A Sanctified Art. Season of Advent

Transcription

1 A Sanctified Art Season of Advent

2 THE ADVENT SEASON Advent means coming or arrival. During the season of Advent, we celebrate Christ s coming into the world and watch with expectant hope for his coming again. In its historical origins, the season of Advent was patterned after the season of Lent, a six-week period of penitence and preparation for Easter (and thus the similar color of purple, though some traditions use blue in Advent). Similar to Lent, the four weeks of Advent present an opportunity for communal discernment and personal examination, as the church prepares to celebrate the Nativity of the Lord and looks with hope for Christ s return. In Advent we expectantly wait for the One who has already come. We anticipate the promised justice of God s new world, yet we praise God who raised the righteous branch to rule with justice and righteousness. We hope for the restoration of the afflicted, the tormented, and the grieving, yet we delight that healing has come in Christ. We long for the beating of swords into plowshares, yet we rejoice that the Prince of Peace has appeared. We yearn for the barren deserts of our inner cities to flourish, yet we laud the desert Rose that has bloomed. We dream of the land where lions and lambs live in harmony, yet we acclaim the child born to lead us into the promised land. Christ has come! Christ is risen! Christ will come again! In Advent, we are living between the first and the second coming of the Lord

3 ADVENT EARLY WORSHIP AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CANDLE, FONT, PULPIT, AND TABLE WELCOME We move from the outside to the inside into worship. The music gives us focus for worship. Wait for the Lord is in Glory to God, a new Presbyterian hymnal, published in Emmanuel, Emmanuel is from the Methodist hymnal. These two refrains set the mood of waiting for the coming of the Lord, Emmanuel. CALL TO WORSHIP One: All creation holds its breath. Many: The time is almost here. One: The heavenly choir of angels waits for its cue to sing. Many: Excitement is all around us. One: Prepare your hearts the grace of God takes on human form. Good news! Emmanuel, God-with-Us, comes to us. Many: We gather to make ready our hearts for the coming of Christ, our hope. FILLING THE BAPTISMAL BOWL CENTERING MUSIC (from below or an announced alternative) WAIT FOR THE LORD EMMANUEL, EMMANUEL Emmanuel, Emmanuel, His name is called Emmanuel. God with us, revealed in us, His name is Called Emmanuel

4 In the ancient world, various peoples lit fires to mark the turning of the light into winter s season and to pray for the return of the light. The church has Christianized that practice in the lighting of the Advent wreath. To us, these candles are signs of the growing light of Christ who is coming again in all fullness into the darkness of our world. Until the dawning of that Great Day, we watch and wait for Christ s coming into the darkness of our world, lighting candles of hope, peace, joy, and love; and remembering the promises of God with prayer. WORSHIP CENTER: The Advent Wreath # OPENING WORDS (for each Sunday) Watch and wait for Christ s coming! Light candles of hope, peace, joy, and love, remembering the promises of God with prayer. ADVENT 1: HOPE Liturgist A: Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. (Desmond Tutu) Liturgist B: Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tunes without the words and never stops at all. (Emily Dickinson) Liturgist C: Hope is like peace It is a gift only we can give one another. (Elie Wiesel) Liturgist A: Friends, as we enter this Advent season, we come to this space familiar with the darkness and hungry for hope. Liturgist B: So today we light the candle of hope as a prayer, as a challenge, and a reminder that darkness will not win. Liturgist C: Violence will not win. War will not win. Liturgist A: Cancer will not win. Addiction will not win. Liturgist B: Division will not win. Chaos will not win. Liturgist C: Fear will not win. Liturgist A: Death will not win. Liturgist B: The darkness will not win. ALL: Love will win. Liturgist C: For, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Liturgist A, B, AND C: He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him. (light candle) Liturgist A: In him was life, and the life was the light of all people. All: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. Thanks be to God. Liturgist A: Let us pray ALL: Loving God, we constantly find ourselves in darkness, shoulder deep in darkness, and a million reasons to give up hope. Yet every time we are there, you breathe life and light into our bones, refusing to give up on us. So please, God, draw close to us once more. Kindle that fire within us the deep hope that not only believes in better days, but insists on them. And then grant us the strength to live that way. Gratefully, we pray, Amen

5 ADVENT 2: PEACE Liturgist A: Isaiah 11 describes the Kingdom of God as a place of peace where hatred, anger, and violence are not just tucked under the rug, but swept away all together. Liturgist B: The wolf shall live with the lamb, ALL: And all God s children shall work to transform violence and hatred into mercy and justice. Liturgist A: The leopard shall lie down with the kid, ALL: And all God s children will be bound together in love and peace. Liturgist B: The calf and the lion will feed together, ALL: And all God s children will sit at table with each other. Liturgist A: and a little child shall lead them ALL: Without fear, all God s children shall work for love, mercy, and justice. Liturgist A: Today we light the candle of peace as a prayer, a challenge, and a reminder of God s prayer for this world. Starting first with the candle of hope (light candle), we light the candle of peace to symbolize God s ever-increasing light. (light candle) And as this light burns and grows, we will wait, eagerly, longing for the birth of a child and for the peace only love can bring. May peace light up the world. Amen. This Sunday s candle lighting varies because it is Gaudette ( Rejoice! ) Sunday. As a break from the heaviness of penitential preparations, this Sunday offers a reprise from our dark longings to offer joy s Let us pray: God of hope and peace, You created the world and it was good. However, we have forgotten what that looks like and have walked too far from Eden to even remember how to get home. As we eagerly anticipate the birth of your Son, we ask that you will instill your burning energy for peace within our bones, for our world so desperately needs it. We ask that you would guide our feet, so that maybe one day we will stumble back to the gates of Eden, back home, with you, once more. Gratefully we pray, Amen. WEEK 3: JOY Liturgist A: Joy is the space between your breath and your laughter. Liturgist B: Joy is a hand wrapped around yours. Liturgist A: Joy is your heart beating in sync with someone else s heart. Liturgist B: Joy is that first day of a new season, and the intoxicating hope it brings. Liturgist A: Joy is dancing in the kitchen and singing in your car. Liturgist B: Joy is the first cry of a newborn baby. Liturgist A: Joy is contagious. Liturgist B: Joy is a song

6 glimmer of light. The Latin Gaudette is grammatically imperative, reminding us that even in the midst of darkness, we are called to rejoice. This is also why we light a pink candle the color of joy in the penitential season of blue/purple. Only the Christ candle is white, also a color signifying full joy. Liturgist A: Joy is the daughter of gratitude. Liturgist B: Joy is the heart of praise. Liturgist A: Today, we plant our feet in joy. For much of Advent we assume the position of leaning forward, longing for the moment where God will break into this world once more (light candles of hope and peace). However, today we stop leaning to remember with gratitude all that God has already done for us, through us, and around us. Liturgist B: Thus, today we light the candle of joy as a thank you for laughter and for hands that hold our own. We light the candle of joy for the change in seasons, for loving relationships, for our God who became flesh and lived among us (light candle). Liturgist A: We light the candle of joy as a sign of gratitude for a God who makes water in the desert, heals the sick, offers sight to the blind, and who knows us by name. If joy is the song of praise, then joy is where we stand. Let us pray: Loving God, all of creation rejoices for you; for it was you who hung the stars, and you who made our beating hearts. Thus, as we anticipate the birth of your son, fill our hearts not only with hope and peace, which we so desperately need, but also with joy. For when the nights feel too long, and the darkness too strong, you light the way for us. In Your holy name we so gratefully pray, Amen. WEEK 4: LOVE Liturgist A: Friends, we come to this circular wreath as a symbolic reminder that God s love has no beginning or end. Liturgist B: When we talk about Christmas, we talk about a love song of God kneeling down like a mother to her child saying, Oh how I love you, to each and every one of us. Liturgist A: Thus, I invite you to take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. For in that breath, the Holy Spirit speaks love. (breathe in) Now, I invite you to place your hand on the inside of your wrist or on your neck just under your chin. Feel your pulse, notice your heart beating inside you. For in that beat, the love of the Creator sings. Liturgist B: Today we light the candles of hope, peace, and joy as touchstones of the Christian faith (light candles). From those lights, we also light the candle of love, which in one word tells the Christian story (light candle). Friends, you are loved. God is love. And Christmas is God s love song for us all. Let us pray: God of love made flesh, we give thanks for your unending hope, divine peace, and abundant joy. Our hearts are made ready for the coming of the Christ child. Focus our eyes, our ears, our entire being on the one whose life is embodied in your unending love. Amen

7 CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE: Light One Candle (Glory to God 85) PRAYER OF CONFESSION Let us join in our corporate prayer of confession and follow it with our silent, personal confession: Merciful God, always with us, always coming: We confess that we do not know how to prepare for your Advent. We have forgotten how to hope in miracles; we have ignored the promise of your kingdom; we get caught up in the busyness of the world. Forgive us, God. Grant us the simple wonder of the shepherds, the intelligent courage of the Magi, and the patient faith of Mary and Joseph, that we may journey with them to Bethlehem and find the good news of a child born for us. We ask you to make us ready for Christ s coming. Amen. (silent, personal confession) KYRIE (tune of Hark the Herald) Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison. Christe elesion, Christe elesion, Christe elesion Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison. ASSURANCE OF PARDON/SHARING THE PEACE Leader: Let us trust fully in the grace of our God who comes He came in flesh to us, to be like us so that we might become like Him. Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us share that forgiveness with one another in the passing of the peace of Christ. The peace of Christ be with you all! People: And also with you! - 7 -

8 RESPONSE Gloria (Refrain from Angels We Have Heard on High) Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo! We are the People of the Book. Our faith has a legacy in the faith experience of Israel and the resurrection faith of the first disciples. We come to worship expecting God to speak through Scripture and the Word Proclaimed. In response to the Word proclaimed, we rise to express our faith. The prayers offered at the table are prayers of the gathered community. WORSHIP CENTER: The Pulpit PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION God of signs and wonders, we come to your word again and again, seeking understanding and the new life it offers. By the power of your Holy Spirit, illumine our hearts and minds so that we may believe this testimony and have eternal life. In the name of Jesus Christ, our teacher and Savior, we pray. Amen. SCRIPTURE Leader: This is the word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God! SERMON CREED (adapted from a poem by Madeline L Engle) God did not wait until the world was ready, until nations were at peace. God came when the Heavens were unsteady and prisoners cried out for release. God did not wait for the perfect time. God came when the need was deep and great. God dined with sinners in all their grime, turned water into wine. God did not wait till hearts were pure. In joy God came to a tarnished world of sin and doubt. To a world like ours, of anguished shame, God came and God s Light would not go out. God came to a world which did not mesh; to heal its tangles, shield its scorn. In the mystery of the Word made Flesh, the maker of the stars was born. We cannot wait till the world is sane to raise our songs with joyful voice, or to share our grief, to touch our pain, God came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice! WORSHIP CENTER: The Table OFFERING OF THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE - 8 -

9 Our offering is an act of worship the word worship comes from the same root as worth. In our offering, we affirm the worth of giving ourselves to the service of God. The elements of bread and cup are the offering of God to God s beloved people. The table is open to all who call upon Christ as Lord and Savior. OFFERING OF GOD S PEOPLE In coming forward for communion, worshipers have the following options: Worshipers may make a gesture touching the offering plate, nod their head as a sign of intention, make the sign of the cross, etc. Worshipers may touch the water in the baptismal bowl as a reminder of God s love extended to us in our baptism. Worshipers may make a financial contribution. Worshipers may place an I Give Card (found in the pew racks) in the offering plate. Worshipers may find other creative ways to express their offering putting a business card in the offering plate, a note, or some other personal affect. OFFERING OF GOD: Bread and Cup Worship Note: In the distribution of the elements, a gluten-free option is available. At the appropriate time for coming forward, those who would like the gluten-free bread are invited to come to the front of the line. The rest of the worshipping community is honored to serve by waiting a moment before coming forward. THE GREAT THANKSGIVING The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. It is indeed right and our greatest joy to give You thanks and praise, O God, for You have turned our grief into songs of joy, and clothed us in love, mercy, and grace. You planted the earth and all life, and called a people to be your light in the world. When they were taken weeping into exile, You promised through Your prophets to bring them home to Zion, singing and laughing. Salvation has come in your Messiah, Jesus the Christ, the one whose coming light Your servant, John, bore witness. Filled with your Spirit, Jesus came proclaiming good news for the poor, healing for the broken hearted, and the day of freedom to all who are bound. He was killed by the proud and powerful, but with Your wonderful power You raised him to life

10 In his presence we are filled with expectant hope and joy, and eager to embrace your eternal covenant. * Therefore we praise You, joining our voices with choirs of angels with prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and with all the faithful of every time and place who forever sing to the glory of Your name: The musical settings of our communion liturgy are set to the tune, Picardy, most associated with the Advent hymn, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent (Hymn 5). The modal or minor key expresses the haunting longing associated with Advent. (Arrangement by Kimberly Bracken Long) SANCTUS You are holy, O God of Advent, and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Son, who is coming. You sent Your Son as one of us, and from him we learned of Your abundant love. We rejoice that in his death and rising again, you promise us new life, the certain hope that Your light will always shine in the darkness, and that one day we will all sit together at table with Christ our host. Remembering your gracious acts in Jesus Christ, we take from Your creation this bread and this cup and joyfully celebrate his death and resurrection, as we await the day of his coming. With thanksgiving, we offer our very selves to You to be a living and holy sacrifice, to work as Your hands in this world. Great is the mystery of faith: MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION

11 Strengthen us, O God, in the power of your Spirit: To bring good news to the poor and lift blind eyes to sight, To loose chains that bind and claim your blessing for all people. Keep us faithful in Your service until Christ comes in final victory, And we shall feast with all your saints in the joy of your eternal kingdom. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, now and forever. GREAT AMEN And now with confidence, we pray the Prayer of Jesus: Our 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 WORDS OF INSTITUTION: Breaking and Blessing COMMUNION PRAYER: Dona Nobis Pacem ( Grant us Peace )

12 We come in for worship we go out to serve. PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION (Unison) Lord Jesus Christ, who is, who was, and who is to come, we pray for the virtues of hope, peace, joy, and love, that amid the trials and difficulties of this world, we may keep our hearts fixed upon You, whose hidden rule works for good in all things. May Your grace enliven us, strengthen us, and defend us, as we await your coming in glory. Amen THE SENDING CONGREGATIONAL SONG OF DEDICATION AND RESPONSE Advent 1: Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (2) Advent 2: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (5) Advent 3: Prepare the Way (13) Advent 4: O Come, O Come Emmanuel (9) CHARGE AND BENEDICTION Worship notes: Call to Worship by ruminari.wordpress.com # Advent Candle readings are adaptations of work A Sanctified Art * Communion liturgy by 2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net 620 State Street Knoxville, Tennessee, fpcknox.org