Christ Church by the Sea, Newport Beach, CA Live Stream 11-28-2021

🌅 🌅 Download today's order of service: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3xvyuce7u2h... 🌅 🌅 Today our Worship Service was led by Reverend Paul Capetz, the Pastor of Christ Church by the Sea, Methodist Church, Newport Beach, CA. 🌅 🌅 A House of Hope: Our church is an outpost of hope in a world where hope is often hard to find and, once found, difficult to sustain. As we enter this Advent season and wait for the coming of Christ, we lift up the importance of hope for our lives. As the prophet Jeremiah once said to the Jews when they were overwhelmed with despair, "I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jer. 29:11). Our church is where hope dwells for all who need to find hope again. We are a house of hope for those in search of hope. ☑️ Please visit our website at www.christchurchnewportbeach.org to check out our online bible study and other online events. ☑️ Please join us for Bible Study either Monday morning at 10:00​​-11:00 a.m. or Tuesday evenings 6:00​​-7:00 p.m. via ZOOM. Anyone is free to join us. Just send Pastor Paul an email at [email protected] and he will be glad to send you an invitation to join us via ZOOM. ☑️ To make a donation to Christ Church by the Sea go to: www.ChristChurchNewportBeach.org 🌅 Our amazing and beautiful music features our talented choir featuring Craig Davis (piano/organ), Sara Lunsford (vocals), Vince Hans (vocals). Order of Service November 28, 2021 First Sunday in Advent Meditation: “Salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand.” Romans 13:11-12 Welcome Prelude:Call to Worship (responsive): Leader: Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors! People: For the king of glory is coming! Leader: A voice cries out, “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord.” People: Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Leader: Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! People: For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the Lord. Lighting of the Advent Candles Leader: We light this first candle in Advent as a symbol of Christ our hope. People: May the light sent from God shine in the darkness until Christ returns. Leader: Christ came to bring salvation and has promised to come again. People: Come, Lord Jesus. *Opening Hymn of Gathering: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” UMH #211 Congregational Prayer (in unison): Loving God, we await the final coming of Christ who shall dispel our darkness and illuminate our hearts. Prepare us for that day when there shall be no more crying or tears, and death will be destroyed. Until that day arrives, we pray for the nations of the earth and for peace in the world, for the victims of violence, for those who are hungry and sick, and for those who live in fear and despair. In the midst of this world’s sadness and sorrow, we pray that our church will be a house of hope, a house of love, a house of joy, and a house of peace. All this we pray in the name of Jesus Christ our present and future Lord. Amen. Musical Interlude: Prayers of the People: Sharing of Joys and Concerns Silent Prayer Sung Response: “Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying” TFWS #2193 Pastoral Prayer The Lord’s Prayer Hymn of Preparation: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” UMH #196 Scripture Readings: Psalm 27:14 (OT, p. 504) Jeremiah 29:11 (OT, p. 731) 1 John 3:2 (NT, p. 240) Moment of Sharing and Witness Sermon: “A House of Hope” - Pastor Paul Gratitude for Gifts Given and Invitation *Closing Hymn of Sending: “Hope of the World” UMH #178 Benediction Postlude *Please stand UMH = United Methodist Hymnal TFWS = The Faith We Sing