Order of Worship for November 27, 2022 (Streams Live at 10:00 a.m. PST)

PRELUDE:  Chorale Prelude on: Wachet auf (Sleepers Wake) by J.S. Bach

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

CALL TO WORSHIP

PRAYER

HYMN: The Days Are Surely Coming [Llangloffan]

PRAYER

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH: Hope

INVITATION: Hope Is a Star

Choir:  Hope is a star that shines in the night, leading us on till the morning is bright. Peace is a ribbon that circles the earth, giving a promise of safety and worth.
Congregation:  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, none shall be afraid.

RESPONSIVE LITANY: Hope

Leader:   In this season of Advent, we remember that Christ is coming to bring us hope. For those of us bound by bitterness and anger
People: Christ is coming to bring us hope.
Leader:   For those of us feeling trapped and misunderstood
People: Christ is coming to bring us hope.
Leader:   For those of us burdened with ceaseless worry
People: Christ is coming to bring us hope.
Leader:   For those of us whose lives feel out of control
People: Christ is coming to bring us hope.

CANDLE LIGHTING

All singing: 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, none shall be afraid.

PRAYER

SCRIPTURE LESSON:  Matthew 24:36-44

HYMN:  Who Can Tell What Future Days

SERMON:  “Expected Surprises”

ANTHEM:  Longing for Light, We Wait in Darkness by Bernadette Farrell/arr. by Joel Raney

Longing for light, we wait in darkness, longing for truth, we turn to you.  Make us your own, your holy people, light for the world to see.  Longing for peace, our world is troubled.  Longing for hope, many despair.  Your word alone has power to save us.  Make us your living voice.  Christ, be our light!  Shine in our hearts.  Shine through the darkness.  Christ, be our light!  Shine in your church gathered today. Longing for food, many are hungry.  Longing for water, many still thirst.  Make us your bread that’s broken for others, shared until all are fed.  Many the gifts, many the people, many the hearts that yearn to belong.  Let us be servants to one another, making your kingdom come.  Christ, be our light.

PRAYER

HYMN:  Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus [Hyfrydol]

BENEDICTION

RESPONSE: Zion Hears the Watchman Singing by Johann Gottfried Walther/arr. by Mark Schweizer

Zion hears the watchmen singing, and all her heart with joy is springing; she wakes, she rises from her gloom; for her Lord comes down all glorious, the strong in grace, in truth victorious.  Her Star is risen, her Light is come.  Ah come, thou blessed One, God’s own beloved Son:  Alleluia!  We follow till the halls we see, where Thou hast bid us sup with Thee. [Philipp Nicolai, tr. Catherine Winkworth]