This week: The first season of Advent – Jesus, the Light of the World
“So Let’s Begin,” message by Pastor Steve Scott
With Pastor Seongmin Kim
Ministry of Music: “O Come, O Come, Immanuel,” Wesley Chorale, Marie Severing, directorOrgan/piano: Brian Leeper
Featuring the lighting of the first Advent candle
Songs: All Earth is Waiting, Hymnal #210Emmanuel, Emmanuel, Hymnal #204People, Look East, Hymnal #202
Offering song:To the tune of “What Child is This,” Hymnal #219These gifts we bring to Christ the King,whose birth we laud and praise we sing.These offerings made this morn, we pray,will hasten angels bringing:Peace, peace upon the earth,the promise made at Jesus’ birth.Peace, peace upon the earth,the hope for which we’re singing.
– words by Steve Scott
Key scripture:Jeremiah 33:14-16The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”
Credits
InALiminalSpace.org, Finding Life Between Chapters
The Pastor’s Workshop
Thornton Wilder, The Skin of Our Teeth, Harper Collins Perennial Classics
Ted W. Engstrom, The Pursuit of Excellence, Grand Rapids: Zondervan 1982
Richard Rohr, Center for Action and Contemplation
Music Credits
Prelude: Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus, arr. Mark Hayes
O Come, O Come Emmanuel, arr. Alice Parker, Robert Shaw Postlude: People Look East, arr. Mark Sedio
Affirmation of Our Advent Faith
Together let us affirm our faith:
We believe that God has come to us;
that God brought us into being,
that this God gave us breath and purpose,
that we have been blessed to be a blessing to others,
that God has loved us despite our brokenness.
We believe that God is coming to us;
that this God will come to us as a particular human being,
that Mary will soon give birth and Joseph will soon clap his hands in joy,
that Jesus Christ will be born and our salvation made complete.
We believe that God will come to us;
that God will have the final word and that Word will be good,
that this God will give us the presence of the Spirit to continue our work,
that we are called to be disciples to all the corners of the earth,
that the day is coming when tears and pain will be no more,
and all will gather at the Table to sing an endless and perfect “Alleluia!”