December 18, 2022

Dec 15

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Enhance your online worship experience

Whether you’re a first-time online visitor or a life-long member, we welcome and celebrate the ways you enrich our collective worship of a scattered yet gathered Children of God. As we begin our service, we invite you to light a candle, just as we do in the prelude during our in-person worship. Our two altar candles symbolize that Christ was both a human being and God. A light being carried into the world shows that Jesus Christ is for all people - everywhere. Just as a the acolyte carries the lighted candlelight into the congregation, the light symbolizes the light of Jesus Christ preceding us into the world where we as the church are to serve.

Gathering

Chimes of the Trinity

Prelude

Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow arr. Mark Hayes

Welcome and Announcements

Rev. Lisa Hartzog

Call to Worship

Based on Isaiah 11:6-9; 40:3-5

One: Prepare the way,’ the prophets call, make ready the highways for God.’
Many: How we long to walk down the sidewalk in God’s kingdom of peace!
One: Prepare your hearts, for God’s realm opens up a new day.
Many: We yearn for the time when the wolf and lamb will live together in harmony.
One: Prepare the way, God promises a new day when adversaries will lay down their arms.
Many: We dream of a world transformed by God’s love.
One: May the God of hope fill your hearts with all joy and peace.
Many: We rejoice for God’s Spirit is in our midst!

written by Rev. Nancy J. and posted on her wonderings through life and other such nonsense blog

Hymn

People Look East UMH# 202Hymn

Concerns & Prayers with the Lord’s Prayer

Rev. Lisa Hartzog UMH# 895

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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen

Lighting of the Advent Wreath Candle

Alex and Sydney Ngamhuy

Response to the Lighting of the Candles

This, this is Christ the king, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary!

A Reading from the Gospels

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Peace | Rev. Lisa Hartzog

Prayer of Confession and Assurance of Pardon

God came into the world that we might know the fullness of life! We await anew what God is bringing into the world as we celebrate what is already here. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven and made new.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and made new.
Thanks be to God.

Blessing of the Tithes and Offerings

What can I give him poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part; yet what I can I give him: give my heart.

Hymn

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Stanzas 1 & 4

Dismissal with Blessing

Postlude

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel arr. James Koerts