Prayer for Peace...for November 6, 2016 -- Remembrance Sunday

God who calls us to love our neighbours, our friends, and our enemies,

we try, or we want to try, but such love is difficult.

God who calls us to be citizens of one shared Kingdom before we are citizens of any other nation,

we struggle, knowing that in our hearts we are a tribal species, looking after our own first.

God whose Kingdom is marked by the reign of peace and justice,

God whose children live in many cities, under many flags, across many bitter divides,

help us break down the walls of enmity, help us see each other as beloved sisters, brothers, and neighbours.

And as we work and wait and pray for peace,

help us live out the commandment to love as you love,

help us see beyond the boundaries of our own tribes,

help us proclaim the Good News of your mercy and the promise of your Kingdom to the whole world around us. Amen.

Advent Candles 2016

Note: the sung closing is one found on page 56 of Gathering: Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2016-17

Advent 1: November 27, 2016 – Hope
Scripture reading: Daniel 6:6-27, Joel 2:28-29
Sermon Title: God Saves

1. Our hope is in God, the One who protects and delivers. God is the light shining through the darkness, leading us into a new future.
2. God delivers and rescues, God works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth; for God has saved Daniel from the power of the lions. (Daniel 6:26-27)
1. O come, O Dayspring from on high...disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Light one candle
Sung closing Light a Candle (verse 1)

Advent 2: December 4, 2016 – Peace
Scripture reading: Isaiah 61:1-11
Sermon Title: Jubilee!
1. The Prince of Peace is about to be born! The Kingdom of God is at hand!
2. God has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour (Isaiah 61:1-2)
1. Created in God’s image we must make peace on earth...we shall find Christ among us as woman, child, or man (Fred Kaan)
Light two candles
Sung closing Light a Candle (verse 2)

Advent 3: December 11, 2016 – Joy
Scripture reading: Luke 1:26-49
Sermon Title: Congratulations!
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. Set every peak and valley humming with the word the Lord is coming. People look east and sing today (Eleanor Farjeon)Light three candles
Sung closing Light a Candle (verse 3)

Advent 4: December 18, 2016 – LoveScripture reading: Pageant
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 four candles
Sung closing Light a Candle (verse 4)

For October 23, 2016 -- David is promised a house

OPENING PRAYER

God of Abraham and Sarah, of David and Bathsheba, of Jesus and Mary,

we open our hearts and souls to your presence, we open our ears to your voice.

God who long ago promised hope in the house of David,

we gather as those who follow David’s heir, Jesus of Nazareth.

In our time of worship,

remind us of your promise for the future, fill us with hope, invite us into your house.

And when we leave this place,

may we take the glory of your house with us to all corners of our world.

We pray in the name of Jesus, the shoot from the stump of Jesse, who taught his friends to pray saying...

PRAYER FOR AND ASSURANCE OF GRACE (references the Hymn "Let Us Build a House" by Marty Haugen)

God, David had a vision to build you a house of cedar.

But you had another plan.

God, we sometimes get caught up in our own visions and plans and priorities.

Help us to stop and listen and look for your plans.

Let us build a house where love can dwell,

where prophets speak, where songs and visions are heard.

God of Grace, through grace help us,

to recognize where your house is, to live as followers of the promised heir of David.

God of steadfast love and grace,

go with us as you promised to be with your servant David.

So that we would live and thrive in your grace.

Today and all our tomorrows. Amen.

COMMISSIONING:

David was promised a house that would endure forever.

And from that house came Jesus of Nazareth, who we call Christ and Messiah

We have gathered as followers of David’s heir.

From David to Solomon down to Jesus and down the ages to us,

God is acting in the world, bringing hope, bringing change, bringing love.

And now we go out to share God’s hope and love with all we meet.

Confident that we are not alone, we live in God’s world.

God is with us. Thanks be to God.

Call to Worship for Oct/Nov 2016

May the Peace of Christ be with you

And also with you.

The God of our past our present and our future has called us together

We gather to celebrate God’s presence, to pray and sing, to listen in faith.

Here God speaks to us about hope and promise.

P:(to be filled in each week)