Dec 14- Come to Us, Abide with Us

On this third Sunday of Advent, we look forward with joyful anticipation
 to what God reveals to us.

WELCOME

PRELUDE       Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming/ In the Bleak Midwinter           Kathryn Kuntzman, cello

*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Our souls magnify the Lord. Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior!
All: We come today with eager hope, awaiting God’s new revelation.
One: The mighty One has done great things! God’s mercy covers generations.
All: We come today with ready peace, trusting with anticipation.
One: The One who lifted up the lowly and filled the hungry dwells with us.
All: We come today with fervent joy, we worship with great expectation. 
(Inspired by Luke 1:46b-55, The Magnificat)

*HYMN    When God Is a Child    Ivy worship booklet, p. 95

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
God of us all, your children here and your children afar—
We enter this moment of worship with eager anticipation. We know that even before a child would come to lead the way, You were leading our way. Wondrous God, we look forward with joyful expectation to the future ways that you will reveal yourself in this world! Make your presence known as we worship you in spirit and in truth. Amen.

PASSING OF THE PEACE    Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
“May the peace of Christ be with you.”   (Response) “And also with you.”

LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH – The Candle of Joy 
First Reader (Liturgist): In the midst of our waiting and longing for God to make the world right again, we cling to the truth that God has saved, God is saving, and God will save. So today, we join our voices with the prophet Isaiah, who calls us to live in the joy of the truth of God’s salvation.

All: We choose to believe that the day is coming when “the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10).

Second Reader (Pastor): We light this candle of joy as a sign of the Truth that sets us free to live in joy as we wait and work for the day when all creation will flourish together.

*RESPONSE   O Come, O Come, Emmanuel    #186
(verse 3 only)

AN OLD TESTAMENT READING          Isaiah 35:1-10                                   

SPECIAL MUSIC  Of the Father’s Love Begotten/ Come Thou Long Expected Jesus    
   Kathryn Kuntzman, cello

A READING FROM THE GOSPEL      Matthew 11:2-11     Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

SERMON    “Awaken Our Joy”        Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE      Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer (debts… debtors)

*HYMN   How Great Our Joy!  #192

*RESPONSIVE BENEDICTION      Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
One:  Go with confidence into the days ahead.
All:  Allow the joy within each one of us to shine upon those who suffer.
One:  Let your light be magnified by the grace of God.
All:  May the love of God, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit be among us and within us.  Amen.

*POSTLUDE    Patapan   arr., James Biery