Service for the Second Sunday of Advent

December 10, 2006: 10:30 a.m.

 

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

In this first season, wait and wait with silence as prelude to the nativity of our Lord.

 

PRELUDE                           Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus                          R. Thygerson

                                           The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came                       D. Cherwein

                                                     Rejoice! Rejoice, Believers                                        L. Smith                                      

 

WELCOME, ANNOUNCEMENTS & REGISTRATION

           

*LIGHTING THE SECOND ADVENT CANDLE

        Light One Candle, Stanza 1 & 2 (See Insert) We add a stanza each Sunday of Advent.

    

*CALL TO WORSHIP & AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

From Iona Community, Wild Goose Worship Group

 

Left:    Among the poor, among the proud,     

Right:   among the persecuted, among the privileged,                                           

Choir:  Christ is coming.                                  

All:      Christ is coming to make all things new.

           

Left:    In the private house, in the market place, 

Right:   in the wedding feast, in the judgment hall,

Choir:  Christ is coming.

All:      Christ is coming to make all things new.

 

Left:    With a gentle touch, with an angry word,  

Right:    with a clear conscience, with burning love,

Choir:   Christ is coming.

All:        Christ is coming to make all things new.

 

Left:      That the kingdom might come,  

            Right:     that the world might believe,

Left:       that the powerful might stumble,

Right:     that the humble might be raised,

Choir:     Christ is coming.

All:         Christ is coming to make all things new.

 

Left:    Within us, without us,

Right:  among us, before us,

Left:    in this place, in every place,

Right:  for this time, for all time,

                Choir:  Christ is coming.

            All:      Christ is coming to make all things new.

 

*HYMN # 15                                                                                    Rejoice! Rejoice, Believers

 

PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

 

LESSON FROM THE LETTER                                                  Philippians 1: 3-11 (NRSV)

 

ANTHEM                                               Comfort Ye                                                  M. Wilson                                           

 

WORD WITH CHILDREN

 

LESSON FROM THE GOSPEL                                                          Luke 1: 57-80 (NRSV)

 

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.  Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.  On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father.  But his mother said, ‘No; he is to be called John.’  They said to her, ‘None of your relatives has this name.’  Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him.  He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’  And all of them were amazed.  Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God.  Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea.  All who heard them pondered them and said, ‘What then will this child become?’  For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.  Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:

(See Insert for Zechariah’s Song)

 

*THE PEACE

The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Peace be with you. (worshipers share words and gestures of peace)

 

The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness

until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.

 

 

SERMON                                                                                                         “Prepare or Pare”

 

RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

 

OFFERING OURSELVES TO GOD’S PURPOSES

     Call to Respond 

     Offertory                              Come to Us, O Promised One                                   L. Larson

    

PRAYERS OF DEDICATION, THANKS AND INTERCESSION

            THE LORD’S PRAYER (Traditional)                                                      Hymnal Pg. 16

           

GO IN GOD’S NAME

 

*HYMN # 1                                                                         Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus    

 

*CHARGE & BLESSING

 

*CHORAL RESPONSE # 13                                                                         Prepare the Way

 

POSTLUDE                        Wake, Awake, For Night Is Flying                         T. Chesterton                                                  

*Congregation stands as able

Next Week’s Scriptures: Zeph. 3: 14-20; Isa. 12: 2-6; Phil. 4: 4-7; Luke 3: 7-18

 

WE ARE A STEPHEN MINISTRY CONGREGATION

 

WORSHIP LEADERS

 

Liturgists 

Deb Bowsher, John Deeth

Sermon

Rev. William R. Leety

Word with Children

Deb Bowsher

Musical Leadership

Celebration Singers

Chancel Choir

Sarah Shaffer, Director

Nancy Deeth, Organist