Open and Affirming of ALL God’s Children
Second Sunday of Advent – Candle of Peace
December 4, 2022
This service will be on Facebook Live at 10:00 a.m.
Silent Prayer
O Root of Jesse, O Peace, stir up your power within us, that in this time we may await with abundant expectation the fulfillment of your eternal presence in creation, for you live and reign among us, Maker, Savior, and Giver of Life, one God, now and forever. Amen
* Indicates points in the service when we stand in body or spirit
Announcements
Prelude A Nativity Suite Wilbur Held
Welcome
Introit Arise, Your Light is Come! R #167
Arise, your light is come! The Spirit’s call obey;
Show forth the glory of your God which shines on you today.
*Call to Worship & Advent Candle Lighting * Peace
Reader Two: Because hatred is still so strong, because so many swords have not yet been remade into ploughshares, we light a candle of peace… (Light the second candle in your Advent wreath.)
All: May the light from this candle overwhelm the world.
Reader One: May the light from this candle say to all that God’s peace is coming, on earth as it already is in heaven.
Reader Two: Friends, be not afraid, God’s peace is at hand!
*Passing of the Peace (ASL)
*Hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (vs. 1,2,6,7) B. #116
1 O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Child of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!
2 O come, O Wisdom from on high, and order all things far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show, and help us in that way to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!
6 O come, O Day-spring, come and cheer our spirits by your advent here;
Love stir with-in the womb of night, and death’s own shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!
7 O come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind;
Make envy, strife and quarrels cease;
fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!
*Invocation (spoken in unison)
Your word, Holy God, was written for our instruction. By your Holy Spirit open our ears
and fill us with the mysteries of your ancient love; through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen
Children’s Message
Old Testament Reading Isaiah 11:1-10
New Testament Reading Matthew 3:1-12
Special Music Rejoice, Rejoice! Latin Carol set by Thomas Mack (David’s brother)
MessageHymn Now Bless the God of Israel B. #110
Now bless the God of Israel, who comes in love and power,
who raises from the royal house deliverance in this hour.
Through holy prophets God has sworn to free us from alarm,
to save us from the heavy hand of all who wish us harm.
Remembering the covenant, God rescues us from fear,
that we might serve in holiness and peace from year to year;
And you, my child, shall go before to preach, to prophesy,
That all may know the tender love, the grace of God most high.
In tender mercy, God will send the day-spring from on high,
Our rising sun, the light of life for those who sit and sigh.
God comes to guide our way to peace, that death shall reign no more.
Sing praises to the Holy One! O worship and adore!
Prayers of the People – Sharing Joys & Concerns
Lead me Lord, lead me in thy righteousness, make thy way plain before my face.
For it is thou Lord, thou Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety.
Invitation to Offering – Come with gratitude and joy to the table of the Lord.
Bring the works of your hands and the gifts of your lives as an offering of praise.
Offertory The Angel Gabriel Basque Carol/ Lau
*The Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God for all that love has done; Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One. Amen
*Prayer of Dedication (spoken in unison)
We give you thanks and praise, O God, that you have built us up in faith and bound us together in love. By your grace, may all that we do show the glory of your name and serve the good of your people. Amen
*Communion Hymn I Come with Joy R. #313
I come with joy, a child of God, forgiven, loved and free,
the life of Jesus to recall, in love laid down for me,
in love laid down for me.
I come with Christians far and near to find, as all are fed,
the new community of love in Christ's communion bread,
in Christ's communion bread
As Christ breaks bread, and bids us share, each proud division ends.
The love that made us, makes us one, and strangers now are friends,
and strangers now are friends.
The Spirit of the risen Christ, unseen, but ever near,
is in such friendship better known, alive among us here,
alive among us here.
Together met, together bound by all that God has done,
we'll go with joy, to give the world the love that makes us one,
the love that makes us one.
The Lord’s Supper
Stations of the Creche – Rev. Maren Tirabassi
Stations of Welcome
Reader One: Come to this table, for you are welcomed by a star, that guides even those who feel lost, even those who feel distant from the oasis of “church,” and those who need someone to receive their gifts.
Reader Two: Come to this table, for you are welcomed by an innkeeper, who recognizes that no “room” always means finding another kind of space, and who can do magic with life’s leftovers
to feed hungry, tired shepherds.
Reader Three: Come to this table, for you are welcomed by a manger, friendly beasts in the story – cow, dove, donkey, lambs – any holy memory of a companion animal you’ve known.
Stations of Remembering
Reader One: On the Advent journey, we remember a family said, “yes” – Mary, who would feed the Child of God, as we are fed by this sacrament, and Joseph, who loved her, and built tables like this one for a whole town.
Reader Two: On the Advent journey, we remember Elizabeth who sheltered Mary in a time of rejection and Zechariah who learned silence, as they carried their own God-given child. We let Communion nurture our hope and teach us love.
Reader Three: On the Advent journey, we remember the Magnificat, how Jesus lived that song in ministry and the indiscriminate love of a Passover bread and cup for all.
Prayer of Consecration
Pastor TJ: Word made flesh and gift divine, who offers us hope, peace, joy and love, all the year long, we pray for your Spirit of starlight and Gloria, upon these gifts which are ours and yours,
even as our lives are yours and ours, today and always. Amen
Sharing of the Elements
Pastor TJ: This gift is more precious than gold – eat this bread and be rich inside.
All: Amen
Pastor TJ: This gift is poured out like myrrh – drink this cup and know you are precious in God’s sight.
All: Amen.
Sharing of the Elements Pastor TJ: The gifts of God for the people of God. Come, for all things are ready.
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Stations of Thanksgiving All: Gracious God, we give thanks for your messages that feel like angels, care that is like a shepherd, and the joy to the world in gathering around this table in this season of waiting. Strengthened by this meal, may we notice and care for all those who are rejected, unhoused, fleeing for their lives from danger without and within. As we go forth, O Holy One, may it truly be by another way. Amen
*Blessing
*Sung Benediction Go With Us, Lord R. #336
Go with us, Lord, and guide the way through this and every coming day,
That in your Spirit strong and true our lives may be our gift to you.
(Please remain seated for the Postlude)
Many thanks to those who helped make this service possible –
in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
Music Minister – Debbie Riley
Deacons – Nick Davis, Robin Long, & Pat Summerer
Liturgist – David Wildes
Graphics Minister – Cynthia Wood
Audio-Video Support – Mike Summerer
(Mike Summerer is happy to teach others this simple task. Please inquire…)
Office Secretary – Vicky Espling
Settled Minister – Rev. TJ Mack
The Body of Christ – You
Support our Church Financially
Please visit Hancock (Maine) UCC on Facebook or our webpage www.hancockucc.org
or visit this link to our PayPal account: paypal.me/hancockucc
or mail offerings to:
Union Congregational Church, PO Box 443, Hancock, ME 04640 (Attention: Treasurer)
Contact Us
207.422.3100 207.323.6743
Resources
enfleshed: liturgies that matter and Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion
Communion Liturgy – Maren Tirabassi – Gifts in Open Hands blogsite
"Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #A-738532. All rights reserved.”
Arise, Your Light is Come!
Words - ©1992 GIA Publications, Inc.
Contributors: Ruth Duck
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - Public Domain
Words and Music - ©2009 Public Domain
Words and Music - ©1992, 2010 GIA Publications, Inc.
Contributors: Ruth Duck, Norah Duncan
I Come with Joy
Words - ©1995 Hope Publishing Company
Contributors: Brian Wren
Words - ©1990 Hope Publishing Company
Contributors: Mary Jackson Cathey
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