Rev. Slorpe Opens Advent in Methodist Style

Morning Service

San Francisco Theological Seminary

Monday, December 4^th, 2006

Stewart Chapel

Prelude Improvisation on "Of the Father's Heart Begotten" D Hoggatt

Welcome

*Call to Worship

Lift up your heads, O gates!

And be lifted up, O ancient doors!

that the King of glory may come in.

(Psalm 24:7)

*Procession PH #3 Comfort, Comfort You My People

Comfort, comfort you my people, Tell of peace, thus says our God;

Comfort those who sit in darkness, Bowed beneath oppression’s load.

Speak you to Jerusalem, Of the peace that waits for them;

Tell them that their sins I cover, And their warfare now is over.

*Lighting the First Advent Candle

The Sun will no more be your light by day,

Nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you,

For the LORD will be our everlasting light,

And our God will be our Glory.

Your sun will never set again,

And your moon will wane no more;

The LORD will be our everlasting light,

And our days of sorrow will end.

We light this candle as a symbol of Christ our Hope.

May the light sent from God shine in the darkness to show us the way of salvation. O come, O come, Emmanuel. (Isaiah 60:2-3)

*Hymn PH3 (Vs. 2-3) Comfort, Comfort You My People

Call to Confession

Christ our Lord welcomes all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another. Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

Leader to People:

Hear the good news: Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; that proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

People to Leader:

In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

Leader and People:

Glory to God. Amen.

* Passing of the Peace

Let us offer one another signs of reconciliation and love.

The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

And also with you.

Prayer of Illumination

Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that, as the Scriptures are read and your Word proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.

Scripture Reading Galatians 4:4-7

Sermon “But When the Time had Fully Come” Rev. David Slorpe

*Hymn PH #2 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

*Charge & Benediction

Postlude Sleepers Wake! J G Walther

Participants in Worship

Rev. David Slorpe, Preacher

Mr. Nick Valadez, Liturgist

Rev. Dr. Charles Marks, Chaplain

Dr. Dan Hoggatt, Musician

Mr. Aric Clark, Chaplain’s Assistant

Resources: The Call to Confession, Prayer of Confession, Assurance of Pardon, and Prayer of Illumination today were taken from: The United Methodist Hymnal, ©1989 The United Methodist Publishing House.