Order of Service for December 8th, 2024

Second Sunday of Advent

 

WE GATHER TO PRAISE GOD

 

GATHERING MUSIC: 

Ricercar Primo                                             - G. Cavazzoni

Ricercar Secondo                                         - G. Cavazzoni

 

PRELUDE: Tiento Para Organo                                      - A. Mudarra 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE LAND:

We give thanks for the land and our ancestors who have cared for it, for Indigenous and for settlers. Thank you to the people called Haudenosaunee, Mississauga, Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and Tuscarora (Ska-Ruh-Reh) Six Nations.

are located on the shared traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe (Anish-nah-bay), and Haudenosaunee (Hoe-den-no-show-nee) peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples, which symbolizes the agreement to share, protect resources, and not engage in conflict.

Thank you to our ancestors who continue to tend to the land, nourishing our communities and creation. Thank you for those who have taught us to be tender and respectful to all living things. As members and representatives of the United Church of Canada we acknowledge the role our church played in the Residential School System and humbly live into the United Church’s apology. Help us make space for reconciliation and live into the promise our ancestors made together in Treaty 2. Help us remember we are not perfect -- but as a repenting and reforming people, we are constantly working towards the perfection of God’s kingdom.

 

INTROIT: May the Peace of God Be Your Peace          -N. McLaren

 

CALL TO WORSHIP:

One: God of love and light.

 

ALL: The glimpse of Your light we see,

Calls us to seek more.

The glimpse of hope we see,

Encourages us not to give up.

The glimpse of peace we see,

Reminds us that we are going in the right direction.

 

We gather, seeking peace for all that busies our hearts.

 

PASSING OF THE PEACE: The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you… And also with you.

 

 

*OPENING HYMN: VU #20 On Jordan’s Bank

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            ♫1       On Jordan’s bank, the Baptist’s cry

                        announces that the Lamb is nigh;

                        awake a hearken, for he brings

                        glad tidings of the King of Kings.

 

            2         Then cleansed be every life from sin;

                        make straight the way for God within;

                        and let each heart prepare a home

                        where such a mighty guest may come.

 

            3         In you, we find abundant life,

                        our refuge in the midst of strife;

                        without your grace we waste away,

                        like flowers that wither and decay.

 

            4         Stretch forth your hand, our health restore,

                        and help us rise to fall no more.

                        O let your face upon us shine,

                        and will the world with love divine.

 

            5          All praise to you, eternal Son,

                        whose advent has our freedom won;

                        and praise to God whom we adore,

                        with Holy Spirit evermore.

            

~Children are welcomed to the front of the Sanctuary 

for Children’s Time following the hymn~

 

CHILDREN’S TIME

 

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING: PEACE

 

Philippians 4:4-7

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

As the candle is lit, we sing together:

 

♫         Will you come gather in,

though the stars may be falling?

Come in peace, there's a promise,

there's a voice that's bravely calling:

will you come gather in?

 

A PRAYER FOR PEACE:

Loving God, we make space in ourselves for PEACE. 

 

To me peace is… ((3-5 things/people/places where you find peace)

 

ALL: TO US PEACE IS… 

 

May it be so. And all God’s people said, 

 

ALL: “AMEN.”

 

LORD’S PRAYER:

Abba with us,

hallowed be your name, 

your kingdom come, 

your 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 the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, forever and ever. Amen.

 

ANTHEM: Advent Message                                             -M. How

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION & ASSURANCE OF PARDON:

One: God, 

 

It’s easy to get lost in the bustle of the crowd. 

Carried along with the current, 

Of the mall, current events, parties,

Politics, or Costco samples that tempt us to spend more than we planned.

​

ALL: When things are good, 

we lose sight of Your direction. 

When things aren’t so good,

it’s easy to convince ourselves of Your absence. 

When things are good, 

it’s easy to fall into routine and take You for granted. 

When things aren’t so good, 

it’s a struggle to take comfort in the good things of the past. 

​

Remind us of the success of our constantly refining peace.

Remind us to pause, a break from the efforts of peace, to recognize and enjoy it. 

Encourage us through work that never ends, 

Peace comes with persistence to work through the challenge, 

In the midst of the not-so-good times,

You have loved us and love us still and will not let us go.

 

*CREED: 

We are not alone,
    we live in God’s world.

We believe in God:
    who has created and is creating,
    who has come in Jesus,
       the Word made flesh,
       to reconcile and make new,
    who works in us and others
       by the Spirit.

We trust in God.

We are called to be the Church:
    to celebrate God’s presence,
    to live with respect in Creation,
    to love and serve others,
    to seek justice and resist evil,
    to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
       our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,
    God is with us.
We are not alone.

Thanks be to God.

 

*HYMN: Come, Lord Jesus

 

            ♫1       Come, Lord Jesus, come, as foretold.

                        Come as a baby, each of us can hold.

                        Come as a mother, so tender and warm.

                        Come as a father, protecting us from harm.

 

            2         Come, Holy Saviour, come as a light.

                        Brighten the darkness of a lonely night.

                        Chase away the shadows that haunt each troubled heart.

                        Bring a glow of love to a world that’s torn apart.

 

            3         Come, Redeemer, come as our guide.

                        Teach us to lay all hates and fears aside.

                        Help us heal the wounds that come from pain and strife.

                        Lead us to the joy and the hope that brings new life.

                  

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

 

OFFERING:

            INVITATION TO INVEST IN GOD’S MISSION:

“Called by God, as disciples of Jesus, The United Church of Canada seeks to be a bold, connected, evolving church of diverse, courageous, hope-filled communities united in deep spirituality, inspiring worship, and daring justice.”

 

            OFFERTORY: Ricercare on “Ave Maria Klare”            -J. Fischer

 

            *DOXOLOGY: VU #540

 

                        ♫        Grant us, God, the grace of giving,

                                    with a spirit large and free,

                                    that ourselves and all our living

                                    we may offer faithfully.

 

            PRAYER

 

SCRIPTURE READING: Malachi 3:1-4

 

The Coming Messenger

3 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner’s fire and like washers’ soap; 3 he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord, as in the days of old and as in former years.

 

The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

 

MESSAGE: “Die Hard (or Live Trying)”

 

*CLOSING HYMN: VU #18 There’s a Voice in the Wilderness

 

♫1       There’s a voice in the wilderness crying,

            a call from the ways untrod:

            prepare in the desert a highway,

            a highway for our God!

            The valleys shall be exalted, 

            the lofty hills brought low;

            make straight all the crooked places

            where God, our God, may go!

 

2         O Zion, that bringest good tiding,

            get the up to the heights and sing!

            Proclaim to a desolate people

            the coming of their King.

            Like the flowers of the field they perish,

            like grass our works decay;

            the power and pomp of nations

            shall pass, like a dream, away.

 

3         But the word of our God endureth,

            whose arm is every strong;

            God stands in the midst of nations,

            and soon will right the wrong.

            God shall feed his flock like a shepherd,

            the lambs so gently hold;

            to pastures of peace will lead them,

            and bring them safe to fold.

 

4         There’s a voice in the wilderness crying,

            a call from the ways untrod:

            prepare in the desert a highway,

            A highway for our God!

            The valleys shall be exalted, 

            the lofty hills brought low;

            make straight all the crooked places

            where God, our God, may go!

 

*COMMISSIONING

 

*SUNG RESPONSE:

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♫         The Lord bless you, and keep you:

The Lord make his face shine upon you, 

and be gracious unto you:

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, 

and give you peace.  

 

POSTLUDE: There’s a Voice in the Wilderness Crying           -R. Benson