Sunday, December 12th, 2021 Advent 3: A Joyful Home for All
Watch this Service at: www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live
Leading us today in worship:
Minister: Rev. Christine Smaller
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Scripture Reader: Heather Dickson
Narrators: Caroline, Ricardo & Orleen
Advent Singers: Grace Choir
Candle Lighters: Caroline, Ricardo and Raffa
Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung Words: bold italic font
Please hand sanitize on entry and exit.
Use one of the pew cushions if uncomfortable.
You are welcome to respond in prayers and to sing the hymns while wearing a mask throughout the entire service.
Prelude:
Romance ~Clara Wieck-Schumann
Advent Candle-Lighting (Tune: Silver Bells)
(The blue candle of Hope and the blue candle of Peace are lit)
Singer 1:
It’s a story, quite a story,
that began long ago,
when the prophets foretold a messiah.
Singer 2:
Line of David it was stated
would bring forth a new son,
who would change the world – turn upside down.
All:
Angel’s words, angel’s wings –
new life is growing, my heart sings:
“Peace on earth, enough for all!
Soon we’ll be living God’s way.”
Singer 1:
Then there’s Mary (not yet married)
gave her “Yes” to the plan
with her love, she became co-creator
Singer 2: Child of Wisdom, Child of Promise,
here comes Emmanuel!
And with that joy, she sang out her song –
All:
Angel’s words, angel’s wings –
new life is growing, my heart sings:
“Peace on earth, enough for all!
Soon we’ll be living God’s way.”
(The pink candle of Joy is lit)
Candle Lighting Hymn: VU 7 Hope is a Star (vs 1-3)
1. Hope is a star that shines in the night,
leading us on till the morning is bright.
Refrain:
When God is a child there’s joy in our song.
The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong,
and none shall be afraid.
2. Peace is a ribbon that circles the earth,
giving a promise of safety and worth.
Refrain:
When God is a child there's joy in our song.
The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong,
and none shall be afraid.
3. Joy is a song that welcomes the dawn,
Telling the world that the Savior is born.
Refrain:
When God is a child there's joy in our song.
The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong,
and none shall be afraid.
Welcome & Territorial Acknowledgement
Long ago, all of this land was covered by ice
Clothed in a winter without end.
But God our Creator brought back the warmth
Pulling back the ice and revealing this land
Plants and animals returned to the land.
And it was good.
Then God gave to the land many peoples
And many peoples to the land.
To care for one another.
To live together
And in this time, we celebrate the gifts of Treaty 18
and the Homeland of the Anishinaabek,
Six Nations of the Grand River,
Haudenosaunee,
and Wendat-Wyandot-Wyandotte peoples
We celebrate all who make this place a home today.
We celebrate the promise of peace.
A land with peace and goodwill for all
We eagerly await the time of peace in this land
where all will share its abundance together.
We work and wait for that day,
when all will live together in hope, peace, joy and love.
Amen.
Candy Cane Blessings
Call to Worship:
A voice calls out in the wilderness.
It sings of a home for all.
It speaks of justice and peace.
We could choose to ignore it.
We could drown out that song.
We could choose not to listen.
Instead, we come into this space.
We let the world grow quiet.
We listen.
A voice calls out in the wilderness.
Do you hear it?
We hear it.
In listening, we worship.
Let us draw near to God.
Opening Hymn: Come with Rejoicing
1. Come with rejoicing, covenant people:
God's love is voicing hope for the earth:
bringing salvation to all the people.
Your restoration comes in this birth.
2. Gone is the darkness, gone is the sorrow,
ending all starkness, by the new light.
God is now bringing hope for tomorrow.
Welcome, with singing, heaven's delight.
3. Join in thanksgiving. Sing with the angels.
Perfect your living. Mirror God's love.
Refresh your spirit; drink from the deep wells;
receive the Spirit sent from above.
4. This invitation comes with a warning,
an expectation: live in the Lord.
With him you are sent, mission is forming:
in your commitment Christ is adored.
Prayer for Illumination:
God, whose love is like the sun warming me from the inside, if you are our home, then your word is the streetlight guiding me there.
Leave the light on.
We are on our way home.
Gratefully we pray, amen.
Readings:
Isaiah 12:2-6 (NRSV)
Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the Lord God is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
And you will say in that day:
Give thanks to the Lord,
call on his name;
make known his deeds among the nations;
proclaim that his name is exalted.
Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
let this be known in all the earth.
Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Philippians 4:4-7 (NRSV)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Response:
The Word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
Musical Interlude:
In the Bleak Mid-Winter ~ G. Holst
An Instant Christmas Pageant!
Hymn Verse: VU 62 Once in Royal David’s City (vs 1)
1. Once in royal David's city
stood a lowly cattle shed,
where a mother laid her baby
in a manger for his bed.
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ, her little child.
PART I: MARY AND JOSEPH
Hymn Verse: VU 69 Away in a Manger (vs 1 & 2)
1. Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
2. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.
I love you, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky,
and stay by my side until morning is nigh.
PART II: THE ANIMALS
Hymn Verse: VU 48 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (vs 1)
1. Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with the angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
PART III: ANGELS
Hymn Verse: VU 75 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (vs 1 & 2)
1. While shepherds watched their flocks by night
all seated on the ground,
the angel of the Lord came down
and glory shone around.
2. "Fear not," said he, for mighty dread
had seized their troubled mind;
"glad tidings of great joy I bring
to you and humankind.”
PART IV: SHEPHERD
Hymn Verse: VU 91 The First Nowell (vs 3 & 5)
3. And by the light of that same star
three wise men came from country far;
to seek for a king was their intent,
and to follow the star wherever it went.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.
5. Then entered in those wise men three,
full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there in his presence
their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.
PART V: WISE PERSONS AND STAR
PART VI: CONCLUSION
Hymn Verse: VU 59 Joy to the World (vs 1)
1. Joy to the world! the Lord is come:
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer:
As a child turns to a loving caregiver who watches over them, we turn in prayer to you O God, who are our heavenly parent, our mother,
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,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Passing the Peace:
The Peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
Everyone is invited to share the peace of Christ by offering a message in the chat box.
You may also wish to think of someone you would like to pass the peace to this week.
Music while we share the Peace of Christ:
Consolation ~ F. Liszt
Invitation to the Offering:
God who welcomes us home,
who creates space,
who leaves a chair with our name on it—
we have two coats and we are giving one away.
That’s what this offering is.
It’s our second coat.
It’s our hearts on our sleeves.
It’s our audacious hope that there can indeed be a better world than this one.
So take these gifts and
use them to move us closer to that promised day.
Gratefully we pray, amen.
Sung Prayer of Dedication: VU 55 In the Bleak Midwinter
4. What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a wise man, I would do my part;
yet what I can I give him - give my heart.
Offerings may be placed in the offering plate at the back of the sanctuary as you leave the service.
Donate online: www.graceunitedthornbury.ca, select “Give”
or contact the office by email: accounting@graceunitedthornbury.ca
or phone: 519-599-2438 to arrange a cheque pick-up, or an e-transfer
Mail: Grace UC, 140 Bruce St. S. PO Box 219, Thornbury, ON N0H 2P0
Care, Prayer, Share
Announcements:
Closing Hymn: VU 59 Joy to the World (vs 2–4)
2. Joy to the earth! the Saviour reigns:
let all their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
3. No more let sins and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground:
he comes to make his blessings flow
far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.
4. He rules the earth with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of this righteousness
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.
Commissioning and Benediction
Advent Sung Blessing: VU 964 Go now in peace
Go now in peace, go now in peace.
May the love of God surround you
everywhere, everywhere you may go.
(Sing 2x)
Postlude:
“Pastorale” from Messiah ~ G.F. Handel
*****
RESOURCES USED (all with permission):
Prayers and Liturgies:
- Advent Candle Lighting Liturgy: Written by Richard Bott. Gathering, Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2015-2016, page 60. Used with permission.
- Territorial Acknowledgment: Written by Mitchell Anderson, Advent 2019 at Lanigan-Nokomis Pastoral Charge, Treaty 4 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis Nation
- Call to Worship: Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC| sanctifiedart.org.
- Instant Christmas Pageant: adapted by Theresa E. Cho, from Carolyn Peters’ “Tobias’ Story.” Cho is the Director of Christian Education at Grace Presbyterian Church, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.
- Invitation to the Offering: Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC - sanctifiedart.org.
- Pastoral Prayer: C. Smaller
Hymns and Sung Responses:
- “Hope is a Star:” Words: Brian Wren 1985. Music: Joan Collier Fogg 1987. Words and music copyright © 1989 Hope Publishing Company One License #608577
- “Come with Rejoicing:” Tune – Traditional. Words copyright © 2009 F. Richard Garland. Published by The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church, PO Box 340003, Nashville TN 37203.Website http://www.umcworship.org. Used by permission.
- “Once in Royal David’s City:” Words: Cecil Frances Alexander 1848, alt. Music: Henry John Gauntlett 1849, Harm. David Willcocks Harmony copyright © 1970 David Willcocks. One License #608577
-“Away in a Manger:” Words: Author unknown Music: William James Kirkpatrick 1895; arr. Desmond Hassell 1992 Arrangement copyright ©1992 Desmond Hassell One Livense#608577
- “Hark the Herald Angels Sing:” Words: Charles Wesley 1739, alt. Music: Felix Mendelssohn 1840, adapt. William Hayman Cummings 1856 Public Domain
- “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks:” Words: Nahum Tate 1700, alt. Music: adapt. from Este's Whole Booke of Psalms 1592 Public Domain
- “The First Nowell:” Words: English traditional carol, ca. 17th century, alt. Music: English traditional melody; harm. John Stainer 1871; desc. and harm. Healey Willan 1926 Refrain harmony and descant copyright ©1926 Oxford University Press. Inc. One License #608577
- “In the Bleak Midwinter:” Words: Christina Georgina Rosetti ca. 1872. Music: Gustav Theodor Holst 1906.One License #608577
- “Joy to the World:” Music: attrib. George Frideric Handel 1742; arr. Lowell Mason 1836 Public Domain.
- “Go Now in Peace:” Words and music copyright © 1976 Hinshaw Music, Inc. One License #608577
Scripture Passage from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.
Prelude: Romance Clara Wieck-Schumann
Interlude: In the Bleak Mid-Winter ~ G. Holst
Passing of the Peace: Consolation ~ F. Liszt
Postlude: “Pastorale” from Messiah ~ G.F. Handel
