Advent 1C, HOPE

		The First Sunday of Advent,Year C November 28, 2021 —The Beginning Of a New Church Year, Year C— FOR A BEAD AND A PRAYER CLICK HERE A LITURGY FOR WORSHIP Use As Much Or As Little As You Choose
		Centering In Preparation God brings new life to some of the unexpected places. The days are pregnant with the wonder of God's making. Here and now God is with us. Here and now, without exception, God is drawing near. Let us center our heart of hearts in the movement of God's Spirit within. Let us worship in hope! Call To Worship Daylight is shortened but soon will be growing. Autumn is becoming Winter but Spring will follow. A stump is dead to the eye But a new branch is rising. The year now past was an unusual challenge but today a new year begins. The world is in the chaos of unrest and violence but peace and jutice has been promised. We are here, and God is here with us but there is still more good to come. We await a transformation that has already begun and we begin the adventurous advent of God's fulfilled Realm. Your Kin-Dom come, O God, your will be done, here on earth as it is in heaven; world without end. Amen. Opening Prayer O God who comes to us in a variety of ways, we pray that your advent will bring your Kin-Dom to fulfillment. We long for a world where our hope for peace and justice is broughbt to your fullness and we to your wholeness. May this season of advent draw us closer to you, closer to one another, and closer to living in your way, lest we hope in vain and perish in our brokenness. But you are the God who promises to make all things right, and each of us well. We thank you, God-Of-Promises, for the keeping of your Word. Amen. Lighting the First Candle—The Flame Of Hope Holy God, as the light of day fades in the evening . . . We hope for the sunrise. As leaves journey toward earth mulch . . . We hope for good soil. As the winter deepens around us, hollowing to sleep . . . We hope for springtime. As all around us sleep the sleep of the brokenness . . . We hope for healing. We wait in wakefulness, Eyes open, In readiness and expectation, For you to come. For you to call us on a journey — We wait awake. On the dawn . . . Goodness comes. With green shoots . . . Goodness comes. From earliest darkness . . . Goodness comes. From darkest soil . . . Goodness comes. The Goodness that is manger and straw and lamb and shepherd and angel, Our God-With-Us. The Goodness that is a fresh babe. Our Holy One, The Goodness that is the Anointed-One, Our humble Sovereign. Amen. —Pratt, Fran. Call and Response: Litanies for Congregational Prayer. [As we light the first candle, the following carol is sung] Prayer Make haste, O God, and transform our world! Help us to be ready, for Christ is entering our world and our lives in a new way. Prepare us for our world to be turned upside down this Advent season. Amen. Prayer For Illumination God our salvation, there is hope, peace, joy and love for those who keep your Word. By the power of your Holy Spirit, lead us in your truth and teach us to do your will; for the sake of your Anointed-And-Chosen-One. Amen. A Reading From the Hebrew Scriptures—Jeremiah 33 14 “The days are surely coming, says God-Of-Hosts-Most-High, when I will bestow on Israel and Judah all the blessings I promised them. 15 In those days and at that time I will raise up a righteous branch from the line of David, who will bring justice and integrity to the land. 16 In those days Judah will be safe and Jerusalem will be secure. They will call the land, ‘God-Holy-Mighty-the Immortal-One is our Justice.’ —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. (adapted) Psalmody—Psalm 25 1 To you, O God-Of-Hosts-Most-High, I lift up my soul. 2 My God, I trust in you; don’t let me be ashamed, don’t let my enemies triumph over me. 3 No—none who hope in you will be ashamed, but shame will come to the wantonly treacherous. 4 Show me your ways, O God-Of-Hosts-Most-High! Teach me your paths! 5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation. I wait all the day long for you. 6 Remember your mercies, O God-Of-Hosts-Most-High, your love— your ancient and unwavering love! 7 Pardon the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; remember me because of your love, because of your goodness, God-Holy-Mighty-the Immortal-One! 8 And how good and upright you are, God-Holy-Mighty-the Immortal-One! You instruct sinners in the path, 9 you guide the humble in what is right, and teach them your way. 10 All of your paths, O God-Of-Hosts-Most-High, are full of love and faithfulness for those who keep your Covenant and Testimonies. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. (adapted) A Reading From the Epistles—I Thessalonians 3 9 How can we thank God enough for you, for all the joy we feel before God on your account? 10 We earnestly pray night and day to be able to see you again and make up for any shortcomings in your faith. 11 May our loving God and the Only-Begotten-Beloved-Anointed One-Of-God, our Savior, direct our steps back to you. 12 May the Chosen One increase to overflowing your love for one another and for all people, even as our love does for you; 13 may the the Chosen One strengthen your hearts, making them blameless and holy before our God at the coming of our Savior, the Chosen One, with all the holy ones. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. (adapted) A Reading From the Gospels—Luke 21 25 “Signs will appear in the sun, the moon and the stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish, distraught at the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the earth. The powers in the heavens will be shaken. 27 After that, people will see the Chosen One coming on a cloud with great power and glory. 28 When these things begin to happen, stand up straight and raise your heads, because your ransom is near at hand.” 29 And Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, or any other tree. 30 You see when they’re budding and know that summer is near. 31 In the same way, when you see all these things happening, know that the Reign of God is near. 32 The truth is, this generation will not pass away until all this takes place. 33 The heavens and the earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 34 “Be on your guard lest your spirits become bloated with indulgence, drunkenness and worldly cares. That day will suddenly close in on you like a trap. 35 It will come upon all who dwell on the face of the earth, so be on your watch. 36 Pray constantly for the strength to escape whatever comes, and to stand secure before the Chosen One.” —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Call to Confession Friends, the season of Advent is a time of preparation. In these days we take a good long look at ourselves and recognize our brokenness. Thia we do, not to beat up on ourselves, but that we would turn to God and in God's love find healing and wellness. Prayer Of Confession Loving and Merciful God, today as we kindled the flame of hope, a beacon of light that shines in the darkness, We acknowledge that our hope has not always been placed in you and in your promises. Nor have we been advocates for hope that those in suffering, pain, and despair might find hope in you. We confess the ways we have caused others to feel hopeless. Some feel the hopelessness of hunger because of our greed. Others feel the hopelessness of oppression because our love is tainted in bias. Yet others feel the hopelessness of violence because of our apathy. Still others feel the hopelessness of racism because of our ignorance. Forgive us, gracious God. Be mindful of your mercy, O God of all compassion, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Blessed are You and blessed is your Kin-Dom. Amen. Assurance of Pardon Friends, all the ways of God are steadfast in love, perfect in peace, and tempered in justice. In God's loving-kindness our sins are forgiven and our brokenness is being transformed into a healing that redeems, renews, and reconciles. Great is our God, and greatly to be praised. Amen. The Gloria—Click Here For Music Glo — ria, in Excelsis Deo! Glo — ria, in Excelsis Deo! Prayer Of Intercession Let us pray to God, saying: God of Hope, draw near to us. In this holiday season, we pray this day for our Jewish friends and family as they begin the celebration of Hanukah. In the midst of a year that has seen an alarming rise in anti-semitic violence, we pray that they may worship in peace and that they and those they love might be held in God’s care. God of Hope, draw near to us. In this season of merriment and mirth, we remember those for whom this time of year is difficult: for those who have lost loved ones in the last year, for those who are undergoing serious medical issues, for those who suffer from seasonal depression, for those who cannot be with their families, for military personnel serving overseas, and for all others who struggle during the holidays. God of Hope, draw near to us. In this season of hope, we ask that you would reinvigorate us and redirect us to the hope that we find in you, Gracious God. Lead us not into despair, but lead us beside still waters that we might invite others to the peace that passes all understanding. God of Hope, draw near to us. Healing God, we pray this day for those among us who are in need of hope that we name before you in silence . . . God of Hope, draw near to us. Amen. —http://www.stephenmfearing.com Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication God of righteousness, you have saved us from the worst the world can do and have promised to redeem the whole creation when your comes again. In faith and hope we offer our gifts of money and self, that we may be part of what you are doing in the world even now, as we watch for the coming in glory of your Chosen-And-Anointed One. Amen. —Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year C. Sending Forth In Service Go in peace, live in love, and seek to be holy in all that you do. —Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year C. Blessing In Dismissal May the God of mercy keep you, the Holy Spirit cheer you, and Christ in glory greet you, now and at the day of his coming. —Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year C.