Advent Candles 2015

This year we are using a sung piece (written by Lloyd Larson, copyright 1994) as the base for our candlelighting:

Advent 1: November 29, 2015 – Hope
Sung opening—Come Child of Light
Spoken interlude
1. No matter our circumstances, God promises and offers hope. Hope is born anew when we hear God's promise to the people in exile
2. “Here is your God!... He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep”. (Isaiah 40:10-11)
1. Hope is a star that shines in the night, leading us on till the morning is bright (Brian Wren)
Light one candle
Sung closing Come Child of Light

Advent 2: December 6, 2015 – PeaceSung opening—Come Child of Light
Spoken interlude
1. We await the birth of one who we call the Prince of Peace. God's kingdom is a kingdom of Peace.
2. When his son John was born the priest Zechariah said: “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace”. (Luke 1:78-79)
1. For lo! the days are hastening on, By prophet-bards foretold,
When peace shall over all the earth Its ancient splendours fling, (Edmund Sears)
Light two candles
Sung closing Come Child of Light
Advent 3: December 13, 2015 – Love
Sung opening—Come Child of Light
Spoken interlude
1. The Kingdom of God is the Kingdom of love, the Christmas child is love incarnate
2. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son (John 3:16a)
1. Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas, Star and angels gave the sign. (Christina Rossetti)
Light three candles
Sung closing Come Child of Light

Advent 4: December 20, 2015 – Joy
Sung opening—Come Child of Light
Spoken interlude
1. The birth of a child is a cause for joy, God breaking into the world is a cause for joy.
2. When Elizabeth met Mary she said “And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.” (Luke 1:43-44)
1. Joy to the World! The Lord is come; let earth receive her King! (Isaac Watts)
Light four candles
Sung closing Come Child of Light

Call To Worship for the Advent Season

In this season of preparation of watching and waiting

We gather to pray, to sing, to worship

In this season of Hope, Peace. Love and Joy

We gather in anticipation of the birth of Christ.

As we wait the birth of the Prince of Peace, we greet our neighbours with the Peace of Christ.

For November 15, 2015 -- A service working with Hosea 11:1-9

CALL TO WORSHIP

The God who spoke Creation into being calls us to gather in worship.

We come together to sing, to pray, to listen.

We gather in God's presence and peace, we greet each other with the Peace of Christ.

OPENING PRAYER

God who calls us all Beloved Children,

we come into your presence, we come to be embraced by your loving arms.

In this time of worship,

remind us of the love which holds us fast.

In this time of worship,

restore in us the desire to love and serve.

In this time of worship,

prepare us to go back out into the world to live as your children, to love your children, to serve your children.

These things we pray in the name of Jesus the Christ, who taught his friends to pray saying...

PRAYER FOR AND ASSURANCE OF GRACE

God of grace, God who loves us like a child,

we acknowledge that, as children sometimes do, we wander astray.

God of grace, God who works to heal and protect,

we acknowledge that sometimes we do not recognize the healing and the protection.

God of grace, God who leads us in loving wisdom,

we acknowledge that sometimes we are headstrong and insist on going our own way.

God of grace, God who will not let go,

we acknowledge that sometimes we struggle and do not want to be held

...time of silent prayer...

Here is the extent of God's grace. Even though we wander astray, even when we do no see how God is present, even when we are stiff-necked people- even when we struggle against God's love, God is unable to just let us fall. In grace God holds us in love, in grace God remains part of the equation of life.

Thanks be to God! Amen.

 

COMMISSIONING:

Our time of worship closes,

we go back into the world to live and serve and love.

We go to a world where many feel isolated, alone, unloved.

And so we carry the Good News of a God who can not let go of God's beloved children.

And we go knowing that God is with us,

Creating, Redeeming, and Sustaining each step of the way.

Go in peace, in faith and in love

Amen

For November 8, 2015 -- Elijah and the Prophets of Baal

CALL TO WORSHIP

May the peace of Christ be with you.

And also with you.

We gather to celebrate God's presence, to be reminded of how God is active in our world

We gather to sing, to pray, to listen, to worship.

As we gather, we turn to our neighbours to offer each other the peace of Christ.

PRAYER FOR AND ASSURANCE OF GRACE

God of the ages, in our times of drought and struggle, those times we feel abandoned

we seek for a sign that you are with us, that you are indeed God.

God of the ages, in a world filled with potential idols and gods,

we know that sometimes we wander, we give our focus to the wrong things.

God of the ages, in a world of viral videos and sound bite politics,

we acknowledge that sometimes we want the “big show”, the spectacular, the fireworks and glory.

God of the ages, God of grace, God who moves within and amongst us always,

open our eyes to see the signs of your presence, open our souls to feel your grace, open our hearts to share that grace with the world around us.

God of grace, active in the world, active in our lives,

we sing songs of thanksgiving for your presence, help us listen for your voice urging us forward.

Amen