DLM-R/MDiv Student: Barb MacNaughton (902-302-5832)
Pianist: Adam Cooke
Administrator: Jane MacKinnon
Ministry: The Whole Congregation
Advent 4 – Love December 19, 2021
The Community Gathers
Welcome and Announcements
Advent Candle Lighting
Relight the candles of Hope, Peace, and Joy.
Love is not always what we expect.
In may come through unexpected people and at unexpected times.
God’s love is not always what we expect.
God’s love comes to us in gentle whispers as well as with an insistent voice that we can’t ignore.
God’s love finds us when we are lost and heals us when we are broken.
May we allow God to love us into wholeness today,
So that we may share that love tomorrow.
May love be found in a manger and throughout the world.
Light the candle of Love (blue)
♫ Hymn: Hope is a Star VU 7
Gathering Words:
Come, Hear the exciting news! Elizabeth and Mary, two friends, sharing the joy and excitement of the upcoming birth of their children, Gabriel’s announcement and what God has chosen them to do. Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist and Mary, mother of Jesus, the Son of God.
We come together, as friends, to sing God’s praise and trust that we will discover what it is God has chosen us to do.
Elizabeth and Mary, companions, ready to support one another along their spiritual journeys. Through the love and trust of God and filled with the Holy Spirit, their world will be forever changed!
We come together as companions in our Spiritual Journey, ready to support one another. We remember the birth of Christ and how it changed the world and trust that it will change our lives as well.
As Elizabeth and Mary understood and accepted their roles, we see the strength of their faith and their assurance of the love and blessing of God.
We come together to praise God and to be guided by God’s love and the power of the Holy Spirit. We trust that we will come to understand and accept the role in this time and place.
Let us worship God, ever thankful for Elizabeth and Mary’s faithfulness and friendship!
(Carol Frost, Minnedosa U.C., Minnedosa, Man.)
Let us pray:
Holy and Eternal God, you call us to gather in the midst of this Christmas season. Like Mary, may we overcome our challenges and our sense of distraction. May we recognize our call to justice and may we understand that we are called and chosen, blessed and filled with all the wonder of our faith. May we remember that you are with us always, we are not alone. Amen.
♫ Hymn: To a Maid Whose Name Was Mary VU 16
The Community Explores
Scripture:
Old Testament Reading: Micah 5: 2-5a
Responsive Reading: Luke 1: 47-55 VU page 898
New Testament Reading: Hebrews 10: 5-10
♫ Hymn: She Walked in the Summer VU 12
Gospel Reading: Luke 1: 26-45
Message
♫ Hymn: There was a Child in Galilee MV 134
The Community Celebrates
Minute for Mission
Offering Hymn: VU 55 vs 4
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man, I would do my part;
Yet, what I can I give him – give my heart.
Offering Prayer:
In these days of waiting, O God, as Mary grew Jesus in her womb, so grow in us a spirit of generosity. Bring to birth within us a passion for justice and peace. As we share these gifts, which you have entrusted to us, so may your dream for the world come closer to fulfillment. Amen. (Bob Root, Peterborough, Ont.)
Lighting the candle of Caring and sharing our Joys and Concerns
As one heart is lifted,
May we share its celebration
As one heart is burdened,
May we share the pain it knows
And so we take this flame and we light our special care candle – in all our joys and in all our concerns, may we be ever mindful of the present-ness of God among us.
Prayers for the People and Lord’s Prayer
The Community Goes Forth
♫ Hymn: Love is the Touch MV 89
Commissioning and Benediction
♫ Choral Amen
One License A-401486
Ministering through leadership this morning are:
Minister: Barbara MacNaughton
Pianist: Adam Cooke
Lay Reader: Joyce Oliver-Snair
Mission Moment:
Advent Wreath:
Counters: Clark Brander, Malcolm Matheson
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Barb is in the office most mornings Monday - Thursday from 9 a.m. - 12 noon. If you need to arrange a different time, please call her cell 902-302-5832.
Secretary’s OFFICE HOURS:
Thursday and Friday 8-12 noon.
Deadline for information for the bulletin is Thursday at noon.
Bible Study 9:30 -11:00 a.m.
Tuesday mornings in church hall. Cancelled until after Christmas.
Christmas Eve Service is at 6 p.m. with Communion and candle lighting.
It is time to renew your Broadview magazine. Please contact Barb MacIntyre
Lay Reader:
December 24th – Barb MacIntyre – Christmas Eve
Minute for Mission Readers:
December 24th – Christmas Eve
Food Bank Sunday – Last Sunday of the month.
We wish to extend a huge THANK YOU to all who helped out with collection counting in 2021, & especially to those who took multiple turns counting and helping out on very short notice. Your participation is GREATLY APPRECIATED. The collection counting schedule for 2022 is available & we look forward to YOUR participation and support by signing up.
Many thanks,
Patsy & Clark
Please Note:
The Treasurer will be closing St. Mark’s Church books on December 31, 2021. Any donations received after that date will be credited to 2022.
