Sunday Worship Service – Advent I
November 26, 2023
Prelude: Impromptu in F Minor by Jieun Yang – Jieun Yang, pianist
Greetings & Announcements
Wise Words from John Gaul
Hymn: “O come, O come, Emmanuel”
Opening of the Word
Responsive Invocation:
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.
Pray for the peace of the New Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.
Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers.”
For the sake of my relatives and friends I will say, “Peace be within you.”
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.
Invitation to Prayer:
O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our maker.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Amen.
O Lord, our heavenly Creator, whose great love holds a forgiveness for all who desire and seek it: we thank thee for thy gracious assurance that thou art always near and ready to forgive. Pardon and deliver us from all our sins; confirm and strengthen us in all goodness and truth, and bring us into everlasting life; for thy mercy’s sake. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
O Lord, open thou our lips:
And our mouths shall show forth thy praise.
*Praise ye the Lord!
The Lord’s name be praised!
The Sanctus
God of all, Your Name is Holy. Earth and Heaven are full of Your Glory. Alleluia, Amen.
Lighting of the First Advent Candle: “The Candle of Hope”
Leader: We light this candle as a sign of the coming light of Christ.
People: Advent means coming. We are preparing ourselves for the days
Leader: when the nations shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks;
People: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Leader: Today we light the first candle – the candle of hope.
(The Candle of Hope is Lit)
Leader: Let us pray.
Unison Prayer:
Eternal God, you taught us that the night is far spent and the day is at hand. Keep us awake and alert, watching for your kingdom. Make us strong in faith, so that we may see the Lord close at hand, and hear him speak, and serve him, as we see and hear and serve our neighbor. Give us joy in this season of hope. Amen.
Congregational Carol: “One Candle is Lit” – Vs. 1
Scripture Readings: Luke 1:26-38; Micah 5:2-5
Children’s Message
Solo: “Breath of Heaven”, Words and Music by Amy Grant and Chris Eaton – Heather Garland, soloist
Spiritual Message: Mary and the Angel – Rev. Junchol Lee
Silent Meditation
Affirmation of Faith
The Great Spirit, the Christ, the Compassionate One, the Light of the World, is that which sustains and nurtures our spirit. You draw us closer to Heaven and to each other. Your Divine Love and Wisdom flows into every living soul. You dwell among us and warms every human heart. We acknowledge our need to be fed by this Sacred Spirit, to share in the beauty of life, and to build a Holy City on Earth by giving of ourselves, yet knowing that all that is good and true flows into us from God. Amen.
Prayer of the People/Pastoral Prayer
Invitation to the Offering
Offertory: “There is More Love Somewhere”, African American Hymn
Doxology
Praise God the Source of life and birth Praise God the Word who came to earth Praise God the Spirit, holy flame All glory, honor to God’s name. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn: “Hope of the World”
Benediction
Closing of the Word
Sung Response: Advent Benediction
May the Lord God Almighty bless and keep you, we pray. May God’s face shine upon you, and grace hallow your way with hope and peace and joy; Love, God’s own incarnation, be born in you today. Amen.
Postlude: Impromptu in A Flat Major by Jieun Yang