Worship Order for Sunday

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
December 21, 2014
Worship 10:00 am          Sunday School 11:10am

Fourth Sunday of Advent

      Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. (Matthew 18:10)

  Beginning with Praise (9:50 am)      “Love came down at Christmas”     208
  Announcements
  Prelude                                   “Christmas Bells”                                Gade
                             (children come forward to quietly help prepare)

  Lighting the fourth Advent candle

*Call to Worship                                                                (back of bulletin)

*Unison Invocation                                                             (back of bulletin)

*Hymn                          Good Christian friends, rejoice                       210

  Scripture                                    Psalm 89:1-4

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

  Offertory                    “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”         Christmas carol
                              (Please sign the attendance pad and pass it on)

  Preparing a song                This is Christmas morn                         (insert)

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

   Hymn                                   Let all mortal flesh                                  463
                      (as we sing, children quietly leave for craft & lesson time)

  Pastoral Prayer

  Scripture                                   Luke 1:26-38

  Hymn                                    The angel Gabriel                                 180

  Message                    A heavenly host around us

*Hymn                            Hark! The herald angels sing                         201

*Benediction

*Postlude                                 “O How Joyfully”


*Rise in body or in spirit

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Lighting the fourth Advent candle

              The last announcement is an invitation for the children to come forward. During the Prelude, they will assist in placing the pointsettia around the worship table. Thus, they continue to help prepare our worship space for Christmas, a process they began three weeks ago. At the end of the Prelude, they should be arrayed in a line from the pulpit to the wreath, ready to help light the first, second, third and fourth candles in the following:  

             You have been helping to prepare the way for our celebration of Christmas by arranging the front our sanctuary with candles, Bethlehem background, nativity set and flowers. Each week something new has been added. Furthermore, there are four candles in our wreath for the four Sundays of Advent. On the first Sunday, we lit the first candle (light a small “Christmas Eve” candle in holder and hold it up), rejoicing in the hope we have in Christ. Let’s re-light the first Advent candle. As we do so, say the word “Hope” to one another.

(pass the candle from child to child, each one saying to the next, “Hope.”
The last re-lights the front candle, then passes it back.
Hold up the small “Christmas Eve” candle.)

             We re-light the second Advent candle, rejoicing in the “Peace” we have in Christ. As you pass the light, say the word “Peace” to one another.

(pass the candle from child to child, each one saying to the next, “Peace.”
The last lights the left candle, then passes it back.
Hold up the small “Christmas Eve” candle.)

             We re-light the third Advent candle, rejoicing in the “Joy” we have in Christ. As you pass the light, say the word “Joy” to one another.

(pass the candle from child to child, each one saying to the next, “Joy.”
The last re-lights the right candle, then passes it back.
Hold up the small “Christmas Eve” candle.)

             We now light the fourth Advent candle, rejoicing in the “Love” we have in Christ. As you pass the light, say the word “Love” to one another.

(pass the candle from child to child, each one saying to the next, “Love.”
The last lights the back candle, then passes it back.
Children remain standing up front.
Motion for the congregation to stand with them.)

  

Call to Worship

Angel:      Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor
                with God.          

People:    Rejoice in the Lord!

Mary:       Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me
                according to your word.

People:    Rejoice in the Lord always!

Elizabeth:  Blessed is she who believed there would be fulfillment
                of what was spoken to her by the Lord.

People:    And again we say, rejoice!

Mary:       My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in
                God my Savior. He has looked with favor on the
                lowliness of his servant; holy is his name.

All:          Let us rejoice in God our Savior!          

Theresa Cocklin Eshhach
Mechanicsburg, PA Church of the Brethren
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085,
"The Living Word" Series
    
  

Unison Invocation

             Mighty One, who has done great things for us, we join Mary and all your servants who proclaim the good news from generation to generation. As the advent of the Messiah draws near, may our actions magnify your love, and our spirits ardently rejoice in your saving grace through Jesus Christ—your only begotten Son and our Savior. Amen.

Theresa Cocklin Eshhach
Mechanicsburg, PA Church of the Brethren
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085,
"The Living Word" Series
    
 

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Let us pray…

Amen.

Ushers?

    

Pastoral Prayer

 

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

 

Benediction

Now to God who is able to strengthen you
    according to the gospel
                   and the proclamation of Jesus Christ,
    according to the revelation of the mystery
        that was kept secret for long ages
             but is now disclosed,
                        and through the prophetic writings
                   is made known to all the Gentiles,
    according to the command of the eternal God,
                                         to bring about
                                              the obedience of faith—
         to the only wise God,
                      through Jesus Christ,
               to whom be the glory forever! Amen.

Romans 16:25-27, slightly adapted from the New Revised Standard Version
copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved
  

 

Interested in Sunday School?
Below is a growing list of possible sites to visit. As you discover others, please let us know.

International Lesson:
Faith and Life Resources

Mennonite Publishing House

International Lesson:
Mennonite Weekly Review

(scroll down on left to "Sunday School lessons)

International Lesson:
Christian Standard
(one week ahead)

International Lesson:
Adult Bible Studies
from The United Methodist Publishing House
(click "supplemental resources" and "current events supplement" under both the "Student" and "Teacher" sections in the left hand column)

International Lesson:
International Bible Lesson
a weekly column by L.G. Parkhurst, Jr.
in "The Oklahoman" newspaper
also found
here

International Lesson:
Living Web Sunday School Project

While one of our adult classes follows the International lesson above (see also), using
A Guide for Biblical Studies,
published quarterly by our denomination,
another class often uses one of the
Good Ground series.

For children and youth, we use the new
Gather Round curriculum
(developed jointly by the Church of the Brethren and the Mennonite Church)

 

©2014 Peter L. Haynes
(unless otherwise stated, worship resources were written by him)

 

return to
Worship Orders
page

return to
Worship
page

return to
Sermon
page

return to
Long Green Valley Church
page