First Sunday of Advent CALL TO WORSHIP P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, who opens the heavens and draws near to us with salvation. C: Amen. LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH A Celtic Prayer Week 1: HOPE P: When hope hangs low in the human heart, you, loving creator, kindle compassion, breathing life into the early embers of change and empathy. Light one candle on your Advent Wreath with us P: We light a candle for hope, sending prayers high into the inky heavens and dreams deep into the human soul. As Advent dawns, God of all hope, shine your light on the story of the saints who journeyed before us. May the seeds they planted in the world – peace, joy, love – take hold in our hearts and stretch towards the light. C: We light a candle for hope. May it light the way. CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS based on today’s readings P: With sincere and repentant hearts, let us confess our sins in the presence of God and one another. Silence for Reflection P: Emmanuel, God-with-us, C: even in Advent, we confess that you can seem far away. You are hidden when we need you near. In our hurt, doubt, and fear, we do not try to draw closer to you; instead, we lash out—against you, our neighbor, even those we love. Forgive us, we pray, and come to save us! Let your face shine until our tears are dried, our sins are faded, and our hope is restored. After all, we belong to you, and in your hands, we can be made new. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. P: However long we wander, however far we stray, God’s steadfast love endures forever. Sisters and brothers, be assured: in Jesus Christ + we are forgiven. C: Amen. HYMN “Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding!” PRAYER OF THE DAY P: God of power unexpected, we want you to tear open the heavens and come down; to make mountains quake, water boil, and stars to fall until all nations tremble at your presence! But you, you will not perform according to our wants and whims. Instead you come like the sound of sheer silence: Quiet. Instead you are born among us as an infant. Instead you show us how love is made perfect in weakness. So we will stay alert, or at least we will try, because we are your people and there is no other God besides you. C: Amen. READINGS Hebrew Bible Reading: Isaiah 64:1-9 1O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence—2as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil—to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! 3When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. 4From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. 5You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. 6We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 7There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. 8Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. 9Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people. Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 1Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim. 2In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, stir up your strength and come to help us. 3Restore us, O God; let your face shine upon us, and we shall be saved. 4O Lord God of hosts, how long will your anger fume when your people pray? 5You have fed them with the bread of tears; you have given them bowls of tears to drink. 6You have made us the derision of our neighbors, and our enemies laugh us to scorn. 7Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine upon us, and we shall be saved. 17Let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one you have made so strong for yourself. 18And so will we never turn away from you; give us life, that we may call upon your name. 19Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine upon us, and we shall be saved. Gospel: Mark 13:24-37 [Jesus said:] 24“In those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. 27Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. 28“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. 34It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, 36or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.” SERMON Rev. Lori E.L. Kitzing
HYMN “Lost in the Night” PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION after each petition… P: God of power and glory, we remember your awesome deeds across the ages—the times you saved us and brought us home. Yet, we also remember times when we felt alone and afraid. O God, we are your people, the work of your hand. Look upon us with favor, especially in the time of need. We pray for those who look to you for healing and hope . . . those who are sick or recuperating from illness and injury . . . those who are lonely and need companionship and care . . . those for whom the holidays bring sorrow or pain . . . those whose deep sadness overshadows joy. We pray for people in need of restoration and reconciliation: for those battling addictions and those in recovery . . . for people estranged from those they love . . . for those lost in grief . . . for those far from home. Renew the spirit of a world grown weary with waiting and hoping. We pray from fighting to end in Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and Gaza. We pray for hunger and poverty to be crowded out by abundance. And we pray, too, for the church because we also grow weary in our waiting and watching for your power and glory to be made known. Grant us clarity, passion, and true fellowship so that we are awake to your presence. Let your face shine upon the church and all this weary world, we pray; in the name of the One born in a manger and coming again in glory. C: Amen. OFFERING PRAYER Financial gifts may be sent to the church. P: Faithful God, we thank you that Christ is being revealed in every time and place until he comes again in the fullness of glory. Strengthen our testimony and spiritual gifts; increase generosity in us, we pray, as we wait for the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. C: Amen. LORD’S PRAYER in French BENEDICTION P: The blessing of God, the One who creates, redeems, + and sustains us eternally, be with you now and always. C: Amen. HYMN “Comfort, Comfort Now My People” CHARGE P: Go And...Be Present! So that you can better love and serve God and your neighbor. C: Thanks be to God. Printed by permission oneliscense.net A-717495
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April 2024
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