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PLUMSTED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
December 6, 2020 2nd Sunday of Advent
Welcome and Announcements
Lighting of the Advent Candle
In a world of war, violence and abuse, where families live in shelters and children grow up in fear, God, we call upon you to come. In a world where peace seems to be so far away, we call upon you, Prince of Peace, to come.
In this season of Advent, we wait for the coming of Peace into our world. We await the birth of Emmanuel, God with us, who comes into our lives in a new way. Come, Messiah, Come, and save Us
Light the second purple candle
Dear God, we pray for the peace that only you can bring through your Son, Jesus the Christ. May we walk in the paths of peace. Amen.
* Call to Worship
Let us hear what the Lord God says, because God speaks peace to the church. God’s salvation is very close to those who honor the Holy One, so that God’s glory can live in our land.
Faithful love and truth have met; righteousness and peace have kissed. Righteousness walks before God, making a road for God’s steps.
* Hymn 1 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Confession and Assurance of Forgiveness
We know that we have sinned before God and others, yet we also know that if we confess our sin we can be restored to a right and just standing before God and others. Let us therefore confess our sin, trusting God’s promised mercy.
“Prepare the way of the Lord,” your prophet says to us. Forgive us when we have failed to prepare your way. Forgive us when we have stood in your way, instead: when we let the challenging words of your prophets roll off of lives, rather than let them spark change; when we walk around a neighbor in need, rather than encounter a chance for compassion. Forgive us, O Lord, and grant us assurance that the glory of your coming does not depend upon the righteousness of your followers. Forgive us, O Lord, and free us to try again. Amen.
Friends, hear the good news of the gospel: God’s grace is stronger than any anger and fear that may hold us in their grip. God’s grace liberates us, freeing us to live in love and compassion. Thanks be to God who in Christ empowers us to live fully and freely. Amen.
Prayer for Illumination
Empower us by your Spirit, O God, to hear your Word amid the words that we read and speak this day. Enable us to discern your light and follow the path you set before us. Amen.
Scripture
Isaiah 40:1-11Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. 2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
3A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 6A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. 7The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. 8The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.
9Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” 10See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.
Mark 1:1-81The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
3the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Sermon
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Lord in your mercy, or Lord, in thanksgiving,
Hear our prayer.
Prayers of Intercession
Invitation to the Offering and Dedication
God has given us resources, talents and life itself. So, let us now respond by offering our gifts, our time, our money and our lives to God as instruments in God’s service.
O God, we offer our gifts to you that they may be used to further the promise of hope, peace, love and justice in our community and in our world. Empower us, O God, to follow these gifts into our community and world so that they, and we, may become bearers of peace, love and justice on the earth. Amen.
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
The Invitation to the Table
The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you! And also with you!
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
. . .
Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with the heavenly choirs and with all the faithful of every time and place, who forever sing to the glory of your name:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
. . .
With thanks and praise we offer ourselves to you, sharing this holy meal, remembering Christ’s dying and rising, and praying: Come, Lord Jesus!
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Breaking of the Bread
Communion of the People
Prayer after Communion
God our hope, we give you thanks that you have given us this foretaste of the heavenly realm of justice and peace. Strengthen us with this food from your table as we see to serve you. lead us in lives of purpose and joy as we await the coming again in glory of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.
* Hymn 9 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
* Blessing and Charge
* Please stand if you’re able
PLUMSTED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
December 6, 2020 2nd Sunday of Advent
Welcome and Announcements
Lighting of the Advent Candle
In a world of war, violence and abuse, where families live in shelters and children grow up in fear, God, we call upon you to come. In a world where peace seems to be so far away, we call upon you, Prince of Peace, to come.
In this season of Advent, we wait for the coming of Peace into our world. We await the birth of Emmanuel, God with us, who comes into our lives in a new way. Come, Messiah, Come, and save Us
Light the second purple candle
Dear God, we pray for the peace that only you can bring through your Son, Jesus the Christ. May we walk in the paths of peace. Amen.
* Call to Worship
Let us hear what the Lord God says, because God speaks peace to the church. God’s salvation is very close to those who honor the Holy One, so that God’s glory can live in our land.
Faithful love and truth have met; righteousness and peace have kissed. Righteousness walks before God, making a road for God’s steps.
* Hymn 1 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Confession and Assurance of Forgiveness
We know that we have sinned before God and others, yet we also know that if we confess our sin we can be restored to a right and just standing before God and others. Let us therefore confess our sin, trusting God’s promised mercy.
“Prepare the way of the Lord,” your prophet says to us. Forgive us when we have failed to prepare your way. Forgive us when we have stood in your way, instead: when we let the challenging words of your prophets roll off of lives, rather than let them spark change; when we walk around a neighbor in need, rather than encounter a chance for compassion. Forgive us, O Lord, and grant us assurance that the glory of your coming does not depend upon the righteousness of your followers. Forgive us, O Lord, and free us to try again. Amen.
Friends, hear the good news of the gospel: God’s grace is stronger than any anger and fear that may hold us in their grip. God’s grace liberates us, freeing us to live in love and compassion. Thanks be to God who in Christ empowers us to live fully and freely. Amen.
Prayer for Illumination
Empower us by your Spirit, O God, to hear your Word amid the words that we read and speak this day. Enable us to discern your light and follow the path you set before us. Amen.
Scripture
Isaiah 40:1-11Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. 2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
3A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 6A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. 7The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. 8The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.
9Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” 10See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.
Mark 1:1-81The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
3the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Sermon
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Lord in your mercy, or Lord, in thanksgiving,
Hear our prayer.
Prayers of Intercession
Invitation to the Offering and Dedication
God has given us resources, talents and life itself. So, let us now respond by offering our gifts, our time, our money and our lives to God as instruments in God’s service.
O God, we offer our gifts to you that they may be used to further the promise of hope, peace, love and justice in our community and in our world. Empower us, O God, to follow these gifts into our community and world so that they, and we, may become bearers of peace, love and justice on the earth. Amen.
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
The Invitation to the Table
The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you! And also with you!
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
. . .
Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with the heavenly choirs and with all the faithful of every time and place, who forever sing to the glory of your name:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
. . .
With thanks and praise we offer ourselves to you, sharing this holy meal, remembering Christ’s dying and rising, and praying: Come, Lord Jesus!
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Breaking of the Bread
Communion of the People
Prayer after Communion
God our hope, we give you thanks that you have given us this foretaste of the heavenly realm of justice and peace. Strengthen us with this food from your table as we see to serve you. lead us in lives of purpose and joy as we await the coming again in glory of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.
* Hymn 9 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
* Blessing and Charge
* Please stand if you’re able
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