for Sunday, 14 December 2008, #3

Liturgical Elements

Call to Worship:

Good News! Liberty! Release!

These words arc across the millennia carrying as much force and hope now as they did then.

We are people who seek the full peace which only God can offer.

Rejoice always! Give thanks!
Fill your mouths with laughter!

We gather together to hear the words that, generation after generation, have been handed down to us today so that they may guide and lead us.

We are people who wonder at the star in the heavens that announces a new reign.

Follow the light, People of God.
Seek the One who is to come and who will establish a realm over all the nations.

In the distance the heavens are ablaze and we gaze in wonderment and awe. We journey to find the anointed one who will save all humanity.

Let us worship God as our preparations for Immanuel continue this Advent.

Advent Story:
Following the Call to Worship, I'll get up to join you so that we can interview the congregation.

Advent Candlelighting:
At the end of the interview, please go over to the Table and light 3 candles on the Advent wreath--the 2 that are already lit and one new one. Then we'll sing our first hymn.

Unison Prayer:
adapted from A Poem of Call, Praise and Thanksgiving, by The Rev. Peter Panagore as found on this website http://www.dailydevotions.org/
from Isaiah 65:17-25

Come dreamers and doers,
Come romantics and pragmatists,
Come intuitives and rationalists,
Come one, come all, come hear,

Come listen to God's vision of true Utopia,
Of a new heaven and a new earth,
Where wolves and lambs dine together,
Where lions graze like oxen,
Where there will be —
For us,
For all who believe,

A feast for all,
A perfect joy,
A pure delight, and
A holy lasting peace,
Worthy of Praise & Thanksgiving.

We come to listen,
We open our hearts,
We open our souls,
To Adonai,
To our beloved God,
Who does as was promised.

May it be so among us this day.
Amen.

Liturgist's Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 which can be found here

Offering:
The special Christmas offering will be taken this Sunday. During the Gathering Time, a video clip from Sharon Watkins will be shown about the Christmas offering. 100% of the Christmas offering goes to support our region. More info about this offering is here.

Sermon Theme:
Right now, it looks like I'm going to focus on the John passage especially the 7th & 8th verses around the image of light.

for Sunday, 14 December 2008, #2

Hymns for this Sunday

Opening Hymn: People, Look East CH #142
Sermon Hymn: Our God, Our God, Thou Shinest Here words at this website music: Morning Song (CH # 130)
Communion Hymn: A Stable Lamp Is Lighted CH 141

for Sunday, 14 December 2008

3rd Sunday of Advent

Liturgist: DJ Kaley
Elder: DJ Kaley
Accompanist: Ann Willard
Music Leader: Lisa Haley
Preacher: Gerry Brague

Scripture:

• Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
• Psalm 126 OR Luke 1:47-55
  
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
• John 1:6-8, 19-28

To read the texts visit the Lectionary Page of Vanderbilt University's Divinity School.

For some information about these texts, visit Rev. John Shearman's analysis , which is the site for the analyses included in the weekly email newsletter.

More information will be posted later in the week.