Second Sunday in Advent December 8, 2018 Ann Nichols Prepare the Way Announcements Lighting the Advent Candle: As the candles are lit, sing verses 1 and 7 of O Come, O Come Emmanuel #35 Opening Prayer Gracious God, in the wilderness of the Jordan, you sent a messenger to prepare people s hearts for the coming of your Son. Help us to hear his words, repent, and walk in the way of righteousness, truth and justice. Set our hearts ablaze to follow in the steps of John the Baptist. May we bring light and love to all we meet, that the darkness of sin and fear may be overcome. We ask this in Christ's name. Amen. Opening Song: What a Wonderful Beginning sung by Kathy Mattea Call to Worship: If You Want by St. John of the Cross If you want the Virgin will come walking down the road pregnant with the holy, and say, I need shelter for the night, please take me inside your heart, my time is so close. Then, under the roof of your soul, you will witness the sublime intimacy, the divine, the Christ taking birth forever, as she grasps your hand for help, for each of us is the midwife of God, each of us.
Yet there, under the dome of your being does creation come into existence eternally, through your womb, dear pilgrim the sacred womb in your soul, as God grasps our arms for help; for each of us is His beloved servant never far. If you want, the Virgin will come walking down the street pregnant with Light and sing... First Reading: Philippians 1: 4-6, 8-11 Brothers and sisters: I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. Second Reading: Draw Near to Truth by Sarah Arc Truth is like sand--- Slipping through my fingers every time I turn on the news. So day after day, I gather the dust at my feet and build sand castles of the world I want to see Sand castle cities with fair housing, no walls, families united and a name like Love. And when the waves threaten to tear them down, I will rebuild. For the truest thing I know is that God is love, and love is stronger than fear.
So at the end of the day, if you need me, I ll be taking sand-soaked alternative truths and turning them into sand castles of a better world--- A world rooted in love, which I will keep building until love and truth and God all sound like synonyms. Third Reading: from The Broken Body by Jean Vanier Our brokenness is the wound through which the full power of God can penetrate our being and transfigure us in God. Loneliness is not something from which we must flee but the place from where we can cry out to God, where God will find us and we can find God. Yes, through our wounds the power of God can penetrate us and become like rivers of living water to irrigate the arid earth within us. Thus we may irrigate the arid earth of others, so that hope and love are reborn. Gospel Acclamation Gospel Reading: Luke 3: 1-6 God be with you. And also with you. A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke. Glory to you, O God. In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Silent Reflection, followed by Sharing Intercessory Prayer: Response: O God, hear our prayer (sung) As we journey deeper and deeper into Advent, O God, we find it harder and harder to wait. We are impatient. We want to experience your justice, your salvation, your love. And waiting is so very hard. R: O God, hear our prayer When we look around the world we see the destruction of earthquakes and fires, of floods and droughts, of terror and malice, of apathy and greed. R: O God, hear our prayer Yet, at the same time there are glimmers of hope and preludes of peace. New life springs forth in unexpected places. New opportunities captivate our imagination. Living water and the bread of life are found in the parched deserts of our lives. R: O God, hear our prayer We pray for that which fills us with grief: the devastation from wildfires in California (USA); the violence inflicted on asylum-seekers at the Mexico-United States border; the ongoing conflicts in Yemen; the cruel treatment of the Rohyinga in Myanmar; all who care for someone who struggles with addiction and mental illness; all who wait and watch and weep at the bedsides of loved ones this week. R: O God, hear our prayer We pray for that which fills us with fear: the unfolding havoc of climate change around the world; the flaring tensions between Ukraine and Russia; the continued fallout from the murder of Saudi journalist Khashoggi; the precariousness of a Brexit deal; the rise of raging, hatefilled political rhetoric in countries near and far from us. R: O God, hear our prayer We pray for that which gives us strength: the compassion of strangers who care for migrants in the Mediterranean and in Central America; the rise of women leaders in Ethiopia; the energy of students who fight gun violence in the United States; those who believe we belong to each other; those who live as if we belong to you. R: O God, hear our prayer And now, we add prayers from our community: Lord, teach us how to love what you love. Show us how to nurture what you nurture. Reveal to us how to speak your Word, today and in the days to come. Amen Breaking the Bread God be with you. And also with you. Let us give thanks to God our Creator. It is right to give God thanks and praise.
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. Now let us join in prayer: Our Mother and Father, most compassionate Life-Giver, May we honor and praise you. May we work with you to establish your new order of justice, peace and love. Give us what we need for growth. Help us, through forgiving others, to accept forgiveness from others. Strengthen us in the time of testing, that we may resist all evil. For all the tenderness, strength, and love are yours, now and forever. Amen Bread-Breaking Song: Pan de Vida #335 Brief Time of Silence Closing Prayer and Blessing: Go now and prepare the way for the Lord. Share in the gospel of God s grace; Proclaim salvation and the forgiveness of sins; Make straight paths for justice and mercy. And may God complete the good work begun in us; May Christ Jesus rejoice in our faith and compassion; and may the Holy Spirit fill our love with wisdom, and produce in us a harvest of righteousness. We go in peace to love and serve the Lord, In the name of Christ. Amen. May God bless us and keep us. May God s face shine upon us. May God be gracious to us and grant us, and all our broken world, peace. May the
blessings of God Creator, Redeemer, and Holy Spirit come upon us and remain with us forever. Amen. Closing Song: Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord Birthdays, and Passing the Peace Words to Kathy Mattea song What a Wonderful Beginning Oh a man named John the Baptist Had been heralding the news About the coming of a Savior For both the Gentiles and the Jews And it happened in Judea In the town of Bethlehem With a bright star o er the stable Was born the Son of Man Oh the angels were rejoicing As the tiny baby cried For the hope of man s salvation In a manger had arrived Meek as a lowly shepherd But the mightiest of kings He gives peace and life eternal To whoever calls His name Chorus: Oh Emmanuel The Father s precious Son Who forgives our sins and washes clean The hearts of everyone. What a wonderful beginning To the greatest story ever told His birth still rings with promise As true as in day of old So let us sing his praises And let us open up our hearts And receive His timeless message That gives us all a brand new start (repeat chorus) Oh a man named John the Baptist