Through the valley...with Christ​

THE WAY OF THE JOURNEY –  Adviento 2012​

________________________ Fourth Sunday​

 

​ MARTYRDOM WITH CHRIST

Doing the Will of God

 

Thou hast neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings (these are offered according to the law)...Lo, I have come to do thy will. Hebrews 10:8-9​

 

​It takes more than an executive order to set the rule of law and the reign of justice and righteousness in place throughout the land, it requires the executive’s exercise of holy fear of God and willingness to offer the supreme sacrifice to achieve genuine

people’s liberation​

​​

CONGREGATION​

GATHERING

And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation.  Luke 1:50​

 

And now let the weak say I am strong Let the poor say I am rich
 Because of what the Lord has done for us Give thanks...​

 

GREETINGS

The light of the Lord's redemption shine upon us all.

 

​​​ That our souls may magnify the Lord and our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.​

 

Blessing of the Advent Wreath​

 

Christ came to bring us salvation and has promised to come again.​

 Let us pray that we may always be ready to welcome him.

 

 Come, Lord Jesus.​

​

​Loving God, your Church joyfully awaits the coming of its Savior, who enlightens our hearts and dispels the darkness of ignorance and sin. Pour forth your blessings upon us as we light the candles of this wreath. May their light reflect the splendor of Christ, who is Lord forever and ever. Amen​

 

Lighting of the Fourth Candle​

 

We light this candle - a symbol of the Lord's redemption - as we recall and claim to our heart's comfort the wonderful deeds of the Lord …​

 

He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. Luke 1:52-53​

 

May the light sent from God shine in the darkness to show us the way of redemption and in self-offering with Christ joyfully proclaim the salvation of the Lord.

HYMN OF PRAISE

Love Divine

 

Love Divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heaven, to earth come down,
Fix in us thy humble dwelling, All thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion, Pure unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with thy salvation, Enter every trembling heart.

​

Come, almighty to deliver, Let us all thy grace receive;
Suddenly return, and never, Never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing, Serve thee as thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise thee, without ceasing, Glory in thy perfect love.

​

Finish then thy new creation Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see thy great salvation, Perfectly restored in thee,
Changed from glory into glory, Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before thee, Lost in wonder, love, and praise!​

 ​

INVOCATION​​

CONFESSION​

 

CALL TO CONFESSION.​

 

 Thou hast neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings. Hebrews 10:8​

 

 

SILENT PRAYER OF CONFESSION​

 

THE LORD'S PRAYER

CLEANSING​

 

 WORDS OF ASSURANCE​

 ​

Then he said: "Lo, I have come to do thy will." He abolished the law of ritual sacrifices and established the covenant of living sacrifice. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.

Hebrews 10:8-10

 

 THE PEACE​

Let us offer one another signs of reconciliation and love.​

 

​GLORIA PATRI​​

COMMUNION​​

OFFERING​

​And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord and they shall dwell secure to the ends of the earth. Micah 5:4​

 

DOXOLOGY​

 

COMMUNITY CONCERNS​

 

PASTORAL PRAYER​

 

READING OF SCRIPTURES​

 ​

       First Lesson : Micah 5:2-5
               Psalter : Luke 1:47-55
        Second Lesson : Hebrews 10:5-10
      Third Lesson : Luke 1:39-45​

 

BREAK THOU THE BREAD OF LIFE​

 

ANTHEM​

 

SERMON​

 

I BELIEVE​

CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP​

 

 Blessed are they who believe that there will be a fulfillment of what was spoken the them from the Lord. Luke 1;45

 

 COMMITMENT​

HYMN OF DEDICATION

O Little Town of Bethlehem​

 

1. O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting Light; ​

The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee to-night.​

 

2. O morning stars, together Proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God the King, And peace to men on earth.
For Christ is born of Mary And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep the Angels keep Their watch of wondering love.​

 

3. How silently, how silently, The wondrous gift is given;
So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His Heaven.
No ear may hear His coming, But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still, The dear Christ enters in.​

​​

4. Where children pure and happy Pray to the blessed Child,
Where misery cries out to Thee, Son of the Mother mild;
Where Charity stands watching And Faith holds wide the door,
The dark night wakes, the glory breaks, And Christmas comes once more.​

 

5. O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray!
Cast out our sin and enter in, Be born in us to-day.
We hear the Christmas angels, The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel!​

PRAYER OF DEDICATION​​

COMMISSION​

WORDS OF MISSION​

 

Go forth in peace and share the good news : It takes more than an executive order to set the rule of law and the reign of justice and righteousness in place throughout the land, it requires the executive’s exercise of holy fear of God and willingness to offer the supreme sacrifice to achieve genuine people’s liberation.

 

THE BENEDICTION

 

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ​, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit​

be with you all. Amen.