Order of Service / Advent 4 / December 22, 2024

 *Gathering Hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (#1 VU|vs. 1&7)

Welcome & Land Acknowledgement

Advent Candle-Lighting with Call to Worship

All Sing: VU 7 “Hope Is A Star” verse 4

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

All: We watch, we wait, we wonder.

One: When we feel God’s unfailing love, we are able to give love to - and receive it from - our families, our friends, our community of faith, and, yes, even those we find hard to love. There is enough love for all.

All: We experience God’s love in the greatest gift for all of us, in the birth of Jesus, who is bringing love to the world.

One: As we light the fourth candle in our wreath, we breathe in the Spirit of love.

All Sing: VU 6 “A Candle is burning” verse 4

*Irma Nadeau. Gathering ACE 2024-2025. Page 73-74.

Opening Prayer

God of love, we give thanks for your unfailing love and for the gift of love in the human relationships that give our lives meaning. May we come to the manger filled with your infinite love. Amen.

*Irma Nadeau. Gathering ACE 2024-2025. Page 74.

*Opening Hymn O Lord, How Shall I Meet You (#31 VU)

Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison)

Loving God, we confess that even when we try our best, we are not yet the community you want us to be. There is still much injustice in the world. While some have more than enough, many still lack food, safe shelter, clean water, and healthcare. We also let fear and differences keep us apart. Help us, O God, to remember that you came to us as a humble, vulnerable child and that your risen body carries the wounds of death, so we can bring healing love to a hurting world.(a time of silent confession) Amen.

Words of Assurance

One: God’s love is greater than our failures, and God’s grace is deeper than our divisions.

All: In Christ, we are forgiven, restored, and made new. Thanks Be to God.

Announcements and Minute for Mission

Time for God’s Children Story of a Carol: Go Tell It on the Mountain (VU 43)

Prayer for Illumination

Proclaiming the Scriptures

Micah 5:2-5 Out of Bethlehem in Judea will come a leader

Luke 1:47-55(VU p.898) Mary sings, “My soul gives glory to my God.”

Luke 1:39-45 Mary visits Elizabeth.

This is the Good News from the Bible.

  Thanks be to God.

Anthem

Sermon

*Hymn Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (#333VU)

*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)

On this Sunday when the Advent candle of love spreads the warmth of your love, God who is love, we offer these gifts for your purpose in the world. Bless them as signs of our love for neighbours worldwide. Bless us as a sign of your love cultivated within our hearts, beating to the cadence of right relation within all Creation. Amen.

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

Prayers of the People and Lord’s Prayer

*ClosingHymn I Am the Light of the World (#87 VU|vs. 1,2,4)

*Commissioning

One: In the words of Luke’s gospel: “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

  All: May we also seek to fulfill our calling and to be open to the blessings of God, Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, now and always. Amen.

*Bill Steadman,Gathering ACE 2021-2022. Page 35.

*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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