On December 20, we will meet in the Sanctuary and on Zoom to Worship God and light the Fourth Candle of Advent.
Hello Friends-
Time: This is a recurring meeting 10:45 to 12:15
Click below to join Zoom Church with Marshall Presbyterian Church
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86016159653?pwd=UzVTdmZmS0ZUaDNEa0lXVVFRZGJLdz09
Marshall Presbyterian Church
December 13, 2020; 3rd Sunday of Advent
Carol Ann West, Pianist
Rev. Melissa Upchurch, Pastor
ASSEMBLING IN GOD’S NAME
wELCOME
One: When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like
those who dream.
All: Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and
our
tongue with shouts of joy;
One: Then it was said among the nations, “The
Lord has done
great things for them.”
All: The Lord has done great things for us,
and we rejoiced.
One: Restore our fortunes, O Lord. May those who
sow
in tears reap with shouts of joy.
All: Those who go out weeping, come home with
shouts of joy.
* Opening Prayer
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE - JOY (See handout)
* HYMN Carol
Ann’s Choice
CALL TO CONFESSION
UNISON PRAYER OF
CONFESSION
O God, you have called us to participate in your saving
work of rebuilding and repairing your creation. Yet we know we have fallen short of that calling.
Indeed, we have contributed to the
devastation of our world. We confess our
sin, O God…silent prayers of confession…Renew us and help us be discerning
and ready partners in your cosmic work of restoration. Amen.
* ASSURANCE
OF PARDON
One: God’s mercy abounds. God’s Advent grace goes
before us, after us, through us — sometimes unbeknownst to us, restoring us and
empowering us for participation in God’s own work in the world. Friends, hear and believe the good news of the
gospel: we are forgiven and restored, set on right paths of justice and peace.
All: Thanks be to God. Amen!
* Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to
the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world
without end. Amen. Amen.
* PASSING THE PEACE
Special MUSIC
HEARING AND RESPONDING TO
GOD’S WORD
prayer for illumination
THE Scriptures
Old
Testament: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 p. 641
Psalm
Psalm 126 p.
537
Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 See bulletin
Gospel: John
1:6-8, 19-28 p.
922
One: The Word of God for the
people of God!
All: Thanks be to God!
TIME WITH YOUNG DISCIPLES
Message Rev. Melissa
Upchurch
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Apostles’ Creed - Traditional
version)
We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God. Jesus proclaimed the reign of God: preaching
good news to the poor and release to the captives, teaching by word and deed
and blessing children, healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted, eating
with outcasts, forgiving sinners, and
calling all to repent and believe the gospel. Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition,
Jesus was
crucified, suffering the depths of human pain and giving
his life for the sins of the world.
God raised this Jesus
from the dead, vindicating his sinless life, breaking the
power of sin and evil, delivering us from death to life
eternal.
* HYMN Carol
Ann’s Choice
SHARING JOYS AND CONCERNS (See bulletin
insert)
Prayers of the People and
Lord’s prayer (The
Lord’s
Prayer is located at the bottom of page 35 in the
purple
hymnal)
Sharing the Gifts of
God
Offertory
*Doxology (ca. 1500s)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
*Prayer of dedication And thanksgiving
O God, we offer our gifts to you to further the
promise of hope, peace, love and justice in our community and in our world. Empower us, O God, to follow these gifts into
the world around us so that they, and we, become bearers of your peace, love,
and justice on the earth. Amen.
GOING FORTH IN GOD’S NAME
* HYMN Carol
Ann’s Choice
This second Sunday of Advent will also be Communion Sunday. We will have the service in the sanctuary and on Zoom.
The bulletin is below Click here to join zoom
Marshall Presbyterian Church
December 6, 2020, 2nd
Sunday of Advent
Carol Ann West, Pianist Rev. Melissa Upchurch, Pastor
ASSEMBLING IN GOD’S NAME
wELCOME
One: Let us hear what the Lord God says, because God speaks
peace to the church.
All: God’s
salvation is very close to those who honor the Holy One, so that God’s glory
can live in our land.
One: Faithful
love and truth have met; righteousness and peace have kissed.
All: Righteousness
walks before God, making a road for God’s steps.
* Opening Prayer
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE – PEACE (See handout)
* HYMN Red Hymnal #38 Ye Servants of God
(Spoken)
CALL TO CONFESSION
UNISON PRAYER OF
CONFESSION
O God, we confess that far too often we find
ourselves stuck, overwhelmed or aimless, trapped by fears and anxieties that
paralyze us, constraining our actions. Simple
acts of compassion – of connection with others – are enormously difficult. And sometimes anger, even rage, takes us
hostage, and we treat others as enemies, failing to discern your beloved image
in them. Free us from fear and anger so that we can love without restraint – so
that we may be compassionate, as you are compassionate, because we are your children
…silent prayers of confession… Amen.
* ASSURANCE
OF PARDON
One: Friends, hear the good news of the gosp el:
God’s grace is stronger than any anger and fear that may hold us in their grip.
God’s grace liberates us, freeing us to live in love and compassion. Thanks be to God who in Christ empowers us to live
fully and freely.
All: Thanks be to God. Amen!
* Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to
the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world
without end. Amen. Amen.
* PASSING THE PEACE
Special MUSIC
HEARING AND RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD
prayer for illumination
THE Scriptures
Old
Testament: Isaiah 40:1-11 p. 619
Epistle: 2 Peter 3:8-15a See bulletin
Gospel: Mark
1:1-8 p. 867
One: The Word of God for the people of God!
All: Thanks be to God!
TIME WITH YOUNG DISCIPLES
Message Rev. Melissa
Upchurch
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Nicene Creed - Ecumenical version)
We believe in one God, the
Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and
unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus
Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God,
Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of
one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human. For our sake he
was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance
with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated on the right hand of
the Father. He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy
Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father (and the Son),
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken
through the prophets. We believe in one
holy catholic and apostolic Church. We
acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and
the life of the world to come. Amen.
* HYMN Red
Hymnal #270 Joy to
The World! (Read)
SHARING JOYS AND CONCERNS (See bulletin
insert)
Prayers of the People
Sharing the Gifts of
God
Offertory
*Doxology (ca. 1500s)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
*Prayer of dedication And thanksgiving
O God, we offer our gifts to you that may they be
used to further the promise of hope, peace, love, and justice in our community
and in our world. Empower us to follow
these gifts into our community and world so that they, and we, may become
bearers of peace, love and justice on the earth. Amen.
THE EUCHARIST
Invitation to the Lord’s Table
One: Now, in this holy
season of Advent,
God comes to be with you.
All: God comes to
be with you as well.
One: As we begin our
journey to Bethlehem,
let us open our hearts to God.
All: For God will
fill them with strength
and courage for the journey.
One: Let us join our
voices in singing praise to God.
All: We will lift
glad songs of joy to the One
who is coming to us!
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving and Lord’s
Prayer
The minister continues: When you were tired of waiting…
we praise you today:
Holy, holy, holy are you, God who comes to us.
All creation gives thanks to you, always.
Glory to you in the highest!
Blessed is the One who gathers us to you.
Glory to you in the highest!
The minister continues: In your holiness,
you
could have stood apart from us…we
proclaim
that mystery which is our faith:
Christ died, giving his life as he called to you;
Christ was raised, defeating our enemy - death;
Christ will come, to gather us unto him from
every time and place.
The minister continues… We
are all your people…
With confidence we pray as Christ taught us to pray:
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from
evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Words of Institution
Sharing the Bread and Cup
GOING FORTH FROM TABLE TO
WORLD
One: We do not
know when Christ will return,
All: so we will wait, and in the waiting we will
share hope with those we encounter.
One: We do not
know what the coming days will bring,
All: but we will be alert, noticing all those who need
the help we can provide.
One: We do not
know the opportunities we will be given,
All: but we will keep our eyes open, so we can
welcome each person as if they are the Christ.
Amen.
* HYMN Red
Hymnal #271 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You (Read)
*INVITATION
*CHARGE
*BENEDICTION
* = Please rise in body or in spirit.
One Candle
An advent liturgy for 2020 by Rev.
Karen Ware Jackson
Light one candle for Hope.
Light one candle for Joy.
Joy pierces our silence with song, interrupts our sighing
with laughter, and unshackles our fumbling feet to dance.
Because the world is broken, and the wait is long but love never ends.
Light one candle for Christ. (Christmas Eve,
Christmas Day)
(Karen Ware Jackson, 2020 – Permission is granted for home
and congregational use.)