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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.
The Way for Worship at Trinity United Church of Christ
December 18, 2022 Fourth Sunday of Advent 11am
*Gathering Music O Come, O Come Emmanuel verses 1 & 7 NCH 116
Greeting and Announcements Rev. Dr. Cathy Cook
Centering Music and lighting of altar candles
*Responsive Intent
One: Our souls magnify the Lord.
Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior!
All: We come today with eager hope, awaiting God’s new revelation.
One: The mighty One has done great things! God’s mercy covers generations.
All: We come today with ready peace, trusting with anticipation.
One: The One who lifted up the lowly And filled the hungry, dwells with us.
All: We come today with fervent joy, we worship with great expectation.
(Inspired by Luke 1:46b-55, The Magnificat)
Anthem Let it Be/Magnificat Lemon/McCartney/Lipe
Paraphrase of Modern Magnificat by Joy Cowley
Lighting of the Advent Candle Joy
Introduction/Scripture John 15:9-11
Leader: Soon we shall celebrate the birth of Jesus;
We worship God with joy in our hearts as we are reminded of the words the angel said on that first Christmas Day: “Behold I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people.”
As my Ab-ba’ has loved me, so have I loved you. Live on in my love.
And you will live on in my love if you keep my commandments, just as I live on in Ab-ba’ God’s love and have kept God’s commandments. I tell you all this that my joy may be yours, and your joy may be complete.
Advent Illumination Light One Candle trad. Yiddish, Wayne Wold, lyrics
Lighting of the Candle – Joy
Leader: We light this candle to proclaim the coming of the light of God into the world. With the coming of this light there is joy, joy that is ours not only at Christmas but always.
Prayer
Leader: O Holy One, as Christmas draws near; there is a sense of excitement in the air. We can feel joy in our lives and see it in those around us. Still, for some of us this is a sad time because of unhappy things that have happened in our lives. Help us to have the joy that does not depend on earthly happiness but on you. Help us to be filled with your joy so that we may share it with a joyless world.
In the name of Jesus Christ we pray.
All: Amen.
*Advent Hymn With Joy Draw Water NCH 109
Praying for All
Morning Prayer Concerns and Celebrations
Prayers of the People and Lord’s Prayer
Prayer Response: In Your mercy, hear our prayers. May there be healing, wholeness, and joy.
Our Mother-Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kindom 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 kindom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen
Hearing the Sacred Word
Anthem Who Will Make Him Welcome
words /music Fred Pratt Green, arr. Lloyd Larson
A Reading from the Gospels Matthew 1:18-25
Anthem Like A Child
words/music Don Damon, arr. David Cherwien
Sermon Joy to the World Rev. Nathan King
Giving of Our Gifts to God
Invitation to Offering
Offertory and Bringing of Our Gifts http://www.PayPal.me/CommaChurch
Instrumental Joy to the World arr. Mark Kellner
Praise Anthem How Great Our Joy trad. Christmas Carol arr. Hugo Jungst Chancel Choir
Prayer of Dedication
Going Forth with Good News
*Chiming of the Trinity (In the name of the Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit)
*Benediction
*Closing Song La Paz
El amor se-a contigo
El amor se-a contigo
May God’s love go with you, now and forever
El amor se-a contigo
Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from OneLicense with license #A714152
Celebrations in December
20 Michael & Sara F.
In Need of Prayers
– Family of Madorin
– Bob’s Dad
– Ashleigh’s grandmother
– Pat L.
– Helena’s dad
– Ralf T.
– Antonio
– Cindy R.
– Rev. Alan M.
– Revs. Jerry and Marion
– Raleigh NC
– Palestine/Israel
– Ukraine/Russia
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