n PDF format: 11-30-2022 First mid week Advent service

Mid-Week Advent Service

(November 30)

Pre-Service Music

Welcome

Procession

Leader: Jesus Christ, you are the light of the world;

All: the light no darkness can over-come;

Leader: Stay with us now, for it is evening,

All: and the day is almost over.

Leader: Let your light scatter the darkness,

All:  and shine within your people here.

Evening Hymn

All:

  1. Joyous light of heavenly glory, loving glow of God’s own face, you who sing creation’s story, shine on every land and race. Now as evening falls around us we shall raise our songs to you, God of daybreak, God of shadows, come and light our hearts anew.
  2. In the stars that grace the darkness, in the blazing sun of dawn, in the light of peace and wisdom, we can hear your quiet song. Love that fills the night with wonder, love that warms the weary soul, Love that bursts all chains asunder, set us free and make us whole.
  3. You who made the heaven’s splendor, every dancing star of night, make us shine with gentle justice, let us each reflect your light. Mighty God of all creation, gentle Christ who lights our way, Loving Spirit of salvation, lead us on to endless day.

Evening Thanksgiving

Leader:  May God be with you all,

All:  and also with you;

Leader:  Let us sing our thanks to God,

All:  It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Leader:  Blessed are you, Creator of the universe – from old you have led your people by night and day. May the light of your Christ make our darkness bright, for your Word and your presence are the light of our pathways, and you are the light and life of all creation.

All:  Amen

Psalmody, Readings and Canticles

Psalm 141

All:  Let my prayer rise up like incense before you, the lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.

Group One:  O God, I call to you, * come to me now;  O hear my voice when I call to you, Let my prayer rise up like incense before you, the lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.  Keep watch within me, God; deep in my heart may the light of your love be burning bright.  Let my prayer rise up like incense before you, the lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.  All praise to the God of all Creator of life; all praise ge to Christ and the Spirit of love.  Let my prayer rise up like incense before you, the lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.

* At this point Group two starts

(Silence for meditation)

Leader:  May our prayers come before you, O God, as incense, and may your presence surround and fill us, so that in union with all creation, we might sing your praise and your love in our lives.

All:  Amen.

Reading:   1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

1 Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.

2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.

3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,

5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.

6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it,

9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

Hymn  “COME, THOU LONG-EXPECTED JESUS”

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus,

Born to set thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us;

Let us find our rest in thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation,

Hope of all the earth thou art,

Dear desire of ev’ry nation,

Joy of ev’ry longing heart.

.

Born thy people to deliver,

Born a child, and yet a king;

Born to reign in us forever,

Now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal Spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone;

By thine all sufficient merit

Raise us to thy glorious throne. 

Message       “A Two-Minute Drill”

                                                Part 1

                                                Part 2

       Our-two-minute drill is to:

  1. Rest in Grace. Verses 1, 3-4
  2. Witness to Others. Verses 6-8
  3. Turn from Idols. Verse 9

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, the time is short. Eternity is on the line. Empower me to listen and respond to Paul’s plan for the church. In Jesus’ name. Amen

The Annunciation

Luke 1: 26-28, 30-32, 38

Leader:  An angel went from God to a town called Nazareth to a woman whose name was Mary. The angel said to her, “Rejoice, O highly favored, for God is with you. You shall bear a child, and his name sall be Jesus, the Chosen One of God Most High.” And Mary said, “I am the servant of my God, I live to do your will.”

(Immediately to “The Magnificat”)

The Magnificat

Luke 1: 46-55

  1. My soul proclaims your greatness O God, and my spirit rejoices in servant here, and blessed be all my life though. Great and mighty are you. O Holy One, strong in your kindness evermore. How you favor the weak and lowly one, humbling the proud of heart.
  2. You have cast the mighty down from their thrones, and uplifted the humble of wondrous things, and left the wealthy no part. Great and mighty are you, O Faithful One, strong is your justice strong your love. As you promised to Sarah and Abraham, Kindness forever more.
  3. My soul proclaims your greatness O God, and my spirit rejoices in servant here, and blessed be all my life though.

Litany and Prayers

All: (Hum first round then sing) God of mercy, Hold us in love,

Leader: In peace, in Peace, we pray to you:

All:  God of mercy, Hold us in love,

Leader: For peace and salvation, we pray to you:

All:  God of mercy, Hold us in love,

Leader: For peace between nations, for peace between peoples:

All:  God of mercy, Hold us in love,

Leader: For us who are gathered to worship and praise your:

All:  God of mercy, Hold us in love,

Leader: For all of your servants who live out your gospel:

All:  God of mercy, Hold us in love,

Leader: For all those who govern, that justice might guide them:

All:  God of mercy, Hold us in love,

Leader: For all those who labor in service to others:

All:  God of mercy, Hold us in love,

Leader:  Grant weather that nourishes all of creation:

All:  God of mercy, Hold us in love,

Leader: Keep watch on our loved ones and keep us from danger:

All:  God of mercy, Hold us in love,

Leader: For all the beloved who res in your mercy:

All:  God of mercy, Hold us in love,

Leader: Help us, comfort us, all of our days:

All:  Keep us, hold us, gracious God.

Leader: Great and merciful God, Source and Ground of all goodness and live, give to your people the peace that passes all understanding, and the will to live your Gospel of mercy and justice, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All: Amen

Leader: God, remember us in your love and teach us to pray:

All: Our Father 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, mow and forever. Amen

Final Blessing

Leader: Let us bless our God:

All: praise and thanks to you.

Leader: May God, Creator bless us and keep us, may Christ be ever light for our lives, may the Spirit of Love be our guide and path, for all of our days.

All: Amen

Dismissal and Post-Service Music