONFESSION
O Lord, the day of Thanksgiving has come and gone. We offered you thanks. We set aside one day on which we reminded ourselves of how much we have received. We turned to you with prayers of gratefulness and songs of thanksgiving. A few days later, we have failed to see how much you have given us. We have not turned to you with grateful hearts but instead have relied upon our own abilities to get whatever we want. Forgive us, Lord. Forgive us Lord for taking so much for granted. Forgive us for failing to see you as the giver on every good and perfect gift. Come, Lord, and restore us once more. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
PARDON The giver of every good and perfect gift hears our prayers and offers us another gift: the gift of forgiveness. My brothers and sisters in Christ, you are forgiven! God has heard your cry. Walk in the newness of life available through Christ.
OFFERING
*PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERING “Glory Be To The Father” UMH 70
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
UNIFIED 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.
COMMUNION
HYMN: “One Bread, One Body” UMH 620
PRAYER FOR THE BREAD AND CUP
SENDING FORTH
*CIRCLE SONG “God Be With You Till We Meet Again” UMH 673
God be with you till we meet again; by His counsels guide, uphold you, with His sheep securely fold you; God be with you till we meet again.
*BLESSING