November 27, 2022

Nov 24

First 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

Oh, Come, Little Children arr. James Koerts

Welcome and Announcements

Rev. Lisa Hartzog

Call to Worship

Inspired by Isaiah 2:1-5

One: Listen to the Spirit urging us to get ready—
Many: Our calendars are jam-packed full.
One: Listen to the Spirit calling us to wait—
Many: We’ve already been waiting; there’s a line everywhere we go.
One: Listen to the Spirit inviting us to walk in the way of the Lord—
Many: This is good news!
One: The way of the Lord is the path of peace.
Many: We are glad to be in the house of the Lord!
One: May the Advent blessing of peace be with you.
Many: We rejoice, for we are blessed to walk in the light of God!

written by Rev. Nancy J, and posted on wonderings thru life and other such nonsense

Hymn

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Stanzas 1,2,3
Sung to the hymn tune BLAENWERN

Blessing of the Symbols of the Season

Loving God, your Church joyfully awaits the coming of its Savior, who enlightens our hearts and dispels the darkness of ignorance and sin. Pour forth your blessings upon us and these symbols of the season. May their presence remind us of the splendor of Christ, who is Lord, forever and ever. Amen.

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

Duet

I Wonder as I Wander John Jacob Niles
Cindy Fulton and Chip Hayden

A Reading from the Old Testament

Psalm 122

Lighting of the Advent Wreath Candle

Karla and John Jalocha

Response to the Lighting of the Candle

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 Old Testament

Isaiah 2:1-5

Sermon

Hope | Rev. Lisa Hartzog

Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Pardon

You made real for us the power of vulnerable love as you chose death on the cross to pave our paths of Our hope is not in vain! God delivers to us love that is unfailing. We can put our full trust in the one who loved us first. 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

I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light UMH# 206

Dismissal with Blessing

Postlude

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel arr. James Koerts