December 13, 2020--Third Sunday of Advent (Year B)

Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/sauganashchurch Give on paypal: sauganashchurch @ gmail ORDER OF SERVICE December 13, Third Sunday of Advent PRELUDE WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS (SEE BACK) LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES *CALL TO WORSHIP COVENANT BOOK OF WORSHIP The news is still fresh! The messenger is coming! He will bring with him the covenant in which we delight. The valley shall be filled, the mountains and hills leveled; What is crooked shall be straightened up and rough places made smooth. Our mouths are filled with laughter; with our tongues we shout for you. You have done great things for us, O God. We come before you with gladness and rejoicing. *OPENING HYMN People, Look East #138 (verses 1-3) *INVOCATION AND THE LORD’S PRAYER (sins) 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, forever. Amen. FIRST READING Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 pages 1115-1116 PSALM Psalm 126 #849 GOSPEL READING John 1:6-8, 19-28 pages 1577-1578 Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people; Thanks Be to God PASTORAL PRAYER SERMON Homecoming Pastor Joe Snedden Advent Series: Where We Belong *CLOSING HYMN O Come, O Come, Emmanuel #120 *CHARGE & BENEDICTION POSTLUDE ANNOUNCEMENTS WEEKLY: OFFICE HOURS—PASTOR JOE HOLDS WEEKLY OFFICE HOURS ON WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYS FROM NOON-5PM. FEEL FREE TO STOP BY OR REACH OUT TO SCHEDULE TIME FOR COFFEE AND/OR CONVERSATION PLEASE BE SURE TO SEND IN YOUR VIDEOS (OR REACH OUT FOR HELP RECORDING) AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE! THEY SHOULD BE SHORT VIDEOS (30 SECONDS-2 MINUTES) SHARING ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE THANKFUL FOR OR SHARING A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE OR THINGS YOU ARE HOPING FOR IN THE YEAR TO COME. I NEED THEM BY DECEMBER 22 TO MAKE SURE I HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER. DECEMBER 16: BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE, 7PM NOT EVERYONE FEELS CHEERFUL DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. THE DAYS GROW SHORTER AND THE NIGHTS GROW LONGER AND WE CAN BE REMINDED OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NO LONGER AROUND TO CELEBRATE. OUR THOUGHTS TURN TO THE LONELINESS AND GRIEF OF WINTER. THIS BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GRIEVE OUR LOSSES TOGETHER IN COMMUNITY. IT WILL BE A TIME OF REMEMBRANCE, OFFERING UP TO GOD OUR DARKNESS AND ACKNOWLEDGING OUR PAIN. PLEASE JOIN US, AND LET ANYONE YOU KNOW WHO MAY BE FEELING BLUE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON TO TUNE IN ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, OR ON OUR WEBSITE. DECEMBER 24: CHRISTMAS EVE, 7PM