Sunday, December 18, 2011

Fourth Sunday in Advent

Love

 We Gather To Worship

Prelude:   “Shine the Light of Your Love”…….….Patterson

 Announcements

Chime Interlude

 *Call To Worship

One:        We praise God with all of who we are and rejoice in our God of love, who sees and loves all creation.  God is mighty; holy is God’s name.  God is kind and strong, fair and firm.  God feeds those who are hungry, gives water to the thirsty.  God remembers the promises made to our ancestors, to Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Moses and Miriam, Noah, Ruth, Mary, Peter, Paul.

All:         We praise God with all of who we are, and rejoice in our God of love.

 *Hymn:  “O Come, All Ye Faithful” ………………………………….#173

*Opening Prayer And Advent Candle Lighting (Love)  (We light the Christ Candle.)

Voice 1:   Advent is a season of waiting; waiting for the hope, peace, joy, and love of God to break into our lives anew through the story of the birth of Jesus, through acts of hope, peace, joy, and love.  Today we light the fourth candle, the candle of love.

 Voice 2:  We wait.  We wait—not because we do not know the story of Jesus, and not because you are not already and always here.  We wait because to wait is to expect something more.  To wait is to expect that the story might enter our heart and our world in new ways, to bring the change we long for.   (We light four Advent candles.)

Voice 3:   As we light the candle of love we remember the stories of your faithfulness and steadfast love which surrounds us and will not be contained.  We trust that you are with us always.  As love that bursts forth from all your people, love is born again and again in all creation.

*Response:  “Shine, Candle, Shine!”………………………….……(insert)

Prayer Of Confession

Leader:    We come before God, who loves extravagantly, and stand before God in the stories of our lives, a story of loving others born out of God’s love for us; a story of not giving love; a story of turning away from God’s love; a story of offering love and receiving hurt in return.  I invite us, in the silence, to focus face to face with God, who loves extravagantly, and acknowledge the love and the pain of our stories.   (A time for silent prayers of confession; Music:  “I Wonder as I Wander.”)

Assurance Of God’s Forgiveness

Leader:    I invite us, as we are in this moment, face to face with God, to accept God’s extravagant and steadfast love for ourselves.  May it wash over us, and flow deep within.  God’s love is all around; it cannot be contained.  Amen.

Affirmation:    “Jesus, Name Above All Names”. . . ………………#106

 We Hear The Word

 ReadingOf The Scripture:    Romans 16: 25-27

Anthem:       “When Will He Come” ……………………………Price/Besig

Reading Of The Gospel:    Luke 1: 26-38

Message For This Day:   Our Christmas Pageant (see insert)                                         

 We Respond To God

 *Hymn:  “Away in a Manger”…………………………………………#147

Pastoral Prayers And 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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.  Amen.)

 Our Offering

Offertory

 *Doxology:  “Praise God from Whom All Blessings” ……………….#809

*Prayer Of Dedication

 The Sacrament Of Holy Communion

*Eucharistic Prayer

Leader:    You have entered this place, O God, and in your holy shadow, heaven tangles with earth in the bread and wine, and the promise is realized.

People:   Come now, God.

Leader:    As you once came to us in a stable inBethlehemcome now and be with us in the bread of Christ’s body in this world that hungers and waits for truth.

People:  We are ready and waiting, God.

Leader:    As once your Spirit poured forth life upon the earth come now and pour the wine of Christ’s blood for this creation, waiting for renewal.  Be present in our hope in this holy time:  in the silence of  power and the power of silence; in the throne rooms of the rich and the shanties of the poor; in overfed communities and underfed souls; gather up hope in the bread and wine.  Break open the good news of your incarnation: on parched farmlands and frightened cities; in the hearts of the proud and the longings of the lowly.  Gather up the good news in the bread and wine.

People:   Come now, God.  (Congregation may be seated)

Leader:    Where once we ate the bread of tears nourish us now with the abundance of your love made real in a small child born long ago and far away yet real and living now in our midst.  For this humanity, is waiting for life.

               Holy, Holy, Holy God, loving and giving Creator, blessed Saviour, Eternal Presence – glory to you in the highest!

               Even when the world rejected Jesus – on the very night he was betrayed – he continued to feed others.  He sat with his friends, took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them saying, “This is my body, given for you.”    After supper, he took a cup of wine, offered you thanks and gave it to his disciples saying,” this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for the forgiveness of sin.  Whenever you share this cup, remember me.”  And so, gracious God, your church in all times and places continues to share this meal, remembering how much you love us.  Send your Holy Spirit upon this meal, and upon us, that we may be fed by your love and your word, and go from this place refreshed and renewed by your spirit.  Amen.

Prayer of Consecration

Leader:    God of all power, breathe your Holy Spirit upon us, and upon these gifts of bread and wine, that they may be for us the life of Christ, and that we may make that life visible through our faithful witness to him.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Preparation of the Elements

Sharing the Elements

*Prayer of Thanksgiving

All:         We give thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us at your table by granting us the presence of Jesus Christ.  Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and send us forth into the world in courage and peace, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Amen.

*Closing Hymn:  “Go, Tell It on the Mountain” ………………….#151

*Blessing

Leader:   Go now, beloved of God, and love, entering into the love of the Creator for all creation, the hospitality of Jesus welcoming all people, and the friendship of the Spirit for us all.  Amen.

 *Choral Benediction:  “Emmanuel, Emmanuel”………………#140

*Chime Meditation

Postlude

*Where noted, please stand if able.                                           

 

December’s  Proverb:

If you close your ear to the cry of the poor, you will cry out and not be heard.  Proverbs 21: 13

 Our Traditional Christmas Social will be held today following worship.  Choir Practice will then follow the social.

 For 109 Years, The Christmas Fund For The Veterans Of The Cross And The Emergency Fund has been a means by which members of the United Church of Christ and its predecessor denominations reflect the light of God in the world, individually and in the community.  The Christmas Fund is a beacon of light for many who have served, and who continue to serve, our church.  This mission offering will be received today; envelopes are in the pew holders.

 Christmas And New Year’s Worship Schedule: 

Christmas:  Worship 9:00 a.m.; no Sunday School

New Year’s Day:  Worship 10:00 a.m.; no Sunday School

 Our Next Trivia Nite will be Sunday, January 15, starting at 6:00 p.m.  Please consider getting a team together and joining us for an evening of fun and fellowship!  Any questions, contact Gina.

Thank You to everyone who participated in our community night at Hoss’s.  We made $106.83 which will go to Hoffman Homes.

 Soup Kitchen Update – the last Soup Kitchen of the year will be held on Saturday, 12/31/11, with a special post-Christmas  and pre-New Years’ menu being planned.   Donna has so very graciously donated a turkey for the occasion; the balance of the menu will include all the holiday fixings’ associated with the Christmas holiday. While everyone is caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, please keep in mind the need of those who attend the Soup Kitchen – any effort is always appreciated.  Note – all food will be picked up on Saturday, 12/31/11, by 9:30 a.m.   Any questions and/or concerns or if you need donated food to be picked-up directly, please call Pam.  A special thank you to everyone who has helped with the Soup Kitchen this year.  Enjoy the holidays and have a truly Blessed holiday season.

 The Food Pantry item for December is coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.

 

 Coming Up Next Week:

Dec. 19, Consistory Mtg,ZionHse, 7:00 pm

Dec. 21, Bible Study, Fellowship Hall, 6:30 pm

Dec. 21, Choir Practice, Sanctuary, 7:30 pm

Dec. 24, Christmas Eve Cantata, Sanctuary, 7:30 pm

 Looking Forward:

Dec. 25, Worship; no Sunday School, 9:00 am

Dec. 31, Soup Kitchen, Prince of Peace, 10:45 – 1 pm

Jan. 1, Worship, (no Sunday School; pushing worship time back one hr.),10:00 am      

Jan. 7, Habitat for Humanity,Gettysburg, 8 am – 4 pm

Jan. 8, Communion and consistory installation, 9:00 am

Jan. 14, Consistory/Staff dinner

Jan. 15, Trivia Nite, 6:00 pm