Advent Season
VISUAL ARTS (PARAMENTS, GENERAL DECORATIONS, SPECIFIC DECORATIONS)
Brim: Creative Overflow in Worship Design
Banner Designs for the Church Year
Advent Archives – Re:think Worship
Do a food drive or gift drive for Advent.
—Chris Fleming
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CALL TO WORSHIP
The Lighting of the First Advent Candle
One: We have good news, good news! God is drawing near in the coming of the Christ Child. What does this mean?
All: This means that we are part of God’s creation,
made in God’s image and our purpose is to love and to serve God.
One: We are entering into the season of Advent; a season to hope, a season for peace, a season to experience joy and a season
to share God’s love.
All: In the season of Advent, we learn about God through the scriptures,
through God’s people, through the church, in the events of nature and history
but most clearly in the hope of Jesus Christ.
One: In the coming of the Christ Child comes the hope of salvation. What does this hope mean?
All: We use these words and phrases to describe the hope of salvation: repentance, confession, saving faith,
justification, regeneration, adoption, sanctification, growth in grace,
preservation of believers, and Christian assurance. Jesus Christ is our hope! (Light the first candle)
One: In the coming of the Christ Child comes the hope of salvation; a hope that will deliver us.
Where do we find this hope in our world?
All: We find this hope in God who is strong and wise, who speaks the truth and never changes,
who does what is good and right and surrounds us always and everywhere.
One: What happens if our hope falters in the midst of hardship, struggles, difficulties and sin?
All: Our hope rests in God who is always faithful; even when we are not.
God will fulfill the covenant of grace and bring us to eternal life.
One: In this new season of the Church, in this season of Advent we celebrate the hope God. What shall we say to others?
All: We are a people called by the name of Jesus Christ – Christians. We make up the Church.
We are a people from every time and every place who put their trust in Jesus Christ
as our Lord and Savior.
Inspired by the 2008 Catechism, The Catechism for Cumberland Presbyterians. Questions 2, 5, 9, 55, 57.
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—T. J. Malinoski
The Lighting of the Second Advent Candle
One: We have good news, good news! God is drawing near in the coming of the Christ Child. What shall we do?
All: We will sing praises to God, confess our sin, and receive God’s forgiveness.
We will proclaim the good news, listen for God’s word, and celebrate the sacraments.
We will pray for ourselves, for others and commit ourselves – our time, talent, and money.
One: In the coming of the Christ Child comes the hope of salvation. What does this hope mean?
All: We use these words and phrases to describe the hope of salvation:
repentance, confession, saving faith, justification, regeneration, adoption, sanctification,
growth in grace, preservation of believers, and Christian assurance. Jesus Christ is our hope! (Light the first candle)
One: In the coming of the Christ Child comes the peace that passes all understanding. Where do we find this peace in our world?
All: We are responsible to live out our faith at home and in the world by creatively using our skills and energies in every relationship.
We are called to be good stewards of the earth’s resources for the good of all.
One: Will we face hardships, difficulties, and conflicts, even in times of peace?
All: Yes. God calls us to be loving and just in all our relationships,
to stand up especially for those who are weak and oppressed.
This witness puts us in conflict with those who do not seek the will of God.
Jesus Christ is our peace! (Light the second candle)
One: In this new season of the Church, in this season of Advent we celebrate the hope and peace of God. What do we say?
All: The coming of the Christ Child gives us hope when we are at a loss for hope.
His drawing near gives us the comfort of peace when peace is fleeting.
Jesus gives us words when we are at a loss for words praying:
Our God in heaven, hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come, your will be done,
On earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those
who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
Inspired by the 2008 Catechism, The Catechism for Cumberland Presbyterians. Questions 46, 60, 61, 81, 82.
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—T. J. Malinoski
The Lighting of the Third Advent Candle
One: We have good news, good news! God is drawing near in the coming of the Christ Child. What does this mean?
All: This means that we are in a relationship with God, calling us away from our brokenness.
The coming of the Christ Child is our source hope. (Light the first candle)
The coming of the Christ Child is our source of peace. (Light the second candle).
One: What does a relationship with God look like?
All: We call our relationship with God a covenant.
God began this covenant long ago and fulfills it in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
It is a promise of grace.
One: How do we know that this grace is for us?
All: The season of Advent reminds us that God is always faithful,
even our sins do not prevent us from being adopted into God’s family.
One: What does God promise to do?
All: God promises to bless us and to make us a blessing to all the peoples of the earth.
We become a blessing as God uses us to share the knowledge and promises of God with others.
One: In the coming of the Christ Child comes the love of God. What does the love of God look like in the person of Jesus Christ?
All: Jesus calls people to turn from sin. He prays for others. He heals the sick. He feeds the hungry.
He forgives sinners. He welcomes all people. He teaches about God’s grace.
Jesus Christ is the very essence of love! (Light the third candle)
One: How do we share the love of God in Jesus Christ?
All: We share the love of God in Jesus Christ by telling others the good news about Jesus
and by helping those who suffer and are oppressed.
We care for others because all are created in God’s image and Christ gives his life for all.
Inspired by the 2008 Catechism, The Catechism for Cumberland Presbyterians. Questions 2, 5, 6, 32, 78, 79.
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—T. J. Malinoski
The Lighting of the Four Advent Candle
One: We have good news, good news! God is drawing near in the coming of the Christ Child. What shall we say?
All: We rejoice in the one whose name is Jesus which means Savior.
We rejoice in the one whose title is Christ which means the Messiah, the anointed one chosen by God.
One: What does the coming of the Christ Child mean to us?
All: The coming of the Christ Child is our source hope. (Light the first candle)
The coming of the Christ Child is our source of peace. (Light the second candle).
The coming of the Christ Child is our source of love. (Light the third candle)
One: The season of Advent reminds us that our hope, peace and love come from God.
All: The season of Advent reminds us that our joy is in Jesus who brings us God’s grace.
One: How do we know that grace is for us?
All: Grace is the gift of God to all people. It is God’s decision to create us, to care for us and to claim us as children;
giving all of us the freedom to respond to God’s grace.
One: And how will we respond?
All: We respond by acknowledging our need of God. That we will trust and obey;
joyfully giving thanks for all the wonderful things God has done and is doing. Jesus Christ is our joy!
(Light the fourth candle)
One: What will we do with this news of great joy?
All: We will share the hope, peace, love and joy that comes from living with God.
We will share that God starts over with us, renewing the relationship with us, not counting our sins against us.
One: Are we ready for the coming of the Christ Child?
All: We are ready and rejoice in the one whose name is Jesus which means Savior.
We are ready and rejoice in the one whose title is Christ which means the Messiah, the anointed one chosen by God.
Inspired by the 2008 Catechism, The Catechism for Cumberland Presbyterians. Cordova (Memphis): Cumberland Presbyterian Resources, 2012. Questions 7, 12, 13, 20, 30.
—T. J. Malinoski
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The first candle of Advent is Administering Justice
Isaiah 25:9-12 On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines. 7 On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; 8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.
The second candle of Advent is Forgiveness of Sins.
Ephesians 1:7-10 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
The third candle of Advent is Renewing Love.
1 John 4:13-16 13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
The fourth Candle of Advent is Feeding the Hungry.
John 6:50-51 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
—Chris Fleming
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The first candle is Creation
Candle One—The first Advent Candle is the candle of Creation. Romans 8:22-24 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?
The second candle is Unity
Candle Two— The second candle of Advent is the candle of Unity. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[a] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
The thirst candle is Joy
Candle Three—The third candle of Advent is the candle of Joy. Philippians 4:4-7 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, wil guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The fourth candle is Hope
Candle Four—The fourth candle of Advent is the candle of Hope. Jeremiah 29:11 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
—Chris Fleming
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Candle One—The first Advent Candle is the candle of Giving.
Matthew 6:1-4
6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Candle Two— The second candle of Advent is the candle of Receiving.
Matthew 6
9 “Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.
Candle Three—The third candle of Advent is the candle of Rejoicing.
Matthew 6
16 “And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you
Candle Four—The fourth candle of Advent is the candle of Trusting.
Matthew 6:25-30
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
—Chris Fleming
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INVOCATION
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MUSIC (HYMNS, SONGS, ANTHEMS)
- Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
- Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
- Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates
- Love Has Come
- O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
- O Lord, How Shall I Meet You?
- People, Look East
- Watchman, Tell Us of the Night
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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CALL TO CONFESSION
We have hope that if we come to God and confess our sins that God will wash us clean and restore us to our shiny new self. God has promised it and we believe it. So let us come into God’s presence and repent of our sins.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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The song goes “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.” But do we even have peace to start the movement? Come with me to the altar and let us confess our sins to God, so we can truly experience peace.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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“Love has come; a light in the darkness!” says the Christmas hymn. Jesus has shown us how to love and yet we do not always follow his example, and for that we need to say we are sorry! Let us go to God in prayer confessing our sins to the God of love.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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Do we choose to have joy in our lives or are we content with busyness and worry? Do we look at the abundance that is ours from God or when we look around is there only scarcity? A life without joy is a life without God. Let us confess our sins to the God of all things great and small.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O God, we are a people who want everything instantly. If we do not get it, we lose hope. We are a people who do not have hope that our neighbors will do what they agree to, so we condemn them before they even start. We have often even lost hope in you Lord, the hope of all things, great and small. We ignore people who really need us and then wonder why they have lost hope in even life itself. O God, forgive us. When we are afraid we will lose hope, remind us to come to you. For you gave hope to a young woman and her confused fiancée. You gave hope to her cousin and her husband as they had almost given up hope of having a child. When we pass by the opportunities to give hope to others, get our attention so we might help carry their load. In the name of the Hope of the World. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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O God, our lives are anything but peaceful. We argue with our family members, we talk about our co-workers behind their backs, we are worried that we have spent too much money on Christmas before it even starts. How can we be at peace when there is a crazy virus on the loose, there are wars and rumors of wars, and there are natural disasters ravaging our communities? And there is hatred all around us where one does not like the other because of race, gender, politics, and any other division we can come up with. Holy God, let the nativity scene be our example, where rich and poor came, urban and rural came, even those of earth and beyond the earth came—simply to glory in the birth of the Prince of Peace. Remind us that Advent is a time of watching and waiting, not planning and doing. Give our hearts and minds peace. Forgive us our worrying over things that we cannot change and help us experience the peace of this season. In the name of the Prince of Peace. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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God of love, we have such a great example of how to love one another in Jesus Christ and yet we ignore it. Jesus said to love others as we love ourselves and yet we selfishly grasp onto all we can get and say we don’t have enough. Jesus said that we are to give food and drink to those who are hungry and thirsty and yet we can’t manage to remember to buy food for the food pantry, so we give only cans of things we don’t like anyway from our own pantries. Jesus said to turn the other cheek and to give our shirt also if someone asks for our coat. Yet we just can’t part with that suit for someone needing it for a job interview because we paid too much for it, even if we can’t wear it anymore. God, forgive our selfishness where there should be love. Forgive our forgetfulness where we should remember those who need us. Forgive our closed fists where there should be open hands. For these and other sins that are ours, we humbly ask your forgiveness knowing that where we cannot love, you cannot help but love us. In the name of Love Incarnate. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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O God, we look around and see all our friends with more, or bigger or better, and we ask you why we can’t have what they have. We see people being happy and we inwardly beat ourselves up for not being vivacious or energetic enough. We see death, wars, devastation on the news every day and ask you how we can be joy-filled in the midst of such tragedy. God, forgive us for not counting or even recognizing our blessings. Forgive us when we can’t rejoice with others and are instead envious of their joy. Forgive us for not seeing times of tragedy as times to be present with others who cannot see joy in their lives. Give us the joy and peace that comes with your forgiven. In the name of the one who spread joy simply by being born, Jesus, Emmanuel. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Who can bring us hope? Only Christ because even if he is the only one who can condemn us, he chooses to support us. People of hope, believe the good news that God has forgiven our sins. Thanks be to God! Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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Who can bring us peace? Christ Jesus because he is the Prince of peace and chooses to give of it freely. By his blood, our sins are washed clean and are sins are forgiven. Friends, be at peace. Our sins are forgiven and our sins are forgotten. Thanks be to God. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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Who can bring us love? Jesus Christ, Emmanuel. He is the one that could condemn us of our sins. And yet, he does not. In fact, because of his love for us all, our sins are forgiven by God. Thanks be to God. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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Who can bring us joy? Jesus Christ. There is joy in knowing that he chose to be the sacrificial lamb to save us all. And because of this forgiveness, we cannot help but rejoice! Friends, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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CHILDREN’S SERMON
First Week—Hope
I was thinking about hope and immediately thought about a poem and I said to myself “I can talk about hope coming on little cat feet.” So I looked it up and you know what I found? It wasn’t hope. It was fog. It is from a poem by Carl Sandburg called of all things “Fog.” And that makes sense really. Have you ever been around a cat? Now dogs make lots of noise when they come up to you and you can hear their tags tinkling and they may even jump on you. But the cats I know can come very softly and just drift over to you. And you might not even know that they are coming. Fog does that too. Sometimes it just blows in so slowly and quietly that we don’t even notice it until it is all around us and we can barely see if someone is standing next to us.
I really think that hope does that too. Do you know what hope means? It’s to want something to come or happen that you believe it will happen. I sometimes hope comes on me just like cat’s feet or fog. I don’t even realize that I am hoping for something until it happens and I’m glad or it doesn’t happen and I’m sad. This is the first week of the Advent season—the four Sundays we watch and wait for Christmas so we can celebrate the birthday of Jesus. Since this is the first week of Advent, we are thinking about hope. We wait and hope that Christmas will come. Sometimes we even hope that we might get the present that we want. We hope we will get to see all of our family and friends. And we may even hope that what we do at school will be great especially if we have a part in a holiday celebration or class party. Jesus is called the hope of the world and I think that is because he came to earth, not in a flashy way, but was born in a manger in a humble way. And his example and sacrifice for us, gives us all the hope in the world.
Let’s pray: God, thank you so much that we can hope for something to happen. We hope that as we celebrate Jesus’ birth, that we can tell other people that Jesus loves them and give them the hope that Jesus brings. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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Second Week—Peace
I need to tell you a secret. For a very long time in church, I haven’t like the Passing of the Peace. Now most people like it I think because they like to greet people that they haven’t said hi to or they might tell a little joke or something because I hear a lot of laughing during that time. Don’t you? I guess not liking the Passing of the Peace comes more from the fact that I am an introvert—that means that I can be a little shy, I’m quiet, I am not good at just chatting to other people, stuff like that. But I mentioned that I didn’t like Passing the Peace and to tell you the truth I kind of do like it now. When I started thinking about it, I thought what does it really mean. Passing is giving something to someone else. I like giving people things that I think will make them happy. I’ve been buying Christmas gifts for people that I hope they will like. Then the other part of is the Peace of Christ. That means to me that even if I am sad or lonely or happy and thankful, I know that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us so I have someone to walk beside me. And that makes me at peace. It makes me calm and not feeling alone and relaxed. That is the what we are passing when we pass the peace of Christ. We are saying that we hope that Christ’s peace will make them calm and not feeling alone and relaxed. I guess that is why we often call Jesus the Prince of Peace, especially in the Advent season. So next time you pass the peace, and I hope you will come pass it to me, remember that you are hoping that the person you are giving it to will be happy and peaceful.
Let’s pray: God, thank you for giving us peace by letting us know that we are not alone. We have the Holy Spirit and we have family and friends and church members who are with us, so we can be at peace. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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Third Week—Love
There is a Christmas hymn that we don’t sing very often called “Love Has Come.” You might recognize the tune which is the same one as the Christmas carol “Bring a Torch.” (Hum a few bars if you can). Even though we don’t sing it much, people do talk about loving coming down to earth and they are talking about Jesus being born. (As you do the next part, read it as if you are sing/speaking it.) Listen to the words to the song “Love has come; a light in the darkness! Love shines in the Bethlehem skies. See, all heaven has come to proclaim it; hear how their song of joy arises: Love! Love! Born unto you, a Savior! Love! Love! Glory to God on high.” Then it goes on like it asking us to step in the manger and see: “Love is born! Come, share in the wonder. Love is God now asleep in the hay. See the glow in the eyes of his mother; what is the name her heart is saying? Love! Love! Love is the name she whispers. Love! Love! Jesus, Emmanuel.” And then the last verse is a promise to us: “Love has come and never will leave us! Love is life everlasting and free. Love is Jesus within and among us. Love is the peace our hearts are seeking. Love! Love! Love is the gift of Christmas. Love! Love! Praise to you, God on high!”
Love is our gift of Christmas. Jesus is our gift of Christmas. The hymn says that because of the love that Jesus has for all people—not just nice or quiet ones. Everyone! And that is why he was born. To show us how to show love to everyone!
Let’s pray: God, we know Jesus is love because he brought love from heaven to earth. He loved everyone. Help us to remember that and to love everyone too. Especially if they are different from us! Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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Fourth Week—Joy
We are getting ready for Christmas and in the church this is the time for watching and waiting called Advent. Remember? Today I wanted to talk about joy. Can you remember that feeling on Christmas morning when you are just about to go down to open presents? What does that feel like? Does it feel exciting? Like you are really waiting just for a minute but you can already feel some joy or happiness bubbling up inside your body? That’s where we are today. We are talking about that joy, the joy of Christmas and the birth of Jesus, but we are not quite there because we are still watching and waiting for another little bit of time. This feeling is called anticipation. Have your heard of it before? It’s that time when you are almost to the joy, but have to wait a little longer. Maybe like on Christmas that time when you are waiting on your parents to get their robes on and get a cup of coffee before the present opening begins. That anticipation is the same for the church. We have been talking about the coming of Jesus for three weeks and now this is the fourth week. The excitement is still building, but we know that it is coming and so we are happy and full of joy. That’s one reason that we like to talk about telling other people about Jesus and asking them to come to church. We want them to feel that same joy like we do. Maybe this week you can tell one person about the joy you are feeling about us celebrating the birth of Jesus.
Let’s pray. God, thank you so much for sending your son to earth to be our example of how to live. Help us to share the joy and excitement we are feeling about Christmas coming. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
God of Hope, entice us to listen to this written and spoken word looking for the hope that only you can give. Challenge us to hope anew and we watch and wait this Advent Season. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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God of Peace, you offer us peace in these times that are anything but peaceful. Grant us peace through the reading of your word and the preaching of your gospel of peace, Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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God of love, we are told to love you with all our heart and soul and mind and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Give us a new insight into your scriptures and spoken word that we may take these words of love and share them with all we meet. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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God of Joy, we cannot help but be joyful when we read and hear your word meant especially for us here and now. Give us the hearts and minds to hear this great joy and be energized to spread it everywhere. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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SCRIPTURE TEXTS/SERMON IDEAS
First Week—Hope
- Jeremiah 33:14-15
- Luke 3:1-6
- Luke 3:7-8
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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Second Week—Peace
- Micah 5:2-5a
- Luke 1:68-79
- Philippians 4:4-7
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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Third Week—Love
- Psalm 25:1-10
- 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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Fourth Week—Joy
- Isaiah 12:12-16
- Zephaniah 3:14-20
- Luke 1:39-45
- Luke 1:46-55
- Philippians 1:3-11
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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SOCIAL MEDIA HELPS (VIDEOS, TAPED SONGS)
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PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
—adapted from the hymn “For You, O Lord, My Soul in Stillness Waits” by Marty Haugen
Leader: For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits; truly my hope is in you.
O Lord, of Light, our only hope of glory, your radiance shines in all who look to you; come, light the hearts of all in dark and shadow.
People: God, if we are a reflection of you, let us shine in this time, to bring hope to those who feel hopeless.
All: For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits; truly my hope is in you.
Leader: O Spring of Joy, rain down upon our spirits; our thirsty hearts are yearning for your word; come, make us whole, be comfort to our hearts.
People: God, if we are to do what Jesus asked us to do, let us seek out those who are hungry and thirsty, both physically and spiritually.
All: For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits; truly my hope is in you.
Leader: O Root of Life, implant your seed within us, and in your advent, draw us all to you, our hope reborn in dying and in rising.
People: God, let us be a reflection of the Holy Spirit and be a comfort to those who are grieving because of death or loss of situation.
All: For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits; truly my hope is in you.
Leader: O Key of Knowledge, guide us in our pilgrimage; we ever seek, yet unfulfilled remain; open to us the pathway of your peace.
People: God, we pray for those who are mentally and physically sick. We pray for healing on those we know and are unknown to us.
All: For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits; truly my hope is in you.
Leader: Come, let us bow before the God who made us; let every heart be opened to the Lord, for we are all the people of God’s hand.
People: God, let us sow seeds of peace instead of disunity. Where there is strife, let us be a part of healing it rather than sparking it.
All: For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits; truly my hope is in you.
Leader: Here we shall meet the Maker of the heavens, Creator of the mountains and the seas, Lord of the stars, and present to us now.
People: God, although this world which you have given to us to manage is massive, we do not feel alone because you walk beside us.
All: For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits; truly my hope is in you. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
…
—adapted from the hymn “Blest Be the God of Israel” by Michael Perry
Leader: Blest be the God of Israel, who comes to set us free;
who visits and redeems us, who grants us liberty.
People: O God, you give us all things. Give us freedom from the things that keep us from loving and serving you: greed, power, apathy, and more.
Leader: The prophets spoke of mercy, of freedom and release;
God shall fulfill that promise and bring the people peace.
People: O God, we long for peace in this world. We struggle with the racism, hatred, and power-grabbing that goes on in our world. You alone can bring us true peace, just as Jesus, the Prince of Peace, brought it to our world when he came down to earth.
Leader: God from the house of David a child of grace has given;
a Savior comes among us to raise us up to heaven.
People: O God, we have forgotten how to be grateful for all that we have, even if we feel we could use more. Let us follow the example of the grace-filled child of whom we are watching and waiting.
Leader: Before him goes the herald, forerunner in the way,
the prophet of salvation, the harbinger of day.
People: O God, John the Baptist called out before Jesus’ birth that all should be looking for the Messiah. Open our mouths and give us the words to shout out before Christmas comes, that the world needs to prepare for our Savior’s birth.
Leader: On those who sit in darkness the sun begins to rise,
the dawning of forgiveness upon the sinner’s eyes.
People: O God, we are all sinners and in need of your forgiveness. We trust as we have repented that you are faithful and just and have forgiven our sins. Come to our world and help us offer that word of forgiveness to our world that so badly needs it.
Leader: God guides the feet of pilgrims along the paths of peace.
O bless our God and Savior with songs that never cease!
People: O God, guide our feet and hands to do all we can to bring about peace in this world. For that and many other acts of mercy that come only from you, we will always sing songs praising your holy name. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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—adapted from the hymn “O Lord, How Shall I Meet You” by Paul Gerhardt
Leader: O Lord, how shall we meet you, how welcome you aright?
Your people long to greet you, our hope, our heart’s delight!
People: We can only greet you with our hearts singing your praises always.
Leader: O kindle, Lord most holy, a lamp within our breasts to do in spirit lowly all that may please you best.
People: We do indeed long to do your will in all things. This is our greatest hope.
All: Lord Jesus come to us again to fill our world with love.
Leader: Love caused your incarnation; love brought you down to us;
your thirst for our salvation procured our liberty thus.
People: We know that your pure sacrifice was given to us as the most precious gift we have ever received.
Leader: O love beyond all telling, that led you to embrace in love, all love excelling, our lost and fallen race.
People: We feel your love for us and fell compelled to tell all the world of your great love.
All: Lord Jesus come to us again to fill our world with love.
Leader: You come, O Lord, with gladness, in mercy and goodwill,
to bring an end to sadness and bid our fears be still.
People: We are part of a hurting world. One that needs healing, comfort, and peace. We especially pray now for those who need you near:
(Have a time for people to say aloud prayer requests to which the congregation responds “Yes Lord.”)
Leader: In patient expectation we live for that great day when your renewed creation your glory shall display.
People: We await and anticipate your coming O Lord.
All: Lord Jesus come to us again to fill our world with love. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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—adapted from the hymn “My Soul Cries Our with a Joyful Shout” by Rory Cooney
Leader: Our souls cry out with a joyful shout that the God of our hearts is great,
and our spirit sing of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait.
You fixed your sign on your servant’s plight, and our weakness you did not spur,
so from east to west shall your name be blessed. Could the world be about to turn?
People: Our hearts shall sing of the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn.
Leader: Though I am small, my God, my all, you work great things in me,
and your mercy will last from the depths of the past to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame, and to those who would for you yearn,
you will show your might, put the strong to flight, for the world is abot to turn.
People: Our hearts shall sing of the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn.
Leader: From the halls of power to the fortress tower, not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for your justice tears every tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more, for the food they can never earn;
there are tables spread; every mouth be fed, for the world is about to turn.
People: Our hearts shall sing of the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn.
Leader: Though the nations rage from age to age, we remember who holds us fast:
God’s mercy must deliver us, from the conqueror’s crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard is the promise which holds us bound,
till the spear and rod can be crushed by God, who is turning the world around.
People: Our hearts shall sing of the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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LITANY
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INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
We are a people of hope! We bring our gifts that represent our hard work and saving and we hope that God can use these gifts to give hope to a hurting world through our ministries of (list a few ministries of the church such as a Food Pantry, Clothes Closet, etc.). Let the gifts we bring now reflect God’s blessings to us and that our generosity reflects our gratefulness.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
…
We are a people of peace! As the Prince of Peace walked this earth, he taught his disciples and us all how to be a peace inside ourselves. He came to give peace to those who are stressed and worried, poor, and struggling, oppressed and oppressing. We are lucky that we have this sanctuary and this worship that draws us to the peace of Christ each and every Sunday and many times in between. Let us give of our tithes and offerings to offer this place of peace to all who long for it.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
…
We are a people of love! We bring our gifts today knowing that there are many people especially during this Advent season who feel unloved and estranged from family and friends. We hope that we can spread love to them and others as we are reminded of our relational ministries of congregational care to those of us in this church community and outreach into our world community through (list ministries such as Room in the Inn and any interfaith association to which the church belongs). Let us bring our gifts of love revealed to God through our tithes and offerings.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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We are a people of joy! Real joy is hard to find in our world today—humanity struggles for money, success, and power thinking that these things will bring true joy. We are thankful that through our Sunday school classes, Bible studies and small groups we learn that genuine joy is found only in Jesus Christ. Let us offer the gift of hospitality through our tithes and offerings so they will find their way to the joyless making them truly joyous.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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OFFERTORY PRAYER
God of hope, we offer what we have always striving to give more sacrificial than the time before. If we have fallen short of that, may you use what we have given and challenge us in the coming week to find ways to offer ourselves and our resources in an hope offering that is pleasing to you. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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God of peace, we are not always at peace especially at this time of the year. We are looking for the right gift, throwing the right party, being the right employee, parent or spouse. God give us your peace as freely as we give these tokens of ourselves to be used to give others a sense of people this week. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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God of love, we are indeed grateful that you have given us lives to offer love to one another: through our time, our possessions, and our talents. These gifts are gifts of love to you and to those who you call us to love—our neighbors as ourselves. Challenge us to find ways this week to pour out your love on others. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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God of joy, how can we not be joyful? As the Bible says, you have supplied what we need to live and do not withhold your blessings from us. Teach us to count those blessings when we are not filled with joy to realize that we take for granted many things. Teach us to freely give and receive as a child does at Christmas. We are your stewards of all good gifts and we offer a portion back to your church to spread joy throughout the world. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
Go out with hope!
The hope of this Advent season
tells us to watch and wait and hope for the coming of Jesus Christ.
For he is the light of the world who is to come into our world
and bring it out of darkness.
And as you hope may God who is the source of all hope,
God, our savior and giver of hope to all sinners,
And God, the one who puts hope into our hearts,
be with us until we come to watch and wait together again next week. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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Go out with peace!
The peace of this Advent season
reminds us that the Prince of Peace has already shown us how to be peace filled.
For he is the little child who leads the lion to lay down with the lamb
in a peace that is beyond this dark world.
And as you bring peace may God who is the source of all peace,
God, our savior and example of the peace that passes all understanding,
And God, the one who nudges us to those who need peace in their lives,
be with us in our peace filled lives this week. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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Go out with love!
The love of this Advent season
is waiting to be shared with all people.
Truly those who are unloved are watching for someone to bring them
all the love that God has for them.
And as you love others may God who is the source of all love,
God, our savior and giver of love to all sinners,
And God, the one who puts love into our hearts,
be with us until we come to together again with love for our community. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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Go out with joy!
The joy of this Advent season
signals the coming of Jesus Christ when there will be no more watching and waiting.
For he fills us with a joy that is beyond all our imaginings
and cannot help but overflow onto all we meet.
And as you share joy may God who is the source of all joy,
God, our savior and the one who brings a greatest joy that humankind has ever know,
And God, the one who helps us focus that joy on those who are without hope, love, and peace in their lives,
be with us until we come together, not to watch and wait but to celebrate the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God and Prince of Peace. Amen.
—Elinor Swindle Brown
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OTHER HELPS (COMMISSION, COMMUNION, BLESSINGS)