The Congregations of St. Mark’s and St. David’s
United Church of Canada
Port
Hawkesbury/Port Hastings, NS
December 21st, 2013 Longest Night
GATHER
Welcome
Call to Worship in Two Voices
Based on Jeremiah 31:9–14 (Common English Bible)
Song Holy
Spirit, Hear Us VU
377
Opening Prayer
Holy
Presence, we come to you as the centre of human stillness. Take
away the busyness and the need for distraction in this season. Turn
what lies behind it, our grieving and our uncertainty into peace for
what has passed and love for what is to come. Amen.
Lament
Words of Affirmation
ENGAGE
Song O
Little Town of Bethlehem, 1st
verse VU
64
Psalm 139:1–14
Song O
Little Town of Bethlehem, 2nd
verse VU
64
Ephesians 3:16–21
Song O
Little Town of Bethlehem, 3rd
verse VU
64
Luke 2:1–7 ell
I
Song O
Little Town of Bethlehem, 4th
verse VU
64
RESPOND the
Meditation
Advent Wreath
Candlelighting A
Litany of Remembering
We
light this first candle to remember those whom
we
have loved and lost. We pause to remember their
names,
their faces, their voices, the memories that
bind
them to us in this season. (Pause
while the first
candle
is lit.)
May
God’s eternal love surround them.
We
light this second candle to remember the pain of
loss:
the loss of relationships, the loss of jobs, the loss
of
health. We pause to gather up the pain of the past
and
offer it to God, asking that from God’s hands
we
receive the gift of peace. (Pause
while the second
candle
is lit.)
Refresh,
restore, renew us, O God, and lead us into
your
future.
We
light this third candle to remember ourselves this
Christmastime.
We pause and remember these past
weeks
and months: the disbelief, the anger, the down
times,
the joy and sorrow of memories, the hugs and
handshakes
of family and friends who care for us.
We
give thanks for all the support we have known.
(Pause
while the third candle is lit.)
Help
us to know Eternal Love, we pray.
We
light this fourth candle to remember our faith and
the
gift of hope that the Christmas story offers to us.
We
remember that God, who shares our life, promises
us
a place and time of no more pain and suffering.
(Pause
while the fourth candle is lit.)
Let
us remember the One who shows us the way,
who brings the truth, and
who bears the light.
Advent Candle Song Hope
is a Star verse 1 VU
7
Prayers of the People The lighting of candles
Sabbath Pause: Prayer with Shawls
A Time of Silence
The Singing Bowl is sounded and
5 minutes of silence are kept. The bowl is sounded again to end the
silence.
Song Silent
Night VU
67
