December 5
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Introit
Lighting of the Advent Wreath – Elissa Waldron.
Moment of Silence – Welcoming the Peace of Christ.
Special Music “Rise Up Shepherd and Follow” Grace Hochella, solo
Liturgy for Advent
(Based on Isaiah 61 and Psalm 126)
God of hope, God of peace
We watch and wait for your presence to dawn upon us like a morning star appearing in the heavens.
We do not stand motionless as we wait. We travel through the seasons of lives, encountering rough places and shadowed valley, as well as times and places of great joy.
As we journey onward, we come to expect that you will walk by our side and that somehow, you will be there at our destination, waiting to welcome us.
Assured, and yet expectant, confident and still hopeful,
We mark these days of the Advent season with anticipation of your coming into our hearts and lives.
Our hope and expectation, O Jesus, now appear, Rejoice
Arise, O Sun so longed for, o’er this benighted sphere.
With hearts and hands uplifted, we look, O Lord, to you
For all the earth’s redemption, creation made anew.
Forgive us, we pray, for looking for easy answers or for living with the expectations of the past.
Forgive us for forgetting that your Spirit within us is always ready to bring the light of wisdom and the inspiration to act with the compassion of Christ.
The words of the prophet Isaiah help us to express our faith, for we too share in the prophet’s mission:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon all who bring good news to the oppressed, upon those who help to bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives and release to prisoners. Those who offer hope to people in distress and strive to replace their mourning with gladness, show that they honor God through lives of compassion.
You have restored us to times of joy and have done great things for us.
May all those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.
And Jesus, the bright and morning star,
Guide us always into paths of peace.
Veni Emmanuel
O come, Desire of Nations, bind all people in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease;
Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.
Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel
Scripture Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 3:1-6 David Venditta
Sermon “The Messengers: Repent, Refine, Reform”
Sacrament of Holy Communion for Advent
Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, be with you all.
Amen. Thanks be to God.
Hymn “The Advent of our God” pg. 185 (Sharing Right Wave of Fellowship).
The advent of our God shall be our theme for prayer
Come, let us meet him on the road And place for Him prepare.
The everlasting Son Incarnate stoops to be,
takes on himself the servant’s form to set His people free.
All glory to the Son Who comes to set us free,
With Father, Spirit, ever-one, through all eternity.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
(Lord’s Prayer)
Special Music “Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”
(During this time, please come forward to pick up your bread and grape juice. There are also pre-sealed cups/wafers available at the table if you prefer.)
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said: Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
(All partake together.)
Silent prayer
By your divine presence,
By the holy sacraments,
By all the merits of your life, sufferings, death, and resurrection,
Bless and comfort us, gracious Lord and God. Amen.
In the same way, after supper our Lord Jesus Christ took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sin. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.
(All partake together.)
Silent prayer
Christ, the Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
Grant to us your peace. Amen.
Hymn pg. 191
God with us, God with us,
God made known in human frame;
In his name rejoice with gladness,
since to save the lost he came;
none need sink in hopeless sadness,
for Immanuel is now with us,
God with us, God with us
Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death,
Until he comes.
Hymn pg. 193 (Sharing Right Wave of Fellowship)
Brothers, sisters, join in praising Christ, the Son, Incarnate Word;
join, with hearts and voices raising, songs of thanks to Christ, our Lord.
God made flesh, who dwelt among us, giving bread and wine as sign,
grant that now your love may, through us, in a world of darkness shine.
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace;
In the name of Jesus. Amen. (Sung Response)
Reprinted or adapted from the 1995 Moravian Book of Worship with the permission of the Interprovincial Board of Communication, Moravian Church in America. © 1995 IBOC. www.moravian.org; e-mail: pubs@mcnp.org. All rights reserved.
Special thanks to Grace Hochella for sharing special music with us today.
Calvary Moravian Church 