Worship Guide
November 27, 2022
First Sunday of Advent
Creating Disciples of Jesus who Transform the World
ENTRANCE WITH PRAISE
Lighting of the Advent Candle
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
Greetings:
Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
People: And also with you!
Special Music: “Even If” Charles
Centering Words:
Wake up! God is near. Wake up! God is here.
*Call to Worship:
Leader: Come, let’s go together to God’s mountain-
People: a mountain of God’s glory and peace.
Leader: Let’s prepare for Christ’s arrival-
People: the birth of the prince of peace.
Leader: Come, let’s worship the Spirit of love.
People: Clothed in Christ’s love, we are ready to worship and pray.
Leader: Let us pray
ALL: Draw near to us, O God, even as we draw near to you. Open our hearts and our minds to your presence, and wake us up from the sleep and inattention holding us back. Prepare us to receive your love, even as we prepare our lives to celebrate the joy of Christ’s birth. In joyful hope, we pray. Amen.
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 every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
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.
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Words of Assurance
In God’s love, we find rest.
In Christ’s grace, we receive forgiveness.
In the Spirit’s presence, we know peace.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
*Gospel Reading: Matthew 24:36-44
36 “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. 42 Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
Leader: This is the Word of God, for the People of God
People: Thanks be to God!
WORD AND RESPONSE
Time with Young Friends: “Jesus Loves Me”
Children’s Message: “Chutes and Ladders”
Hymn: “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light”
I want to walk as a child of the light.
I want to follow Jesus.
God set the stars to give light to the world.
The star of my life is Jesus.
In him there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
I want to see the brightness of God.
I want to look at Jesus.
Clear Sun of Righteousness, shine on my path,
and show me the way to the Father.
In him there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
I'm looking for the coming of Christ.
I want to be with Jesus.
When we have run with patience the race,
we shall know the joy of Jesus.
In him there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
Sermon: “Up to Restoration” Isaiah 2:1-5
1 The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2 In days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
3 Many peoples shall come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
5 O house of Jacob,
come, let us walk
in the light of the Lord!
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Hymn: “Wild and Lone the Prophet’s Voice”
Wild and lone the prophet's voice
echoes through the desert still,
calling us to make a choice,
bidding us to do God's will:
"Turn from sin and be baptized;
cleanse your heart and mind and soul.
Quitting all the sins you prized,
yield your life to God's control."
"Bear the fruit repentance sows:
lives of justice, truth, and love.
Trust no other claim than those;
set your heart on things above.
Soon the Lord will come in power,
burning clean the threshing floor:
then will flames the chaff devour;
wheat alone shall fill God's store."
With such preaching stark and bold
John proclaimed salvation near,
and his timeless warnings hold
words of hope to all who hear.
So we dare to journey on,
led by faith through ways untrod,
till we come at last like John
to behold the Lamb of God.
Psalter: Psalm 122
1 I was glad when they said to me,
"Let us go to the house of the Lord!"
2 Our feet were standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem!
3 Jerusalem is built as a city
and is bound firmly together,
4 to which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord
to give thanks to the name of the Lord,
as was decreed for Israel.
5 Thrones for judgment were set there,
the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
"May they prosper who love you!
7 Peace be within your walls,
and security within your towers!"
8 For the sake of my relatives and friends
I will say, "Peace be within you!"
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your good.
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen
Prayers of the People: Joys and concerns
Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer
SENDING FORTH
Hymn: “Like a Child”
Like a child love would send
to reveal and to mend,
like a child and a friend,
Jesus comes
Like a child we may find
claiming heart soul and mind,
like a child strong and kind,
Jesus comes.
Like a child we will meet,
ragged clothes dirty feet
like a child on the street,
Jesus comes
Like a child we once knew
coming back into view,
like a child born anew,
Jesus Comes.
Like a child born to pray
and to show us the way,
like a child on the street,
Jesus comes
Like a child we receive
all the love one can conceive,
like a child we believe,
Jesus comes.
Benediction
