November 27, 2022 - First Sunday of Advent
Introit: Now Thank We All Our God
Cruger/arr. Held
While We Are Waiting, Come
Cloninger/Cason
While we are waiting, come; while we are waiting, come.
Jesus, our Lord, Emmanuel, while we are waiting, come.
Advent Candle Lighting
[Isaiah 2:4]
We light this candle in hope, as a sign of the coming light of Christ.
Advent means coming. We are preparing ourselves for the days
when nations shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword
against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
(repeat While We Are Waiting, Come)
Call to Worship
[Isaiah 2:3, 5]
Many peoples shall say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
Let us worship the LORD!
Let All Things Now Living (Hymn 554)
Welsh folk melody/Davis
Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving
To God our Creator triumphantly raise;
Who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us,
By guiding us on to the end of our days.
God’s banners are o’er us, pure light goes before us,
A pillar of fire shining forth in the night:
Till shadows have vanished, all fearfulness banished,
As forward we travel from light into Light.
By law God enforces, the stars in their courses,
The sun in its orbit obediently shine;
The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains,
The depths of the ocean proclaim God divine.
We, too, should be voicing our love and rejoicing
With glad adoration, a song let us raise:
Till all things now living unite in thanksgiving,
To God in the highest, hosanna and praise.
Confession
Holy God, Advent reminds us to look forward to a time when the humble will be raised up, people will stream to your house, and nations will unlearn war. Forgive us when we are focused on our own small activities and are unprepared to take in the significance of Christmas. Forgive us when we fail to watch for your kingdom. May we take heart from the ways you appear unexpectedly. Amen.
Silence
Come Now, O Prince of Peace
Geonyong Lee
Come now, O Prince of peace, make us one body.
Come, O Lord Jesus; reconcile all people.
Forgiveness in Jesus Christ
Peace
The peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Gloria Patri (Hymn 579)
Greatorex
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
Word without end. Amen, Amen.
Children’s Message
O Lord, How Shall I Meet You? (Hymn 11)
Teschner/Gerhardt
O Lord, how shall I meet you, how welcome you aright?
Your people long to greet you, my hope, my heart’s delight!
O kindle, Lord most holy, a lamp within my breast,
To do in spirit lowly all that may please you best.
Love caused your incarnation, love brought you down to me;
Your thirst for my salvation procured my liberty.
O love beyond all telling that led you to embrace
In love all loves excelling our lost and fallen race.
A glorious crown you give me, a treasure safe on high,
That will not fail nor leave me as earthly riches fly.
My heart shall bloom forever for you with praises new,
And from your name shall never withhold the honor due.
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Readings
Doug Hammond
Old Testament: Isaiah 2:1-5
New Testament: Matthew 24:36-44
Homily: When Christmas Comes
Focus: Despite all the activity that we generate during the Christmas Season, the true “Christmas” arrives according to God’s unpredictable timing and through his unforeseen agency. We are, then, to be ready to receive the Christmas gifts of God.
Response: Savior of the Nations, Come
Ambrose of Milan, paraphrase Martin Luther/Plainsong
Eliana Starbuck, voice; Katriel Starbuck, violin; Helen Byrne, cello; Ruth Seignemartin, organ
Pastoral Prayer & The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Call to Stewardship
Kathy Sandusky
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. -Luke 1:68
Offering Our Gifts: Savior of the Nations, Come
arr. Callahan
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Charge & Benediction
Postlude: Wake, Awake
Nicolai/Burkhardt
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