November 26, 2023

November 26, 2023
First Sunday of Advent

Prelude
Stephanie Shorden

Greeting
Rev. David Petty

Threshold Moment

Video

Rev. David Petty: This year as we approach Christmas, what if we saw the presence of the holy in all that has been, is, and always will be–right here–reflected in and through everything
and everyone around us? I want to invite us to spend some quiet time at the beginning
of every one of our Advent and Christmas worship experiences to soften our focus on
life. To blur the hard edges of our lives. To see the whole picture with our hearts. To train
our hearts to love as God loves… with an all-encompassing compassion. To look at life
through the reflections of the sacred.

I invite you to get comfortable where you are sitting. I invite you to open your hands
upward in your lap. Close your eyes if you are comfortable doing so and take a deep,
intentional breath in and out. If it is difficult to get your mind to quiet down, if you
are making shopping lists in there, it’s OK. Don’t judge it… just take another breath and
“thank and excuse” for just a moment the tasks that might be popping up on the to-do
list in your brain. That’s it. Take time to settle in.

Bring to your mind’s eye–to your memory and imagination–a time of day that you love.
Is there a moment in your day where you get to catch a breath in some alone time? Or
is it that you love the moment you see your kids after school? Or perhaps it is cooking in
your kitchen or watering plants or some other simple, ordinary, moment. As you
see this scene, put it in slow motion.  Now imagine particles of light showering
slowly upon it. Let this reflection of light be an anointing of hope for seeing more and
more of life through the lens of the Sacred. Continue to just breathe, listen, and see with
your heart.

Sanctuary Choir:
Upon this moment,
upon this people,
upon this place,
the holy comes.
And sacred knowing
brings sacred being
for sacred doing of God’s plan.

Rev. David Petty: Take one more deep breath and open your eyes slowly. As you are ready, I
invite you to stand in body or spirit and face the back as the Light of Hope comes into
our midst. For those worshiping online, you are invited to light your first candle.

Friendship Bible Study
Readers: Please repeat after us:
Leader: We pray for Hope this day.
People: We pray for Hope this day.
Leader: We open to see the Sacred reflected in all things.
People: We open to see the Sacred reflected in all things.
Leader: We open to see each moment
People: We open to see each moment
Leader: as a gift of holy presence.
People: as a gift of holy presence.
Leader: This is the gift of the Christ Mystery,
People: This is the gift of the Christ Mystery,
Leader: lighting the way to hope.
People: lighting the way to hope.

Congregation sings
Upon this moment,
upon this people,
upon this place,
the holy comes.
And sacred knowing
brings sacred being
for sacred doing of God’s plan.
Prayer
 
Friendship Bible Study: Living God, Christ Mystery, Spirit of Hope,
we give you thanks for this holy moment together.
As we take in the hope you offer,
may we be a reflection of your light,
expanding the sacred time of “right now”
into the sacred time of “always and for all time.”
All: Amen.

*Gathering Song
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
UMH #196
WORDS: Charles Wesley, 1744

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.
 
Israel’s strength
and consolation,
hope of all
the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
 
2. Born thy people
to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign
in us forever,
now thy gracious
kingdom bring.
 
By thine own
eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all
sufficient merit,
raise us to
thy glorious throne.
 
Greet Your Neighbor
Mystery Box

Prayer Song
Emmanuel
UMH #204
WORDS: Bob McGee, 1976 (Mt. 1:23)
© 1976 C. A. Music (div. of Christian Artists Corp.)
Emmanuel,
Emmanuel,
his name is called
Emmanuel.
 
God with us,
revealed in us,
his name is called
Emmanuel.

Prayer, Silent Prayer and, The Lord’s Prayer
Lu Petersen

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name; Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on 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. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power and the Glory forever.
Amen

Prayer Response
Emmanuel
UMH #204
WORDS: Bob McGee, 1976 (Mt. 1:23)
© 1976 C. A. Music (div. of Christian Artists Corp.)

Emmanuel,
Emmanuel,
his name is called
Emmanuel.
 
God with us,
revealed in us,
his name is called
Emmanuel.
 
Invitation to Offering
Lu Petersen

Offertory

Prayer of Thanks and Dedication
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

*Doxology
Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow
 
Praise God, from whom
all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures
here below: Alleluia! Alleluia!
 
Praise God, the source
of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ,
whose power uplifts!
 
Praise the Spirit,
Holy Spirit!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!

Scripture Reading
Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44
Lu Petersen

 - Romans 13: 11-14
Do not lag in zeal; be ardent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; pursue hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

 - Matthew 24: 36-44
“But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so, too, will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken, and one will be left. Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Anthem
Sanctuary Choir

Prayer for Illumination
Leader: May the words of my mouth,
People: and the meditations of all of our hearts
All: be acceptable in your sight, O Lord our rock and our redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

Message
Sacred Time
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

*Hymn
Eternal God, Transcending Time
W & S #3030
Carl P. Daw, Jr.
© 1999 Hope Publishing Company
 
1. Eternal God transcending time,
yet mindful of the fears,
the hopes, the questions
raised for us
by ever-changing years:
 
so guide us through
our pilgrim days
that we may find a home
where justice, truth,
and mercy meet,
fulfilled in your shalom.
 
2. Incarnate God revealed in time,
true Word in flesh retold,
who marked the years
from birth to death,
then rose to break death’s hold:
 
by your becoming one with us,
help us to know and claim
the unity of all baptized
in your redeeming name.
 
3. Life-breathing God
enlivening time,
awaking heart and tongue,
inspiring prophets, bringing hope, consoling old and young:
 
draw us to those
denied your gifts
by bias, want, or strife,
convert our wills
and form through us
new channels of your life.
 
4. Great Triune God,
so bless the time
entrusted to our care,
that all our varied ministries
may form a common prayer;
 
then when time ceases,
bring us where
divisions are undone,
that in your presence,
joined in praise,
at last we may be one.

*Benediction
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

Postlude
Stephanie Shorden