Order of Service / Advent 1 / December 1, 2024

 *Gathering Hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (#1 VU | vs. 1,2)

Welcome& Land Acknowledgement

Advent Candle-Lighting with Call to Worship

  All Sing: VU 7 “Hope Is A Star” verse 1

One: On this first Sunday of Advent, we come with hope as a community of faith.

All: We watch, we wait, we wonder.

One: We come in hope for God’s promise to bring light to this world.

All: We wait in hope for the coming of Jesus, the Christ child.

One: As we light the first Advent candle, we take a moment to breathe in the Spirit of hope.

All Sing: VU 6 “A Candle is burning” verse 1

*Irma Nadeau. Gathering ACE 2024-2025. Page 73.

Opening Prayer

God of hope, on this first Sunday of Advent, fill us with hope for the world and for the church, knowing that Jesus, the Christ child, brings the light of hope. Amen.

*Irma Nadeau. Gathering ACE 2024-2025. Page 73.

*Opening Hymn God of All Places (#4 VU)

Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison)

We confess, O God, that we have not always been people who held on to hope. We have given into pessimism and despair. Instead of nurturing new life, we have torn it down. We have wandered away from your path to follow our own. You have broken into our midst time and time again. We would have seen you. But it was easier just to close our eyes. (a time of silent confession) Amen.

*Seasons of the Spirit ACE 2018-2019. Page 45.

Words of Assurance

One: Hear the good news. God does not remember our brokenness, our failings, the ways we have wandered away.

All: God’s love is steadfast, and God’s hope is never-ending! God remembers us! Thanks be to God!

*Seasons of the Spirit ACE 2018-2019. Page 45.

Announcements and Minute for Mission

Prayer for Illumination

Proclaiming the Scriptures

Jeremiah 33:14-16 A righteous branch from David’s line

Psalm 25:1-10 (VU p.752) To you, God, I lift my soul.

Luke 21:29-36 Parable of the fig tree.

This is the Good News from the Bible.

  Thanks be to God.

Anthem

Sermon

*Hymn All Earth Is Waiting (#5 VU)

*Offering

*Offertory Hymn (#55 VU | v. 4, In the Bleak Midwinter)

What can I give him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

if I were a wise man, I would do my part;

yet what I can I give him -- give my heart.

*Offertory Prayer (Unison)

Spirited God, your gift of hope comes to us through the advent of the Christ child. We offer these gifts back to you as signs of hope: hope that nestles into your loving presence, hope that these donations help turn the world upside down, hope that trusts in your promise of transformation, hope that opens us to strangers, to neighbours, to enemies, and to friends. Bless our journey on the Way of Jesus. Amen.

*Gord Dunbar. Gathering ACE 2024-2025. Page 33.

Sacrament of Communion

< All are welcome to this table.>

*This order of the communion is attributed to Advent Communion Liturgy of the United Church & Celebrate God’s Presence

Invitation to Communion

As we come to this table, we are reminded that this is the table of Jesus Christ, a banquet prepared for everyone. All who seek to be nourished and sustained in the journey of faith, all who seek wholeness and compassionate paths to peace and justice, are welcome here.  

Call to Give Thanks

One: God be with you.

  All: And also with you.

One: Lift up your hearts.

  All: We lift our hearts in prayer.

One: Let us give thanks to God.

  All: It is good to give God thanks and praise.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

We give you thanks, God of peace and promise. Through the words of your prophets and the faith of your followers you prepare the way of our salvation and bring hope to birth. And though we often grow weary of waiting, your signs call us to keep watch for that day when all things shall be made new. In assurance of this hope, we join with all the company of heaven and earth to give you praise:

The Song of Creation (#203 MV)

O holy, holy, holy God, O God of time and space.

All earth and sea and sky above bear witness to your grace.

Hosanna in the highest heav'n, creation sings your praise.

And blessed is the One who comes and bears your name always!

The Story Remembered

On the night before he died, it was Jesus who took a loaf of bread, gave you thanks, broke it, and said, “Take and eat; whenever you do this, remember me.”Likewise, after supper, he took the cup, saying, “This is the new covenant; remember me.”

Prayer of Self-Giving

Remembering your boundless love for us in Jesus Christ, we offer you our praise, as we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Affirmation of Memory and Hope (#204 MV)

Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen, Christ will come again! (X 2)

Prayer for Transformation

Send, O God, your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts, that all who share in this bread and cup may be the body of Christ:

Doxology Great Amen (#205 MV)

Amen, Amen, O Holy One! Hosanna and Amen! (X2)

Prayers of the People and Lord’s Prayer

Sharing of Bread and Wine

Prayer after Communion (Unison)

We thank you, God, for breaking into our world and pouring into our lives and our experiences. We thank you, God, for this meal of thanksgiving and the stories of love, grace, and hope that it tells. Amen.

*Closing Hymn Hark the Glad Sound (#29 VU)

*Commissioning

It is Advent. Prepare for the coming of Jesus.

    We will listen quietly and regularly for God’s word for us.

It is Advent. Prepare for the coming of Jesus.

    We will be aware of the needs within the circle of our community.

It is Advent. Prepare for the coming of Jesus.

    We will support our friends, who may be stressed, anxious, or grieving.

It is Advent. Prepare for the coming of Jesus.

    We will share in the Advent life of our faith community.

It is Advent. Prepare for the coming of Jesus.

    We will give thanks continually for God’s supreme gift of the Christ child.

God’s blessing will be yours in this journey, as Christmas comes near.

    O come Emmanuel, O come Emmanuel. Be with us always. Amen.

* Adapted from David Sparks, Gathering ACE 2022/2023. Page 33.

*Commissioning Song Prepare the Way of the Lord (#10 VU)

Prepare the way of the Lord! Prepare the way of the Lord! Make a straight path for him, make a straight path, prepare the way of the Lord! (x2)

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