December 8 — Make Ready

Advent—the season of waiting for Christ—continues, with the second Sunday’s lighting of the candle of peace. May the world accept God’s gift of “new life in Christ.”

WELCOME

PRELUDE — Go, Tell It on the Mountain — Hayes

*CALL TO WORSHIP — Jim French
One: The days are surely coming, says our God, when justice and righteousness will appear.
All: God’s promises will be made known to us.
One: We will declare God’s goodness and salvation.
All: Forevermore, we will seek to walk in God’s ways.

*HYMN — Holy God, We Praise Thy Name — #28

Holy God, we praise Thy name;
Lord of all, we bow before Thee.
All on earth Thy scepter claim!
All in heav’n above adore Thee.
Infinite, Thy vast domain;
Everlasting is Thy reign.

Hark! the loud celestial hymn
Angel choirs above are raising;
Cherubim and seraphim,
In unceasing chorus praising,
Fill the heav’ns with sweet accord:
“Holy, holy, holy Lord!”

Lo! the apostolic train
Join Thy sacred name to hallow;
Prophets swell the glad refrain,
And the white-robed martyrs follow;
And from morn to set of sun,
Through the Church the song goes on.

Holy Father, Holy Son,
Holy Spirit, Three we name Thee,
While in essence only One;
Undivided God, we claim Thee,
And, adoring, bend the knee
While we sing our praise to Thee.

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION — Jim French
Holy God, we long for your peace, and we trust in your promises. We hear your call to turn toward you, to change our lives, and to welcome you as our Savior.
Eternal God, you are our righteousness. Come now; meet us here. Fill our minds with your wisdom and our hearts with your peace, so that this time of worship may move us to act courageously toward bringing about your vision of wholeness for all. We pray in your name, God Emmanuel. Amen.

LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH — The Candle of Peace

*RESPONSE — Emmanuel — #185

Emmanuel, Emmanuel
His name is called Emmanuel;

God with us, revealed in us;
His name is called Emmanuel.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE — Linda Lowry

GOD’S WORD — Isaiah 11:1-10 —Jim French

SPECIAL MUSIC — Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine — L. Smith

GOD’S WORD — Luke 3:1-6 — Pastor Dan

SERMON — Pastor Dan

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER — Pastor Dan

*HYMN — O Come, O Come, Emmanuel — #186

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.

Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o’er the grave.
Refrain:

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
And drive away the shades of night,
And pierce the clouds and bring us light!
Refrain:

O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heav’nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Refrain:

*BENEDICTION — Pastor Dan