December 4, 2022

Dec 2

Second 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

Of the Father’s Love Begotten arr. Thomas Berdos

Welcome and Announcements

Rev. Lisa Hartzog

Call to Worship

written by Mary J. Scrifes

One: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel!
Many: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
One: For God is with us, smiling upon us with love.
Many: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
One: For Christ has saved us from our enemies, our sins, and our fears.
Many: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
One: For God's Spirit shines upon us, giving light for our darkness.
Many: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel!
One: Let us worship God together.

Hymn

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed UMH# 203

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

Margaret Cirtain and Diana Simmons

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 Epistles

1 Corinthians 13:4-13

Solo

People, Look East Trad. French Carol
Carol Kinsey

A Reading from the Old Testament

John 3:13-21

Sermon

Love | Rev. Lisa Hartzog

Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Pardon

God so loves all the people of this world that Christ was born into this world that we might all find the fullness of life and love.

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

The Celebration of Holy Communion

The Great Thanksgiving and Communion

Musical Setting D UMH pp. 23-24

Breaking the Bread
Giving the Bread and Cup
The Prayer of Thanksgiving

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 & 3

Dismissal with Blessing

Postlude

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly arr. James Koerts