Friday, December 08, 2006

Prof. Wickeri Says Do Not Fear

Morning Service

San Francisco Theological Seminary

Friday December 8th, 2006

Stewart Chapel

Welcome

Prelude In dulci jubilo (In sweetest joy) Marcel Dupre

Call to Worship – Lighting of the Advent Candles

We light this candle as a sign of the coming light of Christ.

Advent means coming.

We are preparing ourselves for the days

When nations shall beat their swords into plowshares,

And their spears into pruning hooks;

Nation shall not lift up sword against nation.

Neither shall they learn war any more.

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,

The leopard shall lie down with the kid,

The calf and the lion and the fatling together,

And a little child shall lead them.

Advent means coming. Let us worship God.

Hymn (Attached) Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, always with us, always coming: We confess that we do not know how to prepare for your Advent. We have forgotten how to hope in miracles; we have ignored the promise of your kingdom; we get distracted by all the busyness of this season. Forgive us, God. Grant us the simple wonder of the shepherds, the intelligent courage of the Magi, and the patient faith of Mary and Joseph, that we may journey with them to Bethlehem and find the good news of a child born for us. Now, in the quiet of our hearts, we ask you to make us ready for his coming. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

Responsive Carol (vs. 4) O Little Town of Bethlehem

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

Prayer of Illumination

Scripture Reading Luke 2:10-11

Communion Meditation “Do Not Be Afraid…” Rev. Dr. Philip Wickeri

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Invitation to the Lord’s Table

The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you,

And also with you.

We lift up our hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O God, through Christ our Lord. You bid your people cleanse their hearts and prepare with joy for the paschal feast. Renew our zeal in faith and life, and bring us to the fullness of grace that belongs to the children of God. And so, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join in their unending hymn:

Good and Gracious God, in every age you sent prophets to make known your loving will for all humanity. The cry of the poor has become your own cry; our hunger and thirst for justice are your own desire. In the fullness of time, you sent your chosen servant, Jesus, to preach good news to the afflicted, to break bread with the outcast and despised, and to ransom those in bondage to prejudice and sin. Dying on the cross, He gave Himself for the life of the world. Rising from the grave, He won for us victory over death. Seated at your right hand, He leads us to eternal life. Great is the mystery of faith:

Bountiful God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these your gifts of bread and wine, that the bread we break and the cup we bless may be the communion of the body and blood of Christ. By your Spirit make us one with Christ that we may be one with all who share this feast, united in mystery in every place. Join our prayers and praise with your prophets and martyrs of every age, that, rejoicing in the hope of the resurrection, we might live in the freedom and hope of your Son. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all the glory and honor is yours, Almighty God, now and forever, Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our God, in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have sinned against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Words of Institution

* Communion of the People

* Prayer After Communion

*Charge and Benediction

*Passing of the Peace

Postlude In dulci jubilo J S Bach

Participants in Worship:

Rev. Dr. Philip Wickeri, Preacher Ms. Michelle Walker, Liturgist

Dr. Daniel Hoggatt, Musician Rev. Charles Marks, Chaplain

Mr. Joshua Dunham, Chaplain’s Assistant Ms. Nori Miyagawa, Server

Mr. Aric Clark, Server Mr. Scott Clark, Server

Ms. Mary Richardson, Server Ms. Shelley Calkins, Server

Resources: Call to Worship/Advent Candle Lighting from the Book of Common Worship (1993), Call to Confession, Prayer of Confession, and Assurance of Pardon from The Worship Sourcebook (2004)

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