Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
December 19, 2010
Worship 10:00 am              Sunday School 11:10am

Fourth Sunday of Advent 

  Beginning with Praise (9:50 am)          "Love came down at Christmas"          208
  Announcements
  Prelude                                  "Neopolitan Carol"                            R. Wagner

  An Advent Litany                                                                   (back of bulletin)

  Lighting the Fourth Advent Candle

*Hymn                            "O come, O come, Immanuel"                               172

*Opening Prayer

  Scripture                              Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

  For Children                     "The Bethlehem Walk"

  Scripture                                   Isaiah 7:10-16

  Sharing a joy, a concern, a word of testimony or praise
                                 (please be brief, and aware of God's listening presence)

  Hymn                          (vs. 1,2,4,5) "Thou didst leave thy throne"              (see insert)

  Pastoral Prayer

  Scripture                                   Romans 1:1-7

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

  Offertory                        "A Rose Breaks Into Bloom"          15^th century song
                                        (Please sign the attendance pad and pass it on)

  Scripture                                 Matthew 1:18-25

  Message                          "Witness to Withness" (mp3)

*Hymn                                     "What child is this"                                       215

*Benediction

*Postlude                           "Noel on a Salician Carol"                          Guilmont

*Rise in body or in spirit

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

An Advent Litany

(candlelighter lights the first 3 candles during the Prelude
 then stands beside the table ready to light the fourth)

One:        Within a young woman, the Holy Spirit moved.

All:         A gentle quivering ...

One:        And a child was conceived.

All:         To her husband, an angel spoke:

One:        You are to name him Jesus.

All:         A very common, human name ...

One:        There must be twenty in the neighborhood, he thought.

All:         But it means something wonderful!

One:        "Yahweh helps!"

All:         "Yahweh saves!"

One:        For he will save his people from their sins.

All:         A namesake of Joshua ...

One:        To whom God said:

All:         I will be with you wherever you go.

One:        Do not be frightened. God is with you.

All:         And they shall name him Emmanuel.

(pause while candlelighter lights the fourth candle)

One:        "God is with us!"

All:         The Holy Spirit moved.

One:        Soft wings brushed against her belly.

All:         A fluttering, a stirring ...

Unison:  And a child was conceived.

by Paula Ziegler Ulrich, adapted
pastor, Nettle Creek Church of the Brethren Hagerstown, Indiana
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word Series"
  

Opening Prayer

            God of Mary and Joseph, and of all who look for the glory of God on earth, give us eyes to discern the work of your hands among us.
            Do not allow us to approach Christmas with our eyes closed to the remarkable things you do in complete simplicity. Fill us again with that humility which can feel awe and gratitude.
            May we see glimpses of your presence in many people, and get ready to worship you in that outpouring of glory which began when a young woman carried Jesus-Emmanuel in her body. For your name’s sake. Amen

by Bruce Prewer, Uniting Church in Australia
   

For Children
"The Bethlehem Walk"

            I will talk with the children about the Mexican tradition of Las Posadas, using a resource written by Ruth Gilmore, found in Barefoot in the Snow, ©2001, Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, pp. 52-53.
 

Pastoral Prayer

written closer to the time (if not at the moment)

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Please pray with me.

Gracious and loving God, we offer our prayers and these gifts to you in response to your great love for us. May these tokens of our love proclaim that the true reason for our joy this Christmas season is the birth of your love in human form in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, in whose name we pray. Amen

Ushers?

from Liturgies Online, by Rev Moira Laidlaw,
Uniting Church in Australia.
  

Benediction

As you head into this week,
         pay attention to your dreams.
         Listen for that quiet voice amid the Christmas rush.
         Don’t be afraid to just be “with” the persons
                  God may be calling you to simply be “with.”
                           That’s especially true for those you love,
                                    who need “you” more than
                                             they need “presents.”
As you go, remember that God is “with” us.
         Immanuel. Amen.