Image: Detail from St. John the Baptist Preaching by Rembrandt Van Rijn
©Order of Worship December 05, 2021
Second Sunday of Advent – Peace
For the Avent Ferry UMC Worship Video Click Here (Link opens in a new window)
The worship video will be available live at 11:00 am.
Text for hymns are found below each hymn. Click on the hymn highlighted text for music.
Call to Worship: “Emmanuel, Emmanuel”…………Kellen M.
Words and Music by Bob McGee © 1976 C. A. Music
Coming of the Light……………………………………Evan G.
Greetings……………………………………………Pastor Steven
Opening Prayer: ……………………………….……Brianna M.
Lighting of the Advent Candle……….…Lorri B. and Bill B.
Opening Hymns:
“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” #196 UMH
Words: Charles Wesley, 1744
Music: Rowland H. Prichard, 1830; harmony from The English Hymnal, 1906
1. Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
2. Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.”
“Toda la Tierra” (All Earth Is Waiting) #210 UMH
Words: Catalonian text by Alberto Taulé,1972
English trans. By Gertrude C. Suppe, 1987
Music: Alberto Taulé trans. 1989 The UM Publishing
House; harm. © 1988 Skinner Chávez-Melo
1.All earth is waiting to see the Promised One, and
the open furrows, the sowing of the Lord. All the world,
bound and struggling, seeks true liberty; it cries out for
justice and searches for the truth.
1.Toda la tierra espera al Salvador
y el surco abierto la obra del Señor; es el
mundo que lucha por la libertad, reclama
justicia y busca la verdad.
2.Thus says the prophet to those of Israel, “A virgin
mother will bear Emmanuel,” for his name is “God with
us,” our brother shall be, with him hope will blossom
once more within our hearts.
2.Dice el profeta al pueblo de Israel.
“De madre virgen ya viene Emmanuel”, será
“Dios con nosotros”, hermano será, con
él la esperanza al mundo volverá.
The Apostles’ Creed, Traditional Version
I believe in God the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord:
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead and buried;
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and
the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Old Testament Lesson: Malachi 3:1-4………………Brianna M.
1 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight–indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap;
3 he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.
4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.
Giving of our tithes and offerings …………………Elizabeth B.
You can do this with no fee through your bank’s online bill pay option. It is easy to set up for automatic monthly giving. Or, you can use this link: Online Giving
Offertory Response: “The Doxology” #95 UMH
Words: Thomas Ken, 1674 Music: Attr. to Louis Bourgeois, 1551
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Prayer after receiving…………………………………Pastor Steven
Hymn of Preparation:
“Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” #216 UMH
Words: Sts. 1-2 15th cent. German; trans. By Theodore
Baker, 1884; st.3 from The Hymnal, 1940
Music: Alte Catholische Geistliche Kirchengesang, 1599
Harm. by Michael Praetorius, 1609 St. 3 © 1940, 1943
Renewed 1971 The Church Pension Fund
1.Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem
hath sprung! Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as those of
old have sung. It came, a floweret bright, amid the
cold of winter, when half spent was the night.
2.Isaiah ‘twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
with Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind.
To show God’s love aright, she bore to us a
Savior, when half spent was the night.
3.O Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness
fills the air, dispel in glorious splendor the darkness
everywhere. True man yet very God, from sin and
death now save us, and share our every load.
Gospel Lesson: Luke 3:1-6……………………………Brianna M.
1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene,
2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth;
6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'”
Sermon: …………”Come Back Home”………………Pastor Steven
Anthem: “Gesu Bambino”, an Italian Christmas carol composed by Pietro Yon in 1917………………………………………Kellen M
Prayers of the People…………………………………Pastor Steven
Holy Communion:
Liturgy, prayers and responses are located below the order of worship.
Communion Instrumental Music: “Sing Joy!”….…Mark B.
Traditional, arr. By Mark Hayes, © MMIII by Alfred Publishing Co., Inc
Closing Hymn:
“Angels from the Realms of Glory” #220 UMH
Words: James Montgomery, 1816 Music: Henry T. Smart, 1867
1.Angels from the realms of glory, wing your flight o’er
all the earth; ye who sang creation’s story
now proclaim Messiah’s birth.
Come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn King.
2.Shepherds, in the field abiding, watching o’er your
flocks by night, God with us is now residing;
yonder shines the infant light.
Come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn King.
3.Sages, leave your contemplations, brighter visions
beam afar; seek the great Desire of nations;
ye have seen his natal star;
Come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn King.
4.Saints, before the altar bending, watching long in
hope and fear; suddenly the Lord, descending,
in his temple shall appear:
Come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn King.
Dismissal with Blessing …….…………………..…Pastor Steven
Postlude: “Coming Hope”………….……………………by Greg D.
CONFESSION & PARDON
Pastor Steven: Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
All pray in silence.
Pastor Steven: Hear the good news:
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; that proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
All: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
All: Glory to God. Amen.
THE PEACE
Let us offer one another signs of reconciliation and love.
All, including the pastor, exchange signs and words of God’s peace by crossing hands, wave to one another due to social distancing guidelines.
Pastor Steven: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Pastor Steven: Lift up your hearts. The pastor may lift hands and keep them raised.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Pastor Steven: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Pastor Steven: And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Pastor Steven: In union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
All: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pastor Steven: All honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and forever.
All: Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER*
Pastor Steven: And now, with the confidence of children of God, let us pray:
All: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
BREAKING THE BREAD
GIVING THE BREAD AND CUP
Elements are consecrated by the Pastor at this point. Elements are also sealed and prepackaged for sanitary reasons and in accordance with CDC and state guidance on COVID-19.
Ushers will call people one by one to come to the Lord’s table to take the consecrated elements which are pre-packaged with grape juice on one side and wafer on the other side. You will walk back to your seat and partake in eating and drinking the body and blood of Christ.
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