The coming of the Son of Man
(words for hymns and bible readings can be found below the order of service)
Welcome & Intimations
Call to worship
Prayer of Dedication
Lighting the 2nd candle – Hope
MP 249: How lovely on the mountains
Reading Isaiah 40: 1 – 11
Mark 1: 1 – 8
Prayer
Video: Audrey Assad; Mine eyes have seen the glory
Reflection
Prayer for others
MP 381: Jesus stand among us
Communion
CH4 283: The voice of God
Blessing
Leaving the building
Call to worship
Now is the time to prepare
Christmas comes closer
God comes to his people
Immanuel is our hope
The dawn from heaven will break upon us
To shine on those living in darkness
Under the shadow of death
And to guide our feet in the way of peace
MP 249: How lovely on the mountains
1 How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him
who brings good news, good news, proclaiming peace,
announcing news of happiness
Our God reigns, our God reigns,
Our God reigns, our God reigns,
Our God reigns, our God reigns,
2 You watchmen, lift your voices joyfully as one,
shout for your King, your King.
See eye to eye the Lord restoring Zion:
your God reigns, your God reigns!
Your God reigns, your God reigns,
Your God reigns, your God reigns!
3 Waste places of Jerusalem break forth with joy,
we are redeemed, redeemed.
The Lord has saved and comforted his people:
your God reigns, your God reigns!
Your God reigns, your God reigns,
Your God reigns, your God reigns!
4 Ends of the earth, see the salvation of your God,
Jesus is Lord, is Lord.
Before the nations He has bared His holy arm:
your God reigns, your God reigns!
Your God reigns, your God reigns,
Your God reigns, your God reigns!
Isaiah 40: 1 – 11
Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.
A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God
Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
A voice says, “Cry out.”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass,
and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the Lord blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.”
You who bring good news to Zion,
go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem
lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to the towns of Judah,
“Here is your God!”
See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,
and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him.
He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
Mark 1: 1 – 8
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”—
“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”
And so, John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him.
Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
MP 381: Jesus stand among us
1 Jesus, stand among us at the meeting of our lives,
be our sweet agreement at the meeting of our eyes;
O Jesus, we love You, so we gather here,
join our hearts in unity and take away our fear.
2 So to You we’re gathering out of each and every land,
Christ the love between us at the joining of our hands;
O Jesus, we love You, so we gather here,
join our hearts in unity and take away our fear.
3 Jesus stand among us at the breaking of the bread;
join us as one body as we worship You, our Head.
O Jesus, we love You, so we gather here;
Join our hearts in unity and take away our fear.
CH4 283: The voice of God
1 The voice of God goes out to all the world;
his glory speaks across the universe.
The great King’s herald cried from star to star:
with power, with justice, he will walk his way.
2 THe Lord has said: ‘Receive my messenger,
my promise to the world, my pledge made flesh,
a lamp to every nation, light from light’:
with power, with justice, he will walk his way.
3 The broken reed he will not trample down,
and set his heel upon the dying flame.
He binds the wounds, and heals with his strong hand:
with power, with justice, he will walk his way.
4 Annointed with the Spirit and with power,
he comes to crown with comfort all the weak,
to show the face of justice to the poor:
with power, with justice, he will walk his way.
5 His touch will open eyes that dakness held;
the lame shall run, the halting tongue shall sing,
and prisoners will laugh in light and liberty:
with power, with justice, he will walk his way.