Watchword for the Week
“Bear fruits worthy of repentance.”
(Luke 3:8)
(Moravian Daily Texts 2014)
ORGAN PRELUDE
WELCOME and CALL to WORSHIP
(Isaiah 12:1-6)
A day is coming when people will sing,
“I praise you, Lord!
You were angry with me, but now you
comfort me and are angry no longer.
God is my saviour; I will trust him and not be
afraid. The Lord gives me power and strength;
he is my saviour.
As fresh water brings joy to the thirsty, so
God’s people rejoice when he saves them.”
A day is coming when people will sing,
“Give thanks to the Lord! Call for him to help
you! Tell all the nations what he has done!
Tell them how great he is!
Sing to the Lord because of the great things he
has done. Let the whole world hear the news.
Let everyone in Zion shout and sing!
Israel’s holy God is great,
and he lives among his people.”
Hymn 512 * To God be the glory!
People’s Choice Hymns are marked with an asterisk (*)
(Three Advent candles are carried into church lit)
OPENING PRAYER
The flames of our Advent candles tell us
of your light coming into our world, O God.
Into a world of despair, you bring burning hope;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has never put it out.
In a world of hatred and warfare,
you light the tender spark of your peace;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has never put it out.
To a world of sadness, you give the gift of joy;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has never put it out.
Holy God, as we get closer and closer to
Christmas, we are too easily caught up in the
excitement rather than the joy of this season.
Help us to set aside our fretting, our wish lists
and our to-do lists, so that we may focus on you.
We pray that your Holy Spirit would fill us
and fill this place, that we might hear your
voice speaking to us.
God of compassion, while we desire to be
people of justice and peace, there are times
when we ignore those in our community who are
in need of physical or emotional support. We
want to bear good fruit, but sometimes we get in
our own way. Ignite your fire within us, we
pray. Help us to let go of those things that
are holding us back from you. Amen.
WORDS of ASSURANCE
When we are in Christ, we are baptised with the
Holy Spirit and fire. We are changed from the
inside out and are made new creations!
Thanks be to God. Amen.
CHILDREN’S TIME
SHARING GOD’S PEACE
Hymn 359 * He came down…
(Children may leave for Kids’ Church in the halls next door)
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Philippians 4:4-9 NT p. 250 (249)
St. Luke 3:7-18 NT p. 77
People may stand for the Gospel reading.
The word of God: Thanks be to God!
Hymn 280 Alleluia! Hurry, the Lord is near
(Hymn of the Month, December 2015)
SERMON Rev. James Brown
Hymn 528 * Make me a channel of your peace
(Offerings are gathered and brought forward)
DEDICATION PRAYER
Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
Take what we are, restored to you rejoicing.
Take what we have,
gifts generously poured from your heart.
Take what we will be,
the fresh water of joyful new life in you.
Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid. Amen.
NOTICES and PRAYERS for OTHERS
Lord, in your mercy: hear our 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 and ever. Amen.
Hymn 277 * Hark the glad sound
BLESSING and Threefold Amen (No. 819)
ORGAN POSTLUDE
I slept and dreamt that life was
joy. I awoke and saw that life
was service. I acted and
behold, service was joy.
Rabindranath Tagore
(1861-1941)
Bengali poet and philosopher
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