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