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About this Sermon |

Luke 1: 26-38, 46b-55
On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we consider again the question of what it looks like to be those who dream God’s dreams, and add to our understanding that dreamers are never alone. This morning, we consider the message communicated through two unexpected prophets in Luke 1, Mary and Elizabeth. By reading the stories of the Annunciation (“announcement”), Mary’s impromptu trip to visit her cousin Elizabeth, and the Magnificat hymn(“I praise God for. . .”), we catch a glimpse of what God’s dreams might really be about. How do we remind each other that we, too, are not alone? What does that look like?

Order of Worship |

Sunday, December 20, 2020

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Prelude – “Pastoral Symphony” from Handel’s Messiah – Melanie Manges

Welcome to Worship – Len Wilson

Gathering Song – “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” (verses 1 & 4)

(Verse 1) O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
(Verse 4) O come, Desire of Nations, bind
All peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease;
Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

Call to Worship – (Call to Worship, Candle Litany, and Prayer written by Sarah Are/A Sanctified Art LLC/sanctifiedart.org) – Len Wilson
1 *Call to Worship, Candle Litany, and Prayer written by Sarah Are/A Sanctified Art LLC/sanctifiedart.org.
Artwork by A Sanctified Art LLC/sanctifiedart.org. “Those Who Dream” artwork by A Sanctified Art LLC.

One: I knew joy, but when I heard the laugh of my child,
All: Suddenly, joy was overflowing.
One: I knew love, but when you held my hand,
All: Suddenly, love was overflowing.
One: I knew God, but when you showed me grace,
When you forgave me,
When you loved me,
When you raised me.
All: Suddenly, God was overflowing.
One: So, let us worship Holy God together
As a reminder that God is here and we are never alone.
All: This is community.
One: This is the body of Christ.
All: Welcome home.

Hymn of Advent  – “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”

(Verse 1) Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the world began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, he the source, the ending he,
Of the things that are, that have been, and that future years shall see,
Evermore and evermore!
(Verse 2) O that birth forever blessed, when a virgin, blest with grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bore the Savior of our race;
And the babe, the world’s Redeemer, first revealed his sacred face,
Evermore and evermore!

Lighting the Candle of Love – The Garrett Family

Response to the Candle of Joy – O Come, O Come (verse 1)

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

Children’s SermonRev. Lisa Williams Hood

Invitation to Prayer Rev. Hood

Pastoral Prayer & The Lord’s Prayer Rev. Hood

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in 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, forever. Amen. 

New Testament Reading – Luke 1:26-28, 46b-55 – Rev. Hood

Special Music – “Do You Hear What I Hear?”

Matt Hood, handbells
Melanie Manges, xylophone
Original artwork by Melody Fei, age 9

Sermon – “Those Who Dream…are not alone” – Rev. Hood

Hymn of Love – “Love Came Down at Christmas”

(Verse 1) Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas; star and angels gave the sign.
(Verse 2) Worship we the Godhead, Love incarnate, Love divine;
Worship we our Jesus, but wherewith for sacred sign?
(Verse 3) Love shall be our token; love be yours and love be mine;
Love to God and neighbor, love for pleas and gift and sign.

Offering Rev. Hood

Almighty God, giver of every good and perfect gift,
Teach us to give to you all that we have and all that we are,
That we might praise you not with our words only,
But with our whole lives. Amen.

Offertory – “Away in a Manger” – Matt Hood & Melanie Manges

Doxology Melanie Manges

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below,
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

AnnouncementsRev. Hood

Benediction – Rev. Hood

Postlude – “Slient Night/The First Noel” arr. Smith – Melanie Manges

Worship Leaders in this Service:

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