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Prelude
Welcome and Announcements Lighting the Advent Candle of Hope Bonnie Draper and Nancy McIntosh Reader 1: Advent is a time of holy expectation. Of waiting. Of preparing for the coming of Christ Child. For the four Sundays before Christmas, we prepare ourselves by recalling both the prophecies that foretold of Christ’s coming and the gospel stories of his birth. In prayer, we examine our hearts and reflect on our life of faith. We consider the needs of the world, as well as the needs of those close to home. We seek a fresh sense of God’s presence and power for the year ahead. Reader 2: On this first Sunday, we light the candle of hope. We light this candle as a sign of the coming light of Christ. The prophet Isaiah announced: We are preparing ourselves for the days when the nations shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up swords against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. Isaiah 2:4 Reader 1: Prayer Eternal God, through long generations you prepared a way for the coming of your Son, and by your Spirit, you still bring light to illumine our paths. Renew us in faith and hope that we may welcome Christ to rule our thoughts and claim our love, as Lord of Lords and King of Kings, To whom be glory forever. Amen. Book of Common Worship, Westminster, John Knox Press, 1993, Louisville, Ky. *Hymn 82 Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus Prayer of Confession God of the future, you are coming in power to bring all nations under your rule. We confess that we have not expected your kingdom, for we live casual lives, ignoring your promised judgment. We accept lies as truth, exploit neighbors, abuse the earth, and refuse your justice and peace. In your mercy, forgive us. Grant us wisdom to welcome your way, and to seek things that will endure when Christ comes to judge the world. Amen. Hymn 698 Take, O Take Me As I Am Assurance of Pardon Surely God is our salvation. We will trust in God and not be afraid, for the Lord God is our Strength and Might. Shout aloud and sing for joy…for great in our midst is the Holy One of Zion, and he will save the people from their sins. Know you are forgiven and live in God’s peace. Old Testament Reading Isaiah 64:1-9 Time With Our Young Disciples Gospel Reading Mark 13:24-37 The Morning Message “In my beginning is my end.” These are the words of TS Elliot in Four Quartets. Much of what we believe about God and Jesus is reflected therein: the God who made us will be the God who judges us; Christ is the Alpha and the Omega; the God who created the world out of nothing will at its consummation be “all in all.” So, with ritual cycles. We begin them where we end. The Advent season begins the liturgical year and the lectionary cycle with stories about the end times. In fact, we’ve been visiting those scriptures for a few weeks now. These scriptures say, “Stay awake! Live in expectation!” Watch for the signs of God!” Watch for the signs of the reign of God!” But in our end is our beginning: the signs of God’s reign point us to something new and unfamiliar. The colors for Advent are deep blue or purple. For some, the blue reflects the color of late Autumn’s night, a sky lit by moon and stars. The days are short. The long nights mark the end of the year’s growing season. But the long nights are fertile ground for dreaming- imagine the desert blossoming and sheltering a mother and child; imagine peace prevailing; imagine God all in all. Joseph dreams in this season-of the child to be here soon, whom he is to name Emmanuel, God-with-us. Advent is a perfect time to enrich your experience of the birth of Jesus. Whether it is visiting a museum, or attending a concert, taking a cooking class, reading Christmas stories to your grandchildren, making crafts- whatever it is, find some way to enjoy and appreciate the creative aspect of Christmas. The birth of Jesus has inspired amateurs and masters. It will inspire you. Sometimes we find hope closer to home. Our neighbors across the street have a set of 7 year-old twin grandchildren-a boy and a girl. Their father posts their activities on Facebook and I love to see them. Their arrival was a grand surprise. Their mother was diagnosed with cancer a few years before she married. Her treatment was successful and she moved on with her life. She pursued a good career. She married. She and her husband started a family. They were over the moon about the promise of becoming parents of not one, but two babies. So, every time I see those Facebook posts, I silently give thanks for this tremendous blessing. Maybe you find signs of God’s in-breaking reign in doing for others, helping in a time of crisis, being the friend who listens, or sitting with the suffering, simply bearing witness to their pain. Maybe you work for needed change in a public way. This takes heaps of courage. Last week, during lunch, I learned that Charlie Seay has changed jobs. He is not on patrol any longer for the Barboursville Police Department. He is a Resource Officer for two elementary schools in our community. He is working within the school system to inspire positive student behavior, hoping to prevent some of the behaviors that rob young people of success later on in life. Last night we had run to Kroger for a few staples in case we got snow. I had stayed in the truck with the dog while Ed shopped. When he came back to the truck to load the groceries, I heard a man approach my husband and ask if our Thanksgiving was a nice one. And then he thanked him for looking out for his daughter. The daughter is a high school student and had been in one of Ed’s choirs. They live across the street from my mother and we had watched her grow up. Of course he would be watching out for her. I know that warmed Ed’s heart and it reminded me that even though our kids had flown the nest years ago, he didn’t stop caring about young people. Advent is a fertile time to watch and dream, to look for surprises, to notice Christ-like behavior in others and thank them for it, to go out of your way to demonstrate you care. The world’s needs are great. God is greater. It was for this season that Miriam Therese Winter penned these lovely lines: Root of Jesse Rising From many an ancient prophecy Promised child To all who would be reconciled Breaks through at last. A virgin shoot accepts God’s seed Bows to the Mighty Deed. One branch Bears bud, flower, fruit: Christ blossoms on David’s root. Lord, you are stem, stalk, tree! Let your fruit take root in me. *Hymn 106 Prepare the Way, O Zion *Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed p. 35 *Hymn 581 Gloria Patri Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings Offertory *Christmas Doxology Tune: Infant Holy, Infant Lowly Glory be to God the Father, glory be to Christ the Son. Glory to the Holy Spirit, glory to the Three in One. Here we offer to you gladly all the gifts that you impart, as we glory in your presence, giving from a grateful heart. Copyright @ 2003 Brenda J. Heard *Prayer of Dedication Holy One, in this season, we wait in hope and we give in hope: hope for your coming reign, hope of your presence with us even now. Receive our gifts, that they may be used to bring hope to our much-loved community and beyond. Amen. *Hymn 92 While We Are Waiting, Come *Blessing Go now, and let the Lord steer you in the way of truth. Be on your guard so that you will not be caught up in the anxieties of the world. Be alert at all times and pray for strength to avoid the obstacles that would keep you from God. *Postlude Comments are closed.
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PastorCinda Harkless Archives
April 2025
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