Sunday Nov. 26, 2023

Advent Candle Lighting:

Isaiah 9:2-6

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.
3 You have multiplied exultation;
    you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
    as with joy at the harvest,
    as people exult when dividing plunder.
4 For the yoke of their burden
    and the bar across their shoulders,
    the rod of their oppressor,
    you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For all the boots of the tramping warriors
    and all the garments rolled in blood
    shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
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.

Songs:

Joy to the World

Verse 1

Joy to the world the Lord is come

Let earth receive her King

Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room

And heav'n and nature sing

And heav'n and heav'n and nature sing

Verse 2

Joy to the earth the Savior reigns

Let men their songs employ

While fields and floods

Rocks hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy

Repeat repeat the sounding joy

Verse 3

No more let sins and sorrows grow

Nor thorns infest the ground

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found

Far as far as the curse is found

Verse 4

He rules the world with truth and grace

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness

And wonders of His love

And wonders wonders of His love

O Come O Come Emmanuel

Verse 1

O come O come Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear

Chorus 1

Rejoice rejoice Emmanuel

Shall come to thee O Israel

Verse 2

O come Thou Dayspring come and cheer

Our spirits by Thine advent here

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night

And death's dark shadows put to flight

Verse 3

O come Thou Wisdom from on high

And order all things far and nigh

To us the path of knowledge show

And cause us in her ways to go

Verse 4

O come Desire of nations bind

All peoples in one heart and mind

Bid envy strife and quarrels cease

Fill the whole world with heaven's peace

O Come All Ye Faithful

Verse 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

Chorus 1

O come let us adore Him

Christ the Lord

Verse 2

Sing choirs of angels

Sing in exultation

Sing all ye citizens of heaven above

Glory to God

In the highest

Verse 3

Yea Lord we greet Thee

Born this happy morning

Jesus to Thee be glory given

Word of the Father

Now in flesh appearing

All The Poor And Powerless

Verse 1

All the poor and powerless

And all the lost and lonely

And all the thieves will come confess

And know that You are holy

Chorus 1

And all will sing out hallelujah

And we will cry out hallelujah

Verse 2

All the hearts who are content

And all who feel unworthy

And all who hurt with nothin' left

Will know that You are holy

Misc 1

(Bridge)

Shout it

Go on and scream it from the mountains

Go on and tell it to the masses

That He is God (yeah)

(REPEAT)

Chorus 2

We will sing out hallelujah

And we will cry out hallelujah

We will sing out hallelujah

And shout yeah

Teaching: Advent: Hope

Romans 8:18-28

“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God, 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its enslavement to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning together as it suffers together the pains of labor, 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what one already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches hearts, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

28 We know that all things God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.”

Communion:

Head up and take communion
head back to your seat and reflect and pray over the following questions:
- Where are the places of pain in your life that you need hope to enter into?
- How can you begin stepping into those places with other people, simply to be present to allow the spirit to be there with you?

Advent Benediction:

Be people of hope.
Let hope live in your heart and share the hope of Christ with all you meet.
Share hope by noticing someone else’s humanity.
Share hope by listening to someone’s story.
Share hope by praying for our world.
In this Advent season, we need to see, feel, and share hope.
As you go out into the wonder of God’s creations, share hope with those you meet.

Amen.

Jared KingNovember 25, 2023