Online Worship
Worship for the Second Sunday of Advent
First United Methodist Church of Schenectady
Worship for the Second Sunday of Advent
December 6, 2020
Photo by Sue Learner
Getting Centered
It may help to center yourself into worship by lighting a candle, as a symbol of God’s presence with you during the time of worship. You may also want to pay attention to lighting, the position of your body, and the availability of distractions.
Breath Prayer
“Peace Like a River / flow into me.”
Breath prayers involve breathing in the first phrase, and breathing out the second.
You may wish to simply pray for a moment before starting, or you may wish to pray while listening to the prelude.
Prelude
“Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland” (Savior of the Nations, Come) by Johann Sebastian Bach
Call to Worship
One: God’s message comes.
Many: God sends comfort.
One: Good, we need comfort.
Many: God sends peace.
One: Good, we need peace.
Many: God sends hope.
One: Good, we need hope.
Many: God is with us.
Thanks be to God!
Hymn #510: Come, Ye Disconsolate
Lighting of the Advent Wreath
Photo by Alice Nash
Connecting in Prayer
Shared Prayer
Peace Like a River,
We keep trying to access you, to find calm, to find peace, but stress and strain pull us away.
Yet, we remember that your peace isn’t dependent on our actions,
nor on our circumstances.
Your peace is a gift from you,
and you always offer it to us.
It is close at hand.
May we catch a glimpse of your peace with us,
and then to let it in.
Amen
Silent Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
You are welcome to read this out-loud or silently.
Peace Like a River,
You are with us, close at hand, offering us your gifts,
and you are with us when sorrow and exhaustion come too.
In the midst of many struggles,
and in the midst of many joys,
we reach out to you, to be our Steady Rock.
When we cannot find the way,
we reach out to you, to be our Compass.
When everywhere we turn is darkness,
we reach out to you, knowing you are with us in the dark,
helping us grow and heal.
When lights emerge,
we reach out to you, to help us see what you see.
Dear one, be with the world, and all who need you.
Offer strength to those who are weakened,
healing to those who are struggling,
love to those who are aching,
hope to the hopeless,
and peace to all.
And may we keep reaching to you,
so that we may be able to savor your blessings,
and be your blessings in the world. Amen
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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Word and Reflection
Choir Anthem
E’en So Lord Jesus, Quickly Come by Paul Manz
Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11
Children’s Time
Passing of the Peace
If you are worshiping with others, please pass the Peace of Christ.
Whether you are alone or with others, please take a moment to find God’s peace within, and then to share it with the world. You may want to reach out to speak peace to another during this week.
Hymn #200: Tell Out My Soul
Scripture Reading – Mark 1:1-8
Sermon – Rev. Sara Baron
Responding
Offering
Photo by Alice Nash
If you wish, you are welcome to use this time to make a donation to the church online, or to put a check in the mail.
The time of offering is not only about our financial gifts to the church, it is about offering our lives to God and the building of the kindom. This is a time for reflection: What is being asked of us? What is being given to us? What are we able to offer? What do we need?
Offertory Anthem: Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus by Robert Hobby
Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free.
from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art,
Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever, now our gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit, rule in all our hearts alone,
By thine own sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.
Rule in us. Hope of all. Come expected Jesus, come.
Prayer of Presentation
Peace Like a River,
In the moments when we experience your peace, we realize how profound it is. Like all of your blessings, as we receive them, we wish to give them to more and more people. With the gifts we give to the church and to the world – our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness – we seek to give so that others can receive. May our gifts be blessed to be blessings.
Amen
Hymn #215: To a Maid Engaged to Joseph
Benediction
May the God of Peace be in your heart all throughout this week,
Guiding you, strengthening you, supporting you. Amen
Postlude
“Savior of the Nations, Come” by Johann Pachelbel
