The Presbyterian Church at Woodbury
December 12, 2021
3rd Sunday in Advent
9:30 am
WELCOME
This service is not intended to celebrate Christmas but to help each of us prepare ourselves for, and expect the coming of Christ. The word “Advent” is a derivation of the Latin word, “advenio,” meaning coming or arrival. Early observances of this festival are recorded prior to the seventh century, and through the ensuing ages it has evolved into the form familiar to us today. Advent begins on the Sunday nearest November 30th and lasts four Sundays.
Advent should not be so much a time of imitating the waiting of ancient Israel as it should be a time of looking toward our own future. . .indeed the focus of the season is centered on the future. John the Baptist’s cry, “Prepare the way of the Lord,” sets the precedent. The Christian individual and the Christian Church are future-oriented, anticipating the fulfillment of all things in Christ. Much in the same manner that Christmas urges us to consider the second coming of Christ (the Parousia), so Advent urges us to prepare for the Kingdom of God in the Church Triumphant.
The worshiper will notice at once that the format of this service of worship consists of God’s revelation to us of God’s purpose (the eight scriptural lessons), followed immediately by our response to God’s word (the musical portions of this service – our offering of praise back to God).
We regard Advent as a penitential season, similar to Lent. The liturgical color for Advent is purple. As Christians, we celebrate Advent as a time for two-fold preparation: (1) to ready ourselves for the birth of Jesus Christ, and (2) to prepare for his coming again in glory to judge “both the quick and the dead.” Let each one of us use this season as a time of reflection, penitence, and preparation for that which is to come. “Prepare the way of the Lord”
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES
Watch and wait for Christ’s coming! Light candles of hope, peace, joy, and love, remembering the promises of God with prayer.
We light this candle in hope. Light the first candle.
We light this candle for peace. Light the second candle.
We light this candle in joy! Light the third (pink, if used) candle.
To those who live as exiles from home in a dark time, to those enslaved as exiles due to others’ oppression, to those who are sin’s exiles from their best God-promised selves, the Lord speaks the joy of good news. A reading from Zephaniah 3:14-20:
Reader 1:
Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival.
Reader 2:
“I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it. I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. At that time, I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the LORD.
Let us pray
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid, for the LORD is my strength and my might; God has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, Rejoice! Sing praises to the LORD, for God has done gloriously! Amen.
PRELUDE “All Praise to You, Jesus Christ” Michael Gettermann
CALL TO WORSHIP
Surely God is our salvation. Isa. 12:2-6
We will trust in God and not be afraid.
Surely God is our strength and our might.
We will make known God’s deeds among the nations.
We gather in this season of Advent to wait, watch, and wonder.
We gather to share the joy we find in the Christ-child,
and the joy that God finds in us!
Come, let us worship God!
HYMN No. 108 “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” vs. 1,2,3
1 Of the Father’s love begotten,
ere the worlds began to be,
he is Alpha and Omega;
he the source, the ending he,
of the things that are, that have been,
and that future years shall see,
evermore and evermore!
2 By his Word was all created;
he commanded; it was done:
heaven and earth and depths of ocean,
universe of three in one,
all that sees the moon’s soft shining,
all that breathes beneath the sun,
evermore and evermore!
3 O, that birth forever blessed
when the Virgin, full of grace,
by the Holy Ghost conceiving,
bore the Savior of our race,
and the babe, the world’s Redeemer,
first revealed his sacred face,
evermore and evermore!
CALL TO RECONCILIATION
Although God is the source of our joy, our sin often hinders our joy and the joy of others. Let us confess our sins before God and one another.
PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS
Gracious God, it was with joy that you brought us into being. You created the world and called it good. And yet we have done so much to quell that goodness: we have fought with one another and failed to live in peace; we have shut out the stranger and disparaged the immigrant; we have ignored the needy and judged the poor; we have fallen short of your command to be the Beloved Community. Forgive us, Merciful God, and bring us back to the joy we find in you. This we pray in your holy name. Amen.
Silence is observed
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
The prophet Zephaniah reminds us of these truths: that God rejoices over us with gladness, that God renews us in love, and that God will exult over us with loud singing. Friends, I announce to you, in the name of Jesus Christ: Our sins are forgiven.
Alleluia! Amen.
RESPONSE No. 108 “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” v. 6
Christ, to thee with God the Father, and, O Holy Ghost, to thee, hymn and chant and high thanksgiving and unwearied praises be. Honor, glory, and dominion, and eternal victory, evermore and evermore! Amen.
PASSING OF THE PEACE OF CHRIST
Our peace comes from knowing how much God loves us in Jesus Christ. With God’s help, we try to love and forgive one another as Christ loves and forgives us.
“The peace of Christ be with you,”
“And also with you.”
ANTHEM
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
(all children will remain in the sanctuary)
A Service of Lessons & Carols
_______________ FIRST LESSON Genesis 3:8-15, 17-19
Adam and Eve disobey God’s command and disrupt the order and goodness of creation
CAROL “O Little Town of Bethlehem” GTG 121, vs. 1,3 & 4
_______________ SECOND LESSON Genesis 22:15-18
God promises that, through Abraham, all the peoples of the world will be blessed
CAROL “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” GTG 88, vs. 1, 2 & 4
_______________ THIRD LESSON Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
The people who walk in darkness receive the promise of the Messiah
CAROL “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” GTG 123, vs. 1 & 4
_______________ FOURTH LESSON Isaiah 11:1-4a, 6-9
The Messiah will come from the root of Jesse to restore the peace of creation
CAROL “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” GTG 129, vs.1 & 2
_______________ FIFTH LESSON Luke 1:26-35, 38
An angel appears to Mary and announces that she will bear a holy child
CAROL “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” GTG 119, vs. 1 & 3
_______________ SIXTH LESSON Luke 2:1-7
Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem, where Mary gives birth to her child
CAROL “Away in a Manger” GTG 115, all
_______________ SEVENTH LESSON Luke 2:8-16
Angels appear to shepherds in the fields and announce the birth of the Messiah
CAROL “Angels We Have Heard on High” GTG 113, vs. 1 & 3
_______________ EIGHTH LESSON Matthew 2:1-11
Magi from the East come seeking the Messiah and offer gifts to the baby Jesus
CAROL “We Three Kings of Orient Are” GTG 151, 1 & 5h
_______________ NINTH LESSON John 1:1-14
The Word of God becomes flesh and lives among us, full of grace and truth
CAROL “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates” GTG 93, all
FIRST LESSON Genesis 3:8-15, 17-19
Adam and Eve disobey God’s command and disrupt the order and goodness of creation
8 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.”13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.” 14 The Lord God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
cursed are you among all animals
and among all wild creatures;
upon your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat
all the days of your life.
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.”17 And to the man[a] he said,
“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife,
and have eaten of the tree
about which I commanded you,
‘You shall not eat of it,’
cursed is the ground because of you;
in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
and you shall eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your face
you shall eat bread
until you return to the ground,
for out of it you were taken;
you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.”
CAROL “O Little Town of Bethlehem” GTG 121, vs. 1,3 & 4
1 O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.
3 How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still
the dear Christ enters in.
4 O holy child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin and enter in;
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us; abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel!
SECOND LESSON Genesis 22:15-18
God promises that, through Abraham, all the peoples of the world will be blessed
15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, says the Lord: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, 18 and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.”
CAROL “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” GTG 88, vs. 1, 2 & 4
1 O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
2 O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
who orderest all things mightily:
to us the path of knowledge show;
and teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
4 O come, thou Root of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save
and give them victory o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
THIRD LESSON Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
The people who walk in darkness receive the promise of the Messiah
2 [a] The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.6 For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
CAROL “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” GTG 123, vs. 1 & 4
1 It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth,
to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to all,
from heaven’s all-gracious King”:
the world in solemn stillness lay,
to hear the angels sing.
4 And you, beneath life’s crushing load,
whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow,
look now, for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing:
O, rest beside the weary road,
and hear the angels sing.
FOURTH LESSON Isaiah 11:1-4a, 6-9
The Messiah will come from the root of Jesse to restore the peace of creation
1 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
2 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3 His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide by what his ears hear;
4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;6 The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.
7 The cow and the bear shall graze,
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
9 They will not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
CAROL “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” GTG 129, vs.1 & 2
1 Lo, how a rose e’er blooming
from tender stem hath sprung,
of Jesse’s lineage coming,
by faithful prophets sung.
It came, a floweret bright,
amid the cold of winter,
when half spent was the night.
2 Isaiah ‘twas foretold it,
the rose I have in mind;
with Mary we behold it,
the virgin mother kind.
To show God’s love aright
she bore for us a Savior,
when half spent was the night.
FIFTH LESSON Luke 1:26-35, 38
An angel appears to Mary and announces that she will bear a holy child
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”[a] 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”[b] 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[c] will be holy; he will be called Son of God.
38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
CAROL “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” GTG 119, vs. 1 & 3
1 Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn king.
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful all ye nations, rise;
join the triumph of the skies;
with the angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn king!”
3 Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn king!”
SIXTH LESSON Luke 2:1-7
Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem, where Mary gives birth to her child
2 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
CAROL “Away in a Manger” GTG 115, all
1 Away in a manger, no crib for his bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
2 The cattle are lowing; the poor baby wakes,
but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky,
and stay by my side until morning is nigh.
3 Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay
close by me forever and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
and fit us for heaven to live with thee there.
SEVENTH LESSON Luke 2:8-16
Angels appear to shepherds in the fields and announce the birth of the Messiah
8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,[a] the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,[b] praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”[c]15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.
CAROL “Angels We Have Heard on High” GTG 113, vs. 1 & 3
1 Angels we have heard on high,
sweetly singing o’er the plains,
and the mountains in reply
echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
3 Come to Bethlehem and see
him whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee
Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
EIGHTH LESSON Matthew 2:1-11
Magi from the East come seeking the Messiah and offer gifts to the baby Jesus
2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men[a] from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising,[b]and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah[c]was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd[d] my people Israel.’”7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men[e] and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising,[f] until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped,[g] they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
CAROL “We Three Kings of Orient Are” GTG 151, 1 & 5
1 We three kings of Orient are;
bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain,
following yonder star.
Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of night,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light!
5 Glorious now behold him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
sounds through the earth and skies.
Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of night,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light!
NINTH LESSON John 1:1-14
The Word of God becomes flesh and lives among us, full of grace and truth
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life,[a] and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.[b]
10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own,[c] and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son,[d] full of grace and truth.
CAROL “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates” GTG 93, all
1 Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates;
behold the King of glory waits;
the King of kings is drawing near;
the Savior of the world is here.
2 Fling wide the portals of your heart;
make it a temple, set apart
from earthly use for heaven’s employ,
adorned with prayer and love and joy.
3 Redeemer, come! I open wide
my heart to thee; here, Lord, abide.
Let me thy inner presence feel;
thy grace and love in me reveal.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFERING OF TITHES & OFFERINGS
Even in difficult times we remember that God has done great things for us. We choose to live our lives in hope, counting on the goodness of God in every age. As a sign of our trust in God, we share our gifts this morning, strengthening the ministry of this church and the United Church of Christ as we seek together to extend hope and summon peace. Let us gather…
*OFFERTORY
*RESPONSE
Praise God, from whom all blessing flow, Praise God, all creatures here below. Alleluia, Alleluia Praise God in Jesus fully know; Creator, Word and Spirit one. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
* PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Gracious God, you are so good to us. We give you thanks for these blessings and would ask that the joy we feel in our hearts not only be expressed by our lips but with our hands also. May these gifts be used to embody the joy we find in you by sharing it with those who need it most. This we pray in your holy name. Amen.
*HYMN No. 108 “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” vs. 4, 5
4 This is he whom seers in old time
chanted of with one accord,
whom the voices of the prophets
promised in their faithful word.
Now he shines, the long-expected.
Let creation praise its Lord,
evermore and evermore!
5 O ye heights of heaven, adore him.
Angel hosts, his praises sing.
Powers, dominions, bow before him,
and extol our God and King.
Let no tongue on earth be silent;
every voice in concert ring,
evermore and evermore!
*BENEDICTION
Setting aside our fears and worries, let us go.
We will go as God’s people on this day, to remind everyone that God is as close to them as the beats of their hearts.
Setting aside our prejudices and assumptions, let us go.
We will go as Jesus’ followers this day, to gather up the forgotten and bring them
home, to embrace the lonely as sisters and brothers.
Setting aside our expectations and demands, let us go.
We will go as those graced by the Spirit, to share with others the waters from grace’s deep wells, to offer that peace which never comes to an end.
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