December 8, 2024
Second Sunday of Advent
Peace
Prelude
Brent Holl
Bringing Forth the Flame of Hope
Welcome & Announcements
Alexis Ward Owens & Felicia Thomas
Valley Treble Voices
December 8, 4 pm
Massanutten Presbyterian Church
Enjoy a concert of beautiful holiday music! Laura Douglass, Kate Douglas, and Amanda Zepp are members of the ensemble. A free-will offering will be received.
Advent study
7-8 pm Thursday Nights - 12/12, & 12/19
Meeting at the Douglass Home (reach out for the address!)
We will be journeying through Simpson’s book Fully Human. Fully Divine. as a group. There is a SMALL amount of reading to be done throughout the week, but if you skip some that is ok too! This is an awesome read for anyone looking to stay rooted and grounded throughout this crazy holiday season and beyond.
We encourage everyone to take a peek at this read even if you cannot commit to attending the group function!
On Thursday’s we will debrief on the weekly readings and dive a little deeper on how it is impacting us in our daily lives, what we are learning, and generally support one another throughout the season.
Here is the link to buy the book:
https://amzn.to/3AL5URd
*If you cannot commit to paying for the book right now but would like to participate please reach out to Alexis.
December 15
Christmas Dinner with JWUMC
We have been invited by JWUMC to join them in one of their special holiday traditions - a Christmas Dinner following worship on December 15! More details will be forthcoming, but plan now to join us for this festive occasion!
Call to Worship
(Bold text = All read)
Come, open your hearts…
Light the candles.
Sing the carols
Rest in the prayers
Come, open your lives…
To the Light of the World
To the songs of blessing
To the prayers of healing
Watch, listen, feel…
God is coming
God is here!
Rejoice!
Opening Hymns
Brent Holl
He Came Down
He came down that we may have Hope (3x)
Hallelujah forever more!
…Peace
…Joy
…Love
He Is Born (Il est né) - UMH #228
He is born, the holy Child,
play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
he is born, the holy Child,
sing we all of the Savior mild.
Thru long ages of the past,
prophets have foretold his coming;
thru long ages of the past,
now the time has come at last!
He is born, the holy Child,
play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
he is born, the holy Child,
sing we all of the Savior mild.
O how lovely, O how pure
is this perfect child of heaven;
O how lovely, O how pure,
gracious gift to humankind!
He is born, the holy Child,
play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
he is born, the holy Child,
sing we all of the Savior mild.
Jesus, Lord of all the world,
coming as a child among us;
Jesus, Lord of all the world,
grant to us thy heavenly peace.
He is born, the holy Child,
play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
he is born, the holy Child,
sing we all of the Savior mild.
(En français!!)
Il est né, le divin Enfant,
Jouez hautbois, résonnez musettes!
Il est né, le divin Enfant,
Chantons tous son avènement!
Joys and COncerns
Felicia Thomas
Congregational Prayer
The 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.
Advent Reflections
Sheridan Horne
Personal Relfection
Lighting of the Advent Candles
SCRIPTURE READING
Luke 3:1-6 (NRSV)
1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth,
6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”
Centering Hymn
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (HYFRYDOL) - UMH #196
Come, thou long-expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.
By thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Message
Jennifer Davis Sensenig
With Us and Through Us
Scripture Recitation – Luke 1:68-79
Offering
Invitations
One of our core values is, "God gives to us, so we give back." We're called to give as a joy-filled response to what we've been given. Your financial gifts make a tremendous difference in the lives of God's beloved in Harrisonburg and beyond. Whether it's helping to make sure children in our community have enough to eat, helping to respond to the mental health crisis in our community, or providing much needed backing for the operating costs of our spaces and staff — your gift is a part of God's dream and we are grateful for everyone who partners with us on this journey!
Offertory Solo
Gabriel’s Message
Doxology - UMH #95
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Closing Hymn
Good Christian Friends Rejoice - UMH #224
Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
give ye heed to what we say: News, news!
Jesus Christ is born today!
Ox and ass before him bow,
and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today,
Christ is born today!
Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
now ye hear of endless bliss: News, news!
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath opened heaven’s door,
and ye are blest forever more.
Christ was born for this,
Christ was born for this!
Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
now ye need not fear the grave: News, news!
Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all
to gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save,
Christ was born to save!
Parting Blessing
Postlude
Joy to the World
REMEMBER - YOU ARE A GIFT!
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