(Used with permission from The Advent Conspiracy.) Time is your most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it. -Rick Warren www.colonialucc.org 913-362-7735 10:15 a.m. December 7, 2014
2 The Colonial Church in Prairie Village United Church of Christ Spend Less Sunday Worship Service in the series The Advent Conspiracy Please silence your mobile phone in preparation for worship * Please rise in body or spirit WE GATHER AS GOD S PEOPLE GATHERING MUSIC Veni, Emmanuel -Peeters WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS (Please sign and pass pew pads and fill out Prayer Request cards you may have. You can place the Prayer Request cards in the offering plates later in the service.) * OPENING HYMN #145 Once in Royal David s City * ADVENT CALL TO WORSHIP WEEK TWO- LUKE 2:1-7 Leader: In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. People: Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. Leader: Since Joseph belonged to David's house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David's city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. People: He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. Leader: While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. People: She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom. * ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING All: Life-giving God, walk with us on this Advent journey. Open our hearts and minds to find the reasons why we celebrate this Christmas season. Amen. (Say a name or place that you want to lift up to God, and then we will spend one minute in silent prayer for what was said.)
3 * ADVENT SONG OF PRAISE COME, O LONG-EXPECTED JESUS #122 V.1 Come, O long-expected Jesus, born to set all people free; From our fears and sins release us; grant us your true liberty. * SHARING GOD S WELCOME (Tell someone you greet about the best gift you ever received. What made it special?) CHILDREN S CONVERSATION (Children of all ages are welcome to come forward to the chancel steps. Following the Conversation, children are welcome to remain to worship or to attend our Sunday School.) This little light of mine, I m gonna let it shine, this little light of mine, I m gonna let it shine, this little light of mine, I m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. A WORD PROCLAIMED WE HEAR GOD S WORD -Pastor Aaron Roberts 1 Timothy 6:6-10 Actually, godliness is a great source of profit when it is combined with being happy with what you already have. We didn't bring anything into the world and so we can't take anything out of it: we'll be happy with food and clothing. But people who are trying to get rich fall into temptation. They are trapped by many stupid and harmful passions that plunge people into ruin and destruction. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some have wandered away from the faith and have impaled themselves with a lot of pain because they made money their goal. Matthew 6:19-21 [Jesus taught:] "Stop collecting treasures for your own benefit on Earth, where moth and rust eat them and where thieves break in and steal them. Instead, collect treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moth and rust don't eat them and where thieves don't break in and steal them. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Express your thoughts via social media at #ColonialUCC.
4 THE WORD GIVEN IN OUR HOLY MEAL Our Faith Cries Out, Resilient! Dear Jesus of Advent, You remain a sacred mystery to us. You have brought Good News for all the people and we will not be afraid, for you are here. We are hungry for your love which surpasses all our understanding; we are thirsty for your spirit that never runs dry. In this meal nourish our souls, feed our minds, quench our deepest longings and forgive our transgressions, that we may glorify you every day of our lives. Amen. Consecration of the Bread and Cup (by Rev. Penny L. Lowes) Sharing of the Bread and Cup (As the bread and cup are served, the choir will sing Star of Advent by Pepper Choplin. Drink the cup as you are served as a sign of God s particular love for you. Hold the bread until the end of the anthem, and we will eat it together as a sign of our unity in Christ.) Prayer of Thanksgiving Holy Creator, Bread of Life, Everlasting Salvation, a light shines in the night and the night will not overcome it. In this meal we have been replenished and strengthened, the light of your love rekindled within. We will be bold to carry this light into the world. Thank you for recharging our batteries and reviving your glow within us. You are the power source that never gives out eternally renewable and sustainable. Thank you Creator Thank you Redeemer. Thank you Sustainer. Amen.
5 WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER CALL TO OFFERING AND OFFERTORY E en so Lord Jesus Quickly Come -Manz Clarinet, Mary Burnett * Doxology What Child Is This (#148 verses 3 and 1) Bring gifts of incense, gold, and myrrh; come, join in jubilation; The Holy Child, though meek and mild, has come with God s salvation. This, this, the angels sing, is Christ, God s holy offering; Haste, haste your praise to bring the babe, the child of Mary! * Prayer of Dedication Holy God, the love we receive from you is beyond our comprehension. Accept these gifts of love returned to you from grateful hearts. As your love has no limits, may this offering be infinite in compassionate outreach to others. Amen. (UCC Worship Ways) TIME OF PRAYER Prayers of the People Believing that each joy and/or concern expressed is indeed a prayer, after each expression, the pastor will say: Lord, in your mercy. And the people may respond: Hear our prayer. Praying in Silence Our Lord s Prayer ( Our Father is the traditional way this prayer begins. You are invited to use whatever name for God you find most meaningful (Father, Mother, Creator, God, etc.). Together our names for God create a beautiful chorus.) 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.
6 WE DEPART TO SERVE * HYMN #116 O Come, O Come Emmanuel * RENEW OUR COVENANT (Turn towards the center aisle as we bless one another with the promise of our covenant.) We covenant with the Lord and with one another and do bind ourselves in the presence of God to walk together in Christian Love. We seek to worship God in spirit and in truth and to love our neighbors as ourselves. With God s help we will honor Colonial Church in our conduct, support its program, and extend the influence of Christ throughout the world. * CONGREGATIONAL SONG OF BLESSING #809 God Be With You God be with you, God be with you, God be with you till we meet again. O God be with you, God be with you, God be with you till we meet again. * BENEDICTION AND POSTLUDE Veni, Emmanuel -Kern Liturgist: Advent Candle Lighters: Children s Conversation: Greeter: Head Usher: Ushers: Communion Servers: Julie Burik Jim and Kathi Cook and Chloe Cook Martha Wofford Bill Sanderson Linda Moses Ancel Neuburger, Marylee Battaglia, Marion Taylor, Ken Werne Martha and Bruce Wofford, Sally Huggins, Stacy Huggins
Colonial Church Study Guide and Advent Assignments 7 The readings for this week lead up to our Thursday morning Bible Study discussion at 10:00am in Pastor Aaron s Office. This week we go through the transition of power in Israel from David to Solomon. It is often brutal. It asks hard questions about the nature of politics and power in relation to God. If you know The Godfather movies, you may see some strong similarities. Monday - Read 2 Samuel 19-21 Absalom Absalom s attempt to seize the throne from his father David fails. Absalom is killed by the cold-hearted Joab, and David mourns for his son. David attempts to balance his personal grief over his son s death with his public responsbility to put down the rebellion. This tears at a person s heart. Do you think that if David had shown forgiveness at an earlier point this could have been avoided? David had changed from his earlier years. Some wonder if some of David s grief is that his son Absalom modeled his power grab by David s example. What do you think? This story is sometimes compared to Jesus parable of the Prodigal Son, only this time the son doesn t come home and the father doesn t forgive. What do you think of this comparison? MONDAY S ADVENT ASSIGNMENT: Make a gift buying budget. Can you reduce it by 10%? Tuesday Read 2 Samuel 22-24 The End of the Davidic Kingdom Even the best leaders faulter. The powers of ego and arrogance can affect anyone. Try to understand David s final words recorded as a poem not as unrealistic idealism. Try to read them as a call to reimagine the future with God s Spirit as a presence always callings us back when we wander. Picture your life as if it were described by the authors of Samuel? What would the trajectory of your journey be like? What do you see as God s covenant with you? What defines your relationship to God, and how do you honor it? TUESDAY S ADVENT ASSIGNMENT: Give 1 gift to each person rather than several that won t be remembered.
8 Wednesday Read 1 Kings 1-2 Solomon s Kingdom is Established Morally, the transition of kingship is corrupt. It is more akin to scenes from The Godfather than one might expect from God s annointed king. God s promise to the Davidic line is held by Solomon than behaving ethically. What does it mean to be faithful? Clearly, David and Solomon were ethically challenged people, and yet they lead at the high point of the Kingdom of Israel. What does this say to you? There are two truths evident in the relationship between God and people. One is that God s will will be done regardless of human failures. The other is that God expects people to follow a moral way of living. How you understand these truths and how they play out in your life says a lot about your theology. WEDNESDAY S ADVENT ASSIGNMENT: Decorate a space with found objects rather than purchased ones. Thursday Read 1 Kings 3-5 Solomon s Staff and Building Projects Solomon sets his mind to do what his father David never did build the Temple. He is willing to make deals and use his power to get what he wants. On one hand, he is honoring God with his work. On the other hand, much of his ego is involved too. Look for clues to the writer of Kings opinion of Solomon. There are subtle jabs at Solomon throughout. A continuing theme in Kings is the importance of the holy building the Temple. As you read, consider holy spaces for yourself. What is your opinion about upkeep of church buildings? Does it tend to be an outward expression of devotion to God, or is it for people? THURSDAY s ADVENT ASSIGNMENT: Make several homemade gifts to give. FRIDAY S ADVENT ASSIGNMENT: Consider gifts from fair trade sources SATURDAY S ADVENT ASSIGNMENT: Consider gifts of time rather than objects.
9
10
11
12