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WELCOMING THE LIGHT You’re invited to breathe deeply and be aware of the Spirit’s presence.
GATHERING Then Let Us Sing “We Wait for God” verses 1 – 3
We wait for God, creation longs to see a new day dawn.
And though the night is dark and deep, we dare to sing our song.
We wait for God, Creation longs, we dare to sing our song.
The one who saw the signs is seen in ways that make for peace.
We watch for God, the earth cries out, for ways that make for peace.
The Spirit works through everyone, each hand and head and heart.
We work for God, the nations need each hand and head and heart.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Like the Prophets … We turn ourselves towards the Holy.
Like Mary and Joseph … We say “Yes!” to God.
Like the angels … We sing God’s good news to all creation.
Like the Wise Ones … We come searching for hope.
Like the creatures … We long for peace.
As the holy and whole people of God, We offer what we have, and who we are.
We are part of this story! We celebrate God-with-us, Immanuel!
PEACE WITH ALL OUR RELATIONS
1 – Called to prepare a way for reconciliation, we gather in this holy place, mindful of the waters that flow through our watershed.
2 – Last week we lit a candle for hope. Light one blue candle
1 – We hope and work for reconciliation with this earth which sustains us.
2 – This week we light a candle for peace. Light a second blue candle
1 – We remember the wellspring from which all waters flow. From the waters of creation, through the waters into freedom, to the waters of baptism, water is the essence of life.
2 – We have not always protected our waters nor valued them. Or we have fenced them off or bottled and sold them to the highest bidder.
1 – Some of our relations live without access to clean water. There can be no peace without justice.
2 – We look west toward the waters of the Jordan valley and we remember the one whose baptism we share and who offers living water to all, not just some of our relations.
1 – May justice flow like a mighty river and peace like an ever flowing stream.
PRAYER FOR PEACE [Together]
Living Water, may Your grace flow among us, like water that refreshes parched earth. Make us channels of Your peace. Show us ways to reclaim, conserve and protect the waters of this good earth. May they be a source of life and pleasure for generations to come. Amen.
Sung Response Then Let Us Sing “God Lights a Lamp” [x2]
God lights a lamp and she searches ev’rywhere for the hidden, lonely heart.
God lights a lamp and she searches ev’rywhere, when she finds you, oh she sings.
I have found my treasure, my precious silver coin. I have found my love.
Even angels will hear the news, what once was lost is found.
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.
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.
Joy is a song that welcomes the dawn, telling the world that the Saviour 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.
I wonder where you find hope?
I wonder how you shape peace?
I wonder what songs you like to sing at this time of year?
I wonder how you will share God’s love in the coming week?
Love is a flame that burns in our heart, Jesus has come and will never depart.
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.
Dream a dream, a hopeful dream, as children do on Christmas eve,
Imaginings, surprising things to hold and to believe.
Dream a time, this Christmas time, when no one’s hungry or afraid;
That weapons grow and harvests grow, that friends are met and made.
Dream a peace, our planet’s peace, the greening of the earth at play,
The holy ground where life if found, where God has touched the clay.
Dream a gift, the Christmas gift that changes everything we see;
The shimmering of angel wing, the Child, the Mystery.
Go into the world following the light of Christ.
You are part of this story, waiting to be told anew.
Animals: All creation sings God’s praise! Shepherds: We will tell the good news!
Magi: We have gifts to share! Angels: Don’t be afraid.
All: God needs us in the world!
May we share God’s joy. May we deepen in the Spirit’s wisdom.
May we rest in the peace of Christ. Travel well.
We will travel by the Light. Amen.
Prepare the way of the Lord. (Repeat) Make a straight path for him, make a straight path.
Prepare the way of the Lord.
God calls us to create a community of faith where all are welcome and encouraged to participate fully: no matter where you’re from, when you were born, however you self-identify, whom you love,
We wait for God, creation longs to see a new day dawn.
And though the night is dark and deep, we dare to sing our song.
We wait for God, Creation longs, we dare to sing our song.
The one who saw the signs is seen in ways that make for peace.
We watch for God, the earth cries out, for ways that make for peace.
The Spirit works through everyone, each hand and head and heart.
We work for God, the nations need each hand and head and heart.
We wait and watch to work and see the day of God draw near.
We worship God, the people pray, the day of God draws near.
God calls us. Be awake. Stay alert.
When we are tired, uncertain, or afraid,
When we work together, longing for peace and understanding,
Christ equips us to be signs of hope.
We are the people of God, at worship, at play, and at work.
Our hope is in God who made heaven and earth.
Trusting in that promise, let us settle into holy time and be whole.
2 – Advent is a time to get ready.
1 – Get ready? Like shopping and decorations and parties?
2 – No – time to get ready to come close to the mystery of Christmas.
1 – The mystery of Christmas? Like how reindeers fly or Santa gets into houses without chimneys?
2 – This is different. We’re waiting for the one who has come and is coming.
1 – Aaah, mystery! How will we get ready?
2 – We wait and wonder and prepare a way.
1 – We are called to prepare a way for reconciliation with all our relations. On this first Sunday in Advent, we consider the land on which we live and all who share it.
2 – We don’t always share well.
1 – In the midst of climate change and resource exploitation, it can be hard to find hope. We listen for the voice of prophets who help show us the best ways.
2 – Prophets point us south, towards Bethlehem.
1 – We remember the promise that from Bethlehem shall come a ruler who will lead with gentleness and peace. We light this candle and commit ourselves to strengthening peace and reconciliation with the land. May it be a sign of hope for all who wait in the shadows.
PRAYER FOR HOPE
Creator, come close to us in this holy season. Kindle Your light of hope within us. Lead us to love Your sacred places and live more respectfully with all our relations. May we protect this earth for generations to come. Strengthen us: to hear angel song in the midst of chaos; to set out in faith; to welcome the Holy One who will change everything. We wait and we wonder. Amen.
Sung Response Then Let Us Sing “God Lights a Lamp” [x2]
God lights a lamp and she searches ev’rywhere for the hidden, lonely heart.
God lights a lamp and she searches ev’rywhere, when she finds you, oh she sings.
I have found my treasure, my precious silver coin. I have found my love.
Even angels will hear the news, what once was lost is found.
All earth is waiting to see the Promised One, and open furrows await the seed of God.
All the world, bound and struggling, seeks true liberty;
it cries out for justice and searches for the truth.
open new highways, new highways for our God,
Who is now coming closer, so come all and see, and open the doorways as wide as wide can be.
God, You are with us:
Our hearts rejoice at Your coming among us.
God of all peoples and places, You grace us with faith, love and hope.
You send us prophets and angels to prepare a way.
Speak peace to our fear. Humble our arrogance.
Reassure us with Your hope, when all else seems bitterness or despair;
You call us to love beyond the comfortable, inviting us to risk peace and seek justice.
You reveal Yourself in Jesus the one we call Christ:
Who is for us the way, the truth, and the life:
May we like Jesus, proclaim Your love:
Which is good news to the poor, release to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind.
May we weep with those who weep,
Strengthened by Your light,
Inspired by Your light,
Don’t be afraid.
Filled with Your light,
May we like Christ, chose service and life, even in the face of betrayal and suffering.
We gather together seeking strength to live Your vision.
We offer to You, O God, the joys and cares of our living. [time for silent prayer….]
In communion with all those who have gone before and the generations who will follow, we sing your praise. [MV #203]
O Holy, holy, holy God, O God of time and space, All the earth and sea and sky above
Bear witness to Your grace.
Hosanna in the highest heav’n, Creation sings Your praise.
And blessed is the One who comes and bears Your name always!
Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen, Christ will come again! [Repeat]
Bind us together in one body as Your holy and whole family.
Gracious God, pour out Your Holy Spirit on us, and on these Your gifts, that we may share the presence of Christ at this table and in the world.
Then send us forth with hope to be living signs of Your love.
[MV #205] Amen, amen, O Holy One! Hosanna and Amen! [Repeat]
… These are the gifts of God, for the people of God.
Thanks be to God!
Come and feast at the welcome table!
God of all creation, we give thanks that bread broken brings wholeness; that the cup poured out renews; that time spent with the Risen Christ and one another is gift and grace. Keep us firm in the hope You have set before us, until we and all Your children shall be free, and all creation live to praise Your name. Send us into the world as a blessing in the name of the One who taught us to pray together saying, Our Father, … Amen.
There’s a voice in the wilderness crying, a call from the ways untrod;
Prepare in the desert a highway, a highway for our God.
The valleys shall be exalted, the lofty hills brought low.
Make straight all the crooked places, where God, our God, may go.
Proclaim to a desolate people, the coming of their king.
Like the flowers of the field they perish, like grass all our works decay.
The power and pomp of nations, shall pass like a dream away.
God stands in the midst of nations and soon will right the wrong.
God shall feed the flocks like a shepherd, the lambs so gently hold.
To pastures of peace will lead them, and bring them safe to fold
Go into this world with all its pain and wonder.
We remember the words of the prophets;
We will stand with those who yearn for a sign of hope.
May we share God’s joy. May we deepen in the Spirit’s wisdom.
May we rest in the peace of Christ. Travel well.
We will travel by the Light. Amen.
Prepare the way of the Lord. (Repeat) Make a straight path for him, make a straight path.
Prepare the way of the Lord.
God calls us to create a community of faith where all are welcome and encouraged to participate fully: no matter where you’re from, when you were born, however you self-identify, whom you love,
Queerly beloved, we have assembled, joining in wonder, singing in praise.
Lifting our hearts, raising our voices, trusting in hope, in love and in faith.
Still we persist, joyous and grateful, trusting that grace is ever enough. Refrain
There is a truth waiting to claim us. There is a call so strong and so clear. Refrain
Beside deep, deep pools of peace, to lush green, lawns of grace, God calls us.
Through places of danger, to a welcome place in the circle, Christ leads us.
In the community we are, into the disciples we are called to become,
The Spirit inspires us.
In this time of worship, and throughout our week, We respond with joy and gratitude.
East: I was hungry. West: And you said, “there just isn’t enough food to go around.”
East: I was a stranger. West: And you kept your distance, afraid I would take your job.
Forgive us God, when we ignore Your people.
West: I was cold and scared. East: And you pulled your coat closer to you and walked away.
West: I was sick. East: And you said, “You should take better care of yourself.”
Forgive us God, when we ignore Your people.
East: I was in jail. West: And you thought I should rot there forever.
East: Jesus said, “Whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters…”
West: “You do to me.” Forgive us God, when we ignore YOU. (Silence)
God of sinners and saints, thank You. You offer us grace to begin again. Teach us the ways of Your mercy and understanding. Feast us on Your justice, in Christ’s name, amen.
The house of our God is not just for the holy, The house of our God is not just for the wise;
Come in and be one with the common and lowly who wait with the hunger for God in their eyes.
Welcome, welcome each other, welcome the seeker, the sinner, the saint.
The safe and the settled, the well-placed and known;
The people of God know that struggle is healthy, and conflict is better than calm all alone. Refrain
The way of the cross is a journey forever, so gather to pray, then we’ll travel along. Refrain
as the strong father watching over us and holding us. Then we saw you as a mother bending to feed us. Then we found you as a friend travelling our road with us, and in the stranger breaking bread with us.
God of a thousand names, we thought we knew you,
and we refused to listen when others spoke of you in different languages. Forgive us. Teach us respect for you and all that you call beloved. We pray for Indigenous peoples around the world who have suffered much for the sake of our comforts. Give them strength and wisdom to tell their story. Grant us courage and compassion to listen and work with them for justice. Together may we be part of your new heaven and earth.
God of a thousand names, we thought we knew you,
but you keep appearing in our lives, through people we meet as we share food for the hungry, water for the parched, rest for the weary, shock to the comfortable, healing to the suffering, liberation to the exploited, peace to the restless, home to the traveller, revelation to the seeking, love for the lonely. In all these experiences, we learn more about you.
God of a thousand names, we thought we knew you.
But names cannot contain you, We cannot hoard you. Death cannot destroy you, so we turn to you in prayer, knowing that even we do not know you, you still us. Thank you. Amen.
Abana in heaven, hallowed be your holy name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, in all the earth as in heaven.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, in all the earth as in heaven.
And give to us, give to us this day our daily bread, O Lord, we pray.
Forgive our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us.
And save us in time of trial. Deliver us from evil.
Yours is the kingdom, yours the power, Yours is the glory now and ever. Abana in heaven. Amen.
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love;
The unity of heart and mind is like to that above.
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares.
And often for each other flows a sympathizing tear.
The world waits for a sign, what will you say?
Love is stronger than death, hope is deeper than hurt.
Christ is waiting, how will you live?
May God the provider of green pastures and quiet waters,
Be the peace in our hearts today.
May Christ who accompanies us into abundant life, Be the hope in our hearts today.
May the Spirit of truth and knowledge, comforter and friend,
Be the strength in our hearts today. And the people say … Amen!
Protect it like a candle flame, with tenderness enfold it.
Where words fall short, let hands speak out, the heights of love expressing.
God calls us to create a community of faith where all are welcome and encouraged to participate fully: no matter where you’re from, when you were born, however you self-identify, whom you love,
Queerly beloved, we have assembled, joining in wonder, singing in praise.
Lifting our hearts, raising our voices, trusting in hope, in love and in faith.
Still we persist, joyous and grateful, trusting that grace is ever enough. Refrain
There is a truth waiting to claim us. There is a call so strong and so clear. Refrain
We are the people of God, scattered and gathered, Because God calls us.
In our times of worship, grieving and celebrating, Christ accompanies us.
In the office or classroom, at the check-out or playground,
Across the aisle, across the table, across the fence,
In all we say and do, The Spirit moves us.
And we are never the same. Thanks be to God, God is with us!
Holy Laughter, Deep Well of all Tears, You call together in faithful community. We lay before You the struggles of our living. Hearts, minds, bodies, spirits weary and wounded, joyful and searching. In this time of worship refresh us. By Your word inspire us to hope. With Your Spirit, fill us and send us forth in compassion and wisdom. Amen.
A strand in the web of life let me be, A string on the harp that the Spirit plays,
At one with the sky and the earth and the sea,
In the web of life let me be, let me be, in the web of life let me be.
Sisters let us walk together, sharing sadness, loss and grief,
We will move through pain to wholeness, brokenness transformed to peace.
Filled with hope, embued with courage, ev’ry violence we will name.
We are God’s unique creation, clothed with dignity we’ll stand.
God of mercy, … touch us with Your love.
Thank you for your patience and presence in our lives. Thank you for minds to grasp new ideas, for eyes to see new possibilities, for hands and muscles to learn new skills, for curiousity and perseverance and commitment, for people who believe and live into new ways of being that bless our lives and all creation. God of mercy, … touch us with Your love.
Heart’s Delight, You can call hope from despair, turn sorrow to joy, help us recognize You at work in our lives and in this world. Show us how to help or at least get out of the way. We pray for reconciliation amongst families, for healing and peace in those diagnosed or living with chronic disease, for new possibilities and hope in those who struggle with addictions, for courage in those faced with multiple surgeries or dealing with the aftermath of accidents. Help us to reach out with compassion to those who are grieving, God of mercy, … touch us with Your love.
Creator God, You looked out upon Your gifts of beauty and wonder, and called them good, forgive us. We have not valued your gifts of life or creation. We have resorted to violence, let anger and fear control our words and actions. In this season of remembrance and peace-making, we pray for those whose lives are changed by war, terror, violence, destruction. Show us a new way to live together in peace. Grant us the courage to persevere until Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Abana in heaven, hallowed be your holy name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, in all the earth as in heaven.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, in all the earth as in heaven.
And give to us, give to us this day our daily bread, O Lord, we pray.
Forgive our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us.
And save us in time of trial. Deliver us from evil.
Yours is the kingdom, yours the power, Yours is the glory now and ever.
Abana in heaven. Amen.
HYMN #424 Voices United “May the God of Hope”
May the God of hope go with us everyday, filling all our lives with love and joy and peace.
May the God of justice speed us on our way, bringing light and hope to every land and race.
Refrain Praying, let us work for peace. Singing, share our joy with all;
Working, for a world that’s new; faithful when we hear Christ’s call.
Freeing us for peace, both treasured and pursued.
May the God of love keep our commitment clear, to a world restored, to human life renewed. Refrain
Live in the present, but hope for the future.
God is ever seeking partners to bring about God’s reality. Moment by moment,
Person by person, Neighbour by neighbour,
See the possibility. We’ll live the possibilities!
May the love of God watch over you; may the peace of Christ fill your heart; may the presence of the Holy Spirit fill your life and speak in your dreams. Amen.
Put peace into each other’s hands and like a treasure hold it,
Protect it like a candle flame, with tenderness enfold it.
Be gentle in your words and ways, in touch with God’s creation.