We spotlight each of our worship participants this day, starting with the NEC Theater Room community..
WELCOME TO SUNDAY WORSHIP!
LAURA reads Psalm 126
When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.
Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.
BILL – shares a prayer of praise
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – NOT IN BOOKLETS
O come, O come, Em-man-u-el And ransom captive Is—rael
That mourns in lonely ex–ile here Un-til the Son of God a-ppear
Re-joice! Re-joice! Em-man-u-el Shall come to thee, O Is–ra-el.
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine ad-vent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Re-joice! Re-joice! Em-man-u-el Shall come to thee, O Is–ra-el.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high And order all things, far and nigh
To us the path of knowledge show And cause us in her ways to go
Re-joice! Re-joice! Em-man-u-el Shall come to thee, O Is–ra-el.
O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to mi–sery.
Re-joice! Re-joice! Em-man-u-el Shall come to thee, O Is–ra-el.
MARILYN reads John 1:6-8, 19-28
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.
He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.”
And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”
Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,'” as the prophet Isaiah said.
Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.
They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”
John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know,
the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.”
This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
SHERI – shares a Prayer of Confession
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold him, born the King of angels.
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest.
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning,
Jesus, to thee be all glory given.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
STEVE L: Discussion of Joys & Concerns
- Confluence of pandemics (COVID-19, racial injustice, income inequality, climate);
- HEALTH CONCERNS:
- MWPC – Covid-19 sufferers; Bill R.; Bruce S.; Nancy K.;
- Sheri – cervical spinal fusion on 12/21; Greg – spine surgery on 12/22
- Joe update?
- JOYS:
- Advent Bags, including devotional booklets
- Bullhorn Caroling – small group at NEC on 12/20 @ 5:15; possibly other times too?
STEVE: Prayer, including Joys & Concerns shared above
- Joys & Concerns shared above
- concluding with The Lord’s Prayer
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.
While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night,
behold throughout the heavens there shone a holy light.
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.
The shepherds feared and trembled, when lo! above the earth,
rang out the angel chorus that hailed the Savior’s birth.
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.
Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born,
and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.