December 13, 2020 Service

 

 

PETALUMA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

THE WORSHIP PODCAST

December 13, 2020

THE 3^d SUNDAY IN ADVENT

The Order of Service

"LIVING INTO THE PROMISE"

Advent 3

 

 

PRELUDE:  “Fantasia on ‘The First Nowell’” played by Marilyn Lee, Organist

 

GREETING:  Pastor Schuyler Rhodes

 

ADVENT WORDS AND CANDLE LIGHTING:   Charlotte Peterson                                                       

 

CALL TO WORSHIP:   Sue Sarno

The days in which we await the Savior are not so different from those days more than two millenia ago when their world was chaotic and unpredictable; when nothing seemed to be going right.   Today, we could look down and see our own chaos and turmoil, or we could live into the promise of God’s coming among us in this season.    Now is the time to hear laughter from our mouths; now is the moment to shout for joy.  Now is the time to unleash our dreams as we await the certain coming of the Child.   Come, let us enter into worship with open hearts and spirits.  AMEN.

 

OPENING HYMN:   “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus  (UMH 196)” played by Marilyn Lee

1. Come, thou long expected Jesus,
   born to set thy people free;
   from our fears and sins release us,
   let us find our rest in thee.
   Israel's strength and consolation,
   hope of all the earth thou art;
   dear desire of every nation,
   joy of every longing heart.
2. Born thy people to deliver,
   born a child and yet a King,
   born to reign in us forever,
   now thy gracious kingdom bring.
   By thine own eternal spirit
   rule in all our hearts alone;
   by thine all sufficient merit,
   raise us to thy glorious throne.

 

CALL TO CONFESSION: Sue Sarno

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Charlotte Peterson

God of grace and wonder, we come to you in prayer in this moment to acknowledge our manifold sins and mis-steps.   We try, sometimes, to keep pretending that it is not real, that we are all fine and okay when in truth we all fall short of your glory.   We have not been an obedient Church, Lord.  We have turned a blind eye to the poor and we have not heard the cries of the oppressed.   In times of crisis, we confess also God, that we sometimes succumb to fear rather than rising with you in courage.   Forgive us, Holy One.  Have mercy on us for the times when we have strayed and call us, we pray, to a new and vital faithfulness.   Hear us, we pray, as we strive to begin anew in this season of hope.   In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Sue Sarno

 

SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 126:

read in English by Nora Tallent

read in Fijian by Vakatawa Sekuri Yadraca

 

SPECIAL MUSIC: "Mary's Boy Child" performed by Schuyler Rhodes and Lisa Quoresimo

 

SCRIPTURE READING: Isaiah 64: 1-4

read in Fijian by Vakatawa Sekuri Yadraca

read in English by Sue Sarno

 

SERMON: “Living Into The Promise” Pastor Schuyler Rhodes

 

THE PASTORAL PRAYER: Pastor Schuyler Rhodes

 

THE LORD'S PRAYER:

read in English by Nora Tallent

read in Fijian by Vakatawa Sekuri Yadraca

 

THE OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS AND TITHES: Pastor Schuyler Rhodes

Click here for information on giving

 

OFFERTORY: “Prayer at the Crib”  played by Marilyn Lee

 

PRAYER OF DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT: Pastor Schuyler Rhodes
 

CLOSING HYMN: “Hark, the Herald Angles Sing”  (UMH 240) played by Marilyn Lee

1 Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King:
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th'angelic hosts proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Refrain:
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King"
2 Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of the Virgin's womb:
veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th'incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel. [Refrain]

 

THE BENEDICTION: Pastor Schuyler Rhodes

 

POSTLUDE: “Voluntary on Two Carols” played by Marilyn Lee