ADVENT 2 Dec 9th 2018 9 December 2018.pdf · Not, at first, to little children, nor to those whose...
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ADVENT 2 Dec 9th 2018 Call to thoughtfulness an Advent prayer Walter Brueggemann In our secret yearnings we wait for your coming, and in our grinding despair we doubt that you will. And in this privileged place we are surrounded by witnesses who yearn more than do we and by those who despair more deeply than do we. Look upon your church and its pastors in this season of hope which runs so quickly to fatigue and this season of yearning which becomes so easily quarrelsome. Give us the grace and the impatience to wait for your coming to the bottom of our toes, to the edge of our finger tips. We do not want our several worlds to end. Come in your power and come in your weakness in any case and make all things new. Amen. PROCESSIONAL HYMN Words John Bell Tune Somos Pueblo 262 V 1 Solo Vs 2-5 Unaccompanied Not the powerful, not the privileged, not the famous in the land, but the no-ones and the needy were the first to hold God's hand. Not a well established family with an heirloom christening shawl, but a homeless, wandering couple parented the Lord of All. Not, at first, to little children, nor to those whose faith burned bright; but to adults, stalled in darkness, angels brought God's love and light. God, determined to be different from the standards we think best, in his choice of friends and family, lets forgotten folk be blessed. Not obsessed by our achievements, worldly wealth or family tree, may we, in and with God's chosen, find our fondest pedigree. HymnQuest ID: 70441
Transcript of ADVENT 2 Dec 9th 2018 9 December 2018.pdf · Not, at first, to little children, nor to those whose...
ADVENT2Dec9th2018
CalltothoughtfulnessanAdventprayerWalterBrueggemann Inoursecretyearningswewaitforyourcoming,andinourgrindingdespairwedoubtthatyouwill.Andinthisprivilegedplacewearesurroundedbywitnesseswhoyearnmorethandoweandbythosewhodespairmoredeeplythandowe.Lookuponyourchurchanditspastorsinthisseasonofhopewhichrunssoquicklytofatigueandthisseasonofyearningwhichbecomessoeasilyquarrelsome.Giveusthegraceandtheimpatiencetowaitforyourcomingtothebottomofourtoes,totheedgeofourfingertips.Wedonotwantourseveralworldstoend.Comeinyourpowerandcomeinyourweaknessinanycaseandmakeallthingsnew.Amen.PROCESSIONALHYMNWordsJohnBellTuneSomosPueblo262V1SoloVs2-5Unaccompanied Notthepowerful,nottheprivileged,notthefamousintheland, buttheno-onesandtheneedywerethefirsttoholdGod'shand. Notawellestablishedfamilywithanheirloomchristeningshawl, butahomeless,wanderingcoupleparentedtheLordofAll. Not,atfirst,tolittlechildren,nortothosewhosefaithburnedbright; buttoadults,stalledindarkness,angelsbroughtGod'sloveandlight. God,determinedtobedifferentfromthestandardswethinkbest, inhischoiceoffriendsandfamily,letsforgottenfolkbeblessed. Notobsessedbyourachievements,worldlywealthorfamilytree, maywe,inandwithGod'schosen,findourfondestpedigree.HymnQuestID:70441
WelcomewherewallsandblinkersseemtobefashionableagainLambofGod,youtakeawaythesinsoftheworld,havemercyonusLambofGod,youtakeawaythesinsoftheworld,havemercyonusLambofGod,youtakeawaythesinsoftheworld,havemercyonus,giveusyourpeace!Baruch51-9Restoration,hoperekindledTakeoffthegarmentofyoursorrowandaffliction,OJerusalem,andputonforeverthebeautyofthegloryfromGod.PutontherobeoftherighteousnessthatcomesfromGod;putonyourheadthediademofthegloryoftheEverlasting;forGodwillshowyoursplendoureverywhereunderheaven.ForGodwillgiveyouevermorethename,"RighteousPeace,GodlyGlory."Arise,OJerusalem,standupontheheight;looktowardtheeast,andseeyourchildrengatheredfromwestandeastatthewordoftheHolyOne,rejoicingthatGodhasrememberedthem.Fortheywentoutfromyouonfoot,ledawaybytheirenemies;butGodwillbringthembacktoyou,carriedinglory,asonaroyalthrone.ForGodhasorderedthateveryhighmountainandtheeverlastinghillsbemadelowandthevalleysfilledup,tomakelevelground,sothatIsraelmaywalksafelyinthegloryofGod.ThewoodsandeveryfragranttreehaveshadedIsraelatGod'scommand.ForGodwillleadIsraelwithjoy,inthelightofhisglory,withthemercyandrighteousnessthatcomefromhim.
Khalil:Then,whatareyou?Charlie:I’manActressKhalil:Soyoudon’tbelieveinanything?DISCUSS!HYMNStartledWordsAndrewPrattTuneAllforJesusStainer Asthedarknessgrowsaroundus,shadowslengthenintonight, Godfulfilyouradventpromiseinthegloomlettherebelight. Inourchildhood'sunderstandinglifeseemedlimitlessandfree, Nowwefacethecontemplationofourownmortality. Lifeseemedsimplespreadbeforeus,now,distorted,futile,flawed; Child-likehopehasbeenextinguished,fear,withunderstanding,spawned. Hereindoubtanddereliction,searchingforthereasonwhy, Hopingprayermightkindlekindness,hopingyoumighthearourcry. Longingforyouradventpromise,lightindarkness,joyforpain, Hopingwemightfindthepathwaybacktolifeandloveagain. Nowwe'restartledbythestillness,starksurprisethatyouarethere, Thenwe'reblindedbythedazzleofthedawningofyourcare!HymnQuestID:70163
LUKE31-6SeismicthoughtsREFLECTION…somethoughtsformthewildernessLightingofthesecondAdventcandleWelightthiscandletorecalltheshepherdsonthehillsandallthroughouttheagesWho,intheirplaceofwork,havebeenreadytoheargoodnewsanddelightedtopassitontoothers.Maythelightovercomethedarkness.WiththosewhoarepoorWebelieveinlifebeforedeath.WiththosewhomnobodynoticesWebelieveinlifebeforedeath.WiththosewhohavenowheretolaytheirheadWebelieveinlifebeforedeath.Withthosewhocan’trelyongovernmentsortheworldcommunitytohelpthem.Webelieveinlifebeforedeath.Becauseyou,OGod,cameamongusasoneoftheseWebelieveinlifebeforedeath.OFFERTORYHYMNPrepareyethewayoftheLord1SoloV2twovoicesV3WomenV4andrepeatALLMarkingAdventinthesharingofbreadandwine(Congregationjoinsinwordsprintedinbold)HolyGod,thisisearth’squietseason,theseasonofwaiting.Werestintheshelterofyourlove.Thisistheseasonofdarkness,whenweseekstarstoguideus.Wetrustinthelightofyourpromise.Thisistheseasonofsolitude,whenwelistenforourownheart’srhythm.Wefindwarmthinthesignsofyourpresence.Thisisourseasontomakeroom,atimetomakeready.Forweshalljoinintheangels’chorus.Peaceonearth,goodwilltoall.Peaceonearth,goodwilltoall
HYMN291WhenoutofpovertyisbornadreamthatwillnotdieTuneForrestGreen304
NAOMI:Come,followthelighttothemotherandchild.Comelistenforthevoicethatcallstoyoufromthewildernesstofindnewlifeinthebrokencornersoftheworld.Come,richandpoor,neighbourorstranger,gatherroundandsharethecelebrationofthePrinceofPeace.JAMES:Frombeingachildinaangerdependentonhismother’smilkforfoodJesusgrewtobetheLivingWordmadefleshofferingeveryonethebreadoflife.Hetravelledfromthemangertothecrosswherehisbodywasbroken,hislovepouredoutbutGodheldhimlikeamotherandnursedhimbacktolife.NAOMI:Jesusknewwhatwastocomewhen,intheupperroom,hepouredwaterintoabasinandbegantowashthefeetofhisdisciplessaying,‘IfIdonotwashyourfeetyouhavenopartofme.’ALL:Lord,weconfessthatourlivesandthelifeoftheworldhavebeenbrokenbyourlackoflove,butwecomeforyoutowashuscleansothatwemaywalkinnewlifewithyou.NAOMI:Jesustookbread,brokeitandblesseditandaskedthathisdisciplestorememberhowhislifewasgivenforthemandthegenerationstocome.InthesamewayhetookthatcupandaskedthemtorememberhowhislovewaspouredoutasasignofanewrelationshipwithGod.ALL:ThankyouforgivingyourlifesothatwemaybereconciledtoGod.AmenTheLord’sPrayerInvocationsungbyall:(unaccompanied)tothetuneat619SpiritoftheLivingGodMoveamongusnowMakeusoneinheartandmindThroughourbreadandwine:Taking,breaking,blessing,sharing,SpiritoftheLivingGodBlessourbreadandwine.NAOMI:SodrawnearandbestrengthenedbythelifeofourLordJesusChrist,whowasborninastabletobethelivingbreadanddiedonacrosshavingpouredouthislovesowemaydrinkfromGod’scupofforgiveness.Eatanddrink.Takehimintoyourheartsbyfaithwiththanksgiving.
AsyoutakebreadholditinprayerandrememberhowthebodyofJesuswasborn,livedandwasbrokenforyou.ALLWeeattogether,unitedinonebody.
AsyoutakethewineholditinprayerandrememberhowJesuspouredouthisloveforyouandmeetsyourneedswhenhelivesinyourheart.ALL:Wedrinktogether,unitedinonehope.AsthebreadandwinearesharedwelistentoHallelujahCelloShekuKanneh-MasonClosingprayersHYMN277HarktheGladsound,theSaviourcomesTheBlessingspokentogether:FollowwheretheSpiritofHopeleadsusListen,astheChildofPeacecriesforusRejoice,astheLoveofGodembracesusAndletusgowithHope,PeaceandLoveinourheartsAndtheblessingofCreator,ChildandSpiritforeverwithinus.AmenWesing:(786)MaytheGodofpeacegowithusaswetravelfromthispace:MaytheLoveofJesuskeepusfirminhopeandfullofgrace
It's when we face for a moment
the worst our kind can do, and shudder to know the taint in our own selves, that awe
cracks the mind's shell and enters the heart: not to a flower, not to a dolphin,
to no innocent form but to this creature vainly sure it and no other is god-like, God (out of compassion for our ugly
failure to evolve) entrusts, as guest, as brother,
the Word.
Denise Levertov (1923–1997) On the Mystery of the Incarnation
