Elements from this morning’s gathering

Call to Worship

A word of peace from Isaiah 46:

Remember this, keep it in mind,
take it to heart, you rebels.
Remember the former things, those of long ago;
I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.
I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please.’

Having heard the ancient words of promise, we kindle this flame of peace. In the quiet glow of this light, we recall that God’s purpose holds firm, unshaken through all generations.There is a future where lion lays beside lamb.

Where swords are turned into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. Where tears are no more and the light of God illuminates everything that is beautiful and holy and true, and all people of every tribe, tongue, and nation, are welcome to the banquet table of the one true loving King.

This is good news of peace for a weary, war-torn world.

So may this candle remind us that we are people of that future working toward it in the present. May we be a people who embody and live out the coming Kingdom of Shalom, in the here and now.

Visio Divina & Prayers of the People

This morning, as we sit with the Advent theme of Peace, we’ll combine the prayers of the people with a spiritual practice of Visio Divina.

Visio Divina is a method of prayer & contemplation, in which we use the gift of our vision & imagination to make space for God to speak to us.

Two art pieces will come up for us to see. Both are by Craig Hawkins, an artist who has given permission for us to use these images.

As you gaze at the images, pay attention to what is highlighted in your heart. What emotions do they surface in you? Do you sense God has a word or invitation for you? What prayers come out of your heart in response? Allow what you see to form a prayer in your heart.

First, let’s spend some time with this image entitled Peace; it depicts Jesus sleeping on the boat amidst the raging storm.

Now, allow that image of chaos to come into conversation with the second image, called The Vulnerable God:

As we close, share with God whatever is emerging in you…

Scripture Reading

A Reading from Luke 1

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her….

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a mighty savior for us
in the house of his child David,
as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors
and has remembered his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,
to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,
might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness
in his presence all our days.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
Because of the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”