December 13, 2020 Worship Service. Advent Three
Prelude Opening Hymn: #35 VU “Good Christian Friends Rejoice” Call to Worship Come let us prepare ourselves this Advent, Come let our faith and hope and love be renewed. We call for God to come and lead all to your peace. We gather for a time of waiting. We gather for a time to prepare for the Prince of Peace to be born within us again. We call for God to come and bring joy upon our world. We come into this time to pause, to pray, and to share in our worship. We call for Got to come and make a home within our hearts. Opening Prayer Let us pray... O God we are so close – so close to being part of a miracle – Love born again! A great gift, a great joy. Even in a world topsy turvy with change and worry, you still come and ask us to smile in our hearts – for the joy that sings there, even amid sorrow and pain. It is different in many ways this year for us all. And yet our prayer remains the same: Come, Lord Jesus, friend and saviour, come. Amen. ADVENT Candle lighting Hymn: #82 VU “A Light is Gleaming” (chorus and verse three) In this season of Advent: we welcome the coming of Jesus as God’s gift. As the candle of joy is lit, take the joy of God, revealed in Bethlehem’s child, and use it to help transform The world with holy welcome. May we welcome all as we welcome Jesus. (the first candle is lit) Readings: Our readings today are taken from the NRSB 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 John 1: 6-8, 19-28 We respond: In ages past, disciples, prophets, priests and historians wrote down their faith. This is a faithful witness of our ancestors. Word of God for us today. Thanks be to God. Sermon: Joy Sings Singing: VU 44 then 43 (Midnight Clear; Go Tell It) Giving Our Offerings: Doxology: #91 from All God’s Children Sing “Hey, Hey Anybody Listening? Hey! Hey! Anybody listening? Hey! Hey! Anybody there? Hey! Hey! Anybody listening? (3 claps) Anybody there? We’ve got good news, good news. Good news, good news! Jesus Christ will soon be found here! Good news, good news! Good news, good news! Let’s help spread the news around – here! If I had a drum - I’d drum it, A mandolin - I’d strum it, a hummingbird hum - I’d hum it, Every where, Every where, Every where, Every where! People come on, come on. Come on, come on! Let’s sing out for Mary’s son here. Come on, come on! Come on, come on! He’ll bring joy for everyone - here! If I had a harp - I’d twang it, A tambourine - I’d bang it, a fire bell - I’d clang it, Every where, Every where, Every where, Every where! Come on, sing out, sing out. Sing out, Sing out! Tell the world about his birth - now! Sing out, sing out! Sing out, Sing out! Loud and clear to all the earth – now! If I had a chime - I’d ring it, a finger cymbal - chine it. We’ve got this song - let’s sing it Every where, Every where, Every where, Every where! Offering Prayer: Gracious God, with thanks and praise, we joyfully bring this Advent offering. We ask that these gifts be used to bring hope and peace to the world We ask this in the name of the one you sent. The one you sent to bring us hope and peace, Jesus Christ. Amen. Prayer of the People The Lord’s Prayer We gather these prayers and we turn to you as our Mother who loves us and say the prayer Jesus taught us: (Spoken, inclusive Ecumenical) Our Parent 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 for ever. Amen. Singing: #48 VU Hark the Herald Angels Sending Out Let us go now in joy! We go with peace and hope! May God bless you with a holy joy and with open hearts t give and to receive blessing. We go in hopeful joy to love and serve God! Today’s prayers were written or inspired by Andrea Allan, Emily Perry , Bob Root, Fraser Williamson, David Sparks and Kim Falls . They are used with permission from Gathering’s Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, 2020-2021 edition.
