ORDER OF WORSHIP – NOVEMBER 27, 2022
Prelude: “Gesu Bambino” P. Yon (1650)
Welcome and Announcements
Introit: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” Bob Kahle
Call to Worship – 1st Sunday of Advent: Hope.
In God’s house, everyone is welcome—
those who seem like they have it all together,
and those who feel like their world is falling apart.
No matter who we are, there’s room for us here.
God of today and God of tomorrow,
you say, “Bring your full self. There’s room for you here.”
But we say, “Our lives are too messy.”
You say, “Bring your hopes and your dreams. There’s room for you here.”
But we say, “It’s too risky to hope.”
You say, “Bring your grief and your prayers. There’s room for you here.”
But we say, “Some things are easier to forget.”
God of today and God of tomorrow,
we know in our hearts that there’s room for us here.
Forgive us for withholding our full selves from you.
Help us remember, today and tomorrow,
There’s room for every story.
This is the Good News of the gospel on this Sunday of Hope – There is Room for Every story. What Gives you Hope?
Today we light the candle of hope to remind ourselves that God is at work in this world, from generation to generation, there’s room for every story.
Advent Wreath Lighting Heather Browne
Liturgy for Advent – pg. 49.
(For the singing of “Hosanna”, the women will sing the first part, the men the second. As we repeat the song, the women will continue to sing the first part, and the men the second.)
Offerings our Gifts/Remembering God’s Gifts
Hymn 819: “For the Life that You Have Given”
Prayers of the People
Pastoral Prayer/Lord’s Prayer.
Special Music: “Adagio in E” (Haydn) Bob Kahle
Scripture: Isaiah 2:1-5, pg. 550; Matthew 1:1-17, pg. 783
Peter Swavely
Sermon: “There’s Room for Every Story” Rev. Janel Rice
Hymn 272: “Fling Wide the Door”
Benediction
Postlude
Thanks to Peter Swavely for providing the soloist voice in the Advent liturgy as well as serving as our lay reader today.
Call to Worship and Prayers are adapted from prayers by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org, used with permission
November 27, 2022 – 10:00 a.m.
Facebook Livestream and Recorded Worship: A virtual service is available at our Calvary Moravian Church Allentown Facebook page each Sunday and downloaded later in the day to Calvary’s YouTube Channel.
Today’s Usher Dan Benedict
December 4th Usher Tina Ormiston
Today’s Counters Deanna Doster and Gerry Traupman
December 4th Counters Alex and Tammy Karol
The Altar Flowers enhancing the sanctuary are presented to the Glory of God by Edward and Joann Lester in thankfulness for the Calvary Moravian Congregation.
Choir Rehearsals: December 4, 11, and 18 after the church service.
Giant Gift cards and Dan Schantz Flower a month Cards to benefit Calvary sold after church in the conference room.
Join Us at Dining With Friends this Tuesday, November 29 at 6:30 p.m. at Pho-NOM1nal, the Weis Shopping Center (319 S. Cedar Crest Blvd.) Please RSVP to
Sam or Sharon Spagnola. There will not be a Dining with Friends in December.
Moravian Sugar Cookie Sale!
Sue Dickinson is welcoming helpers again to bake cut-out sugar cookies as a special Christmas fundraiser during the morning of Saturday December 10th. Please place your order by December 7th (back of the church or contact the office). $13/pound (approx.3 dozen).
Cookies will be made on Saturday December 10 and available for pick-up at the Moravian Christmas Open House that afternoon or in church on December 11th.
Unity Prayer Watch
Every day throughout the year, the worldwide Moravian churches take a day to pray, and December 8th is Calvary’s day (with other local churches). Contact the office or sign-up in the back of the church to pray in 30 minute intervals for our churches as well as any other prayer requests.
Advent and Christmas Opportunities – Join us – Invite a Friend!
10 a.m. Advent Worship! Our Advent theme is “From Generation to Generation” as we walk through the gospels with our Moravian liturgies and new prayers and worship materials from Sanctified Art. We’ll examine how in each generation from Jesus’s birth until ours, God calls us from places of fear and doubt to joyful community
Join us for an Advent book group on Wednesdays
(November 30, December 7, and 14, 7:30 p.m., Zoom only).
Student Pastor Josh will lead a book group, reading selections
from the devotional book by the German theologian
Dietrich Bonhoeffer called God is in the Manger.
(Please sign up at church or contact the office, book is available, $5)
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83395760033, Meeting ID: 833 95760033
Moravian Christmas Open House, Saturday,
December 10th, 1 – 3 p.m.
- Learn how to trim a beeswax candle, fold a Moravian star, or make Moravian sugarcake
- Sample (and buy) delicious sugar cookies
- Make a candy filled craft for local Soup Kitchen
- Enjoy live Christmas music and worship in the sanctuary.
- Hot and cold beverages and snacks will be available
“The Longest Night” Service
Wednesday, December 21 at 7 p.m. with special music from guest cellist,
Richard Maurer. This service is a quiet, meditative service designed for those needing a break from the busyness of the holidays.
Christmas Eve – December 24th
(NO tickets required!)
4:00 p.m. Traditional Moravian Lovefeast and Candlelight Service
7:00 p.m. Lovefeast (as you arrive) and Candlelight Service
Calvary Moravian Church 