A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
First Sunday of Advent 10:30 am
Meditation
You are a blessing. Breathe it in. ~ Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed from “Joy and Celebration”
From There to Here: We Gather
Prelude
Hymn Sing Choose Your Favorites!
Welcome
Welcome to this service of worship! Please sign in using the pew folder, passing it back down the row so all can greet one another by name, and place the sheet in an offering plate. We’re glad you’re here! During the service, you are invited to rise in body or in spirit, standing or sitting, at points in the service marked “<>.”
Meditation Chant/Song Desiree Scarambone
Scripture Reading Jeremiah 33:14-16
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfil the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’
~New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021)
Lighting the Candle of Hope
The Advent Wreath tradition reaches back to pre-Christian northern Europeans who lit candles awaiting the winter solstice. By the 1500s, both Lutherans and Catholics had adapted the Advent Wreath as a devotional way to prepare for the coming of Christ, the Light of the World. Each week as we wait through Advent, we light a new candle representing an aspect of the light God intends for all people. This Sunday the candle of HOPE is lit.
Reading by Candlelighters Steve & Teresa Gowler
One: In a weary and worn world, how do we begin again? Where do we start?
All: Let us begin with the good news: Let us begin by trusting that we are a blessing, loved by a gracious God. Let us begin with music and singing! Let us begin with warmth and welcome. Let us begin with hope.
One: Yes, let us begin with hope. Today we light the candle of hope to shine a light in a worn and weary world.
All: May this be our foundation. May this be our fresh start. May this be our new beginning.
One: May hope flow forth from here. Let us pray:
¨ Prayer of Approach and Confession
All: Affirming God, Your first words to creation were words of love. You looked at this earth and said, “It is good.” You spoke affirmations through the prophets. You spoke blessings over Mary. You spoke belonging through Christ. At every turn, you have reiterated that we are a blessing, made in your image, held in your love. Forgive us for forgetting this truth. Forgive us for measuring our worth by society’s measuring stick instead of yours. We believe. Help our unbelief. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
¨ Words of Assurance
One: God says,
All: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine.”
One: We are forgiven. We are loved. Let it leave you awestruck.
All: Thanks be to God! May we believe it and hold the hope in our hearts. Amen.
¨ Hymn #116 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Veni Emmanuel
1 O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
2 O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things far and nigh;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in that way to go. Refrain
3 O come, O come, O Adonai,
who to your tribes on Sinai high,
and from its peak a single law
proclaimed majesty and awe. Refrain
4 O come, O shoot of Jesse, free
unto your own and rescue them!
from depths of hell your people save,
and give them victory o’er the grave. Refrain
5 O come, O Key of David, come
and open wide your heavenly home.
Make safe the path to endless day,
to hell’s destruction close the way. Refrain
6 O come, O Dayspring, come and cheer,
our spirits by your advent here;
Love stir within the womb of night,
and death’s own shadows put to flight. Refrain
7 O come, Desire of nations, bind
all peoples in one heart and mind;
Make envy, strife and quarrels cease;
fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. Refrain
¨ Passing the Hope
All are invited to greet fellow worshippers and offer a sign of hope. You may simply share where you have seen glimmer of hope this week, or where you are seeking one.
Word and Worship
Special Music Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus arr. Robert Powell Bernardo Scarambone, piano; Kim Kobersmith, flute
Children’s Moment as the children return to their seats we sing:
May God’s blessings guard, protect and guide you. God bless you, God bless you. Our savior’s loving arms be ever ’round you. God bless you, God bless you.
Scripture Reading Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”,* But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
~New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021)
Sermon Borne on Hope, You Are a Blessing Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
A chance to take in what we have heard.
Responding to God’s Love in Communion
Invitation to Communion
One: The Lord be with you
All: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts
All: We lift them up to the Lord
One: Let us give thanks to God for new beginnings:
All: With hope on our hearts we give God thanks and praise.
One: Friends, Advent is a season of waiting: We wait for Christ to be born. We wait for the feeling that love is near. We wait for God’s promised day. Advent is a season of waiting. And while we humans are good at many things, waiting is not high on that list. We are an impatient and anxious bunch, eager for the hope of what comes next. Maybe that’s why this Table is such a gift.
For when we come to this Table, for just a moment, the waiting stops.
One: When we come to this Table, for just a moment, we get a glimpse of God’s promised day. We get a glimpse of a world where all are fed and all are welcomed. And for just a moment we can believe the angels when they say, “Be not afraid.” For just a moment, Mary’s words tumble through our minds— words of justice and hope, words like, “the hungry have been filled” and “the humble have been lifted.”
One: So come to this Table. Come catch a glimpse of what could be. Come end your waiting, for love is hovering close and God is all around us. So come. All are welcome here and no is turned from this meal. You don’t need money, there is no entrance exam, and any who hunger and hope for a world made better are welcome guests. This good news is meant for you, and those around you, and those you have not yet met. So come and let us prepare for the feast.
Ringing of the Peace Bell
The Union Church Peace Bell was created by Jeff Enge in honor of Union Church member Carl Eschbach (1904-1998). A twin bell hangs in Berea’s sister province in Japan and is also rung in the hope of peace for all nations.
Communion Prayer
One: Loving God, We come to this Table today longing for a new beginning. In a world that so often feels like it’s ending, we crave the hope of a new beginning.
We long to heal from the endings and crash landings of our hurting world and start again, rooted in your good news.
One: Week by week, bit by bit, we return to your Word as spoken by your teachers and prophets, new and old. Week by week, bit by bit, we return to each other attending to the guidance of your Holy Spirit as our lives unfold. Week by week, and bit by bit, we repeat the truths that we so often need to hear, trusting that by your grace, it is never too late to start again; never to soon to praise you again in company with all creation. We cry “Holy, Holy, Holy!” in unending song:
Sanctus
~ Reprinted with permission using OneLicense #A-723786
Words of Institution
One: In the spirit of beginnings, we come to your Table. Meet us here in our fears and in our hopes.
One: We yearn for the presence of Christ, who in the midst of trouble set a table of Grace. We remember that even on the night of his betrayal, he gathered in an upper room with friends, took bread, blessed and broke it. He gave it to each them saying,
All: “Take and eat; this is my body broken for you. Whenever you do this, remember me.”
One: Likewise, after supper, he took the cup, poured it full and gave it to them, saying,
All: “This cup is my blood poured as the new covenant; remember me whenever you drink it.”
One: The body of Christ,
All: the Bread of life.
One: The lifeblood of Christ,
All: the Cup of blessing.
One: Pour out your Spirit on this ordinary meal, that in this bread and cup we may glimpse a new day.
May the bread be the beginning of our hope made whole. May the cup lift us to Life and Love in the way of our brother Jesus.
May all who are fed carry strength to those who are not, and may we be full of a hunger for justice at every meal until you come, Lord Christ.
All: Amen.
Serving One Another
All who seek the love of God are welcome at this table and are invited to freely receive from it. By tradition, unfermented grape juice is used in the cup on Sunday mornings. If it is not convenient to come forward, the elements can be brought to your seat by signaling to the usher.
If it is not your tradition to receive, you are invited to join in prayers for the unity of the Spirit within your tradition. You may remain in your seat, or you may come forward for a blessing, as you wish.
Living Prayer
Offertory Reflection Anne Organ Bernardo Scarambone, piano; Kim Kobersmith, flute
Embodied Prayer
You are invited to reflect and pray at the candle table. You may also choose to source the essential ingredient of solitude and private prayer, remaining with your own thoughts in your pew.
Affirmation of Faith for the First Sunday of Advent
I believe in a blessing God
who calls us Beloved.
I believe that this blessing showed up in the life of Mary,
and was also bestowed upon the hemorrhaging woman,
the poor in spirit,
the children,
the Jews,
the Gentiles,
the faithful and the doubting.
So in faith,
I trust that God’s blessing,
like ripples on the water,
forever reaches toward us.
And with wild hope,
I believe
that because of this blessing,
we are covered in love.
We are more than enough.
Thanks be to God!
Amen.
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¨ Doxology Old Hundredth
To God all glorious heavenly Light, To Christ revealed in earthly night, To God the Spirit now we raise Our joyful songs of thankful praise. Amen.
Community Prayer of Thanksgiving Pamela Chabora, Reader
Meet us here, gracious God.
Hear our prayers and offer your words of blessing.
Today we lift up those of us who have ever been told that we are unworthy or are not enough. We pray for those of use who have ever been discouraged from chasing a dream or have been made to feel small. We pray for those of us who know insecurity and dance with self-doubt. We pray for all who hear your words of blessing and want to respond, “How can this be?”
Erase this question from our minds, and fill our hearts with trust and our spirits with conviction.
Help us remember that we are made in your image and we are good.
Speak your words of blessing once again.
And as you do, we lift our voices together to pray the words Jesus taught us to pray, saying…
Our Lord’s Prayer
Our Maker, Our Mother, and 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 sins as we forgive those who sin 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.
¨ Hymn #46 Hope of the World Ancient of Days
1. Hope of the world, O Christ of great compassion: speak to our fearful hearts by conflict torn; save us, your people, from consuming passion, from false pursuits through which our lives are spent.
2. Hope of the world, God’s gift of our redemption, bringing to hungry souls the bread of life: still let your Spirit unto us be given to heal earth’s wounds and end its bitter strife.
3. Hope of the world, who by the cross did save us from death and sad despair, from sin and guilt: we would render back the love your mercy gave us; take back our lives and use them as you will.
4. Hope of the world, O Christ, o’er death victorious, who by this sign did conquer grief and pain: we would be faithful to your gospel glorious; our Sovereign who forever more shall reign!
From Here to There
Community Connections
Announcements
We share opportunities for Beloved Community and ways to serve. Please see the listing of church & community events, prayers, and notices in the pages following the service.
Lighting the Justice Candle to Lead us Forth
¨ Benediction
¨ Benediction Response Let There Be Hope on Earth Courtney, Miller
Those who are able & willing are invited to fill the aisles as we sing the Benediction Response together. If you’re at home or in the balcony, you are part of the embrace too. The embrace is as wide as God’s love!
~ Reprinted with permission using OneLicense #A-723786
Our Prayers for Others
¨ Each week we join millions of Christians who pray for one another through the ecumenical prayer cycle and, locally, the Berea Ministerial Association’s prayer cycle (World Council of Churches Ecumenical Prayer cycle: union-church.org/ministries/prayer. Let us hold the people of Myanmar and Thailand and our brothers and sisters at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
¨ Mary Ellen Sarafin, Betty’s sister, suffering from cirrhosis.
¨ All the people of Ukraine for their safety and sovereignty. Prayers also that the government of Russia will turn to reason & respect for their own peoples’ lives as well as for Ukrainian families.
¨ All those affected by the devastating losses in the current conflict in the Middle East.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Jerry Cooper, Jan Hamilton, Betsy Hoefer, Dorie Hubbard, Susan Kramer, Lois Morgan, Sara Parker, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie.
¨ All those suffering from mental strain, trauma, and disease, ands those who care and worry for them:: may God soothe and heal all who are troubled.
¨ Today is World Aids Day. Prayers that the good work that has limited the devastating effects of this disease may continue, and reach all those who suffer.
¨ Members and Friends who need safer housing and income security.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ The Guild family as Will continues his struggle with brain cancer and stroke.
¨ Dottie Blackburn is in The Terrace for rehab. Cards welcome. 1043 Brooklyn Blvd., Berea.
¨ Bella Wescott (daughter of Rob and Andrea) who had to have adenoid surgery this week. Prayers for her recovery!
¨ Charlie Hoffman, having a heart procedure later this week.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Baptism! Kerry Jones was baptized on Nov. 27
Engagement! Sean Mack is engaged to be married to his beloved, Meghan!
Birthdays: Dec. 3 – NoraRuth Jenkins, Larry Brandenburg, Chris McKenzie; 4 – Alva Peloquin; 5 – Jan Hamilton; 7 – Isaiah Broomfield; 8 – Jackson Napier Anniversaries: Dec. 7 – Lisa Bosley & Reid Livingston
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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