Call to Worship & Lighting of the Advent Wreath
(spoken over music)
A: There is an ember of hope -
C: The banked fire of creation -
A: The promise of God
C: To Adam
A: To Eve
C: To us.
A: It glows in every heart;
C: In every soul it seeks to burst into flame.
Refrain: "O Come", or other appropriate refrain/song
Words & Music: Lisa Frenz copyright 2001
(The Advent Wreath is lit during the song.)
Repeat song as necessary.
A: Here is the ember of hope:
P: In a story passed on through the ages,
C: In a love surpassing all loves,
A: In a God who sacrifices self,
P: In the birth of a child
C: Who is God,
A: Jesus of Nazareth,
P: Emmanuel, God with us.
C: An ember whose flame will kindle the world.
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Gospel Verse (spoken over music)
A: Reclaim us, O Lord of Love.
P: O Ember of God, breathe warmth into us,
C: Enkindling our hearts anew.
A: Transform us, O Lord of Light.
P: O Ember of God, forge lives that are yours,
C: Inviting our deeds for you.
A: Distill us, O Lord of Life.
P: O Ember of God, open eyes that are blind;
C: Revealing your Word to us: the burning essence of life.
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P: (spoken) Welcome all who come, all who seek the Lord.
C: (sung) God is here with us, Emmanuel.
A: (spoken) Welcome whoever you are, for God loves you.
C: (sung) God is here with us, Emmanuel.
P: So come seek the truth.
C: (sung) God is here with us, Emmanuel.
A: (spoken) Come hear the promise.
C: (sung) God is here with us, Emmanuel.
P: (spoken) Come share the joy.
C: (sung) God is here with us, Emmanuel.
A: (spoken) Be filled with God's Spirit.
C: (sung) God is here with us, Emmanuel.
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Call to Worship & Lighting of Candles: Come verse 1
(W. Michael Aguilar III, copyright Shandy Music Industries, P.O. Box 10402, Portland, Oregon 97296. All rights reserved.)
(During the introduction to the song the altar candles are lighted.)
Lord of all light, come, come. . . .Come Lord of light!
(Spoken over music)
A: The advent of the Lord is near: the advent of the revealing Light.
C: Come, Lord Jesus, come to us now. We await your rising.
Sung Response: Refrain from Come (W. Michael Aguilar III)
Lord of all light,. . . Lord of light!
A: The advent of the Lord is near: the advent of the saving Hope.
C: Come, Lord Jesus, come to us now. We await your dawning.
Sung Response: Refrain from Come (W. Michael Aguilar III)
God of all grace. . . God of grace.
A: The advent of the Lord is near: the advent of the redeeming Child.
C: Come, Lord Jesus, come to us now. We await your coming.
Sung Response: Refrain from Come (W. Michael Aguilar III)
Lord of all love. . .Lord of love.
P: The advent of the Lord is near.
C: New life arising where death has stalked.
P: The advent of the Lord is near.
C: New life for lives left bleak and drear by losses, small and large.
P: The advent of the Lord is near.
C: New life, new hope, new chances.
Sung Response: Refrain from Come (W. Michael Aguilar II)
God of all grace. . . God of grace.
P: The advent of the Lord is near.
C: Engendering realization and change and fulfillment.
P: The advent of the Lord is near.
C: Embedding the glory of God into our beings.
P: The advent of the Lord is near.
C: Our lives are redefined.
Song: Come verses 1-3 (W. Michael Aguilar III)
(During song the Advent Wreath Candles are lighted. Lights are raised.)
Lord of all light, come, come. . .Come Lord of light!
God of all grace, come, come. . . Come God of grace.
Lord of all love, come, come. . .Come Lord of love.
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P: O Sapientia,
C: Wisdom, come.
P: O Adonai,
C: Sacred Ruler of Israel, come.
P: O Radix Jesse,
C: Stock of Jesse, come.
P: O Clavis David,
C: Key of David, come.
P: O Oriens,
C: Rising Sun, come.
P: O Rex Gentium,
C: Ruler of all, come.
P: O Emmanuel,
C: God with us, come.
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P: (Spoken over music) The Lord is dynamic beyond our ineffectual management,
reuniting,
reconciling,
the chaos of the universe,
the brokenness of life,
the disruption of time,
the disunity of the world.
C: Come, O King of all, come.
A: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; upon his shoulders rests the dominion of the world. He shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. Come, O Rex Gentium, come;
C: Feel our longing. See our need,
A: Fulfill your promise, “Tomorrow I will be there.”
C: For Christ is our hope, the holy Lamb of God.
A: Worthy is the Lord, steadfast and full of glory. Come, O Rex Gentium, come.
C: O King whom all the peoples desire, you are the cornerstone which makes all one. O come and save humankind whom you made from clay.
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P: The Lord is preeminent beyond our feeble understanding,
nourishing,
growing,
the beauty of the universe,
the sacredness of life,
the incorruptibility of time,
the integrity of the world.
C: Come, O God With Us, come.
A: All the nations shall be shaken and the house of Israel made glorious, for Mary the wife of Joseph shall bear a son, conceived of the Holy Spirit, and his name shall be Jesus. Come, O Emmanuel, come;
C: Feel our longing. See our need,
A: Fulfill your promise, “Tomorrow I will be there.”
C: For Christ is our deliverer, who was spoken of by the prophets, redeemer of the nations.
A: Magnificent is the Lord, who sanctifies us with new life. Come, O Emmanuel, come.
C: O Emmanuel, you are our ruler and judge, the One whom the peoples await and their Savior. O come and save us, Lord, our God.
P: Sapientia,
C: O Wisdom.
P: Adonai,
C: O Sacred Ruler of Israel.
P: Radix Jesse,
C: O Stock of Jesse.
P: Clavis,
C: O Key of David.
P: Oriens,
C: O Rising Sun.
P: Rex Gentium,
C: O King of all.
P: Emmanuel,
C: O God with us.
P: Ero cras,
C: Tomorrow I will be there. . .
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