Sunday December 10, 2023 St. Andrew’s, Salmon Arm

2nd Sunday of Advent

Prelude

Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship: Advent Candle Lighting Liturgy
How does a weary world practice peace?
By listening before we speak and saying sorry when we need to. By advocating
for justice and caring for our neighbor.
By practicing Sabbath and forgiving seventy times seven.
By choosing grace over hate and opening the door for each other.            There are a
million ways to practice peace. So today we light the candle of peace as a reminder and a charge.
With God’s help, may we bring peace into a weary world. Amen.
The Candle is Lit

All sing: O holy night

O holy night! the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope- the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
Liturgy: A Sanctified Art, used with permission
O Holy Night: Public Domain

Hymn #118 Hark the Glad Sound

Prayer of Adoration

God of purpose and promise,

you love the breadth and depth of your creation

and care for us like shepherds tend their sheep.

You set pathways for us to follow,

clearing the way in the wilderness of the world.

And yet we break your heart by wandering off,

pursuing our own purposes.

Still, you keep calling us back.

You call us by name in our baptisms.

You set us in the world to serve you,

each one with a purpose you imagine for us.

And so we come to worship you, O God,

knowing that in you, we will find our true purpose,

and the path you set will lead to peace and well-being

in your deep love, revealed for us in Christ Jesus.

Prayer of Confession:
Creator of gentleness too often we make wrong choices. 
We know what is the right thing to do, yet end up acting in wrong ways. 

We know the gentle words friend or family need, yet we have raised our voices in anger and
hurt. 
We know how we should spend our time, our money our talents, yet we have chosen
too often to be selfish.
We have heard your call, your invitation to ministry but we have chosen to be too busy.
We have seen the need in our church family and community and too often we have
chosen other priorities.
We are still afraid to truly give our lives to you.
We are afraid we will not get enough back.
We believe we have done our part; it is time for ‘someone else’ now.
We are afraid that we are the ‘someone else.’ Help us let go of our fear of giving You
our lives.
Take from us our burdens.
Speak to our troubled minds and gather us to yourself through Jesus Christ our Lord
and Saviour. Amen

Assurance of Pardon

Friends, trust that peace and forgiveness are God’s gift to you this day through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Receive the renewing power of the Holy Spirit and be at peace with God, with yourselves and with each other.

The Peace: Peace be with you.
And also with you.

Hymn #124: People In Darkness

Scripture:
Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm 85:1-2, 7-13 (Responsive Reading)
1 LORD, you were favourable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned all their sin.
7 Show us Your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.
8 Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.
12 The LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Mark 1:1-8
Sermon: Calling Out!

 

Hymn: #757 Come Sing, O Church, In Joy!

Offering & Offertory
#798 (vs.1) What gift can we bring?

What gift can we bring, what present what token?
What words can convey it, the joy of this day?
When grateful we come, remembering, rejoicing,
What song can we offer in honour and praise?

Prayers of the People

 God in whom we live and move and have our being:

As we gather our thoughts in prayer,

we are aware of so many challenges –

in our own lives, in the lives of those we care about, and in the world around us.

We wonder how you will reveal yourself

in response to so many different needs.

We trust that your heart is moved by the pain and potential in each precious life

for you never give up on situations which we find overwhelming…

And so we pray, God of healing Bring peace to the world you love.

We pray for those who are in the headlines this week,

for situations that concern us deeply,

and for all who cry out to you in the face of overwhelming odds:

Keep silence for 15 seconds.

Draw near to them with courage and wisdom

We pray for those who are suffering in quiet corners of our community, remembering

those who are ill;

those who are bereaved;

those who struggle with poverty or unemployment;

and all who face barriers through discrimination or disability:

Keep silence for 15 seconds.

Draw near to them with compassion and support

as we pray;

God of healing Bring peace to the world you love.

Hymn #110 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Charge & Benediction

God bless your church with strength! Wherever we may be,
up build your servants as we work in common ministry.
Urge us from fledgling faith to venture and to soar
through open skies to sing the praise of Christ whom we adore. Amen      #491 (vs.1) God bless your church with strength!

Sung Blessing: go now in peace