Order of Service / Second Sunday of Advent / December 8, 2024

*Gathering Hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (#1VU|vs. 3,4)

Welcome& Land Acknowledgement

Advent Candle-Lighting with Call to Worship

  All Sing: VU 7 “Hope Is A Star” verse 2

One: On this second Sunday of Advent, we come in peace as a community of faith.

All: We watch, we wait, we wonder.

One: Let peace begin with us. In every breath we take, may we live in the peace of God’s promise to be with us always.

All: We wait for Jesus, the Prince of Peace, to come into the world.

One: As we light the second candle in our wreath, we take a moment to breathe in the Spirit of peace.

All Sing: VU 6 “A Candle is burning” verse 2

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

Opening Prayer

God of peace, on this second Sunday of Advent, may you fill us with the peace that only you can bring. Help us to live each moment in peace with one another. Amen.

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

*Opening HymnHerald! Sound the Note of Gladness(#28 VU)

Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison)

Merciful God,we confess that we have not done enough to bring your justice and peace into the world.We have stayed silent in the face of injustice and have held onto divisions that harm others.Forgive us and inspire us to live with courage, compassion, and a commitment to your vision of wholeness.May we prepare the way for your peace to flow through us into all creation. Amen.(a time of silent confession) Amen.

Words of Assurance

One: Hear the good news: God’s love is steadfast, and God's grace is boundless. In Christ, we are renewed, restored, and made whole, free to live in peace with one another.People: We are forgiven, healed, and made new in God’s love.

All: We are forgiven, healed, and made new in God’s love.Thanks be to God!

Announcements and Minute for Mission

Time for God’s ChildrenStory of a Carol: O Holy Night

Prayer for Illumination

Proclaiming the Scriptures

Malachi 3:1-4 A refiner’s fire and a launderer’s soap

Luke 1:68-79(VU p.900) Zechariah sings, “Blessed be the God of Israel.”

Luke 3:1-6 A voice calling in the desert.

This is the Good News from the Bible.

  Thanks be to God.

Anthem

Sermon

*Hymn There’s a Voice in the Wilderness(#18VU|vs. 1,2,3)

*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 peaceflickers and dances, may you breathe in us, OSpirit, blessing what we offer in our dance withdifficult partners, as we share yourchoreographyof peace.In our giving, may we be inspired to follow the Way of Jesus in our living, learning to perceive theimage of Christ across divides. Amen.

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

Prayers of the People and Lord’s Prayer

*Closing Hymn Tomorrow Christ Is Coming (#27 VU|vs.1,2,4)

*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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