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As the Prelude begins, we enter into a time of prayer and reflection as we gather for worship.
Prelude
Prelude on ‘Hyfrydol’
Arranged by Mark Hayes
by Rowland H. Prichard (1811-1887)
Performed by Chris Warner
Welcome & Announcements
Pastor Jim
Call to Worship & Opening Prayer
Pastor Jim/Congregation
Leader: If life was a home, then we would pray—
All: may love be the foundation, and may God be the cornerstone.
Leader: May the Spirit be the windows—ushering light in.
All: And may hope be the walls—holding us together.
Leader: In this time of worship, let us work toward building that home together.
All: We may not know the path ahead, but God is here, even now.
Leader: Let us pray:
All: Holy God, When John was born, Zechariah leaned down and whispered words of love into his ear. We know that you do the same for us, day in and day out. Open our ears as you open our hearts, that we might rest on the foundation of goodness you have laid for us. Gratefully we pray, Amen.
Opening Hymn*
The Advent of Our God
John Chandler, Charles Coffin, and Aaron Williams
Tune: St. Thomas
© Public Domain
CCLI Song # 5391998
The Advent of our God
With eager hearts we greet;
And we must praise Him in this hour
With hymns and anthems sweet.
All glory to the Son,
Who comes to set us free;
With Father, Spirit, ever One,
Through all eternity.
Lighting the Advent Candles
Leader: As we reflect on the foundation of our faith in our lives, we gather together around the candle of peace.
All: The home we long for is a home that knows peace—
Leader: peace that rests between us and our grief, and between us and our self-criticism,
All: peace amidst our relationships, at the core of our being, and moving through and in our world.
Leader: The home we long for is a home that knows peace.
All: So today we light the candle of peace—as a reminder and as a prayer.
(Candles are lit)
Leader: May this light be a reminder that the wait is always worth it.
All: Let it be so. Amen.
Response to Candle Lighting
Away in a Manger, Verse 1 only
Author: unknown
Composer: James R. Murray
Tune: Away in a Manger
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head;
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.
Scripture
Luke 1:57-80
Kevin Phipps
Kevin: The Word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
Praise Time*
A Star Shone Bright
English folk melody
Author: F. Richard Garland
Tune: O Waly Waly
A star shone bright, across the plain
and calmed the earth so Love could reign.
'Twas in a child that hope was born,
a dream fulfilled! O happy morn!
O Son of God, Incarnate Word,
O Wisdom's Light, whom Angels heard,
come forth again, our hearts console,
O heal our hurts and make us whole.
From Bethlehem come to our day;
Reveal to us Your holy way.
Be born again, Eternal Fire,
O Spirit come, our souls inspire.
O star shine forth once more this night
and flood our streets with heavenly Light
till every heart in Christ shall see
the glory of eternity!
Prayer Requests / Pastoral Prayer
Please text Pastor Jim at 614-313-1482 with any prayer requests.
Congregational Prayer
The Lord's Prayer
Congregation
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Offering
To support our ministries, Livingston United Methodist Church depends on the financial support of our members and friends of the church like you. You may drop off or mail your offering to the church or
Offertory Music
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
Arranged by James Koerts
Tune: Carol
Music by Richard Storrs Willis
Performed by Chris Warner
Offertory Prayer
Pastor Jim
Message
Laying the Foundation
Pastor Jim
Communion
Closing Hymn*
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
Edmund Hamilton Sears and Richard Storrs Willis
© Public Domain
CCLI Song # 31078
It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold;
"Peace on the earth, good-will to men,
From heav'n's all-gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
Still thru the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heav'nly music floats
O'er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hov'ring wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.
And ye, beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow,
Look now! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing:
O rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.
For lo, the days are hast'ning on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heav'n and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace their King,
And the whole world give back the song
Which now the angels sing.
Benediction
Pastor Jim
Postlude
Performed by Chris Warner
We encourage parishioners to remain seated and enjoy the talents of our organist during the Postlude.
*Indicates an invitation to rise in body or in spirit
CCLI License # 1578683