Call to Worship by Cheryl Lawrie

 

We gather –
people of faith
and no faith,
people of hope
and no hope,
people of peace
and no peace.

 

we gather with the longing
to be made whole again
if just for this time, here
and now

 

we gather with a prayer,
however vague and tenuous,
that in spite of the absence
of virgins and angels,
wise men
and shepherds,
we might still be a witness
to the birth of all love.

 

we gather
as ready as we’ll ever be
for this story of faith to unfold.

 

Song – Angels We Have Heard On High

 

 

Scripture Reading – Isaiah 11:1-2

 

 

Song – O Come O Come Emmanuel

 

An Advent Creed by Allan Boesak

 

It is not true
that creation and the human family
are doomed to destruction and loss—

 

This is true:
For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish
but have everlasting life;

 

It is not true
that we must accept inhumanity and discrimination,
hunger and poverty, death and destruction—

 

This is true:
I have come that they may have life, and that abundantly.

 

It is not true
that violence and hatred should have the last word,
and that war and destruction rule forever—

 

This is true:
Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given,
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
his name shall be called wonderful councilor, mighty God,
the Everlasting, the Prince of peace.

 

It is not true
that we are simply victims of the powers of evil
who seek to rule the world—

 

This is true:
To me is given authority in heaven and on earth,
and lo I am with you, even until the end of the world.

 

It is not true
that we have to wait for those who are specially gifted,
who are the prophets of the Church
before we can be peacemakers—

 

This is true:
I will pour out my spirit on all flesh
and your sons and daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions
and your old men shall have dreams.

 

It is not true
that our hopes for liberation of humankind,
of justice, of human dignity of peace
are not meant for this earth and for this history—

 

This is true:
The hour comes, and it is now,
that the true worshipers shall worship God
in spirit and in truth.

 

So let us enter Advent in hope,
even hope against hope.
Let us see visions of love and peace and justice.
Let us affirm with humility, with joy, with faith, with courage:
Jesus Christ—the light of the world.

 

Scripture Reading – Matthew 1:18-25

 

18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. When Mary his mother was engaged to Joseph, before they were married, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph her husband was a righteous man. Because he didn’t want to humiliate her, he decided to call off their engagement quietly. 20 As he was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child she carries was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 Now all of this took place so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled:

 

 

(Emmanuel means “God with us.”)

 

24 When Joseph woke up, he did just as an angel from God commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he didn’t have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. Joseph called him Jesus.

 

Sermon Video

 

Song – Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

 

Advent Prayer of Intercession by Rev. Dr. Derek Browning

 

 

Eternal God, Sustainer and enlivener,
In Your hands You hold the gifts of hope and love, plenty and peace.
We bless You for Your infinite generosity and unhesitant mercy.

 

Father,
Knowing that we come to You as supplicants who can demand nothing,
yet still we are confident through faith
to lay before You the needs that press upon our lives.

 

For ourselves,
the hopes and hurts, the brightness and gloom
that populate our waking and our sleeping hours.
Help us to separate our needs from our wants,
that we may discern where priorities in our ordered lives should lie.
In a world where consumption rules
and many have become accustomed to plenty,
remind us of the privileges we take for granted,
and the bounty we believe is our right, and not Your gift.

 

Lord,
we pray for common-sense, and the touch of faithful humility
that marked the life of Your Son, our Savior.
that we may determine to live lives of kindliness and grace.

 

God of faithfulness and truth,
we pray for the world around us,
for peoples whose names we do not know
yet whose hurts fill the news,
and whose afflictions touch us not nearly long enough.
We can change a channel, or turn a page,
but they endure the long days and months
of famine and thirst,
of racial injustice,
of disease and virus,
of war and feud,
of corruption and despair.
Solutions may not be easy for all the ills of this world,
but in each hurting place send Your Spirit,
that those who do have the power to effect the changes
needed for justice, peace and honor
may use their power for wellbeing of all.

 

In this season of Advent, where many watch and wait,
be with those who at this time
wait by a hospital bedside,
watch anxiously for results in exams and tests
wait for news of an interview,
watch of a loved one to return.
May all who wait with anxiety continue in hope,
and all who watch with fearfulness continue with a steady heart.

 

We pray for the Church,
the family of hopeful people,
persistent in faithfulness and graciousness,
marked by a willingness to work in kindness
and not count the hours or the cost.
As the world darkens and the days grow short,
may our light, Christ’s light in us,
shine with a steady flame,
bringing light, bringing healing, and bringing hope.
And all for the sake of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

 

Benediction