THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
CHORALE PRELUDE: Rise Up, Shepherd and Follow (from a Star in the East”) by Gwyneth Walker; Maria Schafer, soprano, with the South Coast Brass
There’s a star in the East on Christmas morn. Rise up, shepherd, and follow. It will lead to the place where Jesus is born. Leave you ewes and leave your lambs. Leave your sheep and leave your rams. Follow, follow, rise up, shepherd, and follow. Follow the star to Bethlehem. If you take good heed to the angel’s word, you’ll forget your flock, you’ll forget your herd. Leave those ewes and leave those lambs. Leave those sheep and leave those rams. Follow! [traditional spiritual]
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP, WITH LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH
Leader: Arise, shine, for your light has come,
People: And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
Leader: For darkness shall cover the earth.
People: And thick darkness shall cover the peoples;
Leader: But the Lord will arise upon you,
People: And his glory will appear over you.
Leader: Nations shall come to your light,
People: And kings to the brightness of your dawn.
SONG: Light the Candle by Carl Schalk
PRAYER OF PRAISE
HYMN: O Come, All Ye Faithful [Adeste Fideles]
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
SONG OF GRATEFUL PRAISE: Good Christian Friends, Rejoice [in Dulci Jubilo]
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE LESSON: Zephaniah 3:12-17
HYMN: Joy to the World [Antioch]
SERMON: “Help from Beyond, Part 3: Strengthened in the Joy of Hope”
ANTHEM: Rejoice! The Lord Your God is with You by Tom Trenney
Rejoice! The Lord your God is with you! Rejoice and sing! The Lord your God is with you wherever you go. The Lord your God is in your midst. Your God is with you wherever you go. The mighty one will save you. God will delight in you! For God will rejoice in you. For the Lord will quiet you. You will rest in God’s love. Rejoice! For God will sing and be joyful. God will rejoice in you. Sing your joy! Rejoice in God! [Based on Zephaniah 3:14-17]
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
RESPONSIVE SONG: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus by Michael Burkhardt
HYMN: Angels We Have Heard on High [Gloria]
BENEDICTION
CHORAL RESPONSE: Tidings of Comfort and Joy Traditional French carol/arr. by Michael Burkhardt
Prepare your heart, lift up your voice, join in this Advent song; walk in the light of God’s own Son to whom we all belong. A little child shall lead us all, his love will make us strong! O tidings of comfort and joy!
POSTLUDE: Festival Dialogue (from “Prophets and Angels”) by Aaron David Miller
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