Join us online live at 11am on Sunday at http://facebook.com/CommaChurch
A caution regarding Prayers of the People online: Folks gathered in-person often recount a lot of detail in their prayers concerning other members or family (“Elderly Name, living alone, experiencing isolation…”). In a private, in-person gathering, this information may be safe, but online, it can expose vulnerable people to harm, since we can’t control who will join the gathering or access it later online. Please contact the Pastor directly by text or phone with prayer requests. Pastor Nathan will be prudent in offering prayers i.e. “For First name only, in need of healing”; “For First name only, comfort in grief” etc. Please contact the pastor directly with news of those needing extra pastoral care.
A Children’s Worship Sheet is at bottom of this order of worship.
The Way for Worship at Trinity United Church of Christ
December 13, 2020 The Third Sunday of Advent
10:58 a.m. Gathering Music
La Paz Sea Contigo by Dosia Carlson No. 197 Sing! Prayer and Praise
La paz sea contigo. La paz sea contigo.
May God’s peace be with you, now and forever,
La paz sea contigo.
El amor sea contigo. El amor sea contigo.
May God’s love be with you, now and forever.
El amor sea contigo.
El espíritu sea contigo. El espíritu sea contigo.
May God’s spirit be with you, now and forever.
El espíritu sea contigo.
11:00 a.m. Greeting and Announcements
Centering Music and lighting of altar candles Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (LO, EST EIN ROS). Praetorius 1609
Responsive Intent Lighting of the Advent Candle
One: In times like ours, joy can be hard to summon.
Many: In times like ours, joy can be hard to even imagine.
One: And still the season beckons us to make merry.
Many: And yet the scriptures tell us to “rejoice always.”
One: It sounds almost ludicrous.
Many: It borders on outrageous.
One: How can we rejoice under the burden of so much injustice?
Many: How can we rejoice under the pall of so much death?
One: It’s enough to make those who are alone feel lonely,
Many: It’s enough to make the grieving or depressed feel sadder still.
One: But ours is not a joy dependent on circumstances.
Many: Our joy is not derived from measurable outcomes.
One: Advent invites us to rejoice in God’s coming.
Many: Even as we watch and wait and aren’t sure what that means.
One: Advent invites us to rejoice in all the ways God’s love is with us.
Many: Even as it empowers us to be true to all we feel.
One: It won’t be long now ‘til the blessed babe is born.
Many: We rejoice in the true light shining its way into the world.
Candles are lit, silence is kept.
All: For such a time as this, may our joy be full.
Response: O Come, O Come Emmanuel NCH No.116 Verses 1, 7
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Child of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!
O come, Desire of Nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind;
Make envy, strife, and quarrels cease; fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!
Morning Prayer Concerns and Celebrations
Prayers of the People and Lord’s Prayer
Our Mother-Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.
Hearing the Sacred Word
Anthem Come, Come, Immanuel By Jay Althouse One License # )113633
Sermon “That Our Joy May Be Full” Rev. Nathan King
A Reading from the Prophets Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins,
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
For I the Lord love justice,
I hate robbery and wrongdoing;[b]
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their descendants shall be known among the nations,
and their offspring among the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge
that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
my whole being shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.
A Reading from the Gospels Luke 1:46b-55
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
Giving of Our Gifts to God
Invitation to Offering www.paypal.me/commachurch
Offertory and Bringing of Our Gifts My Soul Give Glory to My God One License #91855
Praise Response Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessing flow;
Praise God all creatures here below.
Praise God above you heavenly hosts.
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication
Going Forth with Good News
Chiming of the Trinity (In the name of the Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit)
Benediction
Postlude La Paz Sea Contigo by Dosia Carlson
La paz sea contigo. La paz sea contigo.
May God’s peace be with you, now and forever,
La paz sea contigo.
El amor sea contigo. El amor sea contigo.
May God’s love be with you, now and forever.
El amor sea contigo.
El espíritu sea contigo. El espíritu sea contigo.
May God’s spirit be with you, now and forever.
El espíritu sea contigo.
Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from OneLicense with license #A714152
Celebrations in December
20 Michael & Sara F.
Children’s Worship Sheet
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