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UPCOMING SUNDAY WORSHIP:

View a PDF of the Worship bulletin here

November 27, 2022
First Sunday of Advent

We Come Together as God’s People

Prelude              Two settings of Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659-660           J.S. Bach
                                             Dr. John Allegar, organ                                             (1685-1750)

Welcome                            Rev. Christopher A. Henry

Choral Call to Worship            Creator of the Stars of Night          Sarum plainsong
                                           Sanctuary Choir; Dr. Michelle Louer, Director                  (9th C)

Creator of the stars of night,
Your people’s everlasting light,
O Christ, Redeemer of us all,
We pray You, hear us when we call.

When this old world drew on toward night.
You came, but not in splendor bright.
Not as a monarch, but the child
Of Mary, blameless mother mild.

At Your great name, O Jesus, now
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow;
All things on earth with one accord.
Like those in heaven, shall call You Lord.

* Call to Worship                     Rev. Gracie H. Payne

One:       Advent is a season of waiting.

All:        But we do not wait alone.

One:      God is with us.

All:       We gather with those who have seen the signs,
             heard the whispers, felt the tugs in their hearts.

One:     God is birthing hope into this waiting world.

All:       As one community, we welcome the gift of hope.

* Prayer of Adoration

* Processional Hymn #2          Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus        HYFRYDOL

Lighting of the Advent Candle                        Vivian Baker and Danny Fisher

We light candles this Advent.
Candles of joy despite all the sadness.
Candles of hope where despair keeps watch.
Candles of courage where fear is ever present.
Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days.
Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens.
Candles of love to inspire our living.
O Lord, may these candles burn all the year long. Amen.

Invitation to Confession

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God,
Forgive us for the times we are too afraid to hope,
      too tired to dream,
      too angry to listen,
      too wounded to trust,
      too certain to be surprised.
Kindle in us a renewed sense of faith.
Lift our faces to look for your light. (Silent Prayer)

Assurance of God’s Grace

* Response of Praise                                   VOM HIMMEL HOCH

* Passing the Peace of Christ

* Hymn #9              O Come, O Come, Emmanuel           VENI EMMANUEL

We Experience God’s Word

The Word with Children

Prayer for Illumination                                  Danny Fisher

First Scripture Lesson             Luke 2:25-33              (p. 934)

Anthem             Nunc Dimittis in G Major, op. 81         Charles Villiers Stanford
                   Sanctuary Choir with Patrick Pauloski, baritone             (1852-1924)

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.

              Text: The Book of Common Prayer, 1662

Second Scripture Lesson             Isaiah 64:1-9              (p. 680)

Sermon                     Rev. Christopher A. Henry

“Impatient Expectation”
“Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.”
(Isaiah 64:8)

Moment of Silent Meditation

We Give Thanks to God

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer           Rev. Michael M. Samson

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors;
     and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Invitation to Discipleship and Generosity

Offertory                Expectans, expectavi Dominum (from Oratorio de Noël, Op.12)        Camille Saint-Saëns
                                                  Mitzi Westra, alto                                     (1835-1921)

Expectans expectavi Dominum; et intendit mihi.

I waited with longing for the Lord, and he turned to me.

              Text: Psalm 130:5, 69:16

* Doxology                                                                  DIVINUM MYSTERIUM

Prayer of Dedication

We Go Forth to Serve

* Closing Hymn #14              Savior of the Nations, Come              NUN KOMM, DER HEIDEN HEILAND

* Charge and Benediction

* Choral Benediction                 Belfast ‘Amen’                 Philip W.J. Stopford
                                                                                                              (b. 1977)

Postlude              Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 661           J.S. Bach