November 30, 2014 Advent 1 FONTHILL UNITED CHURCH 9:30 a.m. ORDER OF SERVICE * indicates please stand, if you are able WE GATHER Silent Prayer and Preparation Prelude Welcome and Announcements * Gathering Hymn 1 – O Come, O Come, Emmanuel * Opening Words and Lighting the Candle of Hope: (responsive) We light the first candle of Advent. (The first candle is lit.) We kindle it with hope. We long for you to come to our world, to break through and reign with compassion, justice, and peace. The prophet Isaiah cried to God to tear open heaven and come down. He called God’s people to do right; to be refashioned like clay by God, the potter. This Advent, we call out to God in hope. Mighty God, creator of the world, break through all that keeps us from you. We ask for you to reform us in your image. Visit us this Advent, with your justice, love, and peace. (singing) Shine on us, O God of justice; guide our path through gloom of night; bear within us Wisdom’s glory; come to us, O Christ the Light. (Congregation may be seated.) Prayer of Approach: (in unison) God of power unexpected, we want you to tear open the heavens and come down; to make mountains quake, water boil, and stars to fall until all nations tremble at your presence! But you do not perform according to our wants and whims. Instead you come like the sound of sheer silence. Instead you are born among us as an infant. Instead you show us how love is made perfect in weakness. So we will stay alert, or at least we will try, because we are your people and there is no other God besides you who comes in Jesus Christ who taught us to pray as we sing … The Prayer of Jesus: VU 959 (sung) Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil for the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever. Choir Anthem: “Candles of Advent” - D. Besig WE LISTEN Bible Readings: (see insert) Isaiah 64: 1-9 Responsive Psalm 80 - VU pg. 794 Mark 13: 24-37 - Brenda Peszle Sermon WE GIVE THANKS * Hymn 473 – Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Invitation to the Offering Choir Anthem: “At the Table of the Lord” - J. Althouse * Offertory Response: VU 81 (vs. 3) As they offered gifts most rare at that manger crude and bare, so may we with holy joy, pure and free from sin’s alloy, all our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to you, our heavenly King. * Prayer of Dedication: (in unison) Faithful God, we thank you that Christ is being revealed in every time and place until he comes again in the fullness of glory. Strengthen our testimony and spiritual gifts; increase generosity in us, we pray, as we wait for the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. The Great Thanksgiving: God be with you. And also with you. Let us open our hearts. We open them to our God. Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God. It is right to lift up thanks and praise. … for we are eagerly awaiting our Christ to come: Holy, holy, holy, 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 our God. Hosanna in the highest! … in the great mystery of our faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. … now and forever. Amen. Breaking the bread and sharing the wine Distribution Please eat and drink as you are served. The cups in the centre of the tray contain grape juice. Concluding Prayer: (responsive) Eternal and gracious One, though we live in a world of need, here we have tasted your goodness and hungered for a world more just. Though afflicted by brokenness and division, here we have heard your call to be a people of healing community. Though daily we touch our limits, here we have received the fullness of your grace. Send us forth, O God, in faith, in hope, and in love. Amen. WE GO FORTH * Closing Hymn 2 – Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus * Benediction * Choral Blessing: MV 215 Peace be with you, peace forever, peace be with you, my friends. Till we meet again, may God be with you. Peace, peace, peace. Postlude (The congregation is invited to sit and listen to the postlude.) WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS We welcome all who worship with us today, but especially our guests. We invite you to record your visit with us by signing the guest book at the entrance. After worship, the congregation visits over refreshments in the Lower Hall and we hope you will join us. If you would like the minister to call on you, please contact the church office. Large print copies of the hymns are available for use every Sunday. Please feel free to ask an usher for a copy. After the service, please return the booklet to the pew at the back of the sanctuary or leave it in your seat. Thank you. Ushers: Gail DeKoning and Helen Wismer Counters: Wendy Audette and Harold Beamer ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Lessons, Carols & Cookies Service – Everyone is invited to a special Advent celebration this Wednesday, December 3 at 2:00 pm. We will enjoy a beautiful service of lessons and carols and then join in fellowship in the lower hall to taste the delicious cookies prepared by the ladies of the UCW. Freewill donations will be gratefully accepted at the service for one of the UCW’s charitable outreach projects. Memorial Donations – Anyone wishing to make a Christmas memorial donation to go towards the decorating of the church may leave their donation at the church office. If it is in memory of someone, please let the secretary know so that appropriate recognition may be given. Fenwick United Church invites everyone to their Wassail Party on Friday, December 5 at 7:30 pm. Entertainment provided by the Trinity Ringers; hors d’oeuvres and desserts. Tickets are $10 for adults, free for children under 12; available at the door. The Velvetones will present “It’s Christmas,” a concert of secular and traditional Christmas music on Saturday, December 6 at 1:00 pm at the Welland Community Wellness Complex, 145 Lincoln Street. Tickets are $7.00 for passholders, $9.00 for non-passholders and are available through Beryl West or at the door. The Robert Wood Singers & The Wood Kids will present a musical performance, All These Things are Christmas on Friday, December 5 at Grantham United Church, St. Catharines at 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 7 at Central United Church, Welland at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for children under 12; available at local outlets or at the door. Visit www.robertwoodsingers.com for more details. Gifts With Vision giving catalogues of the United Church of Canada have arrived! It’s a great way to shop for Christmas while honouring your loved ones by making a difference in the world. You can pick up a copy in the Narthex or place your order online at: www.giftswithvision.ca. What are you doing New Year’s Eve? Plans are underway to organize a congregational dinner followed by some other activities to ring in the New Year together, if there is enough interest. Please complete the sign-up sheet in the Narthex, or let Barbara or Brenda Peszle or Marvin Myhre know you would like to be included. The Week Ahead Mon. Dec 1 Tues. Dec 2 Wed. Dec 3 Thurs. Dec 4 Fri. Sat. Sun. Dec 5 Dec 6 Dec 7 3:30 pm 6:30 pm 9:00 am 2:00 pm 2:30 pm 5:00 pm 6:30 pm 2:00 pm 2:00 pm 6:30 pm 9:00 am 2:00 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm 10:00am 9:30 am 10:30am 7:00 pm Prayer Circle Cubs Badminton Music Lessons Potentials Committee Meeting Weight Watchers Beavers Lessons, Carols & Cookies Music Lessons Scouts Badminton Music Lessons Choir Practice Wassail Party at Fenwick United Piano Lessons Worship Service – Advent 2 Liaison Report meeting Massed Choir Carol Sing at Wesley United Church Fonthill United Church 42 Church Hill, Box 926, Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0 Office (905) 892-6433 email: [email protected] website: www.fonthillunited.com Minister: Garry van Bruchem Music Director: William Outred Council Chair: Richard Miller Secretary: Patrice Walker