Worship Service Dec 3
1st Sunday of Advent
Worship is the highest activity of a person whose sole and ultimate aim is God’s glory.
If you are unable to join us in person, our livestream connection via Zoom in the worship service post begins around 10:45am. You will have time to greet worship participants online and in the church … think of it as a closed circuit connection. If you cannot attend live or you would like to experience it again, our service is recorded and is typically available around 3pm on Sundays via the YouTube link in the worship service post.
ORDER OF WORSHIP
Gathering and Prelude
Call to Worship
Response to the Call: There’s a Song in the Air 249 1,2,4
Welcome, Greeting, Service Overview
Prayer of Illumination
SERVICE OF THE HANGING OF THE GREENS
Introduction
Old Testament Prophecy: Isaiah 61:1-3
Lighting the Advent Candle: Hope
Hymn of Faith: Come Thou Long Awaited Jesus 196
(Placement of the Greens)
New Testament Prophecy: Matthew 3:1-3
Song: Beautiful Star of Bethlehem
(Placement of the Poinsettias)
The Journey to Bethlehem: Luke 2:1-6
Hymn of Advent: O Come, O Come Emmanuel 211 1,2,7
(Placement of Joseph and Mary / Light the Tree)
Offering Dedication and Offertory
Doxology – hymnal #95
Life of the Church
Centering Music
Pastor Prayer
Scripture: Mark 13:24-37
Sermon: Meanwhile
Holy Communion
Commissioning and Benediction
Life of the Church
ABCCM FOOD DONATIONS: Donation Basket at Front Door. We dedicate our gifts on Communion Sundays.
Medical Lending Closet Flyers are available to distribute to friends and places that will post them.
The daily prayer chain goes out after 8pm. Send requests to prayer@alexanderchapel.org. Prayer shawls are also available. Questions? Contact Pastor Marjory.
Christmas Activities and Worship:
Note: All activities have a website event listing with more info!
Dec 10 – Christmas Social following the worship service. Meat and drinks provided, bring a dessert or side dish to share.
Dec 17 – Candlelight Service 6pm
Dec 24 – Christmas Eve Regular Morning Worship Service, NO evening service, but we’ll list sister church services you can attend
Christmas Missions:
– Sock collection Dec 10/17 for men and women at ABCCMs Veterans Quarters and Transformation Village
– Missions Fund is providing gift cards for the women at Transformation Village and candy for the NC Veterans Home
Winter Weather: If conditions are unsafe for an in person worship service, we will hold a virtual service using the Livestream information above.
Holy Communion
Pastor: The peace of the Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord. People: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Invitation – Confession – Pardon
Pastor: Loving God, in many and various ways you have visited and redeemed your people – finally sending to us your Son, Jesus. We thank you, Lord God, for sending Jesus to us: As one of us he came, at first a tender infant, then a child, a youth, and an adult. He rejoiced with those who rejoiced, he wept with those who wept. To the despairing he spoke a word of hope; to the sick he gave healing, to the rejected he was a friend. And yet he was betrayed and nailed to a cross. But you lifted him from the grave and restored him to life so that he might be with us and we with him – alive – forevermore. Therefore, with all the saints and with the angels in heaven we praise you, saying:
All: Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest.
Pastor: Eternal God, King of heaven and earth: the life and death of your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we profess; his resurrection from the dead and his ascension we confess; his coming in triumph we await.
All: Oh Lord, hear our earnest plea as we acknowledge our sins and seek forgiveness. Grant us your mercy and grace.
The Great Thanksgiving
Pastor: So it is, Lord Jesus, as we gather in praise and thanksgiving at your table, we remember how on the night before your passion you took the bread and gave thanks, saying: “Take and eat: this is my body which will be broken for you.” We recall how, in the same way, when the meal was over, you took the cup, and gave it to your disciples, saying: “Take and drink. This is my blood, which will be shed for you. Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
The Mystery of the Faith and Consecration
Pastor: Let us proclaim the mystery of our faith:
All: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Pastor: Loving God, let your Holy Spirit descend upon us and what we do here that we, and these gifts, touched by your Spirit, may be for us the body and blood of Christ Jesus and a sign of hope to us and to all the earth. Give us the mind of Christ that we may follow faithfully in this world as we await Christ’s return in glory. Amen
All: By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at his heavenly banquet.
Pastor: Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and forever. Amen.
Pastor: And now, with the confidence of children of God, let us pray together:
All: THE LORD’S PRAYER
Breaking of the bread and the lifting of the Cup
Sharing of the Meal
