We held virtual worship on Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 10:00am. You may watch a recording on Facebook by clicking here, or you may watch below.
the things in my life to which i have said no over and over
before relinquishing to a faint, reluctantly inevitable ‘yes’
have been the best -by far- things i’ve done.Cheryl Lawrie
WELCOME TO ADVENT 3 CJ & Lisa Arnold
CALL TO WORSHIP unknown author
Here we are in our houses, Lord.
Dare we ask you to move us?
Dare we ask you to fill us?
Dare we ask you to build our souls
into a home for you, Lord?
Rejoice like Mary! Dance from the depths of your soul!
The Mighty One has done great things! Holy is God’s name.
God showed mercy to our ancestors, mercy to our children.
God dethroned the masters and crowned the slaves.
The Mighty One has done great things! Mercy is God’s name.
God shone light on the tears of the dispossessed.
God turned their sorrows into dancing.
The Mighty One has done great things! Redeemer is God’s name.
God filled the mouth of the child in famine.
God filled the promise of saving this world.
The Mighty One has done great things! Fulfiller is God’s name.
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE Maren Tirabassi
In our homes
we gather around wreaths
to pray our lost hopes,
broken peace, limited joys,
and love so hard to find and share
in this season of coronavirus.
We affirm that our candles mean
we claim the power to call this season Advent–
when God’s light comes into the world
nothing can overcome it.
Last week we lit the Candles of Hope and Peace
We now light the Candle of Joy in spite of missing so many things we thought were essential to a merry Christmas (share the things you miss)
God’s joy ignites embers under loss and sorrow
and brightens the path to love. Amen.
YOUNG PEOPLE’S MESSAGE Danielle Sturgeon & Family
OPENING TO GOD janrichardson.com
For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting,
the child in my womb leaped for joy. —Luke 1.44
You can prepare
but still
it will come to you
by surprise
crossing through your doorway
calling your name in greeting
turning like a child
who quickens suddenly
within you
it will astonish you
how wide your heart
will open
in welcome
for the joy
that finds you
so ready
and still so
unprepared.
GOSPEL LESSON Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
GOSPEL LESSON Luke 1:39-45
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb.
And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
And Mary said:
RESPONSE Magnificat
Mary said:
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
who has looked with favor on me, a lowly servant girl.
From this day all generations will call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me:
holy the name of the Lord,
whose mercy is on the God-fearing
from generation to generation.
The arm of the Lord is filled with strength,
scattering the proudhearted.
God cast the mighty from their thrones,
lifting up the lowly.
God filled the hungry with good things,
sending the rich away empty.
God has come to the help of Israel,
the Lord’s servant, remembering mercy,
the mercy promised to our forebears,
to Abraham and his children for ever.
REFLECTION Good News, Better News Mitchell & Barb
MUSIC O Come, O Come Emmanuel music & photos
by Kathryn Parker
PRAYER FOR THE WEEK Barbara Lemmel
In this time of Advent
we await your coming among us, O Holy One
on that O Holy Night
and we are already so tired of waiting
for the pandemic to end
for a loving touch
for a creation renewed
for a world where all are valued
for wisdom and grace in our leaders
and in ourselves.
In our weariness and our waiting, O Holy One
hear our deepest longing
for a new heaven and a new earth
for righteousness to be our home
for You to be our home.
In our weariness and our waiting, O Holy One
remind us that your kin-dom is already among us
that this heaven and earth are already full of your glory
that in You we are already at home.
Make of us a refuge of righteousness
for all who long for home
for all who long for You.
SHARING PRAYERS & LORD’S PRAYER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Partita on People Look East music & photos
by Kathryn Parker
