Service for the 4th Sunday in Advent

                                              December 21, 2008   10:30 a.m.

 

                                                GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

 

 

PRELUDE                       Two for Two By Two for Christmas  arr. J. Linker & J. Madden

 

WELCOME, REGISTRATION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

CARILLON & LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLES (See Insert, Sing only V. 4)

 

*PROCESSIONAL HYMN # 41                                                 O Come, All Ye Faithful

 

*PRAYER FOR GOD’S PRESENCE & THE PEACE                        on Romans 16:24

                                                                                               from The Worship Sourcebook

            The apostle Paul wraps up his last letter:

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.  Amen. 

Now to God who is able to strengthen you…” 

So we pray to and for strength and power that God is able to give:

 

Remember your church, O Christ;

send your Spirit of unity, courage, and holiness.  Come to us in power, O Christ.

     By shedding your blood, you have purified us;

     Keep is ready to welcome the Day of your coming. 

     Come to us in power, O Christ.

Call from among us bearers of your presence; 

may they go to the far ends of earth as tokens of your friendship,

signs of your light.  Come to us in power, O Christ.

     Give joy to all your faithful servants;

     may they follow you all the days of their life. 

     Come to us in power, O Christ.

Nurture within us your Spirit of love;

may we never close our hearts to any of our sisters and brothers.

Come to us in power, O Christ.

     Bring an end to divisions between Christians;

     gather us in one visible communion.  Come to us in power, O Christ.

 

 

Have mercy on all who suffer persecution for your name’s sake;

uphold them by your strong Spirit, that they remain true to you in all trials.

Come to us in power, O Christ.

     Comfort all who are suffering in their hearts or in their bodies;

     give them health and peace to sing of your power.

     Come to us in power, O Christ.

We pray for all who are leading the nations; give them a sense of what is right;

that they may work toward peace and fullness of life for all.

Come to us in power, O Christ.

     Give eternal rest to all who are dying;

     may the light that never sets shine upon them. 

     Come to us in power, O Christ.  Amen.

 

            The promised strength and peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with us all!

                 Strength and peace be with you.

            (worshipers greet one another with  words and gestures of Christ’s peace)

 

                                                PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

 

LESSON FROM THE GOSPEL                                                    Luke 1: 26-38 (NRSV)

 

ANTHEM                                    Come, and Adore Him                                      L. Larson

 

A MOMENT WITH THE YOUNG

 

LESSON FROM THE LETTER                                                           Romans 16: 25-27

 

SERMON                                                                                           “’Able to Strengthen’”

 

RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

 

OFFERING OURSELVES TO THE ONE WHO IS AND WHO COMES

            Call to Respond

            OFFERTORY              Amid the Cold of Winter                            arr. B. Rhoades

            Prayer dedicating ourselves and our gifts to God

 

PRAYERS THANKING & ASKING GOD, THE LORD’S PRAYER

 

 

                                                DEPART IN GOD’S NAME

 

*HYMN # 31                                                                       Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

 

*CHARGE & BLESSING

 

POSTLUDE                   Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day                  arr. M. Helman

                         (Please feel free to leave quietly at beginning of Postlude,

                              even though some choose to remain seated to listen.)

 

                         WE ARE A STEPHEN MINISTRY CONGREGATION

 

 

                                                     WORSHIP LEADERS

Liturgists

Rev. Jonathan C. Siehl

Sermon

William R. Leety

Moment with the Young

Hope Boring

Musical Leadership

Chancel Chimes

Chancel Choir

Dan Laciano, Trumpet

Sarah Shaffer, Choirmaster

Nancy Deeth, Organ/Piano

 

 
                                               IN MEMORIAM
 
                                         Deacon Lois A. Darling
                                            July 22, 1933 ~ December 16, 2008
 
                                             “I am the resurrection and the life.
                              Those who believe in me, though they die, will live.”
                                                               -John 11:25