Bulletin – Sunday, November 28, 2021

Sunday, November 28, 2021
Advent 1
Our Deepest Gifts—Hope and Faith

Approach

Advent Candle Lighting

As the days get shorter and darkness gets longer we enter into this Advent time of waiting, as we wait for the coming of Light and Love Incarnate. Advent is often called a time of preparation when we are “preparing the way,” preparing our hearts for the coming of Emmanuel “God with us.” As we enter tis time we open our hearts to the presence of God with us and the gifts that God gives us and in turn the gifts we are called to share with the world. This day we light a candle of Hope, hope for ourselves, hope for the future, hope in the midst of our faith, for faith is the assurance of things hoped for. May the light of this candle instill hope in our hearts, this day and every day.

Response – “Light a Candle”

Light a candle for hope in the darkness.
Minds at rest, we know you are near;
Advent watching and waiting for Jesus,
God with us, redeeming the years,
Emmanuel, hope is here;
Hope is here!

Call to Worship

One:   November ends. December begins.
All:      We find our beginning and our ending in God.

One:   Month after month, our God attends us and supports us.
All:      For the hope found in God, we offer thanks and praise.

One:   Let us worship the God who comes to us as a helpless baby, Jesus Christ:
All:      let us worship our God who is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the Living One, Love Incarnate, now and forever.

(adapted from Harry Disher)

Hymn – “Once in Royal David’s City”

Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed.
Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven who, with God, is over all,
And his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall.
There among the poor and lowly lived on earth our Saviour holy.

For he is our lifelong pattern; daily, when on earth he grew,
He was tempted, scorned, rejected, tears and smiles like us he knew.
Thus he feels for all our sadness, and he shares in all our gladness.

And our eyes at last shall see him, through his own redeeming love;
For that child who seemed so helpless is our Lord in heaven above;
And he leads his children on the place where he is gone.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

Loving God, we have pulled out the Advent wreath, the Christmas tree, the poinsettias.

We dusted off the hymns, unsung for a year, and unearthed the words of your prophets.

Yet, in your eyes, these efforts are for nothing without the regular, persistent, deep pursuit of justice for all people.

Our efforts are hollow without consistent work toward peace, reconciliation, and participation in your mission for creation. In our hearts, we do long to be your people, to carry out your mission, to be lights in the darkness, to be people of hope in the world—proof that no darkness can overcome your truth. Awaken us to action. Stir us to courage. Rouse us to prepare a way in the wilderness for your coming, clearing the brush of oppression, racism, injustice, and hopelessness—so that all may see your light and perceive your coming. Amen.

Words of Assurance

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 every nation, joy of ever longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver; born a child and yet a king;
Born to reign in us for ever; 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.

Time for All Ages

Response

Hope is a star that shines in the night,
Leading us on till the morning is bright.
When God is a child there’s joy in our song.
The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong,
And none shall be afraid.

The Word

Scripture Reading:           Jeremiah 33:14-16

¹⁴ The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. ¹⁵ In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. ¹⁶ In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The LORD is our righteousness.”

Scripture Reading:           Luke 21:25-36

²⁵ “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. ²⁶ People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷ Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. ²⁸ Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

²⁹ Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; ³⁰ as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. ³¹ So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. ³² Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

³⁴ “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, ³⁵ like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!

Meditation – “Just Hope”

Anthem – “Longing for Light”

The Response

Prayers of the People

One:   O God, the days are surely coming when all your promises will be fulfilled to your faithful children. We pray for the church (especially Windsor Park United), that we might fulfill our promises to you, and be forgiven as we have forgiven others. Come Lord Jesus,
All:      and hear our prayer.

One:   In your time, O Lord, a righteous branch sprang up and you brought justice and righteousness in every land. We pray for our nation, and all nations, that your peace would be manifest in every corner of the earth. Come Lord Jesus,
All:      and hear our prayer.

One:   In your Kingdom, O God, you bring your people safety and comfort. We pray for the sick, the suffering, and those in distress of any kind, especially those whom we hold in our thoughts and prayers this day…; we pray that your presence would be felt in their lives, that you would comfort all grief, and that you would bring peace in the midst of strife and conflict. Come Lord Jesus,
All:      and hear our prayer.

One:   Your great works of redemption, O God, span the ages. We pray for those who rejoice this week that they might be filled with joy and gladness. We lament with those who struggle, may we work to end poverty and hunger so that all might know your world of plenty. Come Lord Jesus,
All:      and hear our prayer.

One:   In the fullness of time, O God, you sent your son, to be born of our sister Mary. And his name was Emmanuel: God With Us. We thank you for your Presence with us, and we pray that your presence might be felt in all that we do, so that we might be bearers of hope to a world that so often lives in darkness. Come Lord Jesus,
All:      and hear our prayer.

One:   Come among us O God, and hear our prayers; as we continue to pray in the words that Jesus taught us;
All:      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, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

(adapted from Rick Morley)

Hymn – “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by;
Yet in the dark streets shineth the everlasting light;
The hopes fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary; and gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King, and peace to all on earth.

How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessed gift of heaven.
No ear may hear his coming; but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.

O holy child of Bethlehem, descent to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in; be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.

Benediction

We are people of hope; hope for today and hope for tomorrow. As we go into this week let us remember that our faith is the hope for those things not yet realized and work towards making our hope for just, mercy, forgiveness, peace, love, and joy a reality in the world today. As we go know that God of Advent, the God who is constantly being incarnated as love in the world, goes with you each and every step of the way. Amen.

Response

There’s a song of hope in my heart;
Hope is a gift from Jesus.
There’s a song of hope in my heart;
Hope is a gift from God.
Alleluia! Hope in my heart is singing praises.
Alleluia! Hope is a gift from God.