Call to Worship

 

God, who are the Most High Lord of all,
you have a surprising preference
for people who are small and humble
and who expect everything from you.
You chose Mary, the unassuming virgin from Nazareth,
to become the mother of your Son Jesus.
Through your Holy Spirit
make us aware of the poverty of our hearts,
that we may be open to you and welcome you,
be ready, like Mary, to serve you and your plans,
and expect everything from you.
Come to us and give yourself to us
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Scripture Reading – Luke 1:26-38

 

26 When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee, 27 to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary.28 When the angel came to her, he said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!” 29 She was confused by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you. 31 Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. 33 He will rule over Jacob’s house forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.”

 

34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen since I haven’t had sexual relations with a man?”

 

35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come over you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the one who is to be born will be holy. He will be called God’s Son. 36 Look, even in her old age, your relative Elizabeth has conceived a son. This woman who was labeled ‘unable to conceive’ is now six months pregnant. 37 Nothing is impossible for God.”

 

38 Then Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

 

Song – It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

 

Scripture Reading – Luke 1:39-45

 

 

39 Mary got up and hurried to a city in the Judean highlands. 40 She entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 With a loud voice she blurted out, “God has blessed you above all women, and he has blessed the child you carry. 43 Why do I have this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45 Happy is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill the promises he made to her.”

 

Prayer of the People

 

Heavenly Father, we enter this season with song, wreath and lessons. The very coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is near. Stir up in us a yearning heart, an open mind, a spirit seeking your Spirit as company for our journey of faith. And when the day of birth for Jesus finally comes, may He be born in each of us also.

 

Stir up your power and come:

 

Lord Jesus Christ, you have come and are coming. You have been here from the beginning, you have been here in time, and now you come to us in this very hour. You remind us about yet another day, and another hour, another coming of which no one knows the moment, except the Father. You bid us to be ready.

 

Stir up your power and come:

 

Known to us, Lord, are persons with needs beyond our own ability to fix. We thank you for all who attend to the sick, the weary, and the ones who feel separated from you, the church, even each other. Hear our prayers for those whom we name who need a special measure of your grace. As you come to them and be their healer, hear us pray.

 

Stir up your power and come:

 

In a world of rich resources, help us remember the poor, not only in memory, but also in love, for they are our siblings. Use our caring, giving, helping, and living with the poor as ways to be your incarnation. And may we see you incarnate in them.

 

Stir up your power and come:

 

We yearn, Father, for the day when nations shall beat their swords into plowshares. We yearn for the day of peace, when we can all walk in the gentle light of Christ. We look to your Son, who lived another way, taught a different lesson, and emanated the Holy Spirit. He is the Messiah, and through Him we boldly pray.

 

Stir up your power and come:

 

All the earth, seas, and heavens are yours, and we pray these prayers because you have promised to listen to us. Amen.

 

Scripture Reading – Luke 1:46-56

 

46 Mary said,

 

“With all my heart I glorify the Lord!
47 In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior.
48 He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant.
Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored
49 because the mighty one has done great things for me.
Holy is his name.
50 He shows mercy to everyone,
from one generation to the next,
who honors him as God.
51 He has shown strength with his arm.
He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations.
52 He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty-handed.
54 He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,
remembering his mercy,
55 just as he promised to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.”

 

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.

 

Sermon Video

 

Song – Joy to The World

 

Prayerful Poem By Roddy Hamilton

 

Create a throne room for yourself here, O Christ,
but let it be the empty seat beside the anxious
the lonely chair next to the confused
the vacant pew next to the hungry
and reign, O Jesus,
as sovereign over the forgotten

 

May your reign be a mockery to the world
but good news to those who seek out truth
and may we join them in the search
finding you walking the streets
or breaking bread
or sitting by bedsides

 

May we find you in border areas
on the edge of things
crossing over with the foreigner

 

May we find you among children
learning to finger paint
as teachers to those who long to enjoy life again

 

May we find you with the worried
silenced with nothing to say
and space enough to keep it

 

May we find you on the wrong side of the tracks
going where you should not
and finding a place to lay your head among the lost

 

May we find you singing our songs
of justice and peace
and removing your crown to do so

 

May we find you with a word that lives
in the hopes of the afraid
and a comforting peace for those who are broken

 

May we find you laughing at the powerful
unnerving what folk think so secure
while welcoming those who have nothing into your throne room

 

O Jesus, reigning in the world
with your upside down kingdom
may we find the faith to stand with you
sovereign of life
and servant of all

 

Benediction