December 6 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

Second Sunday of Advent

Today’s Meditation Verse: “But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.” - 2 Peter 3:8

Welcome—Pastor Charles

Prelude: “Emmanuel Comes” by Lorie C.

Call to Worship (Psalm 85:8-13)—Pastor Charles (Leader) and Bob M. (People) - Congregation is encouraged to read People’s response aloud on mute setting

Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for God will speak peace to the people.                      Surely salvation is at hand for those who fear God, that the LORD’s glory may dwell in our land.                                                                                                                                                 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.                            Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.      The LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.                                                      Righteousness will go before the LORD,  and will make a path for the LORD’s steps.

Lighting the Advent Candles: The Glancy Family (from UMCDicpleship.org)

Hymn: “What Child Is This?” Verses 1 & 2—Lorie C. and Rebecca G. - Congregation is encouraged to sing along on mute setting; words and music will be provided onscreen

Community prayer requests, concerns, and celebrations—Pastor Charles

Pastoral Prayer—Pastor Charles

First Lesson: Isaiah 40:1-11—Bob M.

Musical Offering: “The Father’s Rose” by Lorie C.                    

Gospel Lessons: Mark 1:1-8—Pastor Charles

Sermon: “Prepare ye the way of the Lord”—Pastor Charles

Great Thanksgiving for Advent*—Pastor Charles and Bob M. (People) - Congregation is encouraged to read People’s part aloud on mute setting

Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.      
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to You, almighty God, creator of heaven and earth. You formed us in Your image and breathed into us the breath of life.

When we turned away, and our love failed, Your love remained steadfast. You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God, and spoke to us through your prophets, who looked for that day when justice shall roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream, When nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

And so, with Your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise Your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of Your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Holy are you, and blessed is Your Son Jesus Christ, whom You sent in the fullness of time to be a light to the nations. You scatter the proud in the imagination of their hearts and have mercy on those who fear You from generation to generation. You put down the mighty from their thrones and exalt those of low degree. You fill the hungry with good things, and the rich You send empty away. Your own Son came among us as a servant to be Emmanuel, Your presence with us. He humbled himself in obedience to your will and freely accepted death on a cross. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection You gave birth to Your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

On the night in which He gave himself up for us, He took bread, gave thanks to You, broke the bread, gave it to His disciples, and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

When the supper was over, He took the cup, gave thanks to You, gave it to His disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” And so, in remembrance of these Your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Pour out Your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by His blood.  

By Your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at His heavenly banquet. Through Your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in Your holy Church, all honor and glory is Yours, almighty God, now and forever.

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer - Congregation is encouraged to pray The Lord’s Prayer aloud on mute setting

Receiving Together

Hymn: “In the Bleak Midwinter” Verses 1 & 2—Lorie C. and Rebecca G. - Congregation is encouraged to sing along on mute setting; words and music will be provided onscreen

Words for the Journey—Pastor Charles

Postlude: “Prepare Ye” by Lorie C. and Rebecca G.

*“The Great Thanksgiving for Advent” © 1972 The Methodist Publishing House; © 1980, 1981, 1985 UMPH; © 1986 Abingdon Press;  © 1987, 1989, 1992 UMPU. Used by permission.