Second Sunday of Advent – Peace
Grace Presbyterian Church
Serving people, through Christ, to meet the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of the community and the world around us.
Welcome and Announcements
Prelude “In Dulci Jubilo” Friedrich W. Zachau
Responsive Call to Worship
One: Welcome to worship.
All: Welcome to worship.
One: I am glad you’re here.
All: I am glad you’re here.
One: Surely God is in this space.
All: Surely God is in this space.
One: I see God in your face.
All: I see God in your face.
One: Let us worship together.
All: Let us worship together.
Opening Prayer
Hymn 3* “Comfort, Comfort You My People”
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Lesson (Unison) Isaiah 40:1-11
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’ A voice says, ‘Cry out!’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand for ever. Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’ See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.
Time with Children
Song “Jesus Loves Me”
Unison Prayer of Confession followed by Silent Personal Confession
One: God of laughter, God of open front doors and family reunions, we confess that we often doubt good news.
All: We move through this world waiting for the other shoe to drop, waiting for life to fall apart, waiting for our humanity to get the best of us.
One: Instead of leaning into joy, we lean into scarcity.
All: We lean into fear. We lean into isolation.
One: Forgive us for forgetting that joy is amplified when shared.
All: Heal the wounds we have from past hurts, and teach us how to throw open our doors like Elizabeth. Show us how to find joy in connection. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Gloria Patri
Passing of the Peace
Scripture Reading Luke 1:24-45
Message How a Weary World Rejoices: We Find Joy in Connection The Rev. Robin Miller Currás
Hymn 22* “Angels, from the Realms of Glory”
Lighting of the Advent Candle Friends of Grace
One: How does a weary world practice peace?
All: By listening before we speak and saying sorry when we need to.
One: By advocating for justice and caring for our neighbor. By practicing Sabbath and forgiving seventy times seven.
All: By choosing grace over hate and opening the door for each other.
One: There are a million ways to practice peace. So today we light the candle of peace as a
reminder and a charge.
All: With God’s help, may we bring peace into a weary world. Amen.
Why It Gives Me Joy to Give to GPC
Offertory “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” Johann Sebastian Bach
Doxology
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer
Hymn 48* “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”
Benediction
Mark your calendars:
Today, Dec 10 Youth group Day of Service 1:30-2:45 story time at the Library. 3pm – 5pm Food Distribution at Toni’s Kitchen
5pm Friends of Grace Dinner at St John’s Episcopal Church, 55 Montclair Avenue in Montclair
Wednesday, Dec 13 10:00 am Norma’s Bible Study at Union Congregational
Thursday, Dec 14, 10 am Rebuild Committee online
12 Noon, Nominating Committee at the Manse
7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal at Union Congregational
Next Sunday, Dec 17, Christmas Pageant and carol sing with live animals
Donations of socks, hats, gloves and new or gently used and washed blankets are wanted for Friends of Grace. They can bring them to church on Sundays and we will bring them to the manse for storage.
Liturgy adapted from Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org and by Teri Mcdowell Ott of the Presbyterian Outlook along with Pastor Robin and the Holy Spirit.