PRELUDE “Wake, Awake, For Night Is Flying” Robert J. Powell
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLES
*HYMN 106 Prepare the Way, O Zion
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O Lord God, the day is growing closer. Still there is work to do. We are not the people you would have us be. We have not always spoken the truth. We have not always treated others with compassion and kindness. We have not always cared enough. Forgive us, in the name of Jesus, the One who is coming…
Silent Prayers of Confession
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
This is the promise: “A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from [you] the heart of stone, and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26)
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God!
*GLORIA
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE LESSONS: Zephaniah 3:14-20; Luke 3:7-18
SERMON “Compassion” Rev. Barrett Ingram
*HYMN 129 Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH From a Brief Statement of Faith
In life and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve. We trust in God the Holy Spirit, everywhere the giver and renewer of life. The same Spirit who inspired the prophets and apostles rules our faith and life in Christ through Scripture, engages us through the Word proclaimed, claims us in the waters of baptism, feeds us with the bread of life and the cup of salvation, and calls women and men to all ministries of the church. With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
ORDINATION/INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS
OFFERTORY ANTHEM “In the Bleak Midwinter” Molly Ijames
RECEIVING OF GOD’S TITHES AND OFFERINGS
*DOXOLOGY
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*HYMN 134 Joy to the World
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE “Lift Up Your Heads” Robert J. Powell
*Those who are able are invited to stand.