Prelude Music to prepare for worship
Call to
Worship
- (Karen Ellis, Abingdon 2016)
"A light shines in the darkness. A prayer for peace is
uttered in the silence. God’s people gather to
wait with hope." We were reminded
that as we enter into this time of worship it is time to leave behind any
animosity within, which is incompatible with our approaching the God of love,
and to quieten our minds and focus on worshipping him.
Advent
Candle: Hope
Come let us worship
the God who invites us to enter this space we call Advent – a space of mindfulness where the life of the spirit
touches us at the point of deepest meaning and mystery...
Candle
Lighting
This is a time of
opportunity: opportunity to centre ourselves on one of the central events of
our faith. The event where in the darkness of our world we are given the
promise of being able to turn to the light. This is a time when we recall that
God is always present and to wait upon that presence. To open ourselves to that
presence, so that others will be aware of it within our lives.
Hymn TIS 265: “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
Opening Prayer
"God of hope, we come before you full of expectation
for what lies ahead." John continued to pray, speaking of the excitement
of the celebration to come and the need to prepare ourselves to be open to
God's grace: grace that will meet that longing for peace and reconciliation -
between ourselves; between us and God and throughout the whole world. If we do
this without holding back, anything is possible. Amen.
A Prayer of
Confession
Merciful God, how
many times have we wandered?...Loving God, help us turn our lives to you, that
we may be ready when your Son is born, among us and within us. Amen.
Declaration
of Forgiveness
Jesus proclaims, “Keep awake.” Brothers and
sisters, awaken to a new day— a day when our lives are filled with the
forgiveness and the mercy of our loving God. Thanks be to God!
The Peace. Peace be within you!
And also with you
Offering
Prayer
Holy One, take these
gifts and turn them into merciful actions for your children everywhere. May
these gifts be the spark that allows others to walk in your light, and to dwell
in your love. Amen.
Hymn TIS 276: "There's a
light upon the mountain”
The First
Reading:
Alan read to us from: Isaiah 2:1-5. Isaiah saw that the house of Jacob held the message that led to
wholeness and justice in the world. For me, there are people who live the
wisdom of God and to whom I look for example and inspiration.
Gospel
Reading: Matthew 24:36-44. This warns the people that they
will get no warning of the judgement. For those who live close to God, this is
not any sort of threat and not so important for us who have thrown ourselves
upon God's mercy.
For the Word of the
Lord. Thanks be to God.
Preaching of
the Word A View from Above - Isaiah 2:1-5
John reminded us of
all the extra pressure that people experience at Christmas time.
John told us of the
increase in depression and suicide rates at Christmas time and a medical
practitioner friend of mine told me that 3 o'clock Christmas Day sees the
highest number of psychiatric hospital admissions of the whole year.
It's the most joyous
time of the year, for Christians and many others but it doesn't require much
imagination to see why it all turns bad for some. How can we guard the
preciousness of Christmas while providing a special time for family and
friends?
"This time of
year we find ourselves trying to keep as much of the noise out as possible. The
text from Isaiah calls to us once again and asks us to grapple with the purpose
and meaning for being in worship on Advent’s first
Sunday. Is it not the place to which we come each week to hear a word from
above, a place to quiet the noise inside us to hear that “still, small voice”? I believe
so...
When we accept the
Advent's invitation to wait and wonder, to be awake and expectant, we find
ourselves in good company. This week Jesus tells his disciples he will return
at an unexpected time. He will arrive like a burglar breaking into a house. The
disciples are left to wait and wonder."
Hymn TIS 526: “Lord Jesus Christ,
you have come to us”
Intercessory
Prayers
Dear Lord, our
Heavenly Father, thank you for answered prayer and that you hear our cry for
help and comfort. Help us to wait for you. Our world is troubled by war and
terror and natural disasters. Grant us peace, please. We silently bring before
you the prayers of our hearts: the things that we don't want to talk about.
(Pause).Grant us peace dear Lord; show us your way. Help us to reach out to
others and show them your love. Delma then prayed for the concerns of the
congregation and following that, we joined in the Lord's Prayer.
Hymn TIS 274: “The people that in
darkness walked”
Benediction
Brothers and
sisters, our Advent journey has begun! Go from this place worshipping the one
who brings forth light and love, joy and hope. Go in peace in the name of God
creator, redeemer and giver of life. Amen.
Hymn TIS 778: “Shalom to you”
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