Worship - December 9, 2007

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
December 9, 2007
Worship 10:00 am, Sunday School 11:10 am

Second Sunday of Advent

“For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.” (Luke 1:44)

Morning Praise (9:45 am)
Announcements
Prelude “Gesu Bambino” Pietro A Yon

Advent Wreath - Lighting the Candle of Anticipation

Call to Worship

*Hymn “To us a child of hope is born” 189

*Opening Prayer

Scripture Isaiah 11:1-10

For Children “Star Light, Star Bright”

Hymn “Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming” 211

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

Call to Prayer (vs. 3) “Away in a manger” 194

Pastoral Prayer

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Offertory “Noel” Nicolas Antoine de Begue
(Please sign the attendance pad and pass it on)

Scripture Luke 1:39-45

Message “Witnesses of the Nativity: John”

*Hymn “Come, thou long-expected Jesus” 178

*Benediction

*Postlude “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” Farmer

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13)

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Advent Wreath - Lighting the Candle of Anticipation

1 – Today is the second Sunday in Advent.
2 – Last week we lit the candle of preparation,
1 – for in this season we prepare for the coming of our Lord.
                     (re-light the first candle)
1 - We now light the second candle,
2 - the candle of anticipation.
1 – It is hope that guides our walk with Christ as we step into the future.
                     (light the second candle)

Call to Worship

2 – Listen to the following words on hope from the apostle Paul:

1 - The writings that we have received from times past were written to teach us what we need to know.

2 - The unchanging and inspiring message of the scriptures fills us with courage and hope.

1 - I pray that God - rock-solid and inspirational - will unite you and enable you to get along with one another,

2 - showing each other the same sort of trust and respect that Christ Jesus shows to everyone.

1 - That sort of peaceful shared life will ring out a message, as clear as a bell, giving all the glory to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 - So welcome and accept one another as openly as Christ has welcomed and accepted you, and may all the credit go to God!

1 - You can be sure of this: Christ accepted both insiders and outsiders.

2 - It is true that he came to serve the people of Israel, who had always had inside access to the truth of God, so as to make good on the promises made to their ancestors.

1 - But it is also true that he came so that the outsiders might encounter the mercy of God and get into the swing of giving credit and thanks to God too.

2 - The scriptures spoke of it in these words:

1 - “I will speak the truth about you among the outsiders, I will sing your praises and honor your name.”

2 - In another place it is written:

1 - “You outsiders, come and celebrate with God’s people.”

2 - Similarly, another piece of scripture says:

1 - “All you outsiders, sing the praises of God; let all peoples everywhere honor the Lord.”

2 - And the prophet Isaiah wrote:

1 - “The root of David’s family will sprout again, producing the one who will give the outsiders hope; the one who will rule over all people everywhere.”

2 - I pray that God, the hope-giver, will see to it that your faith produces a flood of joy and peace that fills your lives and spills over into an unshakeable confidence energized by the Holy Spirit.

(brief pause to indicate scripture reading has ended)

1 – Please stand if you are able and sing #189 - “To us a Child of hope is born”

Opening Prayer

It is time for us
         to welcome one another, O God,
                  just as Jesus the Christ has welcomed us
                           unabashedly,
                           without condition,
                           full of love.
This voice of welcome is also the voice of hope.

In this season of hurrying and scurrying,
may we be encouraged by the steadfastness of your presence.

In this season when love
         is often expressed by material extravagance,
                  help us to find ways to simply express
                           the extravagance of your incredible love.

In this season often expected to be perfect,
         remind us, O God,
                  that perfect to you means
                           for us to be whole.

And give us hope . . .
         a hope that rings out from our communities and our homes,
         a hope that fills us with joy and peace,
         a hope that abounds in welcome and love.

By the power of the Holy Spirit, may we live in your hope.

by Melissa Bennett, pastor for worship and youth
Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren
Fort Wayne, IN
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word Series"

Pastoral Prayer

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

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

1 - Last Sunday, the Advent theme for worship was “preparation.” The following scripture tells of someone who was God’s voice of preparation sent in anticipation of the advent of Christ. Listen.

1 - In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming,

2 - “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

1 - This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them,

2 - “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

(Matthew 3:1-12, NRSV)

1 - Amid John’s harsh words, did you hear that repentance involves bearing fruit? It’s not solely a matter of being sorry for our sins. Turning toward God means becoming like nutritious whole-wheat bread - growing naturally in the Lord’s fields, then being harvested, separated, milled, combined with other ingredients like yeast, kneeded, left to rise, baked, and then served. It takes hope to look at a field of grain and envision a loaf of bread.
It’s time to return our offerings. However, don’t just put your “dough” in the plate. Anticipate what God will do with you and this offering. Bearing fruit isn’t wishful thinking. It’s living with expectation. Pray over your offering with hope… Ushers?

Benediction

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

(Romans 15:13, NRSV)