Morning Worship
Stewart Chapel
Welcome
*Call to Worship
Grace to you and peace from God.
As Advent people, we give thanks to the One who is faithful.
Let us proclaim the wonder of the God who came, is coming, and always will come.
In word, action, and with gentleness of spirit,
we celebrate the Advent of our God.
Today, we light the third advent candle,
which reminds us of God’s great love for us in Jesus Christ.
Come, let us worship God.
*Hymn PH 376 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
Call to Confession
This Advent season we proclaim, “Prepare the Way of the Lord!”
Let us now draw near and prepare the way for worship, making our confession to God.
Prayer of Confession
God of unconditional love, we measure our loves against yours:
Your love is vulnerable, helpless as a newborn babe – Our love is often cautious, well defended. Your love is offered humbly – We often seek to impress with our devotion. Your love is free – Ours comes with strings attached. Loving God, forgive us. Heal our imperfect loves, purify our hearts,
and teach us to love as you have loved us. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
The Good News of this Advent season is forgiveness of sin and new life.
Let us commit our lives to Christ’s way of hope and peace.
Thanks be to the Advent God, who comes among us, freeing us to love and serve.
Responsive Carol (Vs. 3) Away in a Manger
Be near me Lord Jesus; I ask Thee to stay close by me forever and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, and fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.
Prayer of Illumination
Scripture Reading I Thessalonians 5: 1-11
Communion Meditation “People of the Day” Chaplain Charles Marks
Sacrament of Holy Communion
Invitation To The Lord's Table
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
As we wait to celebrate Christ's birth,
may the Lord be with you.
And also with you.
As we await Christ's return, let us lift up our hearts.
Our hearts are lifted to our God.
As we trust the one who comes to us,
let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
Joy is in our hearts, and praise is on our lips.
Glory and praise are offered to you, God of Advent. On the first day of eternity, you began to create all that is true and just, beautiful and blameless, calling all that you shaped and formed "Good!" Our ancestors danced in
Holy are you, Steadfast Love, and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Compassion, our Hope, your Son. Into the midst of the status quo of rulers and events beyond our control, he came to place our feet on the Kingdom's street called Peace; into the shadows of our lives caused by sin and defiance, he carries the Light of your grace; taking the brokenness of our world, he reshapes us into pure and blameless people; into that dread valley we call death, he strides in obedience and faith, so we might be brought to life. As we prepare to celebrate his birth, as we remember his life, death, and resurrection, as we anticipate his return, we sing of those mysteries we call faith:
Holy Spirit, come to us, and to these gifts of the bread and the cup. As you transform these everyday objects into sacramental grace, transform us from ordinary folk into the citizens of God's kingdom. Fill us with the Bread of heaven, so we would feed the hungriest of your children. Pour the cup of grace into us, so we might overflow with love. Make us a compassionate people, who have a passion for your justice. Through your Son, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, all honor and glory are yours, Great God, our Hope, our Peace, now and forever. Amen.
Sung Lord's Prayer (Attached)
Words Of Institution
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Vs.1)
O come, o come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear, Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee o
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (Vs. 1-2)
Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder noting earthly minded, for with blessing in His hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth our full homage to demand.
King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth He stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture, in the body and the blood, He will givce to all the faithful His own self for heavenly food.
O Little Town of
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight.
O Holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel
The First Nowell (Vs. 1,2)
The first Nowell the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping there sheep, on a cold winter morning that was so deep
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,Born is the King of
They look-ed up and saw the star shining in the east beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued both day and night,
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Born is the King of
*Communion Of The People
Please go to either of the three communion stations, as the ushers direct. At the station, communion will be offered, and someone will be available to pray with you. After prayer, you may return to your seat. After all are served, we will form a circle for our final hymn and dismissal.
*Prayer After Communion
*Closing Hymn and Benediction
*Passing of the Peace
Participants in Worship
Rev. Dr. Charles Marks, Chaplain, Preacher
Dr. Daniel Hoggatt, Musician
Mr. Aric Clark, Chaplain’s Assistant
Mr. Scott Clark, Chaplain’s Assistant
Mr. Joshua Dunham, Chaplain’s Assistant
Ms. Kitty Lum, Chaplain’s Assistant
Ms. Heidi Skidmore, Former Chaplain’s Assistant
Ms. Rachael Medema, Server
Ms. Cindy Harris, Server
Ms.
Resources: The call to worship, the prayer of confession, and assurance of pardon are adapted from Celebrate God’s Presence (United Church of Canada 2000).
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