Read-along Service for Sunday, December 1 – Advent 1 / Communion

Trinity-St. Andrew’s United Church
Order of Worship
Sunday, December 1, 2024 – First Sunday of Advent

Prelude
Words of welcome, announcements 

Lighting the Christ Candle
As we light our Christ Candle, we are reminded that we gather in the name of Jesus, who is the light of the world.  He bids us to come, just as we are, even if we are tired, worn, and weary.  As the winter draws nearer, may we seek to shine our light in the darkness.

Candle lighting song “Isn’t He”
Isn’t He (Isn’t He)
Beautiful? (Beautiful?)
Beautiful, (Beautiful)
Isn’t He? (Isn’t He?)

Prince of Peace, Son of God,
Isn’t He? Isn’t He?

Call To worship
Come in, come in, all you who have faith, and all who have none. Come in, all who are cheerful, and all who are despairing. This is a welcome place for those who have hope and all who are hope-less. What ultimately matters to God is that you are here.

We are entering the time of Advent. This is when we do the work of preparing for Christmas. For if God is to be born again in the most ordinary parts of our world and our lives then we need to prepare for it.

We need to make space in our lives where hope might be born. Where peace might grow, where joy might blossom and love might shine for all to see. We live in a world that often feels harsh and dark. This is a place where we shine a light together. Come, gather around the light of God’s presence. So we can all learn how to shine.

Hymn                  A Candle Is Burning                                                     VU 6

1. A candle is burning, a flame warm and bright,
   a candle of hope in December’s dark night.
   While angels sing blessings from heaven’s starry sky,
   our hearts we prepare now for Jesus is nigh.

2. A candle is burning, a candle of peace,
   a candle to signal that conflict must cease:
   for Jesus is coming to show us the way;
   a message of peace humbly laid in the hay.

3. A candle is burning, a candle of joy,
   a candle to welcome brave Mary’s new boy.
   Our hearts fill with wonder, and eyes light and glow
   as joy brightens winter like sunshine on snow.

4. A candle is burning, a candle of love,
   a candle to point us to heaven above.
   A baby for Christmas, a wonderful birth,
   for Jesus is brining God’s love to our earth.

Lighting the Advent Candle – Jennifer & Lani Cooke 

Reader 1: Today we light one candle – the Candle called HOPE. It is a reminder that God’s promises are true.
Reader 2: We place our hope in God.
Reader 1:We place our lives in God’s care.
Reader 2: Come, all is ready. Let the light of this one candle, called HOPE, bring brightness to your spirits.

Prayer of Approach
God of hope, peace joy and love, come into our midst this day. We confess we are not ready to receive your wondrous gifts into our lives. So we ask that you breathe into us your Spirit of prophecy, your energy, your light. Wake us up, we pray. Inspire our imaginations.  Open our eyes to see how you are already present in our world. Unplug our ears that we might hear your call to seek justice for all our brothers and sisters. For we know now is the time to be awake and ready to act as part of your Kingdom. Amen 

Scripture Reader:  Jane Lambert

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:14-16
Gospel Lesson: Luke 21:25-36 

Hymn                  Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus                   VU 2

1. 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.

2. Israel’s strength and consolation,
   hope of all the earth thou art,
   dear desire of every nation,
   joy of every longing heart.

3. Born thy people to deliver;
   born a child and yet a king;
   born to reign in us for ever;
   now thy gracious kingdom bring.

4. By thine own eternal Spirit
   rule in all our hearts alone;
   by thine all-sufficient merit
   raise us to thy glorious throne.

Homily  “A Holy Adventure”  

Special Music   

The offering
We give thanks for everyone who continues to support TSA and our many ministries. Your gifts of support and encouragement mean a lot to us.  You can get more information about making a donation by contacting the church office or by visiting our website. There are also many opportunities to volunteer in our ministries so you can share your talents For all the gifts you share, for all the people you bless by your serving and giving as a disciple of Jesus, we give thanks.

Offering Song             For the Gift of Creation                             VU 538

For the gift of creation, the gift of your love,
and the gift of the Spirit by which we live,
we thank you and give you the fruit of our hands.
May your grace be proclaimed by the gifts that we give.

Offering Prayer
Bless these gifts, O Lord, and help them to bring the transforming love you have given us into ministries of hope and peace in this our dark world. AMEN.

Hymn                  Hark the Glad Sound                                         VU 29

1. Hark, the glad sound! The Saviour comes,
   the Saviour promised long:
   let every heart prepare a throne,
   and every voice a song.

2. He comes, the prisoners to release
   in Satan’s bondage held;
   the gates of brass before him burst,
   the iron fetters yield.

3. He comes, the broken heart to bind,
   the bleeding soul to cure,
   and with the treasures of his grace
   to bless the humble poor.

4. Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
   your welcome shall proclaim;
   and heaven’s eternal arches ring
   with your beloved name.

Service of Holy Communion
Invitation to the Table
Passing the Peace

One: The Holy One is here.
All: God’s Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to God.
It is right to offer thanks and praise.

While Shepherds Watched their flocks                            VU 75, v1

1. While shepherds watched their flocks by night
   all seated on the ground,
   the angel of the Lord came down,
   and glory shone around.

O come, O come, Emmanuel, to the empty-handed. To the heavy-hearted, To the despairing. To the despised. Enter this world. Give your love to the lowly. Grant hope to the downcast. Dwell among us. Be part of who we are each day. Teach us your ways. Save the lost. Strengthen the weak. Be made incarnate within us, so we might cast away fear. Show us how to live boldly by faith. We are filled with gratitude for you come to be with us. We worship and praise you with joyful  hearts  this day. We join with the choirs of angels and saints who praise you by singing:

While Shepherds Watched their flocks                            VU 75, v2

2. “Fear not,” said he, for mighty dread
   had seized their troubled mind;
   “glad tidings of great joy I bring
   to you and humankind.

Loving God, you made this wonderful world for us to enjoy. You showed our ancestors how to care for one another. You gave us Jesus to be our friend.  He brought us closer to you. He shared with us your gifts of hope, peace, joy and love. You send us your Spirit which brings us to this table where your gift is shared.

While Shepherds Watched their flocks                            VU 75, v3

3. “To you in David’s town this day
   is born of David’s line
   a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;
   and this shall be the sign:

Loving God, we rejoice in the gift of your grace. We remember Christ’s birth, his life and death. We proclaim his resurrection. We wait in hope for his coming again. In praise and thanksgiving, may we offer ourselves to you so our lives may proclaim the mystery of faith.

While Shepherds Watched their flocks                            VU 75, v4

4. “The heavenly babe you there shall find
   to human view displayed,
   all meanly wrapped in swaddling bands,
   and in a manger laid.”

In this season of gifts, O God, we ask for the gift of your Holy Spirit. Bless these gifts we share. May all who share in this bread and cup be the body of Christ: Help us to give birth to your light, life, and love in the world.

While Shepherds Watched their flocks                            VU 75, v5 

5. Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith
   appeared a shining throng
   of angels praising God, who thus
   addressed their joyful song:

Words of Institution
Sharing of the Bread and Cup
In God, we have a constant source of hope. Hope shines like a rainbow for a world in chaos. Hope tastes like bread for hungry wanderers lost in the desert. Hope is a spirit of life restored and renewed.

Take and eat this bread, the body of Christ the bread of life, to feed and strengthen you for the journey that still lies ahead.

Take and drink this cup, the blood of Christ, the cup of blessing, to fill you with the spirit of hope, peace, joy and love.

While Shepherds Watched their flocks                            VU 75, v6

6. “All glory be to God on high
   and to the earth be peace!
   Good will to all from highest heaven
   begin, and never cease.”

Prayer after communion

Hymn                  Go, Tell It on the Mountain                                 VU 43

Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere,
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

1. While shepherds kept their watching
   o’er silent flocks by night,
   behold, throughout the heavens
   there shone a holy light.                           Refrain

2. The shepherds feared and trembled
   when lo, above the earth
   rang out the angel chorus
   that hailed our Saviour’s birth!                 Refrain

3. Down in a lonely manger
   the humble Christ was born,
   and God sent our salvation
   that blessed Christmas morn.                  Refrain
   

Benediction
While this is a busy time for shopping for presents,  we know that all of God’s good gifts are already available to you here today.  For God is present and seeks to share this spiritual adventure with you. Though the world may seem dark and fearful, the Holy Spirit is your faithful companion. May the light of hope that shine in a manger guide you and lift you up. Amen.

Choral Amen               Gloria (Glory to God)                                          VU 37

Gloria, gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, gloria, alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to God, glory to God, glory in the highest!
Glory to God, glory to God, hallelujah, hallelujah!

Postlude 

A Holy Adventure. Sermon for the First Sunday of Advent, December 1, 2024
Text: Jeremiah 33:14-16    Luke 21:25-36
Preached by Rev. James Murray at Trinity- St. Andrew’s United Church, Renfrew

There are days when I can’t look at the news any longer, and I need to keep my sanity intact. When I get to that breaking point, I often go and watch reruns of the Red Green Show.  Red Green was a Canadian comedy show that ran for many years. Red was the kind of handyman who tried to fix everything with a roll of duct tape. Red Green was also a great Canadian philosopher. Like many Canadians, Red Green was a Fatalist. Fatalists believe there’s nothing you can do to really change anything. So At the end of each episode the members of Possum Lodge proudly proclaimed their Possum motto, “Quondo Omni Flunkus Moritatus” which means “When all else fails play dead”. Then they would bow their heads to say the Man’s Prayer. The Man’s Prayer says “I’m a man, I can change, if I have to, I guess.” Not much will ever change with a prayer like that, will it?

When we are faced with the troubles in the world, we are often tempted to play dead like a possum in hopes that the problem will leave us alone. We agree to change, but in our hearts we don’t really want to. What made the Red Green show such great comedy was the fact that they kept on having such great adventures in spite of their desire not to stick their neck out. Some people spend their entire lives searching for those kinds of holy adventures. Sometimes the holy adventure comes looking for you.

While we may be tempted be like a possum and play dead when we are confronted with our troubles, God is very clear about our need to act boldly. God believes a better world is possible. God believes we can help make that better world a reality together. God wants to be on a holy adventure with us facing every challenge that comes along.

The Bible says God believes in us so much that God made us stewards over creation. We are to be caretakers of the earth for God. That is a job we are currently not living up to. Sadly, a roll of duct tape won’t fix this problem. Whether we like it or not, we are in for a big adventure in facing the challenge of climate change. The big question is whether we want to play possum or if we are willing to face this problem with God’s help.

In every situation we face, God is seeking to work with us. All around us we see people being hateful and hurtful towards others. Two years ago when we were about to launch our first Rainbow service, our building was tagged with some hateful graffiti. It is a terrible feeling to know that we are a target of hateful people. But sitting back and playing possum and hoping the abuser won’t notice you isn’t a healthy coping strategy. The Bible tells us we are stronger if we work together for the good of all. The Bible says we should welcome the stranger and the refugee into our community.

Now a few weeks after the first graffiti, we were hit with a second round of spray paint. But this time, the graffiti tagger covered over the hateful messages, and left a little heart logo instead.  I wasn’t sure if I should be upset or thankful for their efforts.  It is only by joining together in a holy adventure built on love and trust that we can resist the politics of fear.

Fear and hate are tools that are used to gain power over others. The existential philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche says the most primary drive in life is the will to power. We want to control everything around us. We want to control everything so nothing will change. We want everything that does happen to benefit us.

The dramatic upheavals we are witnessing in countries around the world are the result of a large part of the population feeling that their nation and their economy is no longer serving their best interests. They have chosen to smash up the current economic and social arrangements to claim more power back for themselves. Since we live in an inter connected world we all feel the consequences of such actions, whether we support their motives or not.  It is only by joining together in with God and others on a holy adventure built on love and trust that we can we resist the politics of fear.

The message of Jesus being born at Christmas is meant to disrupt all of our claims for power.  Jesus’ birth disrupts the comfort of our fatalistic sense of resignation. The coming of Christ at Christmas shatters our business as usual attitudes. It thwarts the will to power which puts the interests of the few ahead of the community. The birth of Christ promises to change us and the whole world. The birth of Christ is an invitation to be part of the greatest holy adventure of all time.

It is a holy adventure that began in a time long a go and far away. It is a holy adventure that continues even today. It is a holy adventure that will continue until the end of time.  Today we heard Jesus’ apocalyptic message about the end of time. He is telling us not to play possum as we wait for his return.

We call the end times the Apocalypse. Apocalyptic thinking was never meant to be a negation of this world. It is not an exit strategy. It is not telling us to play dead or give up.  It is supposed to give hope to us in our desperate times. It gives us hope as we imagine a better world, a world where there will be help, and justice, and things will be put right. Apocalyptic messages remind us of the need to work with God to help create the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth.

As people of faith, when we look around us, we know that our current social reality is not what God’s Kingdom looks like.  Our current economic and political situation does not reflect God’s will for this planet. Now God does has a bold vision for this planet. God’s kingdom is one where nations will break their swords and turn them into plow blades. Where nation shall not lift up sword or sanctions against each other. Where we will learn war and economic exploitation no more. And Jesus believes that we are capable of such dramatic changes. Jesus wants us to join him on his great holy adventure.

The message of Christmas is that such a change is possible. The birth of Christ announces that a different world is possible. Because the future is an unwritten book. God has many ideas about how the future can be better. But God cannot do this all alone.  God’s spirit needs to be born in each of us today, just as God was born into the life of Jesus so long ago. The birth of Jesus was a holy adventure as God did something new in the world.

The good news we share today is that God wants to go on a holy adventure with you this Christmas. Because God believes you are capable of great things.

The birth of Christ, like the birth of all children, is a moment full of promise and hope. It is a time full of endless possibilities. When you hold a baby in your arms, you are in touch with the pure potential of human existence. Even when your child grows up, you never quite forget what it was like the very first time you joyfully held them in your arms.  Even if it is just for a moment, this hope is given for us to hold once more.  And when we feel it, our tired and weary hearts are warmed. We are changed. And then we know. We know we are ready for our Holy adventure, for we will have found the Spirit of Christmas once more. Amen.