CCLI license #1913561
Lakeview Presbyterian Church
Service of the Word for December 19, 2021
The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Welcome: Peter Murray
Prelude: “Prepare the Way, O Zion” TPH#13 sung by Keisha Prime
Advent Candle Lighting Waiting/ Joy
This year as we light the Advent candles we are looking at the themes of expecting, waiting, preparing and welcoming, along with our traditional themes of hope, peace, joy, love.
Today, on the fourth Sunday of Advent, we recognize that this is a time of welcoming the Christ into our lives, not simply as a vulnerable baby, but as the hope of the world. It is a time for us to walk in the light God gives us. In the child born to Mary, the mighty God of the universe has come to us: Emmanuel, “God with us.”
The first Advent candle reminds us to have hope for a better world.
Light the first purple candle.
The second candle, the candle of Peace, reminds us that God dreams for peace in the world, and that Emmanuel, “God with us,” is the Prince of Peace.
Light the second purple candle.
The third Advent candle reminds us that God calls us to share joy by being part of the healing of the world.
Light the pink candle
Today we light the fourth Advent candle, the candle of love, which reminds us of God’s promise to be with us and to love us, now and always.
Light the fourth candle
Prayer: Loving God, we thank you for your promise that you will be with us always. We rejoice in your faithfulness. Give us courage to respond with the same love and compassion shown by Jesus. Amen
*Hymn “Savior of the Nations, Come” TPH # 14
Prayer for Illumination
O Mighty One, by your Holy Spirit let your word come to life in us and bring to our yearning the joy that comes with the light of your Word. Amen.
Reading from the Prophets Micah 5: 2—5a NRS
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace.
Hymn “O Come, All Ye Faithful ” TPH # 41
Reading from the Gospels Luke 1:39—55 NRSV
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would bea fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord." And Marysaid, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
Sermon “Welcoming the New Thing” Rev. Russell Lehman
Affirmation of Faith (from A Declaration of Faith, pcus)
God sent the promised Deliverer to his people.
Jesus, the long-expected Savior, came into the world as a child, descended from David, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of Mary, a virgin. He lived as a Jew among Jews. He announced to his people the coming of God's kingdom of justice and peace on earth. We affirm that Jesus was born of woman as is every child, yet born of God's power as was no other child. In the person and work of Jesus, God himself and a human life are united but not confused, distinguished but not separated. The coming of Jesus was itself the coming of God's promised rule. Through his birth, life, death, and resurrection, he brings about the relationship between God and humanity that God always intended.
Hymn “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” TPH # 376
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
a time of silent prayer
Lord’s Prayer (This is the Ecumenical Version; feel free to use the words of your choice)
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen
Statement about Offering our Gifts
We
bring to God now the offerings of our lives and our labors, with the prayer
that
God’s will may be
done through them.
Donations can be mailed to Lakeview Presbyterian Church at 1310 22 nd Av S, St Petersburg, FL, 33705 or given online through our website lakeviewpresbyterianchurch.org
Special Music sung by Keisha Prime
Prayer of Dedication
Accept our gifts as signs of our gratitude for what you give us every day and for the sake of those who stand in need. Amen.
Hymn “Joy to the World” TPH # 40
Charge/Benediction
Go in peace, trusting in the promises of God.
May the God of justice be your path,
the Lord of mercy be your guide,
and the Spirit of love be your light,
this day and forevermore.
Postlude Days of Elijah-Mark sung by Keisha Prime