Worship - November 27, 2005

1 - 'Twas the beginning of Advent and all through the Church
      Our hope was all dying-- we'd given up on the search.
2 - It wasn't so much that Christ wasn't invited,
      But after 2,000 plus years we were no longer excited.
1 - Oh, we knew what was coming-- no doubt about that.
      And that was the trouble-- it was all "old hat."
2 - November brought the first of an unending series of pains
      with carefully orchestrated advertising campaigns.
1 - There were gadgets and dolls and all sorts of toys.
      Enough to seduce even the most devout girls and boys.
2 - Unfortunately, it seemed, no one was completely exempt
      From this seasonal virus that did all of us tempt.
1 - The priests and prophets and certainly the kings
      Were all so consumed with the desire for "things!"
2 - It was rare, if at all, that you'd hear of the reason
      For the origin of this whole holy-day season.
1 - A baby, it seems, once had been born
      In the mid-east somewhere on that first holy-day morn.
2 - But what does that mean for folks like us,
      Who've lost ourselves in the hoopla and fuss?
1 - Can we re-learn the art of wondering and waiting,
      Of hoping and praying, and anticipating?
2 - Can we let go of all the things and the stuff?
      Can we open our hands and our hearts long enough?
1 - Can we open our eyes and open our ears?
      Can we find him again after all of these years?

by J. Todd Jenkins, Intentional Pastor,
First Presbyterian Church, Fayetteville, Tennessee
see it in complete form

Opening Prayer

God of hope,
         light of Christ,
                  transforming Spirit,
Teach us, again, the art of wondering and waiting,
         of hoping and praying, and anticipating.
Help us to let go of all the things and the stuff,
         that we might open our hands and our hearts long enough
                  to discover once more the reason for this season.
Bless this hour,
         this very moment in time,
                  with an awareness of your presence.
In your name we pray. Amen.

For Children
"Giving all"

         This story will start by asking the children, "does anyone know what it means to give their 'all'?"   After sufficient time and hopefully answers (if necessary, I'll explain). I will give some examples of things in a child's life that they have the opportunity to give their all, i.e.
                                  running a race,
                                  playing a game,
                                  cleaning up their rooms,
                                  doing their home work, etc.
Then I will ask them, "could you tell me - have you ever given your all?" Allowing time for answers, I will ask, "why don't we give our "all" all of the time, or at least more often?"   The reasons for this might be:
                                  too lazy,
                                  if we give are all their is nothing left for us,
                                  our all may look funny to others,
                                  our all is not good enough,
                                  we just don't feel like it is necessary to give our all,
                                  who will notice or care if I gave my all?   etc.
Then I will read the scripture, Mark 12:41-44.   I will touch each of the points I just made. The widow gave her all. She knew that if she gave her two pennies that she would have nothing left for herself, yet God gave his all to her. She knew that the two pennies may not have looked like much to others, but she knew that it was all she had. She did not worry if it was good enough! She did not compare her gift to the others in the offering plate. She gave it without thinking that it would be noticed, because she gave it to God. And yet Jesus noticed.
         When God made us, he gave his "all," because he loves us. We need to give our all in what we do, to honor him and his work (i.e. us). God put his "all" in creating his son "Jesus" and he gave his "all" to us with his life.   End story with prayer.

by Ed Lewis

Call to Prayer
‘Twas the Beginning of Advent
(part 2)

1 - Will this year be different from all the rest?
      Will we be able to offer him all of our best?
2 - So many questions, unanswered thus far,
      As wise men seeking the home of the star.
1 - Where do we begin-- how do we start
      To make for the child a place in our heart?
2 - Perhaps we begin by letting go
      Of our limits on hope, and of the stuff that we know.
1 - Let go of the shopping, of the chaos and fuss,
      Let go of the searching, let Christmas find us.
2 - We open our hearts, our hands and our eyes,
      To see the king coming in our own neighbors' cries.
1 - We look without seeking what we think we've earned,
      But rather we're looking for relationships spurned.
2 - With him he brings wholeness and newness of life
      For brother and sister, for husband and wife.
1 - The Christ-child comes not by our skill,
      But rather he comes by his own Father's will.
2 - We can't make him come with parties and bright trees,
      But only by getting down on our knees.
1 - He'll come if we wait amidst our affliction,
      Coming in spite of, not by our restriction.
2 - His coming will happen-- of this there's no doubt.
      The question is whether we'll be in or out.
1 - "Behold, I stand at the door and knock."
      Do you have the courage to peer through the lock?

by J. Todd Jenkins, Intentional Pastor,
First Presbyterian Church, Fayetteville, Tennessee
see it in complete form

Pastoral Prayer

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

Call to Keep Awake
‘Twas the Beginning of Advent
(part 3)

1 - A basket on your porch, a child in your reach.
      A baby to love, to feed and to teach.
2 - He'll grow in wisdom as God's only Son.
      How far will we follow this radical one?
1 - He'll lead us to challenge the way that things are.
      He'll lead us to follow a single bright star.
2 - But that will come later if we're still around.
      The question for now: Is the child to be found?
1 - Can we block out commercials, the hype and the malls?
      Can we find solitude in our holy halls?
2 - Can we keep alert, keep hope, stay awake?
      Can we receive the child for ours and God's sake?
1 - From on high with the caroling host as he sees us,
      He yearns to read on our lips the prayer: Come Lord Jesus!
2 - As Advent begins all these questions make plea.
      The only true answer:
1 - We will see,
2 - we will see.

by J. Todd Jenkins, Intentional Pastor,
First Presbyterian Church, Fayetteville, Tennessee
see it in complete form

Moment for Mission: Christmas Project
Witness Commission

Again this year, the Witness commission has planned a project in conjunction with the Family Crisis Center of Baltimore Co. (a ministry with which we are heavily involved), helping families currently in or recently released from the shelter. Beginning next Sunday, there will be a Christmas tree in the area behind the sanctuary. On it will be paper "ornaments" of various colors. On each is listed a gift to purchase and donate, many with the first name of the person. The colors determine the approximate cost of the suggested gift. You are invited to pick up as many of these as you wish, bringing the gift, with the ornament attached, back on or before Sunday, December 18th, and place it under the tree. Wrapping paper will be provided for each family in crisis, so that they can wrap and give the gifts to each other.

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Indeed, as the poem guiding our worship today asks,
         Can we block out commercials, the hype and the malls?
         Can we find solitude in our holy halls?
         Can we keep alert, keep hope, stay awake?
         Can we receive the child for ours and God's sake?
Yes, we will see, we will see.
                  Ushers?

Benediction