By Rev Barb Hedges-Goettl. Full time special ed Administrator, part time Co-pastor and part-time Liturgy writer.
The underlined numbers indicate that a (numbered so they know which is which) Chrismon ornament is to be hung by congregants.
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (#1 – Flower ornament)
Opening Prayer Creator of the stars of night, Your people’s everlasting light,O Christ, Redeemer of us all, We pray you, Hear us when we call.
Amen. (#2 Star ornament)
Advent Candle Lighting: Hope Jeremiah 33:14-18
We light this candle as a sign of the hope found in Christ. Advent means coming. We are preparing ourselves for the days which are surely coming. In those days, says the Lord, “I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.” Our Hope, our Lord, Emmanuel is coming. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Call to Worship: Go Tell It on the Mountain (#3 – Horn ornament) Blue Hymnal, 29, v.
Jesus is the Word (#5 – Bible ornament)
Song: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing! Blue Hymnal, 31 v. 1 & 3
We are joined to Jesus in baptism
Romans 6:3-5
3All of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. 4 Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (#6 – Seashell ornament)
Song: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Blue 376, v. 1-2
Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega (#7 -Alpha and omega ornament)
Revelation 21:5, 6-7 5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” 6 Then he said to me,…“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my
Invitation to Confession: As we await the coming of Jesus, we know that our lives are in need of his healing touch. Let us join together in confessing our sins and shortcomings.
Prayer of Confession (unison)
God of grace and truth, in Jesus Christ you come among us as light shining in darkness. We confess that we do not always welcome the light, or trust the news to be good. We do not see your glory in our midst. We expect little, and hope for less. Forgive our doubt. Renew our hope so that we may receive the fullness of your grace, and live in the truth of Christ the Lord. (Silent confession.)
Assurance of Pardon (Rom. 8:34) Hear the good news! Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us.
Thanks be to God for the Good News: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
Christ died and rose for us (#8 – Cross and Butterfly ornaments)
Response: O Come Let Us Adore Him Blue Hymnal, 41 v 4
Christ Jesus brings us peace (# 9 – Dove and Chi-Rho ornaments)
Passing of the Peace: The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.
Prayers of the People/Lord’s Prayer (traditional)
Celebration of Birthdays and Anniversaries
Christ came as a baby (# 10 – Manger ornament)
Offering Hymn What Child is This Blue Hymnal, 53, v. 1&3
* Hymn of Praise and Dedication O Little Town of Bethlehem Blue Hymnal, 44, v.2 & 3
* Prayer of Dedication (unison)
By Rev Barbara Hedges-Goettl
O God, fill us with gratitude overflowing that we may share life and love. Bless these gifts of money, of food and of ourselves. Inspire us to praise you in all that we do, this day and throughout all our lives. In the name of Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit we pray, Amen.
Meditation: The Christmas Feast (#11-Cup ornament)
Special Music: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (Blue Hymnal, 5)
*Confession of Faith – Nicene Creed (ecumenical) Blue Hymnal, p.15
Christ is One with the Trinity (#12-Trinity ornaments)
The Lord’s Supper (from the Book of Common Worship, PCUSA, 1993)
One: The Lord be with you
Many: And also with you. Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord
It is right to give out thanks and praise.
Prayer of Great Thanksgiving
It is truly right and our greatest joy
to give you thanks and praise,
O Lord our God, creator and ruler of the universe.
You formed us in your image
and breathed into us the breath of life.
You set us in this world to love and serve you, and to live in peace with all that you have made. When we turned from you,
you did not turn from us. When we were captives in slavery, you delivered us to freedom, and made covenant to be our sovereign God. When we were stubborn and stiff-necked, you spoke to us through prophets who looked for that day
when justice shall triumph and peace shall reign over all the earth.
Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with the celestial choirs and with all the faithful of every time and place, who forever sing to the glory of your name:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
You are holy, O God of majesty,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.
You sent him into this world to satisfy the longings of your people for a Savior,
to bring freedom to the captives of sin,
and to establish justice for the oppressed.
He came among us as one of us, taking the lot of the poor, sharing human suffering.
We rejoice that in his death and rising again, you set before us the sure promise of new life, the certain hope of a heavenly home where we will sit at table with Christ our host.
Remembering your gracious gift we take from your creation this bread and this wine and joyfully celebrate his dying and rising, as we await the day of his coming.
With thanksgiving we offer our very selves to you to be a living and holy sacrifice,
dedicated to your service.
Gracious God,
pour out your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon these your gifts of bread and wine,
that the bread we break
and the cup we bless
may be the communion of the body and blood of Christ.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
that we may be one with all who share this feast,
united in ministry in every place.
As this bread is Christ’s body for us,
send us out to be the body of Christ in the world.
The Bread and the Cup
Prayer after Communion
Faithful God,
your promises stand unshaken through all generations.
Renew us in hope,
that we may be awake and alert
watching for the glorious return of Jesus Christ,
our judge and savior,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.
*Closing Hymn Go Tell It on the Mountain (verse from Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers, PH #15 v. 3)
*Charge and Benediction
Postlude
*Stand in body and/or spirit
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