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Call to Worship (based on Psalm 80)

L: Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock!
P: You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth before Israel.
     Stir up your might, and come to save us!
L: Turn again, O God of hosts; look down from heaven, and see;
P: Have regard for this vine, the stock that your right hand planted.
L: Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

 

Responsive Reading for 4th Advent

L: We light this candle as a symbol of the Prince of Peace
P: May the visitation of your Holy Spirit, O God, make us ready for the coming of Jesus, our hope and joy.
L: May the peace of Christ reign in our hearts and minds
P: We eagerly await the arrival of the King of Glory.

 

Call to Worship
    from the Canticle of Mary

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
My spirit rejoices in God my Savior
The arm of the Lord is strong!
God has cast down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up the lowly.
God has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.
God has come to the aid of God's people Israel.
Let us worship the Lord!

 

Prayer of Solidarity
by Frank Schaefer

God of Grace and Surprise, today we begin to embrace the miracle of the incarnation of your only begotten Son. We stand in awe and wonder of your plan of salvation which confounds the wisdom of this world.

Help us to understand the incarnation of your grace especially for those who suffer, those who are impoverished and victimized.  Enable us to stand in solidarity with the least of our brothers and sisters in Christ, so that the world will see in us the good news of Emmanuel, God-with-us, in whose precious name we pray. Amen.

 

Lighting The Fourth Candle Of The Advent Wreath

General Introduction (repeated each week or not, as desired) Our Advent Wreath reminds us of the approaching celebration of Jesus' birth
* the evergreen leaves remind us that God's love is everlasting
* the round wreath symbolizes God's eternal love
* the light of the candles stands for the light which Jesus brought into a dark world.
Each Sunday in Advent another of the candles in the circle is lit. The Christ candle is lit at midnight on Christmas Eve (or on Christmas Day if no Christmas Eve service).

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 9:6-7

 

Advent Reading 

Fourth Week: REJOICE . . . When is the time to rejoice? When the angels laugh and the mountains sing and the earth yields its fruit and the world is cherished and the sinner forgiven and the doubter brought home and the poor one is raised and the proud one is humbled and our cold hearts are melted and the baby is born and the King is recognized and the Savior is lullabied and Jesus . . the Lord . . comes to us: Then, then is the time to rejoice. (Fourth Verse) Angels announce with shouts of mirth him who brings new life to earth. Set every peak and valley humming with the word, the Lord is coming. People look east and sing today: Love, the Lord, is on the way

 

A Closing Christmas Prayer
by Laurence Hull Stookey

Eternal God,
by the birth of Jesus Christ you gave yourself to the world.
Grant that , being born in our hearts,
he may save us from all our sins,
and restore within us the image and likeness of our Creator,
to whom be everlasting praise and glory,
world without end.  Amen.