ORDER FOR WORSHIP
THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT
PRELUDE Sean Cotty
THE CHORAL CALL TO WORSHIP
Who Would Send a Baby? Mary Kay Beall
Who would send a baby to heal a world in pain?
Who would send a baby, a tiny child?
When the world is crying for the Promised One,
Who would send His only son?
Who would send a baby to light a world with love?
Who would send a baby, a tiny child?
When the world is hoping for the Promised One;
Who would send His only Son?
Who would choose a manger to cradle a king?
Who would send angels to sing?
Who would hang a star in the sky above
To shine on the gift of his infinite love?
Who would send a baby to bless a world with peace?
Who would send a baby, a tiny child?
When the world is hoping for the Promised One;
Who would send His only begotten Son?
* WELCOME/SALUTATION
* THE COLLECT
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to
preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation:
Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins,
that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our
Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
* THE GLORIA Hark! the Herald Angels Sing Hymn No.171
Advent Candle Lighting Sarran and Parker Families
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; the one who follows me will not walk in darkness but have the light of life.
We light this candle as a sign of the coming light of Christ.
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.” (Isaiah 9:2)
“I will lead the blind by a road they do not know, by the paths they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do.” (Isaiah 42:16)
"The LORD says to his servant, 'I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.'" (Isaiah 49:6)
Come, Lord Jesus, our light and life.
Until that day, let us walk in the light of the Lord.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
Offertory Infant Holy, Infant Lowly Gerre Hancock
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly - for his bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing, little knowing Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Swift are winging angels singing, Nowells ringing,
Tidings bringing, Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping vigil till the morning new;
Saw the glory, heard the story, tidings of a gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing, greet the morrow,
Christ the Babe was born for you!
*DOXOLOGY
*CAROL O Come, All Ye Faithful Hymn No.173
THE TABLEAU OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST
Inspired by the Children and Worship story approach, the Tableau of the Nativity was developed to tell the story of Jesus’ birth. The style of the readings and the “wondering” questions are similar to the Children and Worship stories, except that in the tableau, people rather than wooden figures help to tell the story.
A READING
Once in a time, a long time ago, God determined to
show LOVE to the world, in a way never before shown.
The showing of God’s Love is called CHRISTMAS!
It is a wonderful story!
It is a mystery which unfolds before our eyes!
Today we hear it told again, for us, here,
in this place said to be Holy,
because we are here and God is here, with us,
as together we go to Bethlehem.
THE CAROL O Little Town of Bethlehem (v.1) Hymn No.155
A READING
The story begins with the prophets.
Prophets listen to God and are messengers for God.
A long time ago, ISAIAH was a prophet who listened
and spoke the word of God.
This is what ISAIAH said: listen…
THE PEOPLE WHO WALKED IN DARKNESS HAVE SEE A GREAT LIGHT; THOSE WHO DWELT IN A LAND OF DEEP DARKNESS, ON THEM HAS LIGHT SHINED…FOR TO US A CHILD IS BORN…
The prophets said that the Christ of God would be born to a young woman.
His name would mean, GOD WITH US!
And that all would take place in a little town called Bethlehem.
REFLECTION
I wonder how the prophets listened to God?
I wonder how they knew it was God who spoke?
I wonder if there are still prophets today who can show us the way to Bethlehem?
I wonder what the way to Bethlehem is like?
THE CAROL O Little Town of Bethlehem (v.3) Hymn No.155
A READING
God uses other messengers too: they are called ANGELS.
There was an angel, a messenger from God, called Gabriel,
who carried a most important message…from God…
to a young woman whose name was …Mary.
Gabriel told Mary that she was very special to God.
She was the woman who would give birth to a child.
One day he would be called THE CHRIST OF GOD.
REFLECTION
I wonder how angels listen to God?
I wonder if there are still angels who are messengers from God?
I wonder where they are today, and what messages they have for us?
ANTHEM Gabriel’s Message K. Lee Scott
The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
"All hail,' said he, "thou lowly maiden Mary,
Most highly favored lady," Gloria!
"For known a blessed mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honor thee,
Thy son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold,
Most highly favored lady," Gloria!
Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,
"To me be as it pleaseth God," she said,
"My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name."
Most highly favored lady, Gloria!
Of her Emmanuel, the Christ was born
In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say:
"Most highly favored lady," Gloria!
A READING
Mary and Joseph, to whom she was engaged, are on their way to Bethlehem.
They hold a great secret in their hearts.
It is the secret of the angel, the one who came to Mary and said:
DO NOT BE AFRAID, MARY! BE JOYFUL!
YOU WILL HAVE GOD’S SPECIAL SON.
YOU WILL NAME HIM JESUS.
That night, a long, long night ago, they were
given shelter in an old barn.
It was filled with the warmth of the animals and
the smell of cattle feed and straw.
It was there that Jesus was born.
REFLECTION
I wonder how Mary felt when an angel spoke to her?
I wonder how Joseph felt?
I wonder what it would be like to have God’s special child, Jesus?
I wonder if they realized how special this night would be?
ANTHEM Silent Stars Joel Raney
Julia Aiello, soloist
Silent stars flood the earth with light.
Angels' songs gently ring through the night,
singing their lullaby of peace on earth;
sharing the news of the Savior's birth.
There's a song in the air! There's a star in the sky!
There's a mother's deep prayer, and a baby's low cry.
And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,
for the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!
Silent stars brighten the still, still night.
Sweet voices from heaven echo a mother's delight,
singing their lullaby of peace on earth;
sharing the new of the Savior's birth.
We rejoice in the light, and we echo the song
that comes down through the night from the heavenly throng.
And the star rains its fire while the beautiful song,
for the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!
A READING
There are shepherds in this story.
That long ago night, they were just doing
what shepherds do… KEEPING WATCH OVER THEIR SHEEP,
PROTECTING AND CARING FOR THEM.
The shepherds have good news to tell.
Another angel, another messenger from God, came to them, out there, in the fields and said:
DO NOT BE AFRAID! BE JOYFUL!
TODAY, A SAVIOR, GOD’S SPECIAL CHILD, IS BORN IN BETHLEHEM. YOU WILL FIND HIM LYING IN A MANGER, IN A CATTLE FEEDBOX, ALL TUCKED IN WITH CLOTHS TO KEEP HIM WARM AND SAFE.
REFLECTION
I wonder what the shepherds felt when an angel spoke to them?
I wonder how they felt on the way to Bethlehem?
THE CAROL Away in a Manger
Junior Choir
A READING
Today we come to the manger’s side, offering our gifts; our time, our service, even our very lives.
But the promise of Christmas has never been the gifts we bring, even the gifts we give to God.
The promise of Christmas is God’s gift to us;
The gift of HOPE AND JOY, PEACE AND LOVE,
JUSTICE AND MERCY.
When the child grew up and became all that God
intended him to be, he said:
I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD,
WHOEVER FOLLOWS ME WILL NOT WALK IN DARKNESS,
BUT WILL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE.
THE CAROL Angels We Have Heard on High Hymn No.152
A READING
God’s glory now, is kindled gentler than low candlelight under the rafter of a barn;
Eternal peace is sleeping in the hay.
And wisdom is born in secret
in a straw roofed stable.
--written by Howard Thurman
*PRESENTATION OF WHITE CHRISTMAS GIFTS
Joy to the World! Hymn No.146
*BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Cookies Needed
Will you give the Church on the Hill a box of home-baked cookies for the Wassail Hour on Christmas Eve after the Candlelight Service?
Mark the box "Christmas Eve Cookies" and bring it to the kitchen on Christmas Eve before the service or to the Church office during the week. Thank you.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service - Sunday, Dec. 24, 8pm
Followed by a wassail hour in Gessner Hour. All are invited.
Christmas Morning Communion Service – Monday, Dec. 25, 11am
Church Office and Building will be closed the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, except for worship services. We will re-open on Tuesday, January 2, 2018.
2018 Offering Envelopes are at the entrance of the church. If you do not see your box and would like one, put your name on the sign-up sheet.
Weekly Calendar
Tuesdays – No Bible Study this Tuesday, will resume Jan.16 with Pastor Blaine. The class will explore the book of Ruth.
Wednesdays, Yoga, 7:30 pm, Gessner Hall
No Yoga on Dec. 27 and Jan. 3.
Thursdays, Prayer Group, 6:00 pm, Folensbee Lounge
Liturgical Color: Blue
You may notice that this year our paraments for Advent are blue. While the traditional liturgical color for Advent is purple, over the past few decades there has been a growing interest to use blue. In the past, we have used purple for both Advent and Lent, signifying that both of these seasons are times of preparation in the life of the church. The use of blue has been in part to distinguish Advent and Lent from one another. In Advent, we are preparing for the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and the return of Jesus in the future, at which time he will restore all of creation and make all things new. Thus, this season of Advent is full of hope.
We are so grateful for the gift of these paraments from Messiah Lutheran Church and thankful for Ginny Chan's work in modifying them to fit our space.
Prayer List
Rosario Calco, Jose, Gracinda and David Cerqueira, Rosemarie Dappio, Dombrowski family, Joan Dwyer, Angela Edward, Rosemarie Graffeo, Rev. Jin Han, Lynne Johnson, Robert Keller, Kathy Kissane, Jason Knese, Ginny Marsico, Ann McCaffrey, Denise Moran, Stacey Muller, Joan Pearson, Keith Pearson, Megan Peters, Kook Ryo, Debra & Greg Sparrow