The Bulletin is at: 12-02-2018 – Bulletin
The Service in PDF format is at: 12-02-2018 – Service
or the service is as follows:
FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT
December 2, 2018
THEME
While the secular calendar won’t switch to 2019 for another month, the Church Year begins anew today. Advent is a season of waiting and preparation. One Advent tradition is to mark the four Sundays in Advent with four words that encompass what Jesus brings as He comes into the world to be our Immanuel—God with us. These four words are hope, peace, joy, and love. Today we focus on hope. There is a lot of suffering in the world, but hope exists in Jesus’ incarnation, death, resurrection, and return.
RINGING OF THE BELL
INVOCATION AND CALL TO WORSHIP
P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH
P: On the four Sundays in Advent, we light a new candle each week. We mark the four candles with these four words: hope, peace, joy, and love. Jesus Christ is the hope of all nations.
C: We wait for the Lord, and in His Word do we hope.
The first candle is lit during the Advent Song.
ADVENT SONG: “My Soul in Stillness Waits”
C: For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits; truly my hope is in you.
P: O Lord of Light, our only hope of glory, your radiance shines in all who look to you, come; light the hearts of all in dark and shadow.
C: For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits; truly my hope is in you.
WE CONFESS OUR SIN…
P: In the season of Advent, we prepare for Jesus to come. We await the celebration of His birth at Christmas. We remember His arrival in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. We long for His glorious return. As we wait, we consider how unworthy we are to have Jesus in our presence.
Silence for reflection
P: Heavenly Father,
C: we confess that our faith has been lacking. We have not abounded in love for one another or for You. Our hearts are filled with blame and shame, with corruption and conceit. Forgive us, strengthen our faith, and purify our hearts.
…HEARING GOD’S FORGIVENESS
P: Jesus not only comes as an infant at Christmas and in glory at His return, but He also comes to you in words of forgiveness and life. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
CHOIR ANTHEM: “Come Down, Emmanuel”
By: Pepper Choplin
I see the little ones laugh and play. Lord, surround our children today.
Keep their hearts pure and true, draw them close to you.
I see the parents, woman and man. They are doing the best they can.
Come to them and bless their bond to keep their marriage strong.
Come down, Emmanuel. God, be with us where we dwell.
Touch our souls whoever we are and heal the broken heart.
Lord, heal the broken heart.
Brother and sister disagree they go sep’rate ways, and they don’t speak.
Stir their hearts to make amends to come together again.
Come down, Emmanuel God, be with us where we dwell.
Touch our souls whoever we are and heal the broken heart.
Lord, heal the broken heart.
I see a widow passing by. She has many more tears to cry.
Come to her, help her start to mend her broken heart.
We know loved ones far away. Bless them, Lord.
Go and bless their hearts today.
Touch their souls with holy care and let them know you’re there.
Lord, let them know you’re there.
Come down, Emmanuel God, be with us where we dwell.
Touch our souls whoever we are and heal the broken heart.
Lord, heal the broken heart.
Come down Emmanuel. Come down.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
P: Let us pray. Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come, that by Your kingly majesty we may be protected from our enemies and be joined to Your humble and holy reign; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
The First Lesson: I Thessalonians 3:9-13
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love.
For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?
Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
The Gospel Lesson: Luke 19:28-40
Jesus’ triumphal entry
And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
SERMON SONG: “Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel”
(vs. 1-4 only)
- Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.
- Oh, come oh come, great Lord of might,
Who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud, and majesty, and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel
- Oh, come, strong Branch of Jesse, free
Your own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell your people save
And give them vict’ry o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel
- Oh, come, blest Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by your advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel
C: We believe in God, the Creator of all things, the source of all goodness and love…We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, true God yet true man…He was crucified, died and was buried for our sin that we might be free and know the joy of life…He was raised on the third day and ascended to heaven…and will come again in power and glory to judge both the living and the dead…We believe in the Holy Spirit, the power of God at work inside of us…We believe in the church of God, the people of faith throughout the world…We believe that our sin is forgiven and that we will live together with God for now and throughout eternity. Amen.
WE OFFER OUR GIFTS
P: Lord Jesus Christ, come to those who do not know You, those who have rejected You, and those who are straying from You. Unite them to Your glorious throne and dwell in their hearts. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
P: Lord Jesus Christ, come to those who are lonely and in need of Your presence. Come to the homeless, the unemployed, the underemployed, the homebound, the mentally ill, those who are in transition, and anyone else who experiences the pain of loneliness. Remind them of Your incarnation and lead them to Your Church, where we bear one another’s burdens. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
P: Lord Jesus Christ, come to those who are oppressed and at the mercy of others. Rescue those who are suffering, abused, neglected, and hated. Comfort them with Your tender presence and love. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
P: Lord Jesus Christ, come to those who are sick, injured, and recovering, (especially…). Strengthen them with Your healing hand and with Your unwavering presence. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
P: Lord Jesus Christ, come to those who rejoice and direct their praise and thanksgiving to You. Today we rejoice with _________. Grant that their rejoicing lead us all to praise Your name. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
P: Lord Jesus Christ, come to Your broken Church with the gifts of reconciliation and restoration. Unite Your people once again so that we enjoy fellowship rather than fractured division. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
P: Into Your hands, Lord Jesus, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your ever-present mercy.
C: Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
“Oh, How I Love Jesus”
- Oh, how I love Jesus, Oh, how I love Jesus. (3x)
Oh, how I love Jesus, Because He first love me.
- To me, He is so wonderful (3x)
Because He first loved me.
- And now, He is my righteousness (3x)
Because He first loved me.
“People Need the Lord”
Every day they pass me by, I can see it in their eye;
Empty people filled with care, headed who knows where.
On they go through private pain, living fear to fear.
Laughter hides the silent cries only Jesus hears.
Refrain:
People need the Lord. People need the Lord.
At the end of broken dreams He’s the open door.
People need the Lord. People need the Lord.
When will we realize people need the Lord.
We are called to take His light to a world where wrong seems right;
What could be too great a cost for sharing life with one who’s lost.
Through His love our hearts can feel all the grief they bear.
They must hear the words of life only we can share.
Refrain:
People need the Lord. People need the Lord.
At the end of broken dreams He’s the open door.
People need the Lord. People need the Lord.
When will we realize people need the Lord.
“Rock of Ages”
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me
Hide myself in Thee; Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed, be of
Sin the double cure, save me from its guilt and pow’r.
Not the labor of my hands, can fulfill
Thy law’s demands; could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow, all for
Sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hands I bring, simply
To Thy cross I cling; naked, come to Thee for dress,
Helpless look to Thee for grace; foul, I
To the fountain fly, wash me. Savior, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath, when my
Eyes shall close in death, which I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne, Rock of
Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.
CLOSING SONG: “Let All Things Now Living”
Let all things now living A Song of thanksgiving
To God the Creator triumphantly raise,
Who fashioned and made us, Protected and stayed us,
Who still guides us on to the end of our days.
God’s banners are o’er us, His light goes before us,
A pillar of fire shining forth in the night,
Till shadows have vanished And darkness is banished,
As forward we travel from light into light.
His law He enforces, The stars in their courses
And sun in its orbit, obediently shine;
The hills and the mountains, The rivers and fountains,
The deeps of the ocean proclaim Him divine.
We too should be voicing Our love and rejoicing;
With glad adoration a song let us raise
Till all things now living Unite in thanksgiving:
“To God in the highest, hosanna and praise!”
DISMISSAL
P: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
C: Thanks be to God!