Order of Worship

JESUS MAFA, John the Baptist preaching in the desert (1973)

December 8, 2024 - Second Sunday of Advent

PRELUDE

"" by Doe Waters

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

WWW.COIUM.ORG/OOW - Order of Worship webpage

3 more Mondays at 7pm Advent Book Club (Zoom) “Honest Advent”

12/10 10:30am Women’s Corner via Zoom

12/13 Friday 6:30pm Carol Night - Invite your friends!

12/24 7pm Christmas Eve Candle Light Service

Advent Candle Lighting - Peace

Reader One: The prophet Malachi calls us to watch for the messenger God will send us, a messenger who burns with a passion for God’s coming salvation. “For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness” (Malachi 3:2b-3).

Congregation: In a world driven by a passion to maintain the status quo, we choose to live with a passion for God’s peace, to listen to those who call us to righteousness, and to submit ourselves to God’s grace, that we might be refined and purified until we reflect God’s love throughout the earth.

Reader Two: We light this candle of peace as a sign of our commitment to passionately pursue the work of making peace in our hearts, our families, our communities, and throughout the earth until God’s kin-dom comes on earth as it is in heaven.

Light the second candle of the Advent wreath.

*INTROIT

Worship & Song 3117 "Rule of Life"

Do all the good you can

By all the means you can

In all the ways you can

In all the places you can

At all the times you can

To all the people you can

As long as ever you can

*CALL TO WORSHIP (John Eilering)

Welcome today to this time of preparation.

Although we have been preparing for celebrations, we come seeking to prepare our hearts to receive God's Good News.

Get ready! The Lord is bringing to us Hope and Peace.

How wonderful it is that the Lord is showering us with Peace.

Open your hearts and let your spirits be quieted.

Be at peace with the Lord.

Lord, prepare our lives and bring us peace. AMEN.

*OPENING HYMN

United Methodist Hymnal 234 "O Come O Ye Faithful"

1. O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.

Come and behold him, born the King of angels;

Refrain:

O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,

O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

3. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;

O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!

Glory to God, all glory in the highest;

(Refrain)

5. Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger,

we would embrace thee with love and awe.

Who would not love thee, loving us so dearly?

(Refrain)

6. Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning,

Jesus, to thee be all glory given.

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:

(Refrain)

OPENING PRAYER

We have prepared our homes, and our gifts, Lord, but we need help in preparing our spirits to receive your message of Peace. Free us from the stresses and strains of this time, and place your peace which passes all our understanding in our hearts. For we ask this in Jesus' Name. AMEN.

CHILDREN'S TIME - ALL CHILDREN, COME FORWARD!

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Lord, hear us this day as we open our hearts and our spirits to you. These times in which we live are often confusing and fearful. We are pushed to make preparations for a season which is supposed to bring hope and peace; yet we crowd it with obligations and stresses and shut the door to your healing love and compassion. We find ourselves being on edge, fretful, wondering if we have done enough, can do enough. You answer our fears with your voice, "Peace, be still". Help us to hear you. Slow us down. Encourage us to take some time to listen rather than shout, to stop and rest rather than run. Cause us to look around at situations and people who are in need and to place our focus on helping them. For it is in helping your people and reaching out in love that we will find true peace. These things we pray, in Jesus' Name. AMEN.

WORDS OF ASSURANCE

Friends, hear the good news:

Jesus said, "I am bring you peace, not the kind of peace the world would give to you. My peace I give to you, now and forever."

Be at peace. Know God's love is given for you. AMEN!

COMMUNITY PRAYER & LORD'S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power,

and the glory forever. AMEN.

RESPONSIVE HYMN

The Faith We Sing 2163 "He Who Began a Good Work"

He who began a good work in you

Will be faithful to complete it

He'll be faithful to complete it

He who started the work

Will be faithful to complete it in you

SCRIPTURE READING

[Luke 3:1-6, Common English Bible]

1 In the fifteenth year of the rule of the emperor Tiberius—when Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea and Herod was ruler over Galilee, his brother Philip was ruler over Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was ruler over Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas—God’s word came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 John went throughout the region of the Jordan River, calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. 4 This is just as it was written in the scroll of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

A voice crying out in the wilderness:

“Prepare the way for the Lord;

make his paths straight.

5 Every valley will be filled,

and every mountain and hill will be leveled.

The crooked will be made straight

and the rough places made smooth.

6 All humanity will see God’s salvation.”

SERMON

"Prepare the Way" (CJ Woo)

OFFERTORY

United Methodist Hymnal 95 "Doxology"

Praise God from whom all blessings flow

Praise God all creatures here below

Praise God above ye heavenly host

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

AMEN

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

Loving God, in this Advent season, we bring our offerings with hearts open to your call. Just as John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, may our gifts help prepare the way for your kingdom. Use these offerings to bring hope, justice, and transformation. Help us to look beyond the surface, to see your work in surprising places and people. Bless our giving, that it may shine with the presence of Emmanuel. In Christ’s name, we pray. AMEN.

*CLOSING HYMN

The Faith We Sing 2235-b "We Are Marching in the Light of God"

We are marching in the light of God!

We are marching, we are marching- Oh!

We are marching in the light of God!

*singing, walking, dancing, praying.

SENDING FORTH & BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE

"" by Doe Waters