Here is Our God! (lectionary-based)

Series Vision for Advent/Christmas Year B Overarching Theme: Here is Our God! (lectionary-based) Frames Advent 1 God in the People: We Are All the Work of Your Hand Advent 2 God in the World: A New Heaven and A New Earth Advent 3 God in the Lowly: Looked upon with Favor Advent 4 God in the House: For all Generations Christmas Eve God in the Light: Do Not Be Afraid Sunday After Christmas God in the Child: Heirs to the Kin-dom 1

Scripture & Synopsis Theme: Here is Our God! Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, "Here is your God!" -- Isaiah 40:9 Our theme phrase is taken from Isaiah 40:9. In this season of Advent we will herald the presence of God the incarnation of the Holy as evidenced in people, in the world, in the work for justice, in all generations, in the light, and in the Christ Child. We will lift our voices in praise for we believe what the scriptures tell us: do not be afraid, I am with you. Advent 1: God in the People: We Are All the Work of Your Hand Isaiah 64:1-9, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37 This Sunday introduces our theme and affirms that God is incarnate in the people. As Isaiah writes, You are our potter, we are the clay; we are the work of your hand. When we keep awake, as Mark admonishes, we are able to know God s nearness. Advent 2: God in the World: A New Heaven and A New Earth Isaiah 40:1-11, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Mark 1:1-8 The incarnation of the Holy happens each day. Events happen that speak of God s presence renewing us and moving us toward God s reign, where righteousness is home, as 2 Peter proclaims. What do we see in the world that affirms that there is a way being prepared in the wilderness? This is communion Sunday and the table is a sign of a new heaven and a new earth. Advent 3: God in the Lowly: Looked upon with Favor Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, Luke 1:47-55, I Thessalonians 5:16-24, John 1:6-8, 19-28 The Spirit of God is poured out upon all, anointing us to bring good news to the oppressed. Those who go out weeping shall come home with shouts of joy, says the Psalm. We hear Mary s magnificat this day a song of joy and prophecy from a woman facing great challenge yet looked upon with favor by God. We acknowledge Christ s presence among the poor and recommit to filling the hungry with good things. Advent 4: God in the House: For all Generations 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26, Romans 16:25-27, Luke 1:26-38 The ancient Hebrew writers spoke of God s covenant to build the people a house. God s house God s reign is built in us from generation to generation. This day we praise God for the Holy incarnate in all generations of our community. The children, youth and chancel choirs and drama teams lead the congregation in praise and prayer. 2

Christmas Eve: God in the Light: Do Not Be Afraid Isaiah 9:2-7, Psalm 96, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-14, (15-20) We are no longer a people without light for those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined. Light shone on a little town where an unlikely Savior was born the incarnation of God in the flesh. We too walk in the light and so there is no fear for God is truly with us. Emmanuel! Sunday after Christmas: God in the Child: Heirs to the Kin-dom Isaiah 61:10-62:3, Psalm 148, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:22-40 You shall be called by a new name Isaiah declares that something new is being born. Indeed, as we continue to celebrate the presence of God in the newborn child, we affirm our own freedom and adoption in Christ you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God says Galatians. We finish our Here is Our God series this day, knowing that, indeed, we are part of the family the kin-dom of God. Ideas FWS = The Faith We Sing songbook http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/productdetail.aspx?pid=442471 ZSS = Zion Still Sings songbook http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/search.aspx?ddlsearchscope=&txtsearchquery=zion%20still% 20sings URW = The Upper Room Worshipbook http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/productdetail.aspx?pid=506355 FEB = For Everyone Born: Global Songs for the Emerging Church http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/productdetail.aspx?pid=682240 hang light-weight over-sized frames (or propped up on something) that are perhaps empty, evoking the idea of capturing snapshots of God-at-work-in-the-world ( HERE is our God! ) or filled with large pictures that change each Sunday depending on the sub-theme and messages (or leave frames empty and use the design of the frames in media program and put various pictures in them on the screens). On Christmas eve, the pictures could be artwork of manger scenes from around the world and through history OR have the children of the church draw scenes of the Christmas story and put them in the frames. use a hanging wreath with hooks to hang lanterns on it (if you have dancers, have them dance the lanterns in each week - first one dancer, then two, then three, etc.), rather than a standing wreath with candles OR (listen for this idea in the PODcast) make a kind of large wreath-like arbor that people walk through at the back of the sanctuary aisle add more and more greenery to it each Sunday. Construct a way to have candle holders on that arbor to hold the Advent candles (best probably to have enclosed flame somehow). have youth/young adults work on video or photo montages to use during anthems or special songs during the season, following the sub-themes 3

have the usual candle litany be a more personal testimony from someone different each week related to how they see God at work in their lives (note: you do not have to use the typical Love, Hope, Peace, Joy categories these are not historical or very old in terms of tradition you may find other categories that work better with your theme). Use God is Here Today (FWS 2049) to bookend the testimony. prepare affirmations to use in liturgy by asking the congregation (before the season begins) to finish this sentence: I have seen God in. Then fashion the responses into Affirmations of Faith for each Sunday. Use the song Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus (FWS, 2086) to bookend the readings of these affirmations each Sunday. New song possibilities for each worship (remember not to use too many new songs balance!): Advent 1: God in the People: We Are All the Work of Your Hand Change My Heart, O God FWS 2152 The Jesus in Me Loves the Jesus in You ZSS 132 - try this during the passing of the peace (perhaps as a repeated element throughout the season) Advent 2: God in the World: A New Heaven and A New Earth - any short thank you song as part of prayers of thanksgiving for God s work in the world while the communion table is dressed and element brought forward - try Tino Tenda Jesu FWS 2081 with drums - Communion Setting by my friend Chris Heckert in FEB, 35. This gives the communion prayers an upbeat feel - For Everyone Born from FEB, 2 - this song speaks of a place at the table for everyone Advent 3: God in the Lowly: Looked upon with Favor Cuando el Pobre (When the Poor Ones), United Methodist Hymnal (UMH) 434 (and other denominational hymnals). Speaks of the presence of God with us ( then we know that God still goes that road with us ) when justice reigns wonderful sung response to Mary s Magnificat. Advent 4: God in the House: For all Generations All Are Welcome URW, 58. Each verse starts out Let us build a house There are many, many possibilities for dramatizing this in visuals and actions. Christmas Eve: God in the Light: Do Not Be Afraid Ahh so many great light songs. Here are a couple you might not know: Christ, Be Our Light URW, 114 More Light (I love this!) download from my friend Christopher Grundy s website: http://www.christophergrundy.com/ Sunday after Christmas: God in the Child: Heirs to the Kin-dom We Are the Body of Christ FWS, 2227 Whose Child is This? Global Praise 2 listen to a clip of it at: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/resources/globalpraise/music/index.cfm?i=13114 4

Sample of One Service - Final Worship Script Season: Advent - Here is Our God! Worship: First Sunday: God in the People: We are All the Work of Your Hand Special Note: World AIDS Day tomorrow We Gather Note about lighting: congregational lights are up but chancel is dim except spotlights shining on the large framed pictures of faces of people from around the world. Music to Gather: Jazz Quartet plays as people gather, last song is Precious Lord 5

Greeting and Announcements (from front of center aisle) Buon giorno! Good morning! (continues with greeting and announcements) Advent Lighting God is Here Today FWS 2049 Pastor does introduction of the theme for the season and to the incarnational God in the unexpected ever wonder where God is? God is here Choir moves forward up side aisles as they sing and one dancer with a lantern moves up the center aisle God is here today; as certain as the air I breathe, as certain as the morning sun that rises, as certain when I sing you ll hear my song. Guitar continues to underscore under testimony by who volunteers with the local AIDS Project ministry (to draw in remembrance of World AIDS Day December 1) Testimony begins I have seen God (this week: I have seen God in the people when ) and ends with: Here is our God! Guitar ends as the candle is lit and the intro to the opening hymn begins as dancer hangs the lantern (note: this will be the sequence for every Sunday in Advent) * Hymn of Praise All Things Bright and Beautiful UMH 147 Prayer of Invocation [four readers from four corners of sanctuary:,,, ] [1] Come to us, Maker of All Things [2] Come to us, Creator of Wonders [3] Come to us, Potter to our Clay [4] Open our eyes to your work [1] In the advent of your coming, and coming again, [2,3 &4] Revive us, renew us and make us ready! 6

We Proclaim Opening to God Change My Heart, O God FWS 2152 [during the following reading as the music continues to underscore, two youth come forward and place a large lump of clay on the worship center] Make it ever true. May I be like you. You are the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me, This is what I pray. Make it ever true. May I be like you. First Reading Isaiah 64: 1-9 O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence--as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil-- to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. Yet, O LORD, you are our Parent; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be exceedingly angry, O LORD, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people. 7

[reprise Change My Heart ] You are the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me, This is what I pray. Make it ever true. May I be like you. [music ends] Second Reading I Corinthians 1: 3-9 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind--just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you--so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by God you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Sermon We Are All the Work of Your Hand Artist begins to shape clay on worship center during the sermon The Word in Song The Potter s Hand (Youth group video plays during this) We Respond Prayers of the People Invite the congregation to lift up words or phrases in answer to these questions (leader gives some examples this first Sunday to prime the congregation for this prayer form) 8

For what do we give thanks? Where, and for whom, is God s presence needed? How are you being called to embody God s love here and now? followed by a pastoral prayer and Lord s Prayer. Offering This first Sunday in Advent, we will have an offering and reverse offering at stations around the sanctuary where people are given the Advent booklets that have been prepared with meditations on Here is God written and submitted by members in November. The Advent website is also shown on the screen where members can invite people to go and read the meditations online as well as see the YouTube videos the youth are preparing on the theme using person-on-the-street interviews, etc. Invitation to offering: direct people to the stations Offertory Jazz Ensemble Offering Prayer Written by the Hospitality Team Holy God, Giver of all good things and Maker of us all, We give you thanks for your presence and gifts to us. Accept these gifts as our offering of praise. Transform them into food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless and welcome for the stranger. Help us to send our love beyond this place into the world Where all are your beloved creation the work of your hands. Amen. We are Sent Forth Invitation to Find God this Week Introduction to the final hymn by the pastor with a specific suggestion about seeing God in the events of this next week (a prelude to next week s theme: God in the World: A New Heaven and a New Earth ) Closing Song Emmanuel, Emmanuel UMH 204 Lamp is danced out down the center aisle (same for each week) Benediction Postlude Jazz ensemble 9