Advent 2020 | A Great Light: Becoming a People of Peace in a Season of Waiting (December 6, 2020)

Please participate in the following liturgy, reading aloud all the parts in bold italics.

Welcome & Invitation

Call to Worship

We find the mighty God in the most unlikely places.
An empty tomb, an infant in a stable.

Today, may we find him afresh, slipping through each crack of the unlikely corners of our lives.
Come, Lord Jesus.

Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins.
His mercy endures forever.

Song: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus & God With Us

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.

Our Deliverer, You are Savior
  In Your presence we find our strength
Over everything, Our redemption
  God with us

A Great Light: Isaiah 9:2-7

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.

For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine… For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders…

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end.”

Song: Your Peace Will Make Us One

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
You are speaking truth to power, You are laying down our swords
Replanting every vineyard ’til a brand new wine is poured
Your peace will make us one

I’ve seen you in our home fires burning with a quiet light
You are mothering and feeding in the wee hours of the night
Your gentle love is patient, you will never fade or tire
Your peace will make us one

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Your peace will make us one

In the beauty of the lilies, you were born across the sea
With a glory in your bosom that is still transfiguring
Dismantling our empires ’til each one of us is free
Your peace will make us one

Prayers of the People

• For the welfare of the World and our Nation
• For Jesus’ Church, its members, & mission
• For the concerns of our local community
• For all suffering or struggling

Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-15

“But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. 

Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. 

Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.”

The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

A Great Light: Becoming A People of Peace in a Season of Waiting

Confession & Assurance

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor:

All:
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in Your will,
and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your Name.
Amen.

Silent confession (space to confess our sins and wait in God’s presence).

The Lord has already shown you mercy.
The Lord has already had compassion on you.
The cross of Jesus has turned mourning into dancing,
And washed clean the ashes of repentance.
Jesus strengthens our weak knees
When we still have a long way to go.
Be free! We are forgiven.
Laugh out loud! We are forgiven.
Love God with everything! We are loved.

Silent assurance (space to receive God’s merciful love and say “thank you” in response)

The Great Thanksgiving (Eucharist & Sacrament of Desire)

Now let’s draw near in the presence of our Savior.

The Lord be with you!
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts!
We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

And so this day, we join with Saints and Angels
in the chorus of praise that rings through eternity,
lifting our voices to bless you we say:

Holy, Holy, Holy
Lord God Almighty
heaven and earth are full of Your glory,
Glory to you, O Lord most high.

On the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying,
“This is my body given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

In the same way he took the cup saying,
“This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.”

Now, Lord, we pray that in your mercy and goodness, in the power of your Holy Spirit, you would sanctify this bread and wine to be for us the sacrament of the body and blood of Your Son.

Is the Father with us?
He is.
Is Christ among us?
He is.
Is the Spirit here?
He is.

This is our God.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We are his people.
We are redeemed.

Therefore by taking this bread & drinking this cup, we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

These are the gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, And feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

Alternatively, for those who are not receiving communion, the Sacrament of Desire may be prayed.

Sacrament of Desire

Now, in union, O Lord with the faithful at every altar of Your Church,
I present to You my soul and body
with the earnest prayer that I will remain united to you.
And since I cannot now receive You sacramentally,
I pray that you would come to me spiritually.
I unite myself to you, and embrace you with my soul’s affection.
Let nothing separate me from you,
that I may live and die in Your love.
Amen.

Song: Good, Good Father & Your Peace Will Make Us One

You’re a Good, Good Father
It’s who You are
And I’m loved by You
It’s who I am

You are perfect in all of Your ways,
You are perfect in all of Your ways to us

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
You are speaking truth to power, You are laying down our swords
Replanting every vineyard ’til a brand new wine is poured
Your peace will make us one

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Your peace will make us one

Community Life

Christmas Conversations with Kids
We have a special way for Parish Kids to help us celebrate Christmas. To participate, each kid can book a time for a short Christmas Conversation with James & Lisa Douglas. We’ll record the chat as kids share their thoughts to help us tell the story of Jesus’ birth.

Christmas Caroling in the Cold at the Culps
Join us for outdoor Christmas Caroling on Friday, December 18th at 6pm. We’ll gather in an open field on the Culp’s compound (7681 Campground Rd.) for a celebration of carols, candles, and cocoa. Dress warmly as the entire event will be outside (bring a mask too for arrival/departure). Please RSVP if you plan to attend so we can be sure we have enough supplies.

Candles for Canopy Life – “A Little Light”
Share “a little light” and support our friends at Canopy Life this Advent. For each $25 you donate, Canopy Life will send a candle to three friends of your choosing and include them in a series of Advent devotionals throughout the season. Get started by going to canopylife.org/littlelight

Christ the King on Your Screen
As many of you know, Ivy Loving painted an amazing image of Christ the King to celebrate Jesus and his Kingdom over the past few months. We captured her painting and turned it into a computer wallpaper and an iPhone background images you can use for your lock or home screen. Go to thepari.sh/christtheking to download the artwork and keep Christ the King at the forefront of your mind this Advent season.

The Cross of Christ

All our problems,
We send to the cross of Christ!

All our difficulties,
We send to the cross of Christ!

All the devil’s works,
We send to the cross of Christ!

And all our hopes,
We set on the Risen Christ!

Blessing & Sending

All the Lord’s blessings on you and yours,
as we navigate these shadowlands,
still illumined in Him,
and held in His good purpose,
in between His once and future comings.
    (Fleming Rutledge)

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.