Worship - December 4, 2005

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
December 4, 2005
Worship 10:00 am, Sunday School 11:10 am

Second Sunday of Advent

"Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts." (Psalm 85:8)

Morning Praise (9:45 am)
Announcements
Prelude

Call to Worship Isaiah 40:1-5

Hymn (vs. 1) "O come, O come, Immanuel" 172

Lighting the Advent Candle

*Hymn (vs. 2-6) "O come, O come, Immanuel" 172

*Opening Prayer

Scripture Mark 1:1-8

Moment for Mission - Christmas Project (part 2)

Hymn "Hark! the herald angels sing" 201
(Pre-schoolers then leave for Sunday School)

Returning our Tithes and Offerings 2 Peter 3:8-15a

Offertory

*Response                                                                             212 (refrain only)
                            "O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,
                             O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord"

*Dedication

Sharing a joy, a concern, a word of testimony or praise

Prayer

In Song "Beauty for Brokenness" Kedrick
(lyrics, sheet music w/ descant, ram)

Scripture Psalm 85:8-13

Message "Speak peace"

*Hymn "Bless'd be the God of Israel" 174

*Benediction

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Lighting the Advent Candle

As vs. 1 of "O come, O come, Immanuel" (172) is sung, the candlighters come forward with a lit candle. Standing on either side of the advent wreath (so that it�s not hidden), each reads their portion.

VOICE 1 - Last Sunday we lit the first candle in our Advent Wreath, the candle of hope. We light it again as we remember that Christ will come again to fulfil all of God�s promises to us.

(One lights the candle of hope - front center)

VOICE 2 - The second candle of Advent is the Candle of Peace. It is sometimes called the Bethlehem Candle to remind us of the place in which preparations were made to receive and cradle the Christ child.

VOICE 3 - Peace is a gift that we must be prepared for. God gives us the gift of peace when we turn to him in faith.

VOICE 4 - The prophet Isaiah calls Christ "the Prince of Peace." Through John the Baptist and all the other prophets, God asks us to prepare our hearts so that he may come in.

VOICE 5 - Our hope is in God, and in his son Jesus Christ. Our peace is found in him. We light this candle today to remind us that he brings peace to all who trust in him.

(Another lights the second candle - left side)

by Rev. Richard J. Fairchild �1993, 1996, 1999, 2002
adapted from "Year B - Advent Candle Lighting"

Opening Prayer

Loving God, thank you for the peace you give us through Jesus. Help us prepare our hearts to receive Him. Bless our worship. Guide us in all that we say and do. We ask it in the name of the one born in Bethlehem. Amen.

by Rev. Richard J. Fairchild �1993, 1996, 1999, 2002
from "Year B - Advent Candle Lighting"

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.

Pastoral Prayer

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

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

2 Peter 3:8-15a

Dedication

Benediction