As we celebrate this First Sunday of Advent, you are encouraged to have a piece of bread and a cup of some fruit of the earth (juice, wine, water) available so that at the appropriate time we may partake communion together.
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WELCOME
CALL TO WORSHIP AND THE LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE
Leader: Amid the darkness of Advent, we await the sunrise of hope, expecting the glory of
a new horizon.
People: During Advent, we anticipate the arrival into our world of the One
who splashes color upon gray-filled skies,
who instills the warmth of grace in the cold-hearted,
and who gives renewal to those who exhausted and weary.
Leader: During Advent, we await the Coming One
who embraces the neglected child,
who brings consolation to the grief-stricken,
and who reveals mercy at the heart of justice.
People: During Advent, we look for the One
who inspires new songs where there is no music,
who strengthens feeble legs to dance,
and who shapes a new reality where we all are one in God.
Leader: During Advent, we remember the words of Jeremiah —
“This I call my mind, and therefore I have hope.
God’s mercies are new every morning,
and because God’s faithfulness is so great, we can hope in the LORD.”
People: Therefore, even amid the current circumstances of our world,
we light this first candle of Advent as a sign of our hope,
and as we await the One who is the Light of the world,
may this candle guide us as we prepare the way.
HYMN Prepare the Way Ken Heischman
Prepare the way, O Zion; Your Christ is drawing near!
Let ev’ry hill and valley A level way appear.
Greet One who comes in glory, Foretold in sacred story.
O blest is Christ that came In God’s most holy name.
He brings God’s rule, O Zion; He comes from heav’n above.
His rule is peace and freedom, And justice, truth, and love.
Lift high Your praise resounding, For grace and joy abounding.
O blest is Christ that came In God’s most holy name.
Fling wide Your gates, O Zion; Your Savior’s rule embrace.
His tidings of salvation Proclaim in ev’ry place.
All lands will bow rejoicing, Their adoration voicing.
O blest is Christ that came in God’s most holy name.
PRAYERS OF CONFESSION (Unison)
God of light and life,
although You call us to a journey of faithful discipleship,
we often stray from Your path.
Because we have turned away from You,
we have ignored Your justice and righteousness;
we have refused to participate in Your mission;
and we have neglected to obey Your word.
Forgive us, Lord, and wash away the sin from our unclean lives.
As a potter fashions the clay,
reshape us into the people who follow You in courage and commitment,
so that Your truth would guide us and Your light would lead us in the way of
Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray.
(Silent)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS (adapted from 1 Corinthians 1:7-9)
Leader: As we await the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, God will strengthen us to the end,
so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
People: God is faithful, and God has called us into the fellowship of Jesus Christ our
Lord.
Leader: Friends, believe the good news of the gospel:
People: Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
HYMN O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Ken Heischman
O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer, Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Desire of nations, bind All peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife, and discord cease; Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
SCRIPTURE Isaiah 64:1-9
O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence — as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil — to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and
we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people.
MEDITATION “The People and the Potter”
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
HYMN Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates Ken Heischman
Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates, Behold, the King of glory waits;
The King of kings is drawing near; The Savior of the world is here!
Fling wide the portals of your heart; Make it a temple, set apart
From earthly use for heaven’s employ, Adorned with prayer and love and joy.
Redeemer, come! I open wide My heart to Thee; here, Lord, abide.
Let me Thy inner presence feel; Thy grace and love in me reveal.
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Invitation to the Table
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Words of Institution and Communion of the People
Prayer after Communion
BENEDICTION