United
Church of Canada
Port Hawkesbury/Port Hastings, NS
Office: 625-2229, Fax 625-3597, e-mail: stmarks1@eastlink.ca
Blog:
http://ourcontactonline.blogspot.com/
Ministers: Whole People of God
Minister: Nan Corrigan D. M. Music Director: Al Fougere
December 23rd, 2012
4th Sunday of Advent-Love
* please stand as
able
Announcements The Work of Church and Community
WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD
Welcome
and greeting one another with the Peace of Christ.
One: The peace of Christ be with you. All: And with your
spirit.
*
Introit I Am Walking a Path
I am
walking a path of love, I am walking a path of love,
I am
walking a path of love, lead me home, lead me home.
Words
& music copyright © Janet Bauman Tissandier, 2-825-7 St.,
Canmore, AB T1W 2C4.
* Call
to Worship
One:
From ancient days, All: God has been present.
One:
From ancient days, All: we pray and we listen.
One:
From ancient days, All: the promise has
sounded.
One:
From ancient days, All: we journey in hope.
One:
From ancient days, All: love finds new birth.
One:
From ancient days, All: we worship in wonder.
Advent Candlelighting Liturgy
We
Light the Candle of Love (back
of bulletin)
*Candlelighting
Hymn Advent Candle Song (an
echo song)
We light these candles as a sign.
Your
light has come into
the world.
Jesus has brought Your kingdom here.
Help us to share this good news.
We light this candle as a sign.
Your
love has come into
the world.
Your Spirit draws us close to you.
Help us to share this good news.
Words
& Music: Jane Best ©2012 Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc. Used by
permission.
Prayer
of Confession
In
the midst of the bustle, we can lose sight of the quiet star that
calls to us.
All:
Help us see the promise of this season.
In
the midst of the tasks, we can lose our way to the simple town called
Bethlehem, and the story of the season.
All:
Help us journey to the source of this season.
In
the midst of the rush, we can lose our compassion for those who ask
if there is any room in our hearts.
All:
Help us share the love of this season. (silence
for reflection)
Words
of Affirmation
The
good news of this season is that God is with us, now and forever.
God’s love has been and
always will be there for us.
Hymn: O
Come, All Ye Faithful VU 60
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
Micah
5:2–5a Out
of Bethlehem in Judea will come a leader.
(spoken
with lines of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” sung as a response)
Sing:
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie. Bethlehem!
Your family may seem small, but from you will come someone who will
rule Israel, whose origin is from ancient days. Sing:
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by. A
woman shall labour and give birth, and when this child appears, then
all the others will return to the people Israel. This child will grow
up to be like a shepherd, standing and feeding my flock with
strength and majesty.
Sing:
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light.
All
will live securely because this one will be known to the ends of the
earth and will be the one of peace.
Sing:
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
Psalm 80
Shepherd of Israel, hear us. Part
1 VU 794
*
Hymn: O Little Town of
Bethlehem Vs.
2-4 VU 64
Opening the Word/Time with Children & The Lord’s Prayer
The Gospel Acclamation
Luke
1:39-55 Bible Story: Mary
Remembers
Holy
Is Your Name (sung
during story) Printed
WE RESPOND IN FAITH
* A New Creed VU918
* Hymn To
a Maid Whose Name Was Mary VU 14
Minute for Mission & Offering Our Gifts to God
* Offering Song/Doxology VU 544
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
(Times for silent
prayer will be offered throughout)
WE GO TO SERVE GOD
* Hymn
The
Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy VU 73
*
Commissioning and Benediction
Held
by the compassion of God –
giver
of surprises, lover of justice –
held
by this remarkable God,
we
leave this place ready to live in gratitude,
ready
to reach out in kindness,
ready
to walk together in peace.
*
Choral Amen
Reflecting
on the Word Advent as Pilgrimage
Luke 1:39–55 “[Elizabeth said], ‘As soon as I heard your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy’” (Luke 1:44).
We
may think of prophets mostly as older men who offer messages of “doom
and gloom,” but such is simply not the case. In the beginning of
Luke’s gospel we encounter several prophets who do not at all fit
that mould, reminding us (as we explored a few weeks ago) that we are
all called to be prophets, and that the prophetic message we are
called to proclaim is one of joy. Both Elizabeth and Mary declare
some of the wonders of what God is doing in their world, and as we
read their story we are reminded of what God is doing in our
world.
- What are some of the “wonders of what God is doing” in your world?
- What has made you “leap for joy” on this Advent journey?
- How are you “walking a path of love?”
