Advent Through the Ages: Week 3

Advent through the Ages

circa 1970a.d. through 2005 a.d.

Third Sunday in Advent

Advent through the Ages is a series of three services which follows Christian worship from approximately 60 a.d. to the present. This is the third of the three orders of worship. When substituting words or music please be sensitive to the time frame of the service and choose language and/or music "of the day". Also, as a point of interest I put all the dates, etc. into the bulletin as you see them here, although I usually put the tune name and copyright information (if any) below the text/music. This service has lot of songs. Feel free to use only as many as you want.

There are only three orders for Advent, because we did a special children's service on the Fourth Sunday in Advent. However, it would be very easy to do a "traditional" modern liturgical setting as your Third Sunday and a "praise" or "contemporary" service as the Fourth Sunday. LF

Order of Worship

Prelude & Lighting of Candles

Stand

Call to Worship:

Each Winter As the Year Grows Older - 1971

Text: William Gay, b. 1920, alt.

Music: CAROL OF HOPE; Annabeth Gay, b. 1925

VERSES 1,3

Each winter as the year grows older,... shaken and untrue.

Yet I believe beyond believing...turn transfixed by faith.

O Child of ecstasy and sorrows,... come and reign!

LITANY OF PRAISE (by Lisa Frenz - 2003)

P: (spoken over music) Praise the Lord all you people! Praise the Lord with singing, for the Lord is great and wonderful. Vast beyond our understanding, still God reaches out to us all, calling us to receive God’s love. Come, worship God today!

Song: Come To Set Us Free Refrain & v. 1 - 1982

Refrain: Come to set us free, ...your people, your chosen.

Open our lives to the light of your promise.... truth which sets us free. Refrain

A: (spoken over music) Praise the Lord all you people! Praise the Lord with singing, for the Lord is great and wonderful. Before all time God loved us. Before all creation God knew us and made us who we are, giving us the gift of ourselves: our bodies, our minds, our spirits, that we may be a blessing to God and to all those around us. Come, worship God today!

Song: Come To Set Us Free Refrain & v. 2 - 1982

Refrain: Come to set us free, ...your people, your chosen.

You are hope which brings us courage,...your Spirit grows. Refrain

P: (spoken over music) Praise the Lord all you people! Praise the Lord with singing, for the Lord is great and wonderful. Rejoice and be glad, for the Lord remembers us all. God has seen our weaknesses and has set us free to be people of God, so dance before the Lord. Take the gift of life that God gives you and shout the good news to all: God has rescued the world from death. Come, worship God today!

Song: Come To Set Us Free Refrain & v. 3 - 1982

Refrain: Come to set us free, ...your people, your chosen.

You are promise of salvation,...we long to hear. Refrain

Greeting: (from With One Voice - 1995, copyright AugsburgFortress Press)

The leader greets the congregation.

P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

2 Corinthians 13:13

C: And also with you.

Advent to Transfiguration (from With One Voice - 1995, copyright AugsburgFortress Press) Service of Word & Prayer

A: In the beginning ... lived among us,

C: and we have seen his glory, full of grace and truth.

John 1:1, 4,14

Prayer of the Day

A: Let us pray.

The prayer of the day is spoken.

Praise Song: Canticle of the Turning - 1990

Music: STAR OF COUNTY DOWN; Irish traditional

My soul cries out with a joyful shout... Could the world be about to turn?

Refrain: My heart shall sing of the day you bring.... world is about to turn.

Though I am small, my God, my all,... put the strong to flight, for the world is about to turn. Refrain

From the halls of pow'r to the fortress tow'r,...ev'ry mouth be fed, for the world is about to turn. Refrain

Sit

1st Scripture Reading

R: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

Psalm: Prepare - 2000

(see Music)

All Refrain:

Prepare! Prepare! Now is the time of the Lord.... Salvation is near. Prepare! Prepare! Now is the time of the Lord.

Cantor

Go through the gates! Go and clear it of stones!... All creation will be made new! Refrain

Cantor

God has proclaimed to the ends of the earth!... All All creation will be made new! Refrain

All

They shall be called “Holy People of God!”... All creation will be made new! Refrain

Prayer: (Lisa Frenz - 2005)

A: God of all the ages we call upon you and praise your name for you have reached across time and space and touched us with the gift of love.

C: Help us to be an Advent people, a people always waiting, always watching, always seeking signs of your love and favor. Open us to see the breaking through of your kingdom into our world so that we may cry out with all creation at the glory of our Lord. Amen.

Scripture Song: Now in This Banquet - 1986

Refrain God of our journeys, ... wisdom to walk in your way.

Stanzas--soloist or choir:

1 You who have touched us... goodness and light. Refrain

5 Call us to be your light, ... your people again. Refrain

6 Come, O Spirit! Renew... be children of light. Refrain

2nd Scripture Reading:

R: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

Gospel Song: All Earth Is Hopeful - 1993

Text: Alberto Taule, b. 1932; tr. Madeleine Forell Marshall, b. 1946, Spanish (c) 1993 Centro de Pastoral Liturgica, admin. OCP Publications. Tr. (c) 1995 Madeleine Forell Marshall, admin. Augsburg Fortress.

Music: TODA LA TIERRA, Alberto Taule, b. 1932, 1993 admin. OCP Publications.

People of Israel, you heard the prophet tell:... courage to children of this earth.

Mountains and valleys will have to be prepared;... in haste, come out in haste!

Stand

Holy Gospel:

P: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

Sit

Music for Meditation

Message

Stand

Theme Song: Before This Universe Began - 1998

(See Music)

Before this universe began, the Light already was.

Before the stars ignited, the Word already was.

Refrain: A new creation comes to us. Do not be afraid.

God calls us into harmony with light for all to see.

Before this world was fashioned, the Light already was.

Before the sky awakened, the Word already was. Refrain

Before the land unfolded, the Light already was.

Before the seas erupted, the Word already was. Refrain:

Before this wondering race was born, the Light already was.

Before the ardent soul became, the Word already was. Refrain

Christ Jesus is the vision new, the Light born into flesh.

Christ brings to us salvation true, the Word made manifest. Refrain

Testimony of Faith: (Lisa Frenz - 2004)

I believe in God, Creator of the universe, who is mother and father of all.

I believe in God, Christ Jesus, who, leaving his divinity, became a human, a man who walked this earth. He was born of a woman, grew up, and became a teacher and healer, the Light of the World. He was executed by Pontius Pilate. He conquered death, rising to true life, whole and real. He returned to his Father and will come again to judge this world.

I believe in God, the Holy Spirit, our Comforter and Guide, who with the Creator and the Christ is God, now and before and after all time.

Community Prayers

Confession & Greeting of Peace

(from Banquet of Praise, Bread for the World -1990)

P: Trusting in God’s promise to heal and forgive, let us confess our sins in the presence of God and one another.

A time of silence is kept for reflection on the need for forgiveness.

C: Holy and compassionate God,

We confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed.

We have lived for ourselves and broken Your holy commands.

We have not done justice, loved kindness, or walked humbly with You.

Have mercy on us and forgive us,

That we may serve You faithfully and rejoice in Your love made known to us in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

P: The mercies of the Lord never come to an end. They are new to us each morning. In the mercy of God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for His sake, God forgives us all our sin.

C: Amen.

P: We are forgiven and at peace with God through Jesus Christ; let us also be at peace with one another.

(All share the Peace of Christ)

Sit

Offering

Special Music/Suggested Choir Anthem: Bethlehem Bound (Beall/Carter) 1992

Stand

Offering Song: Wait for the Lord Vs. 2 - 1998

(see Music)

Refrain: Wait for the Lord through times of joy.

Wait for the Lord rejoicing.

Listen for the thunder of God’s name.

Wait for the Lord rejoicing.

For that still small whisper out of darkness,

wait for the Lord rejoicing.

Wait for the Lord through times of peace.

Wait for the Lord rejoicing.

Wait for the Lord through times of fear.

Wait for the Lord for love’s sake.

Call out to God for God waits for you.

In gladness exclaim, “Here I am.

I am your servant for evermore.”

For God longs to hear your voice.

Call out to God for love’s sake.

Offering Prayer: (from With One Voice - 1995)

Advent to Transfiguration

A: Let us pray: Merciful God,

C: in the mystery of the Word made flesh,... through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Table Song: This is the Feast - 1975

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia,... the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign. Alleluia.

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Amen

Eucharistic Prayer: (from With One Voice - 1995)

P We give you thanks, Father, through Jesus Christ, your beloved Son,... free from suffering those who trust you.

It is he who, handed over to a death he freely accepted, ... broken for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

In the same way he took the cup, ... Do this for the remembrance of me.”

Remembering, then, his death and resurrection, ... with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and forever.

C Amen.

.Lord's Prayer:

Abba of Jesus (from TABLEPRAYER: WINTER NAME OF GOD) - 1988

Abba of Jesus, our God in heaven,... as we ourselves learn to forgive.

Abba of Jesus, save us from trial,...lead your longing people home.

Sit

Distribution of Communion

Stand

Dismissal from Communion

P: Now may the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ keep you always in God’s grace.

C: Amen.

Thanksgiving Song: (from With One Voice - 1995) Service of Word & Prayer

Prayer: (Lisa Frenz - 2005)

A: Let us pray.

C: Lord God, you have come to us through all the ages, joining us with your people in all times and places in one Holy Communion, through the body and blood of your Son, Jesus Christ. Come to us every hour of every day so that we may forever be in your loving care. Amen.

.Blessing The Lord Bless You - 1994

Words & Music Ronald E. Nitz

(see Music)

Sit

Community Announcements

Stand.

Sending Song: Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn

Awake! Awake, and greet the new morn, ... lives now inside us forever.

To us, to all in sorrow and fear, ... shatter all hatred and blindness.

In darkest night his coming shall be, ... weapons be broken asunder.

Rejoice, rejoice, take heart in the night,... bring us at last into glory.

A: Go in Peace Serve the Lord.

C: Thanks Be to God!

Postlude